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After a Record-Wet Summer, Could Mold Be Hiding in Your Home?
After weeks of heavy rain, flash flooding and saturated conditions across the tri-state area, many homeowners may be carrying a hidden problem into fall: moisture trapped inside their homes. Central Park recorded 8.04 inches of rain through August 23—more than 4.5 inches above normal and the highest August rainfall in New York City since 2021. Bridgeport, Connecticut, received 21.21 inches of rain between June 1 and August 23, making this
Before You Approve a Mold Claim: What Every Adjuster Should Verify
Before You Approve a Mold Claim: What Every Adjuster Should Verify By Robert Weitz For an insurance adjuster evaluating a mold claim after a leak, burst pipe, storm, or other water intrusion, finding mold is only part of the equation. The more important question is: Did this loss cause the mold, or was the mold already there? That distinction can significantly affect how a claim is evaluated. Mold can begin
How Environmental Testing Can Help You Prepare for a Newborn
How Environmental Testing Can Help You Prepare for a Newborn Quick Answer: Test your home for mold, lead, asbestos, radon, VOCs, and contaminated water before your baby arrives. Newborns are more vulnerable to these hazards than adults, and RTK Environmental Group can identify problems while there’s still time to fix them before the big day. Key Takeaways • Infants who live in homes with mold are three times more likely
Signs of Summer Mold: How to Tell If Your Home Has a Mold Problem
Signs of Summer Mold: How to Tell If Your Home Has a Mold Problem A homeowner’s guide to spotting mold after summer storms, water intrusion, and high humidity — and why testing (not guessing) is the only way to know for sure. The three most reliable signs of summer mold are visible mold growth or water stains, a musty or earthy odor, and unexplained physical symptoms (itchy eyes, cough, congestion)
Does Running Your AC Cause Mold? What You Need to Know
Does Running Your AC Cause Mold? What You Need to Know By Robert Weitz Your AC Is Running — So Why Is Moisture Still Building Up? Yes, your AC can cause mold. And it happens faster than most people expect. Summer AC complaints are some of the most consistent calls we get at RTK. People assume that because the air feels cool and dry, everything is fine. It isn’t always.
Tenant Complaints Start in the Air: A Guide for Property Owners and Managers
Tenant Complaints Start in the Air: A Guide for Property Owners and Managers By Robert Weitz, Founder, RTK Environmental The wall is the symptom. The air is the signal. Tenants notice air quality problems weeks or months before owners see any physical damage. That’s not a coincidence — it’s biology. People spend roughly 90% of their time indoors, and indoor air can be 2 to 5 times more polluted than
DIY vs. Professional: Is a Home Mold Testing Kit Enough?
DIY vs. Professional: Is a Home Mold Testing Kit Enough? You’ve noticed a musty smell in your Brooklyn basement or spotted dark patches on your bathroom ceiling in Westchester. A quick internet search reveals dozens of mold testing kits available on Amazon for $10 to $50, promising laboratory analysis and quick results. Meanwhile, professional mold testing services quote hundreds or even thousands of dollars for comprehensive assessment. The price difference
Spring Allergies or Mold? How to Tell the Difference Inside Your Home
Spring Allergies or Mold? How to Tell the Difference Inside Your Home By Robert Weitz, Environmental Testing Professional, RTK Environmental If your allergy symptoms get worse indoors, flare up in one specific room or building, or stick around after pollen season, mold is a likely cause. Mold grows where moisture sits, often hidden behind walls, under sinks, in air ducts, and in basements. The way to know for sure is
Planning a Renovation? What You Should Test Before You Demo
Planning a Renovation? What You Should Test Before You Demo By Robert Weitz, Principal & Founder, RTK Environmental Group If your home was built before 1978, do not pick up a sledgehammer until you read this. I’ve spent more than 30 years inspecting homes across New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. I’ve personally reviewed more than 40,000 environmental testing reports and performed thousands of home inspections. What I can tell
Microplastics in Your Home: What You Need to Know
By Robert Weitz, Founder, RTK Environmental Group What Are Microplastics and Why Should Homeowners Care? Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than five millimeters in diameter. They are present in water sources, food supplies, and the air inside your home. Research presented at the 2025 American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session links higher microplastic concentrations to diabetes, stroke, hypertension, and cardiovascular events. Microplastics have been detected in human brain tissue,
HPD Mold Violations in NYC: What Building Owners Need to Know
HPD Mold Violations in NYC: What Building Owners Need to Know By Robert Weitz, RTK Environmental If you’ve received an Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) mold violation in New York City, you are on the clock. Mold violations are treated as serious indoor allergen hazards under Local Law 55 and leaving them open can expose you to escalating penalties, tenant complaints, and costly repairs down the road. Exposure to mold
Indoor Air Quality: Frequently Asked Questions
Indoor Air Quality: Frequently Asked Questions By Robert Weitz, Founder RTK Environmental THE BASICS How polluted is indoor air compared to outdoor air? Indoor air is 2 to 100 times more polluted than outdoor air. The EPA puts the typical figure at 2 to 5 times, and spaces with poor ventilation can reach concentrations up to 100 times higher. Because Americans spend roughly 90% of their time indoors, the quality
