The above average amount of rain we’ve had this summer has caused basement mold to grow in quite a lot of homes. Homeowners are finding mold growing where they have never seen it.

In a typical basement, the air conditioning unit does not run very often, and when it does, it’s usually for very short cycles. Because the majority of the walls are below grade and the top portions are covered by the body of the house, temperature changes are minimal. The soil and the main body of the home serve as insulators to the basement, allowing the temperature to stay somewhat constant.

During the cooling cycle of an air conditioning unit, the air is drawn into the unit and is filtered and dried, thus “conditioning” or “drying” it. When the air conditioning unit is not needed to cool the basement, the air is not “conditioned,” and the full-humidity air stagnates.

As the unconditioned air accumulates, so does the moisture. Mold grows when moisture comes into contact with an organic surface, and once the moisture reaches 60% relative humidity, mold growth can begin. The longer the humidity levels are elevated, the more extensive the mold growth becomes.

Now you know. So what do you do?

If your basement is beginning to have that moldy or musty smell, you may want to take action to prevent basement mold. Consider installing a dehumidifier. I recommend having a dehumidifier attached to your air conditioning unit so that you not only reduce the humidity in the air, but also filter and condition the air in the process, creating a healthier environment. This system is more costly, but the benefit of better air quality is a value well worth the investment.

Do you have musty or moldy odors in your basement? If so, call Branch Environmental, Inc. and we can help you remove basement mold and decide the best solution to your basement moisture issue.

When you have kids, it’s critical to know when to test for lead paint in your home. If you have children under 6 years old and live in a home built prior to 1978, or if your kids attend a daycare in a building built prior to 1978, you should perform a test to determine whether any of the interiors have been coated with lead-based paint.

Children can get lead poisoning by ingesting even a tiny amount of lead paint chips or dust, and the effects of lead poisoning can be severe. Although adults are less susceptible to lead poisoning, they are not immune to its effects. Unlike mold where you can simply clean up the mess and the symptoms will go away, lead poisoning can cause serious life-changing damage. Children who suffer from lead poisoning can suffer developmental problems, and often do not demonstrate identifiable symptoms. That’s why it’s important to know when to test for lead paint. The good news?

Lead Testing is Simple

Luckily, it’s very easy to test for lead paint. The EPA has approved lead check test swabs to identify lead-based paint, and they are inexpensive and come with instructions. Some of the best places to check are windowsills, baseboards, and wall trim. If young children are in your care, make sure they are safe. If you think it’s possible that you have lead-based paint in your home, have it tested today.

Lead test kits can be purchased online and at many large hardware or paint stores. If you are concerned about lead poisoning and would prefer not to do the lead test yourself, call us and we’ll assist you in making sure your house is safe. Learn more about our lead testing services.

We just completed another reconstruction project that began as a mold problem (See our last tag-team mold/reconstruction project). The main cause of THIS mold problem was the whole “wallpaper on the exterior wall” thing again. Believe me: this is a very common issue. This one was so severe that we had to demolish nearly one entire end of the home. Part of it was originally a carport converted to a large den, but the rest was an addition to the rear of it. Unfortunately, the walls were not well insulated and there was no exterior vapor barrier present. The mold found a great home and took up residency. This one did not need an official mold inspection; it was so bad that there was no question as to why or where the mold was.

Of course, with any project that includes disturbing drywall, we had to perform an asbestos inspection. Once we were clear, we set up a full containment system so that spores would not be spread to any other portions of the home.

We moved all contents and furniture, and the interior demolition began. With the extent of this mold contamination, we kept an air scrubber under negative pressure running in this home for several days to filter spores out of the air. We continued to use the air scrubber, but under neutral pressure for the remainder of the project. We do this with many projects to reduce standard construction dust during the repair process.

The combination of the Branch teams kept this customer neat and the air clean while restoring the property.

During the mold remediation process, our customer mentioned that for years she and others had felt uncomfortable, with cold-like symptoms, when they were in that area of the home. Now, it is understood why.

Is there a room or area of your home that is uncomfortable to be in, but you just can’t quite figure out why? If so, give us a call, and we will help identify the problem and repair it as well so you can enjoy your entire home again. In the meantime, please feel free to learn more about our Athens mold remediation services.

We have a statement that is part of each project’s mission objective: “Leave each customer and project better than we found them.”

A little while back in our morning meeting, our group discussed one way that we can leave our customers better than we found them. It was to give each customer peace of mind concerning their security. For years, we have simply gotten a key from the owner and put it into a lockbox, similar to the ones used by Realtors, so that all workers could have access as necessary. As we discussed this, we determined that, yes, we do need full access in order to complete projects efficiently, but once the job is over, the owner should have the secure feeling that no one would still have a key to their home. Now we do extensive background checks and never consider sending anyone to work in a house if we do not trust them. However, our character judgments and background checks are not foolproof.

Now, when we begin a project, we change the door lock for the duration of the project. We then reset the original lock once the work is complete. No one associated with us will ever have a key to your home. If, by some chance, we do obtain your original key, we will replace or re-key your home, free of charge.

Would this precaution ease your mind a bit?