Mold, beware of the scams...
Mold is a word that brings out strong emotions in people. Some rational, some not so much. That with the fact that when people have health concerns they tend to pin it all on mold as the source (sometimes correctly) of the health issues. There are no federal regulations for mold and Health Canada does not classify mold as a hazardous material, so the ability to deal with a "mold professional" is complicated and generally unregulated. What that means is, yes, you could get scammed with mold, but you could also get taken advantage of by a licensed contractor doing work on your home as well, you have all heard stories of contractors doing shoddy work or running off with deposit money. While there are no mold regulations there is the EACC (Environmental Abatement Council of Canada) This is a group of professionals and industry leaders that set out guidelines and safe practices. Your Mold contractor should be a member or at the very least follow the guidelines. (preferably a member)
We find that the issue with mold is it is rarely discussed rationally by companies. By rational, we find that companies play off people's fears and emotions rather than address mold in a scientific fashion. Meaning assessing why mold is present, (there is always a reason), assessing how far the mold has spread and then developing a scope to remediate. The above photo shows mold in an HVAC unit ( Fan Coil). Residents were concerned that mold is getting sucked into the duct of the Fan Coil and spreading throughout the suit. It had to be explained that the duct is blowing air out not in. The cause of the mold was a water leak in the wall that was caused by a faulty sprinkler head. The interior insulation of the Unilux ERV unit is a porous material that retains water and the continued leak saturated it and mold continue to grow.
We are mold experts and have been for over 10 years. We consult on mold, test for mold, remediate mold and ALL our staff office included are trained and certified. That said we are always happy to offer free advice on the mold that could prevent you from being scammed.
If you feel like you are being taken advantage of, you likely are.
A common tactic is to push a sense of urgency (ABC Always Be Closing). You have all no doubt experienced that with other products. Well with mold if you are being scared by a company regarding mold, that is a tactic to push a sale.
Fact-check what you are told. Since there is no licensing for mold, when an individual or company says they are licensed, its BS. Courses are offered by licensed engineers that train and certify. As well as mentioned before EACC. Check memebership status and MOST IMPORTANT ENVIROMENTAL INSURANCE this is not general liability insurance.15 years of experience (thousands of sites remediated) ALL STAFF CERTIFIED.
Do I need particle count, spore samples, lab testing etc to identify mold? No, what is the point if it is visible? If it can be verified easily by eye it doesn't matter what type it is remediation guidelines are all the same. It needs to be removed safely regardless.