Basic mold concepts:

• Moisture control is the key to controlling mold
• Mold should be cleaned up quickly in your home, all moisture and water infiltration problems must be fixed.
• It is crucial to dry water damaged areas and items within 48 hours. Mold can begin to grow within 48 hrs of the moisture or water exposure.

Why is mold growing in my home?

Molds occur naturally in the environment. Molds play an important part in nature by breaking down organic matter, such as fallen leaves and dead grass. When mold occurs indoors things can get unhealthy. Molds reproduce in the form of mold spores. The tiny spores are invisible but float in the air. Molds grow indoors when the mold spores land on interior surfaces that are moist. All molds require moisture to grow. If there is no moisture present then there will be not mold present.

Molds and your health:

Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens, irritants and, in some cases, potentially toxic substances called mycotoxins. Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reaction

Researchers have traditionally thought termites Home Inspector move randomly in the soil. This was because it was virtually impossible to see how these insects actually travel in the soil. But recent studies have shown that termites move in very predictable ways. It has been discovered that their movement is more efficient then being purely random. As termites travel away from the colony they construct branching tunnels in a radial pattern similar to the spokes in a bicycle tire.

This pattern divides and then subdivides the search areas so the termites cover it as completely as possible. Termites probably don’t detect wood from great distances because the soil environment doesn’t allow chemical cues to travel very far. It is believed that termites find food basically by running into it during their foraging and searching activity.

Termites respond to environmental cues like temperature and moisture. During the winter they move down into the soil because they cannot cross the frost barrier. During dry periods termites move deeper into the soil or

Mold has become a very hot topic lately for home buyers. Mold can cause negative health effects in people and cause damage to interior finishes. The job of mold in nature is to break down organic materials. More and more insurance companies will not cover mold related damage. Some will not write policies if there is mold present in the home.

Why Testing for Mold Is Important:

Although not all mold is toxic, some types are. Toxic mold produces hazardous byproducts called mycotoxins. Individuals with asthma and other respiratory problems may have reactions to many types of mold, but mycotoxins may trigger health problems even in healthy individuals. Floating particles of mold are invisible to the naked eye, so it’s impossible to see where they might have settled until they begin to grow. Loose mold particles that accumulate on household items are easily inhaled and can be a constant irritation to the people and pets who live there.

LookSmart’s Mold Testing Services

It is becoming increasingly important to test for mold in New Jersey homes. Continue Reading

If GFCI electrical receptacles were installed in every American household 70% of all the electrical shock injuries and deaths could be prevented. An unintentional electrical path between a source of current and a grounded surface is referred to as a ground fault. Ground faults occur when current is leaking somewhere. If people provide a path to ground for this leakage, they can be seriously injured. Ground faults are often the result of damaged cords or appliances, poorly installed wires, or mishandling such as dropping an appliance in water.

GFCIs are products designed to prevent injury or death from electrical shock by detecting ground faults at very low levels. If a GFCI senses even minimal current leakage in an electrical device, it assumes a ground fault is taking place. It then interrupts the power fast enough to prevent injury in normal health.

To comply with the National Electrical Code, many homes built since 1973 have some type of GFCI protection. However the US Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that as many as 70% of all existing dwellings have no such protection.

The nations leading electrical safety organizations enc