Mold Remediation, Water Damage Restoration, and Radon Mitigation & Inspection Services in Lake Tahoe

Tahoe Mold & Water, specializes in offering:

• Lake Tahoe Mold remediation
• Lake Tahoe Water damage restoration
• Lake Tahoe Radon Mitigation, Testing & Inspection

Our team is very experienced in handling all aspects of our work. We work directly with insurance, are licensed and insured in both California. Tahoe Mold & Water services Incline Village, NV and Tahoe City, CA as well as surrounding areas.

Let us take the stress out of the unexpected. Our call center is open 7 days a week, 24 hours.

Our emergency service area includes:

Water Damage in the Tahoe, CA area and What to Expect

Most people will never have a large water loss at their home. Since you are reading this, you may be one of the few that is experiencing one of the most stressful things that can happen to homeowners. Water damage is often handled improperly, leaving one’s home with long-term damage that may have been preventable. This is why it is so important to choose the right contractor for your job.

Tips for Hiring a Mitigation Contractor

Water can create an incredible amount of damage in a short period of time. After the water is discovered, the stopwatch starts. The objective is to properly dry the affected areas of your home before the mold can propagate. Mold can start to grow within 24-48 hours. (water damage restoration)

Many insurance policies have limits on mold coverage with some offering none. The cost of dealing with water damage repair is typically covered to the extent of your general insurance policy. Therefore, the water mitigation and drying process must begin immediately after discovering the water to limit mold growth and ultimately, remediation work. Once you discover the problem, call us immediately! Dealing with insurance is not always smooth. The information you provide when opening a claim can result in denial or limitations of coverage.

Insurance Claims Process

Common water sources listed by category of water:

Category 1 Water – Clean or “blue water”

• Supply line to the toilet bursts.
• Angle stop valve blows off.
• Water heater rupture.
• Clothes washer doesn’t stop filling (if no soap is present).

Category 2 Water – Minor contaminants, called “grey water”

• Discharge to clothes washer becomes displaced and empties on the floor.
• Dishwasher leaks.
• Roof leak (possible category 3 if the roof has contaminants).
• Shower drain line leaks.

Category 3 Water – Major Contaminants, called “black water”

• Break in the sewage line.
• Back up of sewage line.
• Long duration clean water loss where atypical mold damage present.
• Flood water.

The following are basic procedures for water mitigation:

• Start dehumidification immediately, unless it is warm and dry enough outside to keep windows open. Removing water vapor is important in preventing secondary damage from condensation on surfaces outside the water travel area.
• Remove all furniture and personal property from the impacted areas. Make sure wet items are not put in boxes where they can create mold and damage other dry property.
• Extract as much water as possible. Solid flooring can be done fairly quickly, though sometimes requires removal. Extracting water from carpet can be done if the water source is category 1, and the water does not cover a large area. When multiple rooms are impacted by water, the carpet will typically need to be pulled up and the pad removed. In the past, it was common to float carpet by blowing air under it. This should only be done with the pad removed and water extracted from the carpet and subfloor below. If the carpet is old, damaged or has been wet for more than 24 hours, it typically needs to be disposed of unless it can be racked, dried, and cleaned.
• Baseboard trim on walls that got wet should be removed to get air movement to the bottom of the wall where moisture can persist and mold can hide.
• Removal of drywall may be necessary if the wall is insulated or has been wet for an extended period. If wallboard becomes soft, it is structurally compromised and needs to be removed.
• Wet insulation should be removed and disposed of.
• Finally, dirt and debris are removed with vacuums, preferably HEPA vacuums, and air movement can begin. Place air movers to help with evaporation and speed up drying times. This often can require multiple air movers per room.
• Drying mats, injection, and heat drying systems can help to reduce the required demolition by drying construction materials in place.
• Provide adequate heat to keep temperatures above 65*F.
• Ensure adequate dehumidification is available. Air movement and heat will increase the evaporation rate resulting in large amounts of water vapor that need to be removed from the environment.
• Regular moisture and psychrometric readings should be taken until all materials register dry.
• Now you can begin rebuilding!

Call today 530-583-6653 or send us an e-mail.

After-hours – non-emergency calls will be returned the following business day.

Useful Links

• Emergency Mitigation and Drying Services
• Water Damage Consulting
• Tips to Hiring a Mitigation Contractor
• Measurement and Drying Tools _PDF
• Filing a Claim- what you should know
• EPA Flood Cleanup- Preventing air quality problems
• Insurance Professionals
• Landlords and Property Managers
• Real Estate Professionals

Mold 101

Mold is everywhere! It is fungi found both indoors and outdoors. It can even survive space travel. No one knows how many species of molds exist, though estimates range from tens of thousands to perhaps 300,000 or more.

