WHY DOES MOLD GROW?
Mold needs three things to grow: Food Source, Temperature, and most importantly Moisture. Mold consumes only organic material as they primarily degrade cellulose. In homes and offices there are plenty of organic materials used in construction which contain cellulose, such as drywall, wood, and even carpet with organic fibers. Mold will not consume synthetic materials but it will thrive on organic debris that land on these synthetics such as dead skin, dust, or oils. (Think back to the mold that builds up in your shower when not cleaned regularly.) Moisture is the key to mold growth and enters our dwellings in a variety of ways. Leaky roofs, high humidity, wet basements, plumbing leaks, improperly sealed windows or doors are just some of the ways water infiltrates a structure and allows mold to grow.

WHAT ARE SPORES?
Mold reproduces by way of spores, which are microscopic in size. Mold spores are measured in units called Microns. Generally, one of the smallest things someone with 20/20 vision can see is a raindrop, which is approximately 600 microns. Most mold spores range in size from 5-30 microns making them impossible to see with the human eye and easily move through the air from even the smallest force. Wind, insects, human or animal movements can all move spores around a dwelling and they can easily pass through small cracks, window screens and doorways. Mold spores can stay in the air for prolonged periods of time and will do so until appropriate conditions are found for reproduction.

MOLD AND HEALTH
Due to their incredibly small size, mold spores can be easily inhaled or ingested. Spores can also enter a human or animal's body by way of the ears, eyes, and even pores. Certain health effects have been associated with mold such as but not limited to: runny nose, sneezing, coughing, dizziness, drowsiness, headaches, fatigue, short-term memory loss, diarrhea, asthma, pnuemonitis, hair loss, etc.

Generally mold spores are classified into three different categories when pertaining to health. They are Toxic, Pathogenic, and Allergenic.
A Toxic mold is one that produces a mycotoxin which has been associated with adverse affects in almost anyone if found present in elevations. Some examples of mycotoxins include: tricothecene (produced by the fabled Stachybotrys genus), petulin (generally produced by Aspergillus’s sp. ), and sterigmatocystin (also produced by some species of Aspergillus sp. ).

A Pathogenic mold will affect those who are already immune-compromised. Many molds fall into this category. Immune compromised individuals include but are not limited to: cancer patients, pregnant women, and small children with undeveloped immune systems, some animals, people with heart disease, and others who suffer from illness.

An Allergenic mold is one that may affect some but not others. This affect is very similar to an animal or pollen allergy. An allergenic mold can sometimes divide a family because only one person may complain of symptoms while others do not have concern for the problem and ultimately do not address it. An individual can build a tolerance to an allergy as well as become more susceptible after chronic exposure.
Mold spores can be viable or non-viable. A viable spore can actively reproduce while a non-viable spore will not actively reproduce. Mold spores have been associated with effects on human health both when they are living or dead. The health affects associated with a spore are not negated when the spore is rendered non-viable. In fact a dead spore, which still contains mycotoxins, may be more detrimental because it becomes lighter and can become airborne more readily. Not all non-viable spores are dead, some may simply be dormant until favorable conditions for growth arise. ECMS can remove both viable and non-viable mold spores.

MOLD INSPECTION AND REMEDIATION SERVICES

Disinfectant Cleaning/Antifungal Treatments - ECMS uses a variety of equipment in conjunction with environmentally friendly disinfectants to eliminate fungus, remove mold and other contaminants. Your health and our environment are our primary concerns, and we are very much against the idea of creating new problems by employing thoughtless solutions to rectify existing problems.

Decontamination & Sanitizing– While mold and fungus are major health concerns, ECMS will help you identify these contaminants and determine the best solution to decontaminate and sanitize your home or office. We take the state of the structure and your health into consideration when determining the best approach. The goal is to eradicate allergens and not create new ones.

Dehumidifying – ECMS uses special equipment to dehumidify your office or home. We also will install permanent dehumidifying equipment that can become part of your new or existing HVAC solution. Most often, our Dehumidifying services are required after flood and water disasters. Preventing and removing mold is critical for avoiding health issues, so it is important to not wait too long before utilizing our services. ECMS will leave special drying and water extraction equipment at your site to remove water and humidity. One often neglected concern is the amount of water that gets into walls – a common source of mold growth. Please also see our Mold Removal services.

Mold Remediation/Mold Removal- ECMS employs a variety of techniques and services to repair damage caused by mold as well as providing preventative solutions – Mold is a major health concern and black mold is quite often found in bathrooms and wet basements. ECMS employs a variety of techniques to detect and remove mold from both the interior and surfaces of walls, ceilings, carpets and floors. Mold removal is critical to avoid common health issues.

Mold Sanitization-ECMS will begin the process by sealing off the infected room or rooms to prevent mold from spreading We use state of the art equipment to filter the air with a HEPA filter and then carefully disinfect. In severe cases, ECMS will replace structures that can not be disinfected. ECMS also employs the use of Dry Ice – a cryogenic technology that freezes Mold spores present on surfaces and allows for their safe removal. Please refer to Mold Removal services.