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WHY TEST FOR MOLD IN SAN
DIEGO COUNTY?
A decade ago it was asbestos. Today, mold is in the
spotlight and San Diego County is divided over whether
mold really is a legitimate concern or just another
over-rated environmental issue. What we hear about mold
testing is often influenced by what someone is trying to
sell us or want us to believe.
A SIGN OF THE TIMES.
Whatever we believe about mold in San Diego County, it
is a reality that is here to stay. Numerous alerts from
the medical profession in San Diego County and the
skyrocketing number of lawsuits against landlords,
realtors, employers, insurers, and even car dealers,
warn us of the seriousness of mold and justify the need
for proper mold testing, especially in San Diego County
where everyone is sue-happy.
Some have even called mold "The Silent Killer". That may
be on the extreme side, but with all the information
available about mold and it's potential for harm, there
are plenty of valid reasons for mold testing. For
example, we now know that some molds produce mycotoxins
which may be linked to severe cases of asthma,
respiratory problems including bleeding lungs, and many
other very serious ailments including immune system
disorders. The medical and legal communities in San
Diego County are now taking mold contamination very
seriously. With so much overwhelming evidence to support
the dangers of exposure to mold, mold testing is the
first step in properly assessing whether an abnormal or
elevated mold condition exists.
MOLD TESTING in San Diego
County:
THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO EVERY
STORY - THEN THERE'S THE TRUTH
The controversy over mold testing and the potentially
harmful effects of mold is driven primarily by
opinionated proponents on both sides of the mold testing
issue with their own agenda.
SIDE 1 - "MOLD IS NO BIG DEAL"
There are some who will tell you that mold in San Diego
County is no big deal and mold testing is not necessary.
It is interesting to note that those who make such
irresponsible statements also disclaim everything they
say by warning you to wear a respirator and rubber
gloves when cleaning mold. Why? If mold is "no big
deal", why bother protecting your lungs and skin from
it? The answer is; because mold can be a very big deal
and the only way to really know for sure is by proper
testing for mold.
SIDE 2: "MOLD WILL KILL YOU AND
EAT YOUR HOUSE"
That almost sounds comical, but there are those "Chicken
Little" types out there who will tell you that mold is
the "end of the world" and try to scare you in to
spending a fortune to rebuild your home, which just
happens to be the business they are in. [see
mold scams]
Because of the newness of the industry and the lack
of official standards in San Diego County for
investigating and reporting mold conditions, there are
some unscrupulous "opportunists" out there who seek to
capitalize on your naiveté. Proper mold testing by a
third party mold inspector is the best way keep zealous
mold contractors in check and provide you with accurate
assessments of indoor mold conditions.
THE TRUTH:
Whenever you hear statements that seem extremely biased
to one side of the mold testing issue or the other, be
cautious. Our advice is, make sure the person testing
for mold has no personal interest in how your mold tests
come out. The truth is, under certain conditions, mold
does have the potential to cause very costly damage to
property and poses a serious health threat to humans and
animals. Plain and simple. But not all San Diego County
mold problems are catastrophic by default. Again, the
best way to get an accurate and unbiased assessment of
your mold condition is to have proper mold testing done
by an uninterested third party mold inspector.
Does mold cause health problems with everyone? Of course
not, but if you are susceptible to mold allergies or
have other medical issues such as those described in our
Health Effects page, there is a high probability that
you will have an adverse reaction in moldy environments.
As for property damage, the very nature of mold is to
decompose matter. Over a period of time, mold can
destroy anything and everything it comes in contact
with, including your home and personal belongings. Does
the fact that mold is present in San Diego County
automatically mean your property is doomed? Of course
not. But the longer it goes un-addressed, the more
damage it will cause.
The difference between a minor mold problem and a major
problem is -
a) How long before you discover it, and
b) how long you wait to do something about it.
It is possible to take mold problems with you when
you move your contaminated belongings from one house to
another. We have even seen automobiles, trailers and
motor homes become contaminated by spores in clothing,
but that too happens very rarely.
WHY TAKE CHANCES?
If you suspect your property has a mold problem, the
first responsible step is to take swift action. Having
your home or office inspected and tested for mold will
tell you whether you have a small clean-up project or a
job that requires professional mold remediation. If you
require mold remediation, an independent mold inspection
will assist in determining proper abatement procedures
and help keep your San Diego County remediation
contractor honest. THE VALUE
OF RELIABLE INFORMATION:
Make Sure You Are Equipped With Accurate and Un-Biased
Information.
It's important to know that your mold assessment is
accurate and unbiased in order to truly know the extent
of the problem and properly decide on a course of
action. The only way to insure the reliability of a mold
inspection is to make sure that the inspection company
has nothing to gain from the results and does not
benefit financially from the mold removal. In other
words, do not have your San Diego County property
inspected for mold by the same mold remediation
contractor who gets paid to REMOVE your mold. In fact,
do not allow anyone else to perform the inspection who
might have something to sell you, based on the results.
Furthermore, NEVER let your remediation contractor
provide his own mold clearance testing. An un-biased
mold clearance test is your only way to know if the mold
remediation was successful. You cannot trust mold
clearance testing to the contractor doing your
remediation work. That's like grading your own report
card.
Advanced Mold Inspections is not in the mold removal
business. We are, in fact, certified mold remediators as
well as certified mold inspectors in San Diego County,
but we do not engage in any mold remediation services.
Our certified mold inspectors are put though mold
remediation training for the sole purpose of knowing
whether or not your remediation work was done correctly
or incorrectly.
AMI is not connected with any third parties on either
side of mold issues. We do not benefit from anyone who
would attempt to sell you anything or persuade you that
mold is either no big deal, or the end of the world.
When you hire AMI for mold inspection and mold testing
services, you can count on accurate and un-biased
information from San Diego County's most trusted mold
inspection company. KNOWLEDGE
AND TIMING
It is estimated there is over 400,000 different types of
mold. Less than 100,000 have actually been named, of
which less that 1,000 are commonly found indoors. Of all
the molds found indoors, less than 1% are known to be
toxic. That's the good news. The bad news is, without
proper mold testing and laboratory analysis there is no
way to know the difference. There are thousands of molds
that are black, thousands that are green, thousands that
are brown, etc., etc. Direct microscopic analysis by
highly trained and educated personnel is the only way to
know for certain what types of mold are present in an
environment.
When is a good time to test for mold? A good time to
test for mold is:
- When you want to determine if mold is growing in
you home.
- After any flooding or water damage event.
- Whenever you find a leak that has been present
for more than 24 hours.
- Whenever you smell a moldy odor.
- Occupants of your home experience a long-term
medical condition without a known cause.
- Unusual stains appear on furniture or building
material.
- You suspect mold but do not see any visible mold
growth.
If you suspect you have a mold problem, whether
mold is visible or not, one call to Advanced Mold
Inspections is all it takes to be sure. Our only
interest is in providing our clients with accurate
reporting of the data we collect in the course of
the inspection process and reliable results of mold
tests and samples.
TO SCHEDULE A MOLD
INSPECTION CALL 1-800-369-8532
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