As a professional mold inspection company, we know first-hand that all too often a disaster can affect you, your employees and your business when you least expect it.

Water damage caused by a burst pipe, fire or severe storm can lead to building environment-related concerns like mold, which can spread swiftly throughout your commercial or industrial property when the conditions are right.

The reality is that if the original moisture source is left unattended or unaddressed, even a minor water infiltration problem can snowball into a massive mold remediation project!

When it comes to commercial mold remediation, you’re always better off hiring professionals you can trust and count on to properly remediate all mold-related damage following a disaster or emergency situation. Taking quick action is critical and this will certainly help minimize current and future damage to your commercial or industrial building to the extent possible.

 

Our commercial mold remediation strategy is customized to each property or client, but it generally includes many or all of the following steps:

 

  1. We act quickly to evaluate your industrial or commercial site and systematically inspect the property (including the entire building envelop).

 

  1. We assess all current and potential damage, including identifying and prioritizing all minor and major sources of moisture infiltration, as well as assessing exposure to any HVAC, mechanical and other costly building systems.

 

  1. We develop a comprehensive mold remediation plan to address all of your commercial or industrial mold concerns.

 

  1. Using our expertise, skilled training and professional equipment, we execute the commercial or industrial mold remediation services set out in your custom mold remediation plan. Our services can include mold cleaning, mold treatment or mold containment, as well as building materials demolition, removal and restoration.

 

  1. We perform final inspections of all affected areas, and we may recommend applicable indoor air quality (IAQ) or third-party testing once all mold remediation services have been completed to confirm your commercial or industrial building is once again safe for all.

 

 

If your industrial or commercial property has experienced a disaster, contact us to find out how our professional mold remediation services can help your business get back on its feet before it suffers further losses in productivity and revenue.

 

Call us for your free phone consult in the Toronto and Greater Toronto Area (GTA) at 416-575-6111.

 

Like bathrooms, kitchens can be a tremendously good breeding ground for mold. They offer three things that mold just loves: warmth, various sources of food (including dirt and dust), and humidity.

If you’re looking for a quick and helpful checklist you can print off to help identify potential sources of mold in your kitchen, consider this it!

 

#1 Look under the sink

Leaky pipe? Spilled cleaning products? Kitchen garbage? The space under your kitchen sink is the first place in your kitchen you should check for mold. If you spot a leaky pipe, first fix the problem and then consider laying vinyl tile on the bottom of the cabinet to protect it from any potential water damage in the future.

 

#2 Look around the sink

Check your taps and all around your sink for mold growing on or underneath. All seams and corners around the sink should be properly caulked to prevent water damage to your countertops and of course mold growth.

 

#3 Check your exterior walls

In your kitchen, check all of the walls that face the outdoors to identify potential areas of mold.

 

#4 Check your windows

We recently mentioned that window condensation in the home can be a warning sign of possible mold growth, and mold can be especially active in kitchens due to high humidity levels. Mold can grow on all types of windows, including wood-framed, metal-framed and even vinyl, so it’s important to check yours for mold or any evidence that mold may be present.

 

#5 Check your garbage and/or garbage disposal

As handy as they are, garbage disposals can offer mold a lot of potential sources of food. Rinse your garbage containers and/or garbage disposal with undiluted vinegar or another favourite antibacterial cleaner. Run the garbage disposal a minimum of once a day to help keep mold growth at bay.

 

#6 Check your compost

Like the garbage and garbage disposal, our compost bin can be easy prey for mold. Don’t allow it to sit out, especially in hot, humid summer weather, and dump it as often as you possibly can throughout the day.

 

#7 Check pantry items

If you’ve ever smelt a rotting potato, it’s likely a smell you won’t soon forget. Regularly check onions, potatoes and other stored food for mold and immediately toss any foods that look like their best days are behind them.

 

#8 Check your dishwasher

We recommend checking both inside the dishwasher as well as around the entire casing of the dishwasher. This is especially important if you have wood cabinets (as many of us do) because mold can grow productively on all of these surfaces. From professional experience, I can tell you that a small leak may go unnoticed for a long time!

 

#9 Check your fridge and freezer

The same advice for dishwashers also applies to your refrigerator and freezer: check inside the appliance for food sources of mold, as well as around the appliance. In addition, be sure to check the drip tray. It’s usually located at the front of the fridge and underneath. Check it several times a year or you may find something growing in there that would put monsters under the bed to shame!

