Property owners are paying thousands of dollars to corrupt contractors seeking to make a profit by performing mold services that do not exist or not performing properly.  This article was created to help you understand when you are being taken for a ride!

Before we begin, you should know that there currently are no mandated regulations or standards that apply to the remediation of fungi in indoor environments.  There have been established guidelines by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, Restoration and Certification (IICRC).  There is also no official state or federal certification programs for this industry.  Wipe Out has gained its certifications through IICRC due to the highly regarded reputation in over 22 countries and that the State of Florida has sought their input in creating regulation for Florida.

When a mold remediation project is completed, the contractor should recommend clearance testing.  Clearance testing is designed to determine the effectiveness of remediation efforts and to document the absence of microbial problems before renovations begin.  This testing should be conducted as follows:

1. It should include visual inspection of both the remediated areas and non-remediated areas to check for cleanliness and all affected materials have been removed.  This prevents the homeowner from paying for tests when they would obviously fail.
2. Air sampling should be performed in all major areas where remediation was performed, an outdoor control sample should be taken for comparison to the indoor samples and a sample should be taken in a non remediated area to insure no cross contamination occurred during the project.
3. At least one settled dust sample from a representative cleaned surface in each remediated area should be performed, as well as, a surface sample in major areas,  such as HVAC system, which are at particular risk of having been cross-contaminated by inadequate dust containment measures during the cleanup.
4. An inspection should be performed for any ongoing issues that may continue to put the building at risk and should include recommendations.

Your testing company should provide you with a written report which contains a pass/fail, any areas that are at risk with recommendations, and a copy of the test results for all samples taken.  If not, then you have just been taken for a ride!

Another way property owners are spending money is on unethical contractors who perform both the mold testing and mold remediation.  You should never use the same company for both.  Why?  It’s a major conflict of interest!  The potential for abuse for a company performing both services is huge.  With the cost associated with mold remediation, you want to ensure that your mold tester has no reason to find problems that don’t exist.

Furthermore, your mold remediator should not perform his own clearance testing.  Most mold companies strive to get the project done right the first time, especially when they are on the hook for the test if they fail, like our company offers.  If the contractor is offering free clearance testing, it is a great way to control their profit margin by ensuring their work passes and they get paid.  It is always in the property owners best interest to have the original testing company perform the clearance testing.  If it was not originally tested, a non-biased third party Indoor Environmental Professional (IEP) should be consulted for clearance testing.

Some common scams to look out for are:

Sample Loading: Lower priced samples, but convincing the homeowner that your personal belongings need to each be tested for contamination.  You can avoid this by knowing that you do not usually need surface samples at the beginning of a project.  Air samples will suffice.

Swapping Samples: This is when an inspector changes your samples with another project they know has high mold levels.  To protect yourself from this scam, make sure you higher an IEP that has no interest in the results of your sample.  This falls under the category of never use the same company for both testing and remediation.

House Cooking: If you see a tester turning on the ceiling fan or furnace, this is a scam.  This will elevate the mold spore count in the air before taking samples.  If you see a tester patting down your furniture to get the air dirty, this is a scam.  To protect yourself, ask the tester to leave your property immediately.

Wipe Out is full-service eco-friendly water damage and mold remediation company, which provides free estimates and free infrared photography. With the owners having many years experience and certifications, they provide 24/7 unbeatable service at the lowest prices available, backed by a “Price Match Guarantee”.

For additional information on Eco-Friendly Water Damage and Mold Remediation from Wipe Out, please call 904-567-3885.

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Categories: Mold , Press Releases