Air Quality Testing

MOLD: A Growing Concern

• Protect your biggest investment with mold remediation and testing for your Vail home today.
• Live healthier
• Because you’re not only buying a home, you’re also buying the air in it

Did You Know?

• Most people spend as much as 90% of their time indoors and are not aware of the health hazards created by mold. Get your Vail home mold inspection today.

What is Mold? What is a Mold Spore?

-> Mold eats and destroys normal building materials used in your home when they get wet

-> Mold reproduces and spreads by shedding microscopic mold spores in the air

-> Mold spores travel through the air and we breathe them in – sometimes in large enough amounts that are unhealthy.

-> Indoor mold types that can damage your home and health include:

• Aspergillus / Penicillium / Trichoderma
• Stachybotrys / Chaetomium / Ulocladium
• Cladosporium / Alternaria / Curvularia

What does mold do when growing in buildings?

• Ruin building materials
• Destroy personal possessions
• Can cause allergies
• Can trigger asthma

Mold Facts you need to know

• Water is the problem, mold is the result of excess water
• Mold can grow and produce spores in as little as 24 – 48 hours
• Most thrive in temperatures we feel comfortable in
• Airborne mold can be inhaled
• Presence of mold growth can impact your health, at home, the office or school

How can I be exposed Mold?

• Breathing in spores from air
• Skin contact from handling moldy items
• Eating moldy foods
• Contact with moldy clothing, carpet, drapes, furniture, fabric & leather

Health Effects of Mold Exposure

Allergic Reaction (Most Common)
• Caused by inhalation or direct contact with mold

Asthma (Second Most Common)
• Mold spores can trigger an attack and make asthma worse

Hypersensitivity
• Developed after acute or chronic exposure

Opportunistic Infections
• Cause disease in rare circumstances

Red Flags: When & Where to Test

If you answer YES to any of the following questions, it is recommended you TEST right away.

Have you had a recent indoor water event?

50% of all homes have been water compromised (even brand new homes), making a Vail home mold inspection more important than ever.

Common causes:

• Recent severe storm (wind and rain)
• Construction defects
• Poor filtration in HVAC
• Plumbing problems
• Improper insulation, ventilation or grading
• Basement floods or leaks
• Roof /ceiling leaks
• Presence of items that are damaged by water

Have you seen visible mold?

Any substance growing that looks:

• Velvety
• Slimy o White o Black o Green o Pink
• Smelly
• Discoloration

Where to Check for Visible Mold

Bathroom

• Around the bathtub or shower
• Around & Under sink
• Under & Behind Toilet
• Around bathroom vanity

Kitchen

• Around & Under the sink where leakage might occur
• Behind and Under Refrigerator

Floors, wall cavities and ceilings directly above or below a bathroom or kitchen

• Attic & Basement Spaces
• Laundry Area
• Around Water Heater
• Around & Inside AC Unit & Vents
• Garage (Especially when directly attached to entrance of home)
• Clothing
• Carpet & Rugs
• Behind vinyl wall coverings
• Surface walls behind furniture

Do You Experience Any Sensitivity?

Exposure to mold is known to cause:

• Itching or irritation of the eyes, nose, throat or skin.
• Burning sensation on skin or rashes
• Sinus infections or congestion (runny nose)
• Musty odor
• Respiratory problems (sneezing or coughing)
• Frequent or onset headaches or migraines
• Changes in breathing patterns
• Fatigue

Why You Should Get A Vail Home Mold Inspection?

• To answer the question, “Do I have a hidden mold growing in my home?”
• To know what kind of mold you may have
• To avoid unseen potential health risks
• To maintain the healthy state of your home
• To solve building defects such as dry rot, warping and deterioration of your home
• To avoid future expense of a massive remediation
• Peace of mind when buying or selling a house

Mold Testing Made Simple

• Your home inspector has been trained and educated by PRO-LAB® to collect the appropriate samples
• Your home inspector will take one air sample per 1000 square feet, including a control sample outside
• Your home inspector will also collect a swab or tape sample from any visible mold growth
• You will get a quick and accurate results
• You do not have to do anything, your home inspector will take care of everything for you

Conclusion

• Protect your property and possessions
• Identify the RED Flags that can indicate a water problem
• The value of testing is that it identifies and determines the cause of a mold problem
• Testing is the first step in correction of a mold problem
• Be proactive and find problems before they get large and expensive
• Mold testing is not a real estate deal breaker – it can be cleaned

PRO-LAB® Solutions

• PRO-LAB® is an American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) accredited laboratory
• PRO-LAB® is an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory
• PRO-LAB® has staff to answer your questions and help guide your solutions
• Fast turnaround times that fit your needs
• Easy to read laboratory mold reports