 

#10 Check your ice maker

Bonus tip: if you have an ice maker built into your refrigerator, check in and around it for mold too.

 

Have you inspected your kitchen from top to bottom for potential sources of mold and still can’t find the culprit behind that musty or mildewy smell that’s driving you crazy? Contact us and we’ll be glad to make a visit to your home or office to track down and identify the source and type of your kitchen mold.

 

We’ve mentioned before about how bathroom vents play a key and critical role in helping to reduce and eliminate humidity in your home. The reality is that removing humidity after a bath or shower is key to prevent mold from growing or developing in your living areas.

So, once you have a bathroom vent installed, it’s important to regularly focus on maintenance and insulation.

Here are 5 easy and simple ways to get your bathroom vents ready for winter (even if you aren’t!).

 

1. Clean the intake grates to make sure that air can flow through freely.

Intake grates often get coated with fluff, lint and other things from regular use, so make sure they are clean and not sticky or coated with anything that could prevent air from flowing freely. Overall, a decrease in air flow reduces the vent’s ability to remove humidity.

It can also cause your fan’s motor to overheat and then reduce its use and lifespan!

 

2. Ensure the space between the fan’s housing and the drywall continues to have a tight seal.

When an exhaust fan is installed, experts advise that the opening made in the wall or ceiling to house the unit should only be as large as needed to house the device; however, sometimes do-it-yourself-ers or even professional contractors create a hole that is much larger than necessary.

It’s important to ensure a tight seal between the fan and drywall and to periodically check it. Foam insulation or caulk can be used to ensure a tight seal.

We recommend checking it at least every change of season.

 

3. Insulate any vent pipes that go through a “cold space” before they exit to the outdoors.

Proper and adequate insulation will help reduce and prevent condensation on the pipe’s exterior as warm exhaust air passes through the cold space. One example of a cold space is your attic. Condensation that passes through an attic, for example, can lead to unchecked mold growth there and elsewhere.

 

4. Ensure that exhaust air is not being redirected somewhere else, such as into an attic, soffit, crawlspace or other areas inside your home, or within another adjoining or adjacent dwelling unit.

 

5. Ensure a flapper is installed on the vent pipe outside the home in order to prevent cold air from backflowing or returning into the bathroom.

 

Are you battling a mold problem or potential problem in your bathroom or elsewhere in your home? Call us for a free phone consult at 416-575-6111 and we can help ensure your bathroom venting is in tip top condition!

Mold, mildew and various types of bacteria tend to love warm, wet or damp, dark places. Unfortunately, your favourite warm shower or hot relaxing bubble bath—combined with a lack of ventilation or air circulation—can often make your cherished bathroom the ideal breeding site for these types of unhealthy organisms to set up shop.

Looking for some handy tips to help prevent mold, mildew and other types of bacteria in your bath?

Here are five of our top tips!

 

  1. Help the humidity get outside.

Hot baths and showers generate an intense amount of humidity, or water vapour in the air. So the first step is to give the extra humidity that has accumulated during bathtime the boot! Do whatever you can, as often as you can, to help the room return to being dry and moisture-free, and as quickly as possible.

You want the humidity to be cycled outside rather than inside so a properly installed bathroom exhaust fan is a must.

Bathroom exhaust fans are the norm but in some houses, especially older ones, building codes at the time dictated that the bathroom needed only either a window or a fan. An exhaust fan is a better bet, especially in winter, so consider having one professionally installed if you don’t already have one.

Experts recommend running bathroom exhaust fans for at least 30 minutes to help the warm air escape to the outside. Bonus tip: If you notice moisture on your bathroom walls or mirror, the fan hasn’t run long enough. Keep it going!

If you’re a busy professional or part of a busy family, you might enjoy the convenience of a bathroom timer. This simple investment makes it easy to run the bathroom timer while on a busy schedule—just set it and forget it! You can head out the door without worrying that the fan is going to run needlessly all day.

 

  1. Eliminate all accumulated water.

Mold and mildew can’t thrive in areas that don’t provide it with a ready and regular source of water. So the next step is to eliminate any water that accumulated during your bath or shower… and if you’re anything like most people, that can be a lot!

