Envirotex Blog – Page 21

Environmental Cleanup Issues in Northern, VA Homes

Environmental cleanup in Northern, VA impacts both homes and businesses. Northern, VA, still today, has many older homes and old factories, some just sitting there waiting to be torn down. Issues such as asbestos and mold can be in found in older homes and businesses in the Northern, VA area. Moisture tends to affect older homes because newer homes are constructed with newer technology so water doesn’t seem to enter homes as easily.

Basements that are damp where mold has become a major problem require environmental cleanup. Mold can be dangerous for your health especially if you live in it day in and day out. Any moisture in your Northern, VA home such as in your bathroom when there is not adequate ventilation, the kitchen, or if you have any leaky pipes, can turn into a major development of mold infestation.

An environmental cleanup project can include asbestos removal for older homes in Northern, VA. Anytime you are pursuing a remodeling project, you need to be aware of any asbestos-related materials that could have been used in the initial construction of your home. Insulation, popcorn ceilings, and flooring tiles inside could include asbestos materials. Outside your home, asbestos-related materials could be in the siding on your home and your roofing shingles. Environmental cleanup projects in Northern, VA are more frequent than most homeowners realize.

Most homeowners in Northern, VA are unaware of the environmental cleanup issues that could be part of the surroundings they are living in. Some homeowners see mold and don’t think much of it. They try to clean it up and then later it comes back. If you are experiencing a strong musty smell, don’t overlook it. Mold infestation can cause major health issues such as headaches, coughing, respiratory issues, asthma, fatigue, running nose, and can even contribute to depression. If you have noticed any mold growth in your Northern, VA home and any of your family members are experiencing any of these symptoms, an environmental cleanup should be done immediately.

Another environmental cleanup issue that could be lurking inside your home, if it is fairly old, is lead paint. All of these things, mold, asbestos, and lead paint should be taken care of as soon as possible for the safety of your family.

Protect Yourself by Hiring an Asbestos Contractor in Virginia Beach, VA

Even though asbestos is now limited in its use in the U.S., asbestos-containing materials still do exist in older homes, businesses, and schools that were built prior to 1980. If you suspect any asbestos-containing materials in your home, you should always hire an asbestos contractor.

Asbestos abatement consists of identifying, removing, repairing, and encapsulating any asbestos materials in your home or business in Virginia Beach, VA. This will eliminate any threats of possible exposure to toxic asbestos fibers and should always be handled by a professional asbestos contractor in Virginia Beach, VA.

Materials in your home that could contain asbestos include—

Roof shingles and siding
Vermiculite insulation
Ceiling tiles and coatings
Popcorn ceilings
Drywall and cement sheets
Plaster, putties, and caulking
Plumbing fixtures
Pipe and duct coverings
Thermal boiler and fireplace insulation
Vinyl floor tiles

Asbestos-containing materials are normally safe if they are not disturbed, but over time they can become brittle and crumble. If this happens, you will want to bring in an asbestos contractor to handle any asbestos-related issues you have within your home and outside the home in Virginia Beach, VA.

If you live in an older home in Virginia Beach, VA and are getting ready to do some remodeling, call in an asbestos contractor to check for any asbestos materials. Never saw, hammer, sand, drill, or break up any asbestos materials. Always leave this for professional asbestos contractors.

Asbestos contractors know what to look for and can do a thorough inspection of your home. Once asbestos has been found, your contractor will set up a time to come in and remove or encapsulate the asbestos-containing materials.

This will mean all members of your family will have to leave your Virginia Beach, VA home until the abatement has been finished. A Virginia Beach, VA asbestos contractor, such as Envirotex, is a professional environmental company who has the knowledge and experience to handle this process. The abatement team will wear special disposable coveralls and gloves, respirators, eyewear, and rubber boots. They will fully protect themselves during the process.

Inhaling or ingesting asbestos could lead to serious health problems such as mesothelioma cancer and asbestosis. Never handle asbestos on your own. Leave it to the professionals at Envirotex.

