Mold Information from the EPA

Suspect mold in your home?  Have a musty odor?  Anyone in the home getting sick with allergy type system, hay fever?  Feeling tired and fatique.  It could be that you have mold inside of your home. At Certainty Home Inspections, our certified ESA mold specialists can perform an indoor air quality test  for you on your home.  The test will tell you the types of mold your home has, the quantities of mold, whether it is elevated or not, and the health effects that are associated with the types.    The environmental protection or (EPA) has guidelines you can follow to help with the remediation of mold.  In more severe cases, you can contact Puroclean of Southern Indiana

A brief guide to mold & moisture inside of your home is a book the EPA puts out to help everyone understand the risks of mold and moisture inside of your home.  How can you tell if you have a mold problem?

Ten things you should know about mold

For information on mold inside of schools and commercial buildings click here

The EPA recommends Moisture can be controlled as follows :

Water in your home can come from many sources. Water can enter your home by leaking or by seeping through basement floors. Showers or even cooking can add moisture to the air in your home. The amount of moisture that the air in your home can hold depends on the temperature of the air. As the temperature goes down, the air is able to hold less moisture. This is why, in cold weather, moisture condenses on cold surfaces (for example, drops of water form on the inside of a window). This moisture can encourage biological pollutants to grow.

There are many ways to control moisture in your home:

• Fix leaks and seepage. If water is entering the house from the outside, your options range from simple landscaping to extensive excavation and waterproofing. (The ground should slope away from the house.) Water in the basement can result from the lack of gutters or a water flow toward the house. Water leaks in pipes or around tubs and sinks can provide a place for biological pollutants to grow.
• Put a plastic cover over dirt in crawlspaces to prevent moisture from coming in from the ground. Be sure crawlspaces are well-ventilated.
• Use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to remove moisture to the outside (not into the attic). Vent your clothes dryer to the outside.
• Turn off certain appliances (such as humidifiers or kerosene heaters) if you notice moisture on windows and other surfaces.
• Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners, especially in hot, humid climates, to reduce moisture in the air, but be sure that the appliances themselves don’t become sources of biological pollutants.
• Raise the temperature of cold surfaces where moisture condenses. Use insulation or storm windows. (A storm window installed on the inside works better than one installed on the outside.) Open doors between rooms (especially doors to closets which may be colder than the rooms) to increase circulation. Circulation carries heat to the cold surfaces. Increase air circulation by using fans and by moving furniture from wall corners to promote air and heat circulation. Be sure that your house has a source of fresh air and can expel excessive moisture from the home.
• Pay special attention to carpet on concrete floors. Carpet can absorb moisture and serve as a place for biological pollutants to grow. Use area rugs which can be taken up and washed often. In certain climates, if carpet is to be installed over a concrete floor, it may be necessary to use a vapor barrier (plastic sheeting) over the concrete and cover that with sub-flooring (insulation covered with plywood) to prevent a moisture problem.
• Moisture problems and their solutions differ from one climate to another. The Northeast is cold and wet; the Southwest is hot and dry; the South is hot and wet; and the Western Mountain states are cold and dry. All of these regions can have moisture problems. For example, evaporative coolers used in the Southwest can encourage the growth of biological pollutants. In other hot regions, the use of air conditioners which cool the air too quickly may prevent the air conditioners from running long enough to remove excess moisture from the air. The types of construction and weatherization for the different climates can lead to different problems and solutions.

Moisture On Windows

Your humidistat is set too high if excessive moisture collects on windows and other cold surfaces. Excess humidity for a prolonged time can damage walls especially when outdoor air temperatures are very low. Excess moisture condenses on window glass because the glass is cold. Other sources of excess moisture besides overuse of a humidifier may be long showers, running water for other uses, boiling or steaming in cooking, plants, and drying clothes indoors. A tight, energy efficient house holds more moisture inside; you may need to run a kitchen or bath ventilating fan sometimes, or open a window briefly. Storm windows and caulking around windows keep the interior glass warmer and reduce condensation of moisture there.

Humidifiers are not recommended for use in buildings without proper vapor barriers because of potential damage from moisture buildup. Consult a building contractor to determine the adequacy of the vapor barrier in your house. Use a humidity indicator to measure the relative humidity in your house. The American Society of Heating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends these maximum indoor humidity levels.

Southern Indiana Home Inspector is #1 Customer Service!!!

Did you know that “Certainty Home Inspections”, in our 7 years of serving Southern Indiana and Louisville Kentucky, has an outstanding customer service background. After performing over 6000 inspections less than 1/10 of 1% of our clients have ever had a complaint with our company. We don’t know about you but we consider that some pretty good standards to have a home inspection done by. Call us today to book your home inspection with “Certainty” 1-866-417-9591.

Southern Indiana home inspection company out shines other companies!