Water on the floors, countertops, glass or plastic shower enclosures, and especially on your shower curtain needs to be eliminated to help prevent mildew or mold from forming.

After every bath or shower, wipe up excess water on floors, countertops or other surfaces, and wipe down your glass shower enclosure or plastic shower curtain. You might also like to store your wet towels in another room or on a heated tower rack to help them dry faster.

 

  1. Stop all leaks.

In addition to the water that may accumulate during showers and baths, water can also be introduced through old fixtures, such as leaky toilets, taps or pipes. Have them professionally inspected and repaired to reduce additional water from being introduced and accumulating.

 

  1. Seal and caulk your tiled tub and shower surrounds.

It’s a common misconception that the grout between your bathroom tiles, under your toilet, or inside your tiled tub or shower surround is waterproof. In fact, it’s actually porous so it will absorb any accumulated water, which can then potentially cause damage to the subfloor or other structures.

In potentially humid areas like bathrooms, we highly recommend applying a grout sealant to newly tiled areas such as showers. In addition, you should caulk all corners, crevices and the bottom row of tiles where they meet the bathtub with a specialized bathroom caulk designed for the job.

 

  1. Inspect, clean and store children’s toys appropriately.

A common and yet not well-known source of mildew and mold in bathrooms is children’s toys. You know, those plastic tub toys that kids love to play with, drink water from, or put in or on their mouths during bathtime?

Yeah, those ones!

Sadly, even those beloved tub toys, when exposed to water and humidity, can become a serious harbinger of different bacteria, mildew and mold when not cared for correctly.

We recommend checking all your children’s toys on a regular basis. You can clean plastic toys with soap (unless the mold has infiltrated the plastic, in which case throw it out and buy a new one) and launder fabric or terrycloth toys in the washing machine.

That said, storing children’s toys properly is key to help prevent mildew and mold from forming and growing in the first place.

This means allowing the waterlogged toys to drain properly, either hanging up, stashed in a ventilated basket or nestled in a mesh bag. Don’t use baskets or bags where water can collect and be careful not to overload them. Aim to have 360° ventilation around the toys in your chosen storage solution.

Stuck for toy storage ideas? Check out Pinterest for a variety of effective and stylish storage solutions.

 

 

Do you suspect mold, mildew or other bacteria in your Toronto area home or workplace? Give us a call and our GTA-based mold testing professionals can perform an assessment to locate, identify and remedy any potential mold issues that may be present in your bath or other rooms. Free phone consultations. Contact us today!

The plight of seniors at a Montreal seniors’ residence highlights the health risks of mold infestation.

In a story reported in the Montreal Gazette, some residents of the home, run by the city under a social housing program, began to notice troubling respiratory symptoms they’d never experienced before, at times necessitating the use of an inhaler. Their symptoms included:

Residents also noticed a damp feeling in the air and in fabrics and carpets. An in indoor air quality test revealed worsened in air quality and so an investigation of the residence was instigated. Health inspectors examined kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms and found enough mold to warrant major renovations.

The work to be done includes:

These areas are very common areas of concern when it comes to mold in any home or building.

Residents of the Montreal seniors’ home will have to relocate for 18 months while their building is renovated.

Don’t Let it Happen to You
Mold exposure is no joke and you may not know that mold even exists in your home until it affects your health. If you suspect any leaks or lingering moisture in your home, or if you’re experiencing flu-like or respiratory symptoms you can’t explain, give yourself peace of mind.

For Mold Inspection & Testing Services in Toronto, call us for a hassle-free quote today.

MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CTV and recommended by contractors, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a free quote at (416) 575-6111.

Police are looking for a Scarborough couple after a raid netted a cache of nearly 2,000 marijuana plants in a grow operation earlier this month. The townhouse, part of a complex in Scarborough near Midland and Ellesmere Avenues, featured a modified electrical system the authorities are calling a serious fire hazard. The value of the marijuana grow operation is estimated at nearly $1.9 million. The two suspects are being sought on criminal charges.

More than the Utilities
As in this case, the emphasis is often put on things like electrical systems modifications, because of inherent danger and also the diversion of the utility as a criminal act. However, mold is often a lingering and persistent problem in former grow houses long after the utility issues have been sorted out – including toxic black mold infestation.

