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Clues That Can Be As Important Or More Important Than Air Quality Test Results
When a customer calls because they believe they might have mold in their home, the easiest thing to do is to take an air quality test. It makes me crazy when I hear of techs that simply show up and tell the customer, “I'm here to take an air quality test” Why? Because we all know the inadequacies of air quality testing in the first place, including the potential for “false negatives”. The real harm in a false negative test and the corresponding lack of effort on the technicians part is the customer trusts the tech and trusts the test results. To add to this, the customer then relays the message to their health care provider that, “It’s not mold, we had it tested”.
I believe this is not only bad for business, but is irresponsible on the part of the technician. It’s critical that we are experts in our craft. We need to assist the customer in their investigation of the home and find any clues along the way.
So what are some clues aside from an air quality test? In no particular order, they are:
1. The customer feels lousy or tired all of the time. I know that this is extremely vague, but the customer has also contacted you because they feel that their home may be the cause of their health issues. Without pretending to be a healthcare provider, simply use this as a piece to add to the puzzle.
2. There has been a flood or leak in the past. If it was a significant flood or water issue, I can almost promise you they have elevated Mold Load in the home and they will feel better after a Pure Maintenance treatment.
3. The house has an odor. We all know the musty smelling house. Curiously, the customer often does not realize their own home stinks because humans become very used to their own homes. It’s part of the olfactory system, and is a blessing and a curse.
4. There is a humidifier installed on the furnace. These, in my opinion, are like political debates. Nothing good ever came from it, and it likely causes more harm.
5. The air conditioner or heater smells funny when they turn it on. Often the
elevated mold load in the home has created a giant petri dish within the hvac system.
6. The bathroom has signs of darkened grout, mold on ceiling, or mold in drains and window sills. All of these may seem normal, but a truly healthy home should have none or at least very few instances of these.
7. Seasonal allergies have become less seasonal and are constant. Homes or facilities with elevated mold wreak havoc on our health and particularly our sinuses. Most customers I have helped over the years have noted that before their home was treated, they would wake up in the morning with this need to blow their nose, which produced all kinds of stuff we don't want to talk about. A home with elevated mold load will do just that. It’s usually a dead giveaway that the home needs to be treated.
8. Paint peeling or water stains on paint and drywall. Where there is peeling, there is usually water. Where there is water, there is always mold. 9. Chronic sore throat or coughing. Particularly one that a doctor prescribed an antibiotic which did very little to help. Along with this very acute symptom is sometimes a rash and itchy skin.
These are 9 pretty solid “clues” that the home or building has an elevated Mold Load and further investigating should be done.
