6 mold prevention tips

Mold can grow in a multitude of places in the home and during a range of weather conditions year-round. 

Some of the most common indoor molds include:

  • Alternaria
  • Apergillus
  • Cladosporium
  • Penicillium

Exposure to mold can cause both long- and short-term issues that can create an unsafe living environment and adversely affect health.

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, common reactions to mold can include: nasal stuffiness, eye irritation and skin irritation. In addition mold has been proven to irritate already present symptoms of asthma, colds and other heath conditions.

Prevent illnesses and injuries caused by mold with the following six tips.

  1. Check humidity levels in your home. Use an air conditioner or humidifier to keep levels below 50 percent throughout the day.
  2. Clean up liquid spills and leaks as soon as they occur. Leaving water or other liquids lying around can create a host of problems including mold, infestation and permanent home damage.
  3. Clean and repair your roof, gutters and other outside home fixtures regularly to prevent water damage.
  4. Ensure your home is ventilated for proper air circulation. Stagnant air can increase the effects of mold.
  5. Make sure the ground surrounding your home slopes away from foundation and other outside areas. Water that enters the foundation or sits nearby can affect stability and create a breeding ground for mold. 
  6. Remove and replace carpets, upholstery or any other home furnishings affected by water damage. These can harbor mold out of sight in areas underneath the rug or beneath cushions.

Alban home inspectors are trained in mold testing and inspection areas. We offer a three-step approach to removing and preventing future mold issues. If you have a mold problem in your home, or suspect you do, visit our website for more information or call 301-662-6565.

4 spring energy efficient tips you need to know

Spring is finally here, and though it may not seem like it yet, warmer weather will be along soon as well. The new season brings blooming flowers, more animal sightings and sunny skies, but it also brings obviously hotter temperatures.

Keep the heat out of your home and away from your electricity bill with the following four tips:

  • Change the airflow direction on your ceiling fan: Using a ceiling fan in a room correctly can reduce the tangible heat. In the spring and summer months, switch the fan direction upward so cool air reaches toward the floor instead of warmer air.
  • Don't heat your home with appliances: On warmer days don't cook with an oven, instead use a microwave or grill outside. In addition, reduce hot water use with short showers. Use energy-efficient appliances that give off smaller amounts of heat as well.
  • Operate an efficient cooling system: Schedule routine maintenance for your home system in addition to using efficient air cooling devices. Avoid placing lamps or other devices near your thermostat as this can throw off the temperature reading and cause the cooling system to run longer than necessary. 
  • Use your windows to your advantage: Understand the climate you live in and how utilizing your windows can lower your bills and carbon footprint. Invest in natural ventilation systems as well as window treatments or covers that keep sunlight and other heat sources out.

Schedule an inspection with Alban today to obtain an energy efficient plan before the hot spring weather really hits. Alban inspectors are reliable, seasoned professionals in a range of areas including mold testing and radon testing. Learn more on our website.

Energy-efficient features worth it to young homebuyers

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), new homes are becoming better equipped with energy-efficient features, one of the top desires for current homebuyers.

This is due in part to a growing portion of the purchasing market: Millennial homebuyers. A recent study indicated that energy-efficient certification is a priority for this age group, and 84 percent are willing to pay  2 to 3 percent more for a home that fits within this standard… if it makes a difference in utility bills.

Green building structures encompass a range of materials and sectors that include:

  • Energy efficiency in areas such as HVAC systems and lighting.
  • Indoor environment quality using low-allergen materials.
  • Resource conservation such as sustainably harvested lumber.
  • Site design for open space and minimal environment destruction.
  • Water conservation using water-efficient appliances and low maintenance and landscaping techniques.

Some common energy-efficient homebuyer desires include low-E windows, appliances with Energy Star ratings and programmable thermostats. Homebuyers are becoming increasingly cognizant of their carbon footprint as well as the rising cost of utility bills. Many are combining their passion for the earth with monetary issues to lead a more energy-efficient life.

According to data released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau, new home sales have hit their highest selling number since February 2008. Home sales rose by a 7.8 percent sales pace in February 2014.

Schedule a consultation with Alban Inspections to discover where your home stands in energy efficiency or where your soon-to-be new home can take you. Alban also specializes in radon detection, heating and insulation products as well as mold testing. Check out our website for more information.  

Test your home for lead today

Has your home been recently inspected for lead contamination? If you live in Maryland, it could be an investment worth your life. 

New Maryland lead laws went into effect Jan. 1. The law hopes to reduce the number of lead poisoning cases linked to homes built before 1978, according to The Star Democrat. 