A “Grow Op” for Mold
Marijuana cultivation requires both heat and humidity, creating tropical conditions indoors and the problems associated with them, including rampant mold growth. Mold can grow anywhere there is moisture, but it particularly loves heat and humidity.

Other health risks include:

Grow ops are often found in upscale communities simply because of the set up: larger properties spaced farther apart. Neighbours may not see each other very often even under normal circumstances and preserving a quiet exterior is considered desirable. It allows a grow op to hide in plain sight.

How Can You Know?
If your home – or prospective home – was used as a grow op and was discovered by police, there will be a public record of it. However, even police know that for every one they catch, many more go undiscovered.It won’t be something that’s immediately apparent to the naked eye.

Indoor environmental assessments and testing helps detect former Grow Ops.

Before buying your home, or if you suspect it has been used as a ‘drug house’, consider hiring a professional indoor environmental assessment & testing company to do a mold, yeast, bacteria – and other toxic substances – inspection. These contaminates are often associated with grow ops and meth labs and are health risks.

As Indoor Environmental Assessment & Testing Specialists, you should know that it is ‘home buyer beware’, and that testing for former Marijuana Grow-Op activity has never been more important.

Know what you are getting into. For Grow-Op & Drug House Testing Services in Toronto, Contact Moldinspections.ca

Please call us for a hassle-free quote today.

MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CTV and recommended by contractors, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a free quote at (416) 575-6111.

The courthouse in Sault Ste. Marie has been closed since August 30, when a fire swept the historic building in Northern Ontario. After extensive renovations, the building was set to re-open earlier this spring when indoor air quality testing showed the presence of mold.

Obviously it didn’t come from the fire, but it’s often in situations like that when mold is discovered. When walls have been compromised and those hidden areas where dampness and moisture like to hide and mold flourishes, hidden problems finally see the light of day.

Home Renovation “Surprises”
Like the officials in charge of the Sault Ste. Marie courthouse renewal, you may begin a home renovation project hoping for the best – and then find yourself saddled with an unexpected and unwelcome expense. The alternative is to prepare yourself ahead of time with a mold inspection.

Opening a wall or lifting up flooring to find mold infestation is more than unpleasant – it’s unhealthy. That kind of up-close exposure to mold can result in a range of respiratory and other health issues.

Including a mold inspection with your reno budget is a prudent way to protect your health and begin the work with a clearer idea of what lies in all those hidden spaces between the walls and floors. At Mold Inspections, we can offer a variety of services according to your particular situation, up to and including a household moisture assessment that will help you plan your renovations to avoid future mold growth.

Mold Testing & Inspection Services
Our team provides:

Get Expert Help
Mold growth can begin to take hold within a short 48 hours of the moment when water enters into an area, so it can affect homes both new and older.  If you’re planning on renovating your living space, a mold inspection is a way of protecting yourself against nasty surprises.

If you notice a persistent, musty odour in your home, then you need help right away.

Get help from the experts at MoldInspections.ca. Please call us for a hassle-free quote today.

MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CTV and recommended by contractors, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a free quote at (416) 575-6111.

We really hate to put a damper on anyone’s holiday celebrations, but that iconic Christmas tree may just be worsening your indoor allergies.

After it’s been cut, an evergreen tree is dead – it seems like an obvious statement, but have you considered this: once dead, it becomes home to mold. The longer your tree has been sitting outside on the lot, cut and waiting to be purchased, the longer mold has had a chance to settle in. Once the tree is in your home, the mold can easily become airborne and seep throughout the whole house.

Even artificial trees aren’t immune to mold infestation. The first year after you purchase an artificial tree, it will be fine, but once it’s been stored in your damp, dark basement for a year or two or three, it too becomes prime real estate for mold growth.

How can you protect yourself while still enjoying the holidays in traditional style? Here are some tips:

– Select a freshly cut tree, or cut one yourself
– Shake the tree to remove dead needles and dislodge as much existing mold as possible
– Keep the tree’s water source covered up, since it too can be a source of mold contamination
– Both real and artificial trees can be hosed down with water before setting them up to help remove any contaminants, but remember to dry it thoroughly outside before you bring it in
– Don’t keep the tree up for too long; enjoy the holidays and then dispose of it as quickly as you can

Your Roof in the Winter

Of course, any issues you may have with your Christmas tree will vanish when the season’s over; not so for mold that’s infesting your home. Here in Canada, with our harsh winters, it’s especially important to keep an eye on your roofing, eavestrough and gutter systems. When there’s a heavy snow followed by a partial thaw that refreezes overnight, the combination of snow and ice build-up and thawing can route the melt off into unexpected paths – including right inside your flashing and into the walls.

