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Mold Removal and Mildew Removal

Mold Inspection, Mold Identification and Mold Testing

Mold Prevention

Humidity in the Home

Asbestos

Home Air Quality

Glossary Of Terms

Accredited Laboratory — A lab that has been accredited by a recognized agency to the ISO 17025 Standard.

Aflatoxin — A Mycotoxin which is known to be one of the most toxic naturally occurring substances which is from Aspergillus flavus mold growth.

Allergen — A substance such as mold or pet hair which can cause an allergic reaction.

Ambient air — Outdoor air or representative of a general volume of indoor air.

Amplification of molds — Any indoor scenario which may increase the concentration of molds such as moisture in a wall cavity or mold growth in an HVAC system.

Anti-fungal treatment — Any mold remediation activity which removes, disinfects, or treats surfaces contaminated by mold.

Asbestos — A naturally occurring mineral fiber used in hundreds of building and insulation materials. Exposure to asbestos is a known health risk for cancer especially due to occupational contact. Asbestos is a regulated material and professional removal using engineering controls is recommended in most cases.

Asthma — A condition of respiratory sensitivity when lung tissue swells in reaction to exposure to particles which irritate the small passages of the lung tissue.

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Mold Problems Affecting HVAC Systems In Washington D.C. Properties

Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems in homes and commercial properties in the Northern Virginia and Maryland area, including cities like Ellicott City, MD, Clarksville, MD and Sterling, VA can present their owners with mold problems. When mold spores are present in the heating and cooling ducts, they are easily transferred to all locations and areas within the building and pose health threats to everyone breathing the air. This is the most important reason to consider hiring the team of RTS professionals to inspect your HVAC unit regularly.

Mold growth is accelerated by warm, moist, dark conditions. In other words, the conditions of your HVAC system in your home or business are the exact conditions needed for mold spores to take hold and grow. The HVAC system in your home or office building can transport mold spores throughout the building, resulting in mold growth beyond the air ducts and into any warm, dark and damp place it finds.

When checking your HVAC system for signs of mold check the coils and drain pains. Cooling coils that are used to dehumidify air cause condensation and the water drips into a drain pain. The collected water should exit the HVAC drain pan through a seal trap, but if water accumulates in the drain pan a microbial habitat has been created. Proper sloping and frequent cleaning of the drain pan is the best way to ensure this does not happen in your Knoxville, MD home or business.

The outdoor-air damper is also a place to look for identifiers in the mold-growth process. Dust, dirt, debris and other items can block the screens and grills, collecting mold spores and providing them with a food source. Thorough cleaning of these surfaces will remove the dust and dirt, thereby removing the potential for dangerous mold spores.

For an inspection of your home or business HVAC system, contact Northern Virginia’s premier HVAC company. Our trained technicians at RTS know what to look for and where to find it, making your home and office safer for everyone inside.