Mould Testing for Vancouver, sURREY &
sURROUNDING cITIES
Moulds grow in damp, moisture-prone areas and can cause severe health problems and structural damage to your property. It is recommended to have professional mould testing and inspections to prevent these problems. At BC Hazmat Inspections, we offer reliable mould testing in Vancouver and Surrey for both residential and commercial properties. We make sure to avoid health risks associated with mould growth through remediation.
Our inspectors are AHERA certified and our in-house lab is staffed by NIOSH certified technicians, so in a very short amount of time we can analyze mould particles and air samples to determine if you and your loved ones are at risk.
Where You’ll Find Mould
Mould is the term for a large group of microorganisms with more than 1.5 million species. There are always mould spores present outdoors and in buildings, because they are small and easily distributed by wind, floods, insects, animals and human activity. Indoors, mould is commonly found in humid areas with adequate moisture, temperature and substrate, such as bathrooms, attics, basements and crawl spaces. Mould can colonize on a wide range of building and construction materials, including:
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Drywall
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Wood
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Wood products
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Ceiling tiles
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Wallpaper
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Carpeting
To avoid mould growth in these places, it’s very important to mitigate moisture problems. Be sure your home is properly ventilated and take note of potential places mould can grow such as leaks near windows, plumbing leaks and wet spots on carpeting, walls or ceilings.
What Causes to Mould Build Up Inside Your Home?
Mould can grow anywhere under the right conditions. Elements such as temperature, dampness and oxygen are all main factors to its growth and spread. The most common places you can find it are bathrooms, kitchens, basements, cabinets, and near pipes or ducting areas. Some common causes of mould inside your home are listed below:
- Persistent humidity: If your house is near large water bodies creating excess moisture in the air, or your home is not properly ventilated, you might find mould growing on walls, ceilings, in dark closets, under the kitchen sink, etc.
- Leaky pipes: A small or large leak coming from behind your geyser, piping in your roof or under the sink cupboards can contribute to mould build-up due to excess dampness.
- Leaking roof: A partially or completely damaged roof due to regular wear and tear or adverse weather conditions can lead to quick mould build-up on walls and ceiling boards.
- A build-up of condensation: Due to fluctuating temperatures in the winter season, most of the homes might experience a build-up of condensation on cold surfaces, including metal piping, concrete surfaces, floor tiles and even brick walls. This condensation results in the proliferation of mould growth.
- Poor ventilation: A poorly ventilated home acts as a magnet to mould spores and growth.
- Damp clothing: Mould requires less than 24 hours to grow. Wet clothes lying around your room can create the possibility of mould build-up.
- Home flooding: Your home takes days or even weeks to completely dry after flooding, which makes an apt environment for mould growth.
- Damp basement: Basements are mostly poorly ventilated and receive more water exposure than other parts of your building, contributing to mould proliferation.
If you’re looking for a free mould inspection, analysis and removal from your space, contact us. We’re happy to help!
WHY MOULD TESTING IS NECESSARY
Mould releases airborne spores as it grows that, if they are inhaled, can affect your health. People with allergies, weak immune systems and asthma are especially at risk, because mould can cause:
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Asthma symptoms
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Allergic reactions
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Infections in the airways
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Sinusitis
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Lung infections
If you do not have allergies or a weak immune system, you can still be affected by mould exposure. There are many symptoms associated with mould inhalation, including:
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Irritation of the eyes, nose and throat
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Coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath
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Phlegm build-up
Along with the health risks, mould can lead to unpleasant odours as it grows and damage to your home. If you’ve noticed high levels of moisture in certain areas of your home or there’s a musty smell when you go to your basement, you need to call the professionals for mould testing.
pROFFESSIONAL mOULD iNSPECTION
BC Hazmat Inspections provides comprehensive mould testing in Vancouver. After you call, our team will arrive at your home or place of business to perform a visual inspection. This thorough inspection of every room of your home will allow us to locate the mould, determine the extent of growth and identify the causes of the growth.
Our mould contamination and inspection is inclusive of a thorough examination of your place, including:
1.) Visual inspection: Walk-through visual inspection of the interiors and exteriors of your home and noting the observations that include checking your air conditioning system, identifying any visible mould growth, signs of moisture, any characteristic odour, increased relative humidity and signs of water intrusion.
2.) Moisture check: Required to check dampness of the building materials and to identify the potential areas where moisture can be found.
3.) Air sampling: Measuring the standard air quality inside the house i.e., checking the temperature, relative humidity and airborne particles presence.
4.) Surface sampling: Collection of surface mould samples by various methods such as swabbing, tape lifting, or other methods for determining the amount and type of mould.
5.) Bulk sampling: Collection of large pieces from your home that might contain moulds.
6.) Sending for lab analysis: After careful inspection and collection of mould from different parts of your home, it will be sent to the lab for analysis.
Mould Analysis
Our AHERA certified inspectors will take air and/or mould samples to our lab where an analysis will take place to determine the impact of mould growth on your indoor environment. Results can vary depending upon the concentration and nature of the mould as spores don’t spread uniformly across surfaces and can vary over time. After careful examination of the moulds and spores collected, documentation of the extent of moisture and proliferation will be prepared. Once the types of mould spores are identified, our team will present solutions to mitigate the problems while ensuring your family or employees are safe. Additionally, our team offers remediation surveillance to guard you against the reemergence of moulds in your home and will offer mould control and removal services.
Contact Us For MOULD TESTING IN SURREY AND VANCOUVER
If your asthmatic son is having trouble breathing indoors or there’s a musty smell in your bathroom that lingers even after you air the room out, it’s likely you have a mould problem. To determine the extent, cause and type of mould you have, you need mould testing by a professional.
Contact BC Hazmat Inspections today for complete mould testing and hazmat reports. Located in Surrey, we serve the surrounding areas including Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, and Langley.