Although lead paint was prohibited in 1978, many cases have emerged in recent years linking lead poisoning with homes specifically built between 1950 and 1978.  

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least four million households are infecting children with lead poisoning right now.

Lead can be found in the air, water and soil surrounding and inside your home. It can also be found in plumbing materials, solders, gasoline, cosmetics and batteries. 

Lead is oftentimes found in paint covering bedroom walls and playroom areas. It can be safe to be in its vicinity if it is still in decent shape underneath new layers of paint. However, if it begins to chip, crack or create dust though, it may be time to bring in an inspector to remove it. 

Children and pregnant women are most prone to the dangerous effects of lead exposure, although exposure to any person or animal can be lethal. Children are still developing and, due to this, they tend to  absorb more lead than adults. This can have especially serious and adverse effects on their brain and nervous systems, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

Maryland law requires all multi-family and single family homes built before 1978 to be tested for lead paint. Under federal law, lead-based paint in your property must be disclosed when being sold or leased.

If you live in an older home or believe a family member is suffering from lead poisoning, or you are about to sell your home, schedule an appointment with our home inspection company. Alban lead inspectors are accredited and trained to help. 

Inspect private water wells before investing in a home

Is the private well water your family drinks safe? What about the well water you may be inheriting in your first home purchase? 

According to the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, families that use well water instead of U.S.-regulated water should have it tested for arsenic. Private well water is not regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

This could be a health hazard for infants if not detected and prevented. The study concluded that formula-fed infants whose families drank well water had seven-and-a-half times the amount of arsenic in their urine as breastfed infants. 

Researchers tested arsenic levels in the tap water of 874 New Hampshire family homes, said Health Day. 

Despite these findings, their is no need for panic or anxiety about your water. Exposure to arsenic during the years of early infancy is low, regardless of how you choose to feed your child. 

Arsenic levels in tap water were often below EPA recommended limits.  

If you use well water as a main source of hydration, it should be tested for common contaminates such as bacteria, nitrates, nitrites and lead. In addition, the EPA and other agencies suggest that home owners test for sulfate, chloride, iron, manganese, lead, hardness and the corrosion index every three years. 

Home inspection contractors like Alban inspectors are trained and accredited to collect water for testing. Keeping up with scheduled maintenance and security of wells can help avoid expensive problems and replacements from occurring.

For more information on water safety or other home inspection topics visit our website or call us for a prompt, reliable response 1-800-822-7200.

Virginia solar co-ops rising in popularity

According to Fairfax County News Online, residents around Fairfax Country have been forming co-ops to increase the amount of solar panel roofs on local homes.

The movement began last year with a group of religious congregations. The groups came together with the goal of educating themselves on the benefits of solar energy, cultivating new interest in solar roof options.

The All Dulles Area Muslim Society, Temple Rodef Shalom and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fairfax formed the Northern Virginia Interfaith Solar co-op because of Virginia's overall lack of energy efficient tax incentives. These incentives, as seen in states like Maryland and others close by, reduce expenses for those that install  the solar roofs. 

A co-op can reduce the cost of the solar panels by 20 to 30 percent, said the Fairfax Times. These types of co-ops have begun emerging across the state, including Blackburg County.

Other towns such as Vienna and Herndon are working with Solarize Nova, a part of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission. This group offers free energy audits and assessments for solar roof candidacy.

Using solar energy roofing systems has many benefits including:

  • Cost effectiveness
  • Environment​ally-friendly
  • No carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases are emitted
  • Pays for itself in lower cost of utilities and other bills
  • Provides energy that can be stored for future use
  • Grants, taxes and other rebates could be available from the government for implementation
  • Allows a safer alternative to other home heating and lighting measures

If you would like to know how efficient your home is or what changes are available contact Alban Inspections for an energy audit. Call 301-662-6565 or visit our website.

4 common problems in drinking water

If you have a private well, you probably know that you should test the water annually for signs of pollutants that could harm your family's health. However, you should also be on the lookout throughout the year for any signs that a problem might be developing. Here are some of the more common contaminants found in drinking water and the signs that will help you identify them:

  • Bacteria: E. coli and other bacteria associated with fecal matter can get into your drinking water if it becomes contaminated by sewage. There are no visible signs of bacterial contamination, but recurring gastrointestinal problems, such as vomiting and abdominal cramps, among several family members can indicate its presence. 
  • Copper: This bitter-tasting metal causes bluish-green stains on sinks and tubs and causes water to appear cloudy. In the short term, the only negative effects are stomach cramps, but in the long term, copper contamination can lead to liver and kidney damage.
  • Lead: If any of the pipes in your home contain lead and begin to corrode into your water, you will have serious health problems on your hands, especially if there are pregnant women or young children in your household. Lead poisoning can cause damage to the brain, nervous system and blood cells, taking an especially heavy toll on young children, whose emotional and physical growth it can stunt for a lifetime.
  • Nitrate and nitrite: These chemicals, found in many fertilizers, can seep into drinking water if they are used on a lawn that slopes downward toward the well. They pose relatively little danger to healthy adults, but in children and pregnant women it can cause a potentially fatal oxygen deficiency. 

