Have you ever seen black mold in your home? Were you concerned that it was the “ Toxic Black Mold” that we have been hearing about in the news? These are common questions that people are asking, and desperately looking to find the answers.  It has been well documented that mold spores are common indoors and outside. Mold requires moisture, an organic food source, timing, and the right temperature to thrive. Any type of mold infestation can be devastating when it invades our homes, so why is this particular Black Mold so hazardous… yet intriguing? Here Are 10 Facts About Stachybotrys Mold That You Need to Know 1. The “Toxic Black Mold” People Are Most Concerned About Is Called Stachybotrys Chartarum or Stachybotrys Atra. For the purposes of this article I have interchanged the names Stachybotrys, Black Mold and Stachy to mean the same thing. Yes, exposure to this specific type has been linked to several health issues, such as headaches, vomiting, nausea, fatigue...

One of the most stressful problems for any homeowner to deal with is a burst pipe and the resulting water damage that goes along with it. Even less than a few millimeters of water can cause great damage to your home and your belongings. Frozen pipes, a common plumbing issue in the wintertime, can easily burst if not properly thawed out. The water damage restoration experts at INSPECT IT  ALL SERVICES want everyone to be familiar with how to prevent and how to deal with water damage resulting from burst pipes. The most easily recognized sign of a frozen pipe is if only a small trickle of water comes out when you turn on a faucet. You should be able to locate the frozen pipe by inspecting the pipes along your exterior walls. It'll be the one covered in ice! Frozen pipes can be thawed in numerous ways in order to prevent water damage in your home. Using a hair dryer or a heating pad are probably your two best options for melting the ice. Wrapping hot towels around the pip...

Asbestosis is a debilitating condition that requires immediate medical attention. However, due to the fact that many of the symptoms of asbestosis are associated with other respiratory problems, many sufferers do not receive the urgent medical attention that they need. To help you recognize the warning signs of asbestosis, we have created the following list of warning symptoms, for which you should be on the lookout: 1 – Shortness of breath This is one of the primary symptoms of asbestosis and occurs as a direct result of inhaling asbestos fibres over a prolonged period of time. These toxic fibres can constrict lung movement and can cause sufferers to become increasingly tired and fatigued. 2 – Swelling Inhaled asbestos fibres can also induce increased blood pressure and cause sufferers to accumulate fluid around their heart and lungs. These symptoms present themselves as swellings around the neck and face. 3 – Bloated abdomen Once a person has inha...

The dew point is the temperature at which moisture in the air will condense on a surface. It fluctuates with the outdoor temperature and relative humidity, which have an inverse relationship to each other.  Because cold air can hold less moisture than warm air, as the temperature falls the relative humidity rises and, when the temperature of a surface falls enough, it reaches the dew point—which is 100% relative humidity—and condensation forms.  The window glass of an air conditioned home will be cooler than the outdoor air on a warm morning and reaches the dew point temperature before other outdoor surfaces.  Occasionally, we get asked the question “Why do I have condensation when my windows are insulated?” An insulated window still has some heat/cold transmission, and the exterior glass surface will still be slightly cooler because of the chilled indoor air. Trying to determine why one window has condensate on it and a nearby one does not can get complicated due...

The last thing you want to do when you step out of a nice warm shower is dry yourself off with a nasty-smelling towel. The stench can be overwhelming, and it really puts a damper on that “fresh from the shower” feeling. Luckily, this problem is easy to solve! With a few strategic cleaning cycles, the musty stench can be a thing of the past. Here’s how: The Golden Towel Rule: Do not let your towels stay wet! For each of these methods, it’s important that the towels are dried immediately. Set a timer to ensure that your clothes are switched from the washing machine to the dryer promptly. If you line dry, hang the wet towels in a sunny spot until they’re completely dry. Method #1: Vinegar Riding Solo Musty, smelly towels don’t play well with others, so give them their own load. Add one cup of white vinegar to the load – no detergent or fabric softener – and run the washer on the hottest possible setting. The vinegar will kill any lingering bacteria. Then, leave the clothes ...

Have you noticed tiny droplets of moisture – otherwise known as condensation – forming on the inside of your windows this winter? If so, you likely have an issue of high indoor humidity. So, why does it happen? New homes in Canada are built to be airtight, limiting the flow of air in and out of the home to reduce heat loss. As a result, it’s difficult for excess moisture to escape during the winter months when windows are constantly closed. High indoor humidity can fog up and eventually rot your windowsills. With excess amounts of condensation, mould will begin to grow on vinyl windows. And that’s mold that you and your family will breathe in every day. Bathrooms and kitchens are moisture monsters – steamy showers and boiling pots build up water vapour in the air that condenses when it touches cold walls and windows. In this environment, mould will eventually start to grow. Excess moisture is a problem you don’t want to ignore, but you’ll be happy to hear that there are many simple w...