It’s a good idea to keep tabs on your roofing and eavestrough all year round, to help ensure that your walls stay dry on the inside. Moisture can and often does lead to mold, and you may not know that it’s there spreading in your walls until you experience the common symptoms of mold infestation, including headaches, eye irritation and more.

If you suspect the presence of mold in your home, get help from the experts at MoldInspections.ca. Please call us for a hassle-free quote today and get a mold inspection from the specialists.

MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CTV and recommended by contractors, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a free quote at (416) 575-6111.

It’s always fascinating to see people more upset over seeing a pet or cuddly animal harmed than another human being. Perhaps, then, knowing that toxic mold is very dangerous to pets will finally motivate certain homeowners to have mold inspections done.

A study by the American Veterinary Medical Association documents what appears to be the first known case of toxic black mold poisoning pets. The case that produced the finding involved two cats. During a routine mouth examination of two Himalayan cats before their dental cleanings, a veterinarian noticed frothy blood collecting in the endotracheal tubes used to anaesthetize the cats.

As the veterinarian, Douglas Mader, explained, “The circumstances of these cases are just not heard of. Anaesthesia doesn’t cause pulmonary hemorrage.”

Sure enough, both cats died – one the following day and the other two weeks later. Blood taken before their deaths was analyzed and showed high levels of the toxin produced by Statchybotrys chartarum, a.k.a. toxic black mold.

As it turns out, the cats’ home, based in Florida had been previously devastated by water damage from a hurricane. The moisture fostered the growth of mold and, within a few months, the walls of the home were completely infested with it.

It’s strange that the cats’ case is the first documented instance of pets being affected by toxic mold – but the results shouldn’t surprise us. We know that not undergoing a periodic mold detection process could allow spores to grow in our homes and that toxic black mold causes countless respiratory problems. Any mammals in particular, who breathe just like we do, are naturally just as much at risk.

If hearing about people getting sick from mold in their homes doesn’t spring you into action, maybe the sad story of innocent animals dying from mold exposure will do the trick. Take mold seriously and have a certified mold inspector check to make sure it isn’t growing in your dwelling.

MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CTV and recommended by contractors, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a free quote at (416) 575-6111.

Many home owners understand that toxic mold is dangerous but assume it grows at a snail’s pace and stays localized. A story out of New Brunswick this week illustrates why that isn’t true and why swift mold removal is imperative.

The Mill Cove Nursing Home was scheduled for a new, $23-million rebuild to happen next summer but a major mold outbreak has delayed the project. While they await the new building, seniors and staff at Mill Cove are struggling to deal with the effects caused by the mold. The New Brunswick government now has to delay the future to focus on fixing the problems with the present home (not to mention Grand Manan, another nursing home in N.B. plagued by mold).

The mold outbreak started in the building’s storage area. It’s not a surprise, as any certified mold inspector will tell you that moist, dank areas like basements or storage rooms are common breeding grounds for mold spores.

But the key lesson lies in what happened next. The real problem at Mill Cove was that the mold spread through the walls and into the adjoining wing. It caused numerous health problems for residents and staffers that were “mostly respiratory, a lot of difficulty breathing, coughing, runny nose, people with congestion and headaches, sore eyes and people missing work quite a bit,” explained Nancy Kierstead, Mill Cove’s director of nursing, to CBS News this week.

The problem wouldn’t have been nearly as serious if the home had professionals perform a mold detection process. The pros would have snuffed out the problem in the storage room and eliminated it permanently, preventing the spores from spreading at all.

Let Mill Cove’s story be a lesson to all home or business owners out there. Mold in a seemingly harmless place is still dangerous. If you find yourself saying “It’s only in the basement and I’m never down there,” – stop! Understand that toxic mold is a living thing that spreads. Take the right steps to destroy it.

MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CTV and recommended by contractors, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a free quote at (416) 575-6111.