For professional testing of your private well, contact DC home inspectors Alban Inspections today. 

Many Americans’ porches still contain hazardous levels of lead paint, study says

According to a new study from the University of Rochester, the biggest lead hazard in your home might be right outside your front door. Researchers found that the porches of 79 homes in Rochester had lead levels nearly four times the level found inside the home. 

The problem stems from gaps in lead paint legislation at the local level. Rochester's "lead safe" laws require landlords and property owners to ensure that the insides of rental properties do not contain more than a certain level of lead, but fail to require the same treatment for the exterior of the home. In fact, there are no communities nationwide that require porches of rental properties to be tested for lead, since there are no federal standards for acceptable levels. 

This means that in many cases, lead-heavy dust made of flaking paint can be inhaled by children playing on the porch, or can enter the home on the shoes of the inhabitants and cause problems indoors as well. Fortunately, this problem can be completely corrected by re-painting or replacing the porch. The researchers found that lead levels returned to normal as soon as the lead paint on the porch had been removed and new paint had been applied. 

However, many people may not be aware that their porches contain dangerous levels of lead paint. The first step toward correcting this widespread issue is to raise awareness of the potential dangers of lead paint on porches to renters and homeowners. 

If you suspect that your porch or any other part of your home might contain dangerous levels of lead, contact Alban Inspections to schedule a home lead test today.

Top 3 myths about lead paint

Everyone has heard at least occasionally about the dangers of lead paint and how it can cause lead poisoning, but there is still a lot of misinformation surrounding the topic. Many people don't think lead paint is an issue anymore, or that they are not personally at risk for lead poisoning. Here are some of the top myths about lead paint, debunked:

  • Houses don't have lead paint anymore because it's illegal. It's true that it's now illegal to use lead paint in new construction, and there are some laws requiring lead remediation for rental properties, but many homes built before 1978 still have lead paint layers somewhere in the home. For example, many municipalities don't have rules governing acceptable lead levels on porches, making them a lead hazard for children and elderly people.
  • I should deal with lead paint myself. Lead paint removal is a complicated process that needs to be handled by a lead-certified contractor to avoid increased risk of poisoning from the spread of paint chips and dust. Certified professionals are better equipped to deal with the necessary containment procedures during the removal process.
  • Lead paint won't affect me because I'm a healthy adult. Lead poisoning effects are more extreme in children and the elderly, but ingesting lead paint can still have debilitating effects even on people in the prime of their lives. Lead poisoning in adults can lead to reproductive issues like low sperm count and even miscarriage.

If your home was built before 1978, you may be at risk for lead exposure from remaining lead paint. Contact Alban Inspections to schedule a lead inspection for your property today. Our certified home inspectors will test your home for lead and help you create a strategy for lead abatement.

What every homeowner should know about lead paint

Lead paint in homes presents a serious health hazard, especially for children. It can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties and physical symptoms like sluggishness, vomiting and hair loss. To protect your family from the dangers of lead paint ingestion, here are some things you should keep in mind:

  • The older your house is, the more likely it is to have lead paint. Lead paint was banned from use in the U.S. in 1978, but if your house was built before then, there may be some lead paint remaining in your home. Don't assume that just because you test the surface for lead and it comes back negative, that there is no lead paint present — it may be buried under several other layers of paint that have accumulated over the years.
  • When renovating, hire an EPA Lead-Safe Certified contractor. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Lead-Safe Certification is given to contractors who have proven that they are capable of mitigating dangers from lead paint during renovation work on homes built before 1978. If you decide to work with an uncertified contractor, they may not take the job seriously enough. An informal Angie's List study found that 11 percent of contractors gave homeowners bad advice on lead safety.
  • Lead paint is not just an inner-city problem. The media has focused a lot on the effects of lead poisoning on inner-city children living in dilapidated housing stock, but many homes outside the city also contain lead paint. The EPA estimates that about 40 percent of homes nationwide remain at risk for dangerous levels of lead paint.

To have your home tested for lead paint, schedule an appointment with Alban Inspections today. Our certified inspectors will give you all the information you need to protect your family from lead poisoning.