Bill’s Bad Day – A Property Manager’s Nightmare

When your property has an environmental problem, the issue needs to be solved quickly and effectively.

When working with RTK, we’ll respond right away with every test required to get you the results required for certifications or to provide you with information needed start taking corrective action.

What to test for?

You’ll rapidly receive an inspection report that is clear and easy to understand with results interpreted in layman’s terms.

1. Mold & Moisture Testing

Mold is a biological contaminant that can grow within 24 to 48 hours of a water leak or high humidity event.

• Air Sampling: Measures the concentration of airborne mold spores inside your home compared to the natural outdoor levels. This reveals hidden infestations behind walls or in ceilings.

• Surface Sampling: Uses tape lifts or swabs to identify specific visible mold growth.

• Moisture Mapping: Utilizing thermal imaging (infrared) and moisture meters to track down hidden plumbing leaks or exterior water intrusion fueling the growth.

2. Lead-Based Paint & Dust Testing

Essential for any home built before 1978, as lead is a potent neurotoxin, particularly dangerous to young children and pregnant women.

• XRF (X-ray Fluorescence) Analyzer: A specialized device that “sees” through layers of modern paint to detect underlying lead paint without damaging the walls.

• Dust Wipe Sampling: Collects microscopic dust from floors and window sills to ensure friction surfaces aren’t creating toxic lead dust.

• Soil Testing: Checks the perimeter of the home for lead residue left behind by chalking exterior paint.

3. Asbestos Testing

Asbestos was heavily used in building materials until the late 1980s for its fire-retardant and insulating properties. It becomes dangerous when it is friable (crumbling or disturbed during renovations).

• Material Sampling: Safely collecting small fragments of suspect materials—such as pop-corn ceiling textures, 9×9 vinyl floor tiles, window caulking, or steam pipe insulation wrapping—for laboratory analysis.

4. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) & VOC Testing

This tests the broad chemical and particulate makeup of the air you breathe every day, which is crucial if family members suffer from unexplained allergies, asthma, or chronic headaches.

• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Tests for chemical off-gassing from new carpets, furniture, paints, or household cleaners (like formaldehyde or benzene).

• Particulate Matter (PM2.5 / PM10): Measures fine dust, pollen, and combustion soot in the air.

5. Radon Gas Testing

Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that seeps up through the soil into basements and foundations. It is the second-leading cause of lung cancer.

• Short-Term/Long-Term Charcoal Canisters: Placed in the lowest livable area of the home for a few days (or months) to measure radioactive decay particles in the air.

6. Drinking Water Testing

Crucial if the home relies on a private well, but also highly recommended for municipal water lines, which can still carry contaminants through aged infrastructure.

• Chemical & Heavy Metal Screen: Checks for lead, copper, arsenic, nitrates, and runoff from pesticides.

• Microbiological Screen: Tests for harmful coliform bacteria and E. coli.

The Golden Rule of Environmental Testing: Always hire an independent testing company that only provides inspections and lab analysis. A company that does both the testing and the remediation (cleanup) has a massive financial conflict of interest. Independent testing ensures completely unbiased results.

Responsive. Accurate. Painless.

Since RTK only performs testing—and not remediation—our reports are unbiased. We won’t magnify a problem in hopes of performing costly repairs.

Let us help your building or property issue go away.

Problem solved!

Your health and peace of mind are too important to leave to chance. Contact the certified experts at RTK Environmental Group today to schedule an independent, unbiased inspection across New York.