California Residents Urged to be on the Lookout for Hidden Plumbing Leaks to Prevent Mold Growth

Last month, the Monterey Herald published a report about a popular soup kitchen in Salinas that suffered water damage.  According to the article, a slow plumbing leak below the floors had been active for some time and caused extensive damage and the temporary closure of the facility.

Although the article did not reference mold growth due to the leak, in many circumstances where a plumbing leak goes unnoticed for an extended period of time, this can be a major issue.   The presence of moisture is a key factor influencing mold growth and controlling indoor moisture is essential for preventing its growth.

Mold does not need a lot of moisture to grow, in fact, something as common as condensation in a bathroom, around a window sill, or in a kitchen can be enough. Common sites for indoor mold growth include bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, basement walls, crawl spaces and attics, areas around windows and anywhere near leaking plumbing.  Common sources of water or moisture include roof leaks, condensation due to high humidity levels or cold spots in a building, faulty plumbing fixtures and pipes, humidification systems, fire suppression sprinkler systems and floods.

“The presence of high levels of mold can cause health concerns ranging from allergies and asthma to hypersensitivity pneumonitis and even fungal infections,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Garden Grove facility.  “Moisture issues in a home or building can quickly escalate from a simple water damage occurrence to a potential health issue if not caught and remedied in time.  For those who suspect they may have a mold and moisture problem in their property, LA Testing offers mold testing services to identify mold and other indoor pollutants.”

To obtain an easy-to-use Mold Test Kit, please visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.  LA Testing has also sponsored an educational video about what mold needs to grow indoors that can be seen at: http://youtu.be/Tr6_zVT-SP0.

To learn more about mold or other indoor air quality (IAQ) testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794. 

About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals.  In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states.  LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Garden Grove, San Leandro and San Diego.
 

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

LA Testing

(1) (856) 303-2503

Contact via E-mail