Black Mold Removal from Air Ducts in Alexandria, VA

Black mold that grows on floors, walls, carpets and other places in Alexandria, VA homes can usually be easily spotted. However, once black mold starts to grow in your air vents, things are much more problematic.

Some things to look for that could be signs of black mold growth within your air ducts that will require black mold removal from a licensed professional environmental company such as Envirotex include—

Health Symptoms

Itchy eyes
Sneezing indoors is worse than usual, especially if the air conditioner is running
Chronic coughing
Headaches and fatigue
Rashes
Difficulty in breathing
Nausea
Vomiting or diarrhea
Irritation to the throat and nose
Concentration impaired

If any of your household members start to develop these signs, take action promptly to protect your family’s health and call an environmental company in Alexandria, VA for black mold removal at your home.

Black Dust Around Air Vents

Black dust accumulated around air vents in your Alexandria, VA home could be signs that black mold is growing in your air vents. You might experience a musty smell when you run your air conditioner.

Musty Orders

A distinctive, unpleasant musty smell

Air Conditioner Duct Black Mold Removal

Black mold removal can be an extremely time-consuming project. The air conditioning system at your home in Alexandria, VA will need to be taken apart, and special HEPA filter vacuums are used to vacuum and then cleaned with powerful cleaning agents.
Licensed professionals should do this. Otherwise, you take a chance of the mold growing back and possibly spreading to other areas of your Alexandria, VA home. A mold inspector should first confirm the substance is indeed black mold before the black mold removal process begins.
Look at the insulation around your air ducts. If you see black mold in the vents and it has spread to the insulation, this will have to be replaced.
The ductwork should be cleaned and disinfected with special killing agents using the proper tools.

The cause of the black mold growth is your biggest concern because if you don’t find the source, it will continue to grow back. This issue needs to be fixed along with any black mold removal at your Alexandria, VA home.

Get Rid of Mold Issues in Virginia Beach, VA Homes with Mold Treatment

Because of the high humidity in Virginia Beach, VA during the summer months, you may encounter mold growth in your home. Living close to the beach can have its perks, but sometimes it can also bring a lot of friends and family members who want a place to stay at the beach for vacation. With that brings more showers, laundry, and wet bathing suits and towels lying around. All of these bring more moisture and might possibly lead to needing mold treatment to rid your Virginia Beach, VA home of any mold growth you might have.

Without the proper ventilation for your Virginia Beach, VA home or a proper exhaust fan for your bathrooms, the extra showers can draw in an enormous amount of moisture. With the extra moisture, you might notice signs of mold that might require mold treatment and some improvements to the home, so the extra moisture is taken care of. Running your air conditioner during humid weather will indeed help and so will a dehumidifier in areas that draw moisture.

Anytime you notice mold in your Virginia Beach, VA home, you should call in the experts such as a company like Envirotex who specializes in mold treatments and remediation. Sometimes you might just smell a musty odor and will need to have a mold inspection. Professionals know where to look for mold and can determine if any is hidden where you can’t see it. They have special equipment such as thermal imaging that detects and identifies your sources of moisture that is causing the mold growth in your home. Envirotex can provide mold treatment to rid all mold from your home and advise you on how to manage any moisture going forward.

During any mold treatment, your family members will be asked to leave the home in Virginia Beach, VA so that any mold spores that are stirred up during the process that can become airborne will not be inhaled by anyone. This is for your protection. These professionals wear special protective clothing to protect themselves as well.

Living close to the beach you are more prone to floods from hurricanes. This is definitely not anything you want to handle by yourself. Mold treatment for flooded homes in Virginia Beach, VA should always be left to the professionals.

How to Handle Asbestos Removal for Homeowners in Arlington, VA

Handling asbestos has to be done with great care because of the toxic properties of the substance, and it’s a known carcinogen. Any asbestos removal at homes in Arlington, VA should be handled by licensed asbestos professionals such as the team at Envirotex.

