Air Quality Testing can show you what issues need to be addressed
Poor indoor air quality can cause a variety of health issues from mild allergies to more serious symptoms such as respiratory and sinus infections and a general feeling of malaise.
At Haverkate & Associates we will test the air that you breathe with a combination of computerized instruments, thermal imaging, laboratory analysis as well as our famous Certified Mould Detection Dog to fully investigate the air your breathe. At the end of our environmental assessment we will give you a detailed report outlining what we tested for, what your levels were and what they are supposed to be. We then make very specific recommendations on products and contractors that can assist you.
We perform all of our Indoor Air Quality Tests with the latest technology and the most experienced and certified inspectors in the business.
We will show you what you are breathing in such as:
- Airborne Dust from small respirable particles to larger particles
- Chemicals from building materials and contents that may be off-gassing indoors
- Gases and sewer gases
- Air exchange and how well the home or building is breathing
- Temperature, humidity, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide throughout the house or building
- Thermal imaging of walls, ceiling and floors for hidden moisture
- Mould Detection Dog search for hidden mould growth
- Laboratory analysis of the air for mould spores
This process has proven very successful for us for many years.
If there’s an air quality issue in your home we will find it. If you have a hidden mould problem, our combination of the Thermal Imaging Camera, Mould Detection Dog and air sampling will uncover where it is hiding.
Mould can grow inside your home behind walls and underneath flooring. Even though mould is a natural occurring fungi, mould that grows indoors can have serious health effects on many people.
Many people see Black Mold and Google either Black Mold or Toxic Mold when they first discover mold growth indoors in either basements or attics. Although toxic mould growth can be serious, many mold issues can have allergic reactions without necessarily being toxic. In some cases mould growth indoors can just be the beginning of a problem resulting in an easy clean up. In other cases it is more serious requiring remediation.
The key is to have it properly inspected using a combination of air quality instruments, thermal imaging and our Mould Detection Dog.
There are many mould types that can cause a variety of symptoms such as skin rashes, nose bleeds, itchy and watery eyes, breathing difficulties, migraine headaches, just to name a few. Some moulds can be extremely toxic such as Stachybotrys Chartarum.
Mould needs moisture and a cellulose nutrient source (drywall, carpeting, fabrics) to grow. If you’ve had a water leak or flood that was not cleaned up properly within 24 – 48 hours of its occurrence, you could have mould growth. If you have a hidden plumbing leak, excess condensation or high relative humidity, you could have mould growth.
Mould growth in buildings is not always visible or detectable through a visible inspection. The majority of indoor mould growth issues are hidden inside walls, behind wall paper, underneath flooring or behind built-in cabinetry.
Mould does not always produce a musty odor. Mould growth can occur without any scent or visible signs noticeable by the homeowner whatsoever.
Black mould or the colour of the mould does not provide very much information. “Black Mould” or “Toxic Mould” are media terms. What is important in most cases is not so much the type of mould as is the location, cause and severity of the mould growth issue. In any indoor mould growth problem, the most important factor is establishing what is causing the mould growth, where is the growth located, are there spores associated with the growth, and how does this now get cleaned-up.