Certainty Home Inspections has a great system and did a great job on my Indiana home inspection. The website provides you with plenty of links to get you informed before the inspection begins. The inspector that we had was very informative and professional. The entire process was very pleasant from scheduling to the inspection. The report is top notch with a binder including all the suggestions with pictures of the areas that need addressed. I used a different company when we bought our previous house and it was not even in the same league. I would recommend Certainty without hesitation. Terry Steier Memphis Indiana 47143

New Albany Home Inspector Talks About Knob & Tube Wiring

Trees As Windbreaks

The biggest and most energy efficient air conditioner and heat assistant is a tree.  A tree provides windbreaks and can keep it cooler in the summer and make it easier to heat in the winter.  A little care taken in the choice of trees and their placement can result in savings when you pay the bills.  Evergreen trees such as pines and cedars are the most efficient blocking the wind.  Trees slow the wind by up to 15 times the height of the windbreak.  Homeowners can save as much as 25 percent on their heating bills with a windbreak on the north side of the house.  Windbreaks on the north and west sides can result in a 33 percent savings.  A row of trees running from southwest to northeast will be the best windbreak since winds usually blow from the northwest.  Hardwood trees are most effective on the east, west, and south sides of your home.  Trees should be planted far away enough that their roots will not damage the foundation. Certainty provides thorough home inspections in the Southern Indiana and Louisville area.

To book your inspection today call Certainty Home Inspections at 1-866-417-9591.

Home Maintenance Tips

TO DO	SPRING	SUMMER	FALL	WINTER
INSPECT FOUNDATION,CRAWL SPACE, BASEMENT FOR CRACKS	X
CLEAN GUTTERS	X
CHECK ALL ALARM SYSTEMS (SMOKE, CARBON MONOXIDE, ETC)		X		X
SERVICE HEATING & COOLING SYSTEMS	X
CHECK ALL VENTILATION SYSTEMS IN KITCHEN AND BATHES				X
REPLACE FILTERS IN HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS	X	X	X	X
CHECK ATTIC FOR VENTILATION AND MOISTURE SPOTS		X
CLEAN THE DRYER VENTS		X		X
CHECK ROOF FOR DAMAGED SHINGLES AND LOOSE FLASHING	X		X
PREPARE OUTSIDE WATER SOURCES FOR WINTER			X
INSPECT EXTERIOR WALLS FOR CRACKING AND WEAR	X
CHECK FOR PLUMBING LEAKS		X
REPLACE WORN FAUCET WASHERS		X
INSPECT ALL ELECTRICAL CORDS, PLUGS & WALL PLATES	X	X	X	X
INSPECT CLOTHES WASHER HOSES FOR LEAKS		X
CLEAN CHIMNEY AND CHECK FOR OVERHANGING TREE LIMBS		X

Facts About Lead Paint

Facts about lead

 Lead exposure can harm young children and babies even before they are born. Even children who seem healthy can have high levels of lead in their bodies.  You can get lead in your body by breathing or swallowing lead dust, or by eating soil or paint chips containing lead.  You have many options for reducing lead hazards. In most cases, lead-based paint that is in good condition is not a hazard.  Removing lead-based paint improperly can increase the danger to your family. Childhood lead poisoning remains a major environmental health problem in the United States.

Lead is more dangerous to children because:

·          Babies and young children often put their hands and other objects in their mouths. These objects can have lead dust on them.

·          Children’s growing bodies absorb more lead.

·          Children’s brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.

If not detected early, children with high levels of lead in their bodies can suffer from:

·          Damage to the brain and nervous system

·          Behavior and learning problems, such as hyperactivity

·          Slowed growth

·          Hearing problems

·          Headaches

Lead is also harmful to adults. Adults can suffer from:

·          Reproductive problems (in both men and women)

·          High blood pressure and hypertension

·          Nerve disorders

·          Memory and concentration problems

·          Muscle and joint pain

  In general, lead is usually found in older homes, the older the home the more likely it has lead-based paint.

·          Many homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint. The federal government banned lead-based paint from housing in 1978. Some states stopped its use even earlier. Lead can be found: In homes in the city, country, or suburbs. In apartments, single-family homes, and both private and public housing. Inside and outside of the house.

·          In soil around a home. Soil can pick up lead from exterior paint, or other sources such as past use of leaded gas in cars, and children playing in yards can ingest or inhale lead dust.

·          Household dust. Dust can pick up lead from deteriorating lead-based paint or from soil tracked into a home.

·          Drinking water. Your home might have plumbing with lead or lead solder. Call your local health department or water supplier to find out about testing your water. You cannot see, smell or taste lead, and boiling your water will not get rid of lead. If you think your plumbing might have lead in it: Use only cold water for drinking and cooking. Run water for 15 to 30 seconds before drinking it, especially if you have not used your water for a few hours.

·          The job. If you work with lead, you could bring it home on your hands or clothes. Shower and change clothes before coming home. Launder your work clothes separately from the rest of your family’s clothes.

·          Old painted toys and furniture.

·          Food and liquids stored in lead crystal or lead-glazed pottery or porcelain. Food can become contaminated because lead can leach in from these containers.

·          Lead smelters or other industries that release lead into the air.

·          Hobbies that use lead, such as making pottery or stained glass, or refinishing furniture.

·          Folk remedies that contain lead, such as “greta” and “azarcon” used to treat an upset stomach.

 Lead from paint chips, which you can see, and lead dust, which you can’t always see, can be serious hazards.

·          Peeling, chipping, chalking, or cracking lead-based paint is a hazard and needs immediate attention.

·          Lead-based paint may also be a hazard when found on surfaces that children can chew or that get a lot of wear-and-tear. These areas include:

·          Windows and window sills.

·          Doors and door frames.

·          Stairs, railings, and banisters.

·          Porches and fences.

Note: Lead-based paint that is in good condition is usually not a hazard.

·          Lead dust can form when lead-based paint is dry scraped, dry sanded, or heated.