Homeowners in Arlington, VA shouldn’t be concerned if the asbestos-containing materials in their home are in good condition because it doesn’t usually present a hazard. However, if the asbestos-containing materials are damaged or worn this can present a great health and safety risk to family members because the fibers that flake off can become airborne. Inhaling these toxic fibers can become embedded in the chest and years later, this asbestos exposure can develop into serious diseases including asbestosis or mesothelioma.

Older homes in Arlington, VA are known to have some form of asbestos lurking around. Homeowners should be cautious of materials that could contain asbestos including insulation, flooring, ceiling tiles, shingles, and siding. If unsure, Arlington, VA homeowners should invest in an asbestos inspection before doing any remodeling. Because asbestos fibers can be harmful to you and your families health, under no circumstances should you ever cut it, drill it, sand it, saw it, scrape it, scrub it, dismantle it, demolish it or dump it.

Asbestos removal should be done to eliminate any asbestos-containing materials. Because of the dangers of asbestos removal, as a homeowner, you must take extra precautions if you decide to remove a small amount yourself. Wear protective clothing at all times. These should be properly disposed of after the small amount of asbestos removal by homeowners in Arlington, VA. Cover the area in plastic drop sheets to catch any debris, fibers, or dust. Wet the area containing the asbestos using a gentle mist of water. Never use brooms or brushes because this will stir up the dust which contains asbestos fibers. Never use a household vacuum cleaner to collect asbestos dust or debris.

If you attempt to do asbestos removal at your Arlington, VA home, you will still need to dispose of the asbestos-containing materials. Materials need to be put into thick plastic sheeting or bags, clearly labeled as asbestos waste and taken to a landfill site that can lawfully receive the waste.

If this seems a bit overwhelming of what you can or can’t do, call in a specialist such as the team at Envirotex who is a licensed asbestos removal contractor in Arlington, VA .

Do you Need a Drug Lab Cleanup in Front Royal, VA?

If you happen to be a landlord with rental properties in Front Royal, VA, beware of drug labs that could be lurking on one of your properties. If you ever suspect that your tenants have set up a drug lab on one of your properties, the best way to handle any drug-related issues is to leave it in the hands of law enforcement. As a landlord, you have the right to inspect your rental by giving heads up that you are going to do a walkthrough. It helps to know what to look for.

Most ingredients used in making methamphetamine are not dangerous, but some are hazardous. These chemicals can include everything from acetone to cold tablets and can include—

Battery acid
Paint thinner
Freon

During the walkthrough of your rental property in Front Royal, VA, be aware if some of these items are stockpiled in greater amounts than most families would use normally. Some other tell-tale signs include—

Fittings on a propane tank that has turned blue
An abundant of cold pills containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine
Coffee filters that have a white pasty substance or shiny white crystals
A strong chemical odor which sometimes smells like urine
Frying pans or glass cookware sitting around with powdery residue
Bottles with rubber tubing attached
Other chemicals

Most of these items are usually sitting around generally in homes, but if these items are gathered together in large amounts, you might have a drug lab doing business on your property and will need to hire a drug lab cleanup professional in Front Royal, VA to clean up the mess safely.

The Virginia Department of Health Board recommends that before any assessment or drug lab cleanup can be done at the property in Front Royal, VA, law enforcement should secure the building. Manufacturing meth is extremely dangerous and causes health risks including the potential for an explosion. Once the seizure has been completed, and before the drug lab cleanup is completed, residents and others should wear protected clothing; it is best for everyone to stay clear of the area until the drug lab cleanup has been completed and it is safe to go back into the Front Royal, VA home.

Whatever you do as a landlord, do not under any circumstances try to save money and take on a drug lab cleanup on your own. Drug lab cleanups take experienced and knowledgeable professionals so that once the job is done, it is safe for new tenants to move into your rental property in Front Royal, VA.

