<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> <head> <title>Top Notch Inspections, Inc. - Professional Home Inspections - Serving New Jersey, NYC and New York</title> <meta name="Description" content="Top Notch Inspections, Inc. - Your One-Stop-Shop for all of your home inspection needs! Serving all of New Jersey, NYC and southern New York." /> <meta name="Keywords" content="home, inspection, new jersey, New Jersey, NJ, house, building, ashi, ASHI, A.S.H.I., inspect, inspector, inspectors, inspecting, houses, construction, real, estate, report, evaluation, warranty, code, realtor, relocation, re-location, asbestos, radon, lead, american, society, HUD, FHA, housing, northeast, agent, appraisal, relocation, home inspection, home inspector, home inspectors, inspection service, home inspection service, home inspection services, home inspection new jersey, new jersey home inspection, nj home inspection, building inspection, building inspection new jersey, house inspector, ashi home inspection, ashi building inspection, american society of home inspectors, american society of home inspection, ashi certified, ashi certified member, ashi members, national association of home inspectors, nahi, society of home inspectors, real estate inspection, home warranty, home protection, residential inspection, construction inspection, code inspection, lead paint, pest inspection, first time home buyer, home financing, home mortgage, radon testing, asbestos testing, lead paint inspections, lead paint testing, lead base paint testing, lead base paint, air quality, professional inspector, real estate inspector, real estate agent, real estate agents, home inspection report, home inspection reports, inspection report, inspection reports, inspection training, home inspection training, home buying, home selling, buy a home, sell a home, buying a house, selling a house, buying a home, selling a home, asbestos inspector, radon inspector" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="style.css" media="screen" title="style" /> </head> <body> <div id="wrap"><img width="412" src="logo.jpg" alt="Top Notch Inspections" height="89" id="frontphoto" /> <div id="header"> <p><strong>50 Elizabeth Terrace, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458<br />201-825-8222 + 800-858-4677</strong></p> </div> <div id="menu"> <ul> <li><a href="index.html">Home</a></li> <li><a href="contact.htm">Contact Us</a></li> <li><a href="homeinsp.htm">Home Inspections</a></li> <li><a href="termite.htm">Termite Inspections</a></li> <li><a href="radon.htm">Radon Testing</a></li> <li><a href="soil.htm">Soil Testing</a></li> <li><a href="septic.htm">Septic Systems</a></li> <li><a href="wellwater.htm">Well &amp; Water Tests</a></li> <li><a href="leadpaint.htm">Lead Paint</a></li> <li><a href="mold.htm">Mold Testing</a></li> <li><a href="eifs.htm">E.I.F.S. Testing</a></li> <li><a href="pestcontrol.htm">Pest Control</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="content"> <p><strong>Top Notch Tips to Prevent Mold from Damaging your Home</strong></p> <img width="133" src="mold.jpg" alt="mold" height="133" class="right" /> <p>Watch for signs of moisture, such as condensation on windows, cracking of walls, loosening of drywall tape, warped wood or musty odors.</p> <p>Repair water damage as soon as it is noticed.</p> <p>Clean any moldy surfaces as soon as they are noticed.</p> <p>Install bathroom fans that vent humidity to the outside.</p> <p>Vent your clothes dryer to the outside of your home. </p><p><strong>What is mold?</strong><br />Molds are simple, microscopic organisms whose purpose in the ecosystem is to break down dead materials. Molds can be found on plants, dry leaves, and on just about every other organic material.<br /><br />Some molds are useful, such as those used to make antibiotics and cheese. Some molds are known to be highly toxic when ingested, such as the types that invade grains and peanuts. Most of the mold found indoors comes from outdoors. Molds reproduce by very tiny particles called spores. The spores float in on the air currents and find a suitable spot to grow. Spores are very lightweight and can travel on air currents. If mold spores land on a suitable surface, they will begin to grow. It is usually these mold spores that cause allergic reactions. Molds need three things to thrive- moisture, food and a surface to grow on. Molds can be seen throughout the house, and can be found in most bathrooms. Mold growth can often be seen in the form of discoloration, and can be many colors-white, orange, pink, blue, green, black or brown. When molds are present in large quantities (called colonies) they can cause health problems in some people.</p><p><strong>How can I tell if I have mold in my home?</strong><br /> Some mold problems are obvious - you will see it growing. Others are not so obvious. If you can see mold, or if there is a musty odor in your home, you probably have a mold problem. Areas that are wet, or have been wet due to flooding, leaky plumbing, leaky roofing, or areas that are humid (such as bathrooms and laundry rooms) are most likely to have mold growth. Look for previous water damage. Visible mold growth may be found underneath wallpaper and baseboards, behind walls, or may be evident by discolored plaster or drywall. If you don't have any observable mold, but are experiencing symptoms likely to be mold-induced, the mold could be growing in areas you can't see, such as the ducts of a heating/cooling system. In this case, the only way to know if you have mold spores is to test. <strong>TopNotch Inspections</strong> can conduct air sampling to detect the presence of these spores in your home. If you have obvious mold, we can conduct a swab test that can be analyzed to determine the molds that are present. Once again, the only way to know if you have a mold problem and what type it is, is to test. Take a copy of the laboratory report along with you when you visit your doctor or allergist. This will aid in determining a method of treatment.<br /><br /><strong>If I have mold in my home, what should I do?<br /></strong>The first course of action is to determine why the mold is growing. Investigate any areas that are moist, and repair the source of the moisture. You could have a roof or plumbing leak. You could have groundwater leaking into your basement. Your air conditioning drip pan could have mold growing in it. Your air duct system could be contaminated with mold. If you see mold in your laundry room, chances are that your dryer is not properly vented to the outside. Clothes dryers generate humidity and should never be vented inside the house. Mold will grow on any surface that provides moisture and food. Substances that are porous and can trap molds, such as paper, rags, wallboard and wood, should be thrown out.</p><p><strong>Top Notch Inspections, Inc.</strong> provides a thorough test for mold in your home. Please feel free to contact us if you have any concerns or questions!</p> </div> <div id="footer">Copyright &copy; Top Notch Inspections, Inc.</div> </div> </body> </html>