After a flood or other water-related disaster, you might be worried about mould growth and its potential health effects. There are legitimate businesses that focus on mould removal and cleanup, but there are also scammers who prey on people's worries about dangerous mould contamination. Some victims of these scams have lost their houses after losing tens of thousands of dollars. If you're concerned that you might have fallen victim to a mould cleanup scam, keep reading for warning signs and preventative measures.
1. They provide mould testing at no cost to you
Mold and asbestos testing for mould is often done by an independent testing laboratory or a certified industrial hygienist (CIH) and is an additional service provided by reputable mould treatment businesses. Anyone in the mould removal industry offering free mould inspections can be trying to trick you by creating phoney results that falsely indicate the presence of dangerously high mould spore counts or poisonous black mould like Stachybotrys. Toxic mould contamination concern is the most frequently used strategy by scam artists to generate high-priced mould repair jobs.
2. The mould inspection and cleanup can be handled by the same provider
For your ease, several businesses provide both testing and repair services under one roof. Misleading mould cleanup firms can use this strategy to their advantage. Hiring your own CIH to do the necessary testing and develop the necessary protocol can protect you from being taken advantage of. All mould testing and inspections should be carried out by impartial third parties with no vested interest in the outcome.
3. They give you a free final air quality approval
After the mould has been removed, a clearing test for air quality is conducted as part of a post-remediation assessment. Prior to making any payments, most insurance providers and mortgage lenders will necessitate a third-party clearing test. This inspection is necessary before starting any reconstruction to ensure the cleanup was carried out properly and satisfactorily. This last inspection could be provided at no cost by some remediation firms. If you let a cleanup business check their own work, however, you won't know if it was done correctly or if the results are reliable. A dishonest remediation firm won't risk a failed clearance test on your house or the added expense of redoing the cleaning.
Keep in mind that the final clearance must be performed by an independent testing laboratory or CIH, and that it must pass, before any remediation work is paid for.
How to Collect Physical Mold Growth Samples for Low-Cost Mold Laboratory Identification of Mold Spec.
How to Take Samples of Mold Growth for Identification in a Lab Without Breaking the Bank
It's in the Canadian city of VANCOUVER. According to Phillip Fry, Certified Mold Inspector and author of the book Do-It-Best-Yourself Mold Prevention, Inspection, Testing & Remediation, many homeowners, landlords, tenants, employers, and employees want to know, and need to know, the precise identities of the various mould species infesting their mouldy home, rental unit, or place of employment.
Both the actual collecting of mould samples from the mouldy building and the laboratory analysis of those samples are necessary for an accurate identification of mould species.
Self-collection of actual mould growth for submission to a mould laboratory for examination (at a cost of $20.00 or more per sample tested) is the least expensive method of collecting mould samples.
Collecting a Huge Number of Mold Samples
Owners and tenants who discover mould development on a wall, ceiling, floor, heating or cooling duct register, or any other surface can collect mould spores in a tiny plastic bag by scraping the area where the mould is forming. Bulk mould sampling, also known as physical mould sampling, is the process of collecting such a sample.
The mould tester must use a full-face respirator mask equipped with organic vapour filters and rubber gloves when scraping mould development (such as the 3M brand from a large hardware, home improvement, or safety store).
You should use a paint scraper that is either brand new or has been completely cleansed (with ethyl or rubbing alcohol). To prevent mould from spreading from one source to another during sampling, it is important to disinfect the scraper after each sample is taken.
Clearly and legibly print the owner's name, the property address, the exact location at that address where the test was conducted, the testing date, the type of sampling method used ("bulk sample"), and the tester's name and contact information on a big pressure sensitive label.
Each test number from the mould chain of custody form (which is available for free from the mould laboratory) should be included on the label as well. Put the label on the plastic bag containing the mould sample with its corresponding number.
Alternately, the tester can initiate the mould sample's growth (or "culturing") immediately by scraping its particles into a mould test kit (Petri dish). In order to accurately identify mould species, a "viable testing" growth process of 5–7 days is required.
The tester can either wait for the self-observation period to complete and then send the mould test kits to the mould lab, or the tester can send the kits to the lab immediately.
Another way to collect physical samples in bulk is to remove a tiny piece (no more than 2 inches by 2 inches) of mouldy drywall, insulation, or furniture. The mouldy side down should be pressed firmly into a mould test kit or the sliced piece can be placed in a small ziplock bag. Label it according to the same criteria as described before.
Wood timbers, drywall, plasterboard, wallpaper, ceiling tile, carpeting, padding, heating/cooling system filters, clothing, upholstery, and any other mold-loving item can all be sampled in bulk for mould lab investigation.
A Swatch Collection of Scotch® Brand Tape for Lifting
Tape lift sampling is a simple method for collecting physical bulk mould samples, and the processes are as follows:
First, get yourself a roll of Scotch® Brand Tape and a pair of scissors, and cut a three-inch (3") long strip of one-inch (1") broad transparent sticky tape.
The next step is to press the tape strip firmly (sticky side down) onto the visible mould growth or onto the surface being tested while wearing rubber gloves and a breathing respirator mask (with organic vapour filters) purchased from a nearby hardware store or home improvement centre.
Next, peel back the tape and discard it
Remove the seal from a small ziplock bag (a clear, resealable plastic storage bag) and gently press the lift tape sample's sticky side against the inside of the bag's sidewall.
Make sure the bag is completely sealed by zipping it shut. If you need to, seal it with tape to prevent mould spores from spreading.
A big adhesive label with the identical sample identification information as described above should be affixed to the outside of the ziplock bag, with the addition of "lift tape sampling" as the type of sampling procedure.