Hurricane Sandy Moisture and Mold

 Homeowners in New England may not think that their basement took in water from Hurricane Sandy, but hidden moisture may exist within carpeting and walls.   This moisture can seep into the basement foundation, leading to very favorable conditions for mold growth, IndoorDoctor President Jeffrey Bradley warns.   Unseen and unidentified dampness from Hurricane Irene makes for a toxic arrangement when coupled with basements' already higher mold spore counts that are present due to higher humidity and lack of overall cross ventilation.

"Even a minimal increase in moisture content can create a 'fungal jungle' in carpeting and lead to black mold on the wallboard," Bradley states.   "I see cases three months after a storm event where an entire family is sick due to hidden mold growth."
To avoid the dangerous risks associated with molds Bradley strongly urges homeowners to have their home inspected and tested for mold.   IndoorDoctor uses sophisticated equipment like Infrared technology to detect hidden moisture pockets and digital moisture meters to record moisture content within building materials.

Winter Is A Great Time to Conduct Indoor Air Quality Testing

IndoorDoctor, a New England based indoor air quality testing firm, has seen a steady rise with indoor air quality concerns during winter months. Simply put, more people spend their times indoors when it’s cold outside. “As homes become more energy efficient indoor air pollution will accumulate with greater concentration,” says environmental engineer and company president Jeffrey Bradley. Major contributors of indoor pollution include combustible heating sources and fireplaces. These sources emit very small particles which penetrate deeply into sensitive parts of the lungs and can cause or worsen respiratory disease.  IndoorDoctor is able to measure and document fine particulate using a handheld particle scanner. 

     It’s not just people that spend more times indoors. Household pets are homebound during winter months. Many people will experience an increase in allergic symptoms due to the increased animal dander which is very difficult to remove. Other commonly associated irritants involve airborne fiberglass. Often people will exercise at home instead of outside or at the local health club. Bradley cautions people to place treadmills and other exercise equipment in a basement where the air quality is much worse than other areas in the home due to exposed fiberglass, fine particulates from the furnace, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from stored chemicals, and higher mold spore levels.  

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is one of the most common pollutants IndoorDoctor detects during winter months. Homeowners will typically install carbon monoxide meters to detect the lethal colorless and odorless gas. Unfortunately, these detectors will only register CO levels around 5 or 10 parts per million (ppm) and not warn the homeowner of lower levels which may contribute to headaches, memory loss and fatigue. “We’ve had a number of clients experiencing long term acute carbon monoxide poisoning from CO levels around 2-4 ppm. Our specialized testing equipment will detect the trace carbon monoxide levels that a typical home detector will not”.  

IndoorDoctor recommends regular servicing and cleaning of the heating system and to schedule independent air quality testing.