Preventing Mold in Virginia Beach, VA Homes

Mold can be extremely frustrating for Virginia Beach, VA homeowners because it can lead to property damage and cause health issues for your family. Mold grows on most all surfaces including carpets, clothing, and places that you can’t even see such as inside walls and above ceiling tiles. If mold spores are not removed, these spores can spread to other areas of your Virginia Beach, VA home.

Too much moisture in your home can cause mold growth, so as a homeowner in Virginia Beach, VA you must control the level of moisture in your home. Below you will find some great tips to control the moisture that could be in your Virginia Beach, VA home and cause mold growth.

Use Mold Resistant Materials—Consider using mold resistant drywall and mold inhibiting paint in areas that are high moisture areas. These areas include bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms and your basement.
Clean Roof Gutters—By keeping your roof gutters cleaned out and in working order so that the rainwater drains properly and away from your home’s foundation in Virginia Beach, VA can eliminate mold growth. Gutters that overflow can cause excess water to gather on the roof or the side of your home’s foundation.
Ventilate Bathrooms—As you know, bathrooms are one of the most common spots for mold because of the high level of moisture. When you take a shower, condensation forms on the walls and throughout the room. This condensation increases your risk of mold growth in your home in Virginia Beach, VA. An exhaust fan will ventilate the bathroom and should be used each time you take a shower or a hot bath which can steam up a bathroom. If you do not have an exhaust fan, you might consider installing one but until then open the bathroom door or a window to air the room out once you are finished. When you fail to do this, it can lead to mold growth on your walls and your shower stall. Sometimes it will grow in behind the walls, and you won’t be able to see it.
Ventilate Kitchens—A kitchen is also a high moisture area adding additional mold growth to develop. Cooking increases moisture in the air, and you need some sort of ventilation to remove this extra moisture. Always use your exhaust fan or open up a kitchen window to help prevent mold.

Always check your home for leaks and condensation on pipes. Address these issues immediately because it only takes 24 to 48 hours for mold to start growing inside your home in Virginia Beach, VA.

What is the Mold Remediation Process Used for Homes in Haymarket, VA?

Learning that you have mold in your Haymarket, VA home can be daunting. If you have ever heard any disgusting stories about the damage that mold can do to a home or the illnesses that it can cause to household members, you know that you should act immediately if you notice mold growth in your Haymarket, VA home.

Maybe you presently smell a mustiness odor in your home. This could be signs of mold growth that you cannot visibly see so rather you see mold or suspect mold, call a professional mold remediation specialist such as the team at Envirotex. Each mold remediation process may vary for homes in Haymarket, VA according to the location of the mold, the type of mold, and the severity of the mold growth and damage to the structure of your home.

Mold Remediation Process

The Mold Inspection—The first step to any mold remediation for homes in the Haymarket, VA area is to have a mold inspection. A mold inspection involves more than just finding the mold but also what caused it in the first place. Whenever you notice any type of mold growth at your Haymarket, VA home, you will need to find the moisture source, or you will never rid yourself of the overall problem, and the mold will keep coming back. A professional mold remediation specialist will test for different types of mold and outline a plan to repair the moisture source.

Prevent Further Mold Growth—Under the right conditions, mold can multiply quickly. A mold remediation process will include sealing the mold that is present to prevent any further growth, contamination, or damage to the home’s structure or personal family items. Quite possible, as part of your mold remediation, negative air pressure will be created using a HEPA filter exhausted to the outside of the house to prevent cross-contamination at your home in Haymarket, VA.

Control the Moisture Source—Removing and fixing the moisture source is vital, or the mold will keep breeding. Different ways of removing the moisture source at your Haymarket, VA home might include extracting any standing water you might have, running a dehumidifier, or installing efficient exhaust fans that remove moisture from the air such as in the bathrooms and kitchens.

Remove the Mold—Once the areas are dry, a HEPA vacuum will be used on the affected home surfaces. The surfaces will also be washed and then dried. Items to be thrown away will be sealed in plastic bags and hauled away to the appropriate dump sites for hazardous materials.

