What is Mold? Molds are fungi. Molds grow throughout the natural
and built environment. Tiny particles of mold are present in indoor and outdoor air. In nature, molds help break down dead
materials and can be found growing on soil, foods, plant matter, and other items. Molds produce microscopic cells called "spores"
which are very tiny and spread easily through the air. Live spores act like seeds, forming new mold growths (colonies) when
they find the right conditions.
What does mold
need to grow?
Mold only needs a few simple things to grow
and multiply:
Moisture
Nutrients
Suitable place to grow
Of these, controlling excess moisture is the key to
preventing and stopping indoor mold growth.
Should
I be concerned about mold in my home? Mold should not be permitted to grow and multiply indoors. When this happens,
health problems can occur and building materials, goods and furnishings may be damaged.
Mold Investigation
Under
Pressure, Inc. is a nationally certified mold inspection and abatement consultant. The mold investigation begins by
touring the building and determining areas of moisture intrusion such as leaks, condensation or high humidity in the air.
Before any disturbance to the area's environment, pre-abatement mold tests, typically air samples, are collected.
If visible mold is present a bulk sample is collected. An outdoor air sample is collected as a control measure to aid
in statistically determing whether mold growth is originating indoors. During the investigation, a host of instrumentation
can be utilized including thermal imaging cameras, digital photos, video documentation of HVAC duct work, borescope observations, precision psychrometers, moisture meters and infrared temperature readings.
Laboratory Analysis
Under
Pressure, Inc. utilizes the strictest guidelines in collection and transporting of samples to the laboratory. The chain
of quality cannot be broken at the laboratory level. Our company utilizes a nationally certified American Industrial
Hygiene Association (AIHA) accredited facility certified for Air-Direct Examination for Fungal Spores.
The Inspection Report
The
inspection report will relate the visual findings to the laboratory analysis. A complete report is generated identifying
problem areas, possible health affects and remediation measures required to abate the area. The most common question
posed to us is, "Can mold make me sick?" Please click on this link for further information...
The Abatement Process
Please
contact us for an estimate...The removal process can be very complex with multiple levels of cleaning required. For
further information, please see our Indoor Air Quality page...
