Mold Testing and Inspection in Westchester County, NY

Investigating Mold Growth in Westchester County

Covering most of the land between New York City and Connecticut, Westchester County covers approximately 450 square miles and is home to over 968 thousand residents. It is primarily an urban environment, with a rental rate approaching 40% of the total housing units. This means that many of its residents must rely on property managers to maintain the construction of their building while ensuring that it is safe to live in. While most property managers are good about maintenance, there are some problems that routine maintenance is unlikely to fix. Mold growth can be one of these issues, especially if it is in an unexpected location or hidden within a wall or vent.

Under these circumstances it is important to have a reliable, independent testing company come in to assess the nature of the contamination and provide a recommendation in your best interests. Remediation companies are good at their jobs, otherwise they would not be very successful, but they are also invested in the findings of any report they provide, which means there is inherently a conflict of interest every time they provide you with a quote or a list of problems needing solutions. RTK Environmental does not do mold remediation and so there is no profit in recommending more services than necessary to correct the underlying issues. This situation allows their certified microbial investigators the freedom to provide recommendations designed to benefit and protect the client. They are also able to perform investigations for insurance purposes after extreme weather causes water damage to a home in order to assess the amount of additional money required to return it to a livable condition.

Hurricanse, Tropical Storms, Flooding and the Issues of Mold

While Westchester County is protected from the most severe aspects of hurricanes by Long Island, it has still seen a great deal of flooding and water damage because of such major storms. Over 2,400 occurrences of flooding were reported between 1950 and 2010, which means that most buildings have likely been affected by a flood at some point since they were constructed. When water damage occurs, where organic components are soaked, mold growth can reach problematic levels in as little as 48 hours. The longer such contaminations are left unattended the more likely it is for them to migrate throughout the building. These spores can cause mild to severe irritation to people as they float around in the air or attach themselves to another damp component, where they will begin to degrade its structure.

If you see or suspect any form of mold growth in your home you should get it checked as soon as possible to avoid health concerns or force you to commit to major repairs of your home or building. Contact RTK Environmental today for a consultation with one of our certified microbial investigators.