Principles of Mold Removal in Virginia Beach, VA

Mold spores are everywhere, and to prevent mold growth, you need to control the moisture at your home in Virginia Beach, VA. Preventing mold growth will require getting rid of leaks, removing any standing water in the home, and venting areas that are prone to condensation such as bathrooms and kitchens. Dehumidifiers and air conditioners should be used in humid weather. Whenever there is mold growth that you can see in your Virginia Beach, VA home you should call in a professional mold removal company.

Sometimes you can have mold in your home and not see it. If you notice a musty smell in your home in Virginia Beach, VA, you should have a mold inspection because sometimes mold can be behind walls and under your carpets where they are not visually noticeable.

A mold removal company such as Envirotex should be called to assess the situation and lay out a plan for the mold removal process. There are basic principles for successful mold removal projects—

Safety—Proper safety gear should be worn by professionals when dealing with any type of mold removal. This usually consists of a high quality, filtration face mask, vinyl or neoprene gloves and a full protective suit.
Controlling Contamination—The mold removal professionals should seal off the work area using plastic sheeting so the mold spores will not disperse throughout the rest of the Virginia Beach, Va home. Negative air containment should be used by placing blower fans and using air pressure machines to bring clean air into any contaminated areas and push the contaminated air outside the home.
Removal of Mold—Building materials such as drywall, insulation, and baseboards with mold growth should be discarded of properly because these materials are usually impossible to restore to their previous condition. An antimicrobial chemical should be used to clean mold stains. Sometimes a mold removal professional will use a sealer or encapsulant to treat areas in your Virginia Beach, VA home that is resistant to mold and water damage, and it also helps with controlling the odor. Hepa filter vacuums and air scrubbers are used to capture mold spore particles. Often times you may have to have your HVAC air ducts cleaned because these can collect dust and mold spores.
Remove Moisture Source—The moisture source in your Virginia Beach, VA home needs to be properly taken care of, or you will continue to have mold growth.

Mold removal is vital for the safety of your home’s structure and your family’s health. Call Envirotex and let them help you rid your Virginia Beach, VA home of any mold problems you are experiencing.

How an Asbestos Contractor Handles Washington, D.C. Homes

Homeowners with older homes are aware that asbestos-containing materials might be throughout homes in Washington, D.C. Once you are aware of the problem, the best and safest way to handle any asbestos-related materials is to call an asbestos contractor such as Envirotex and let them handle it. An asbestos contractor in Washington, D.C. knows what is involved in removing it from your home and making your home a safe environment for your family to return to.

An asbestos contractor should be licensed in Washington, D.C. to provide you with their service. They should be able to provide you with a written agreement about the cost involved in removing the asbestos-containing materials from your home. Ask the contractor for references from previous customers in Washington, D.C. whom they have done similar work for. Do your homework; call each reference and check to see if they were satisfied with the asbestos contractor’s work and if it was completed on time.

It is best to get bids from several different Washington, D.C. asbestos contractors. Make sure that each bid explains exactly what the costs of the asbestos removal is such as materials, labor, insurance, air monitoring costs and asbestos waste disposal fee.

The asbestos contractor should give you a written work plan describing the removal and cleanup methods that will be used. This will give you a better idea of each service so you can easily compare the different bids from each contractor.

What you can expect before and during the asbestos removal project—

Plastic sheeting is placed on walls and floors to isolate the work area from the rest of the house in Washington, D.C. This is known as containment.
A HEPA filter equipped negative air machine creates negative air pressure within the containment to keep airborne asbestos fibers from leaving the containment area.
An airless sprayer is used to keep the asbestos-containing materials wet during the process.
Air sample pumps will collect air samples during the removal process.
Asbestos-containing materials will be placed in sealed plastic bags before taken out of the containment area.

Do not be afraid to ask the asbestos contractors any questions you might have about the process. The team at Envirotex is there to answer your questions every step of the way. They can explain to you how the area for your asbestos removal will be set up at your home in Washington, D.C. and the complete process that they will use in removing the asbestos.