Mold breaks down organic based materials including animal and plant remains. Without molds, fallen trees, leaves, and organic debris would pile up around us. We rely on molds in our everyday life, from modern medications such as antibiotics, and antidepressants to digestive aids and food. As humans, we will come into contact with a variety of molds in our everyday life. In most cases, you will be unaware of the mold that you are breathing, touching or ingesting.

We consider outside levels of airborne molds to be typical, or levels that would be normal if found indoors. In seasonal areas of the world, outside mold levels will change as the seasons change. In tropical and areas, where humidity runs high, outside levels and types of mold can be quite different than in dry areas like Tahoe. Outside molds, like ones found indoors, can impact humans and animals. In most cases, it is indoor mold levels that most concerns us. When there is an indoor mold source, air levels can be found more than 100,000 times greater than the outside levels. This is referred to as “sick building syndrome”.

Molds spread and reproduce by making spores. These spores can float freely in the air until they land on a surface that can support growth. Molds require organic based materials like wood or paper for food. Molds grow best in warm, damp, and humid environments. They typically won’t propagate at temperatures below 50*F. However, mold spores can survive harsh conditions that do not support mold growth.

Human Exposure

• We are all exposed to mold in both outdoor and indoor air.
• Unless exposed to high levels, most people will not be affected by small amounts of mold exposure.
• For healthy people exposed to non-toxic molds, symptoms are typically no worse than those with a cold or allergies.
• People with serious allergies to molds may have more severe reactions, including fever and shortness of breath.
• People with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs.
• People with immune compromised illness may have a higher risk of mold-related illness and fungal infections.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

I think I have Black Mold!

• Many of the thousands of mold species appear black.
• Many of these black molds are common in our environment and pose no additional danger because of their color.
• Stachybotrys is a greenish–black, slimy mold found only on cellulose products. Commonly referred to as “black mold”.
• In 1994, the CDC investigated whether exposure to Stachybotrys might be related to pulmonary hemorrhage.
• Containing mycotoxins, this species of mold is thought to present health risks beyond what would be associated with common molds.

If you think you have a mold issue, it is best to have it evaluated by a professional such as; Tahoe Mold & Water. For additional information about our mold testing and inspection services, please click on the below links.

Mold Inspection and Testing

If your project has already been evaluated by a qualified professional, we offer free estimates.

Mold Removal/Remediation

If you want additional information about mold, please click on the resources below to gain a better understanding of mold and the problems it can cause.

• PowerPoint About Mold
• Common Mold Sources
• https://www.epa.gov/mold/mold-cleanup-your-home
• https://www.cdc.gov/mold/default.htm

Resources for:

• Real Estate Professionals
• Landlords & Tenants
• Contractors & Builders
• Buyers & Sellers

What You Need to Know About Radon in the Tahoe, CA area?

Radon Gas is one of the most dangerous things we unknowingly expose ourselves to every day. It forms from the natural decay of radioactive elements that exist in the earth, deep under our homes and workplaces. It has no color or odor, so you can’t detect it without a measurement device. We offer testing services, as a certified radon measurement provider, as well as resources for free tests for eligible homeowners, and inexpensive tests for those who don’t qualify. So, there is no reason not to test!

In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency considers radon an issue if you have an average radon level of 4.0 picocuries per liter or greater in a structure. Approved testing devices include short-term tests (2-7 days) or long-term tests (90-360 days). These do not include “radon detectors”, or fairly inexpensive plug-in measurement devices. These can be useful for monitoring, but shouldn’t be relied on to determine if mitigation is necessary. In most states, it is required that a certified measurement provider be used when providing measurement services for money or in a real estate transaction.

You have the power to protect your family. Please test your home today!

Short-Term Radon Tests

Long-Term Radon Tests

Where Does Radon Come From?

In the Tahoe Area, Radon gas is everywhere. It is the bi-product of naturally decomposing radium and uranium deep within the earth’s crust. The gas is released and rises to the surface where it either mixes with the outside air or gets trapped by structures. It is true that some areas are more prone to have radon issues than other areas. This in no way should stop people in low-risk areas from testing. Next-door neighbors can have very different levels, and people in low-risk areas can very high levels! Tahoe and the surrounding areas have a substantial radon problem that is going mostly unaddressed. Estimates show that 1 in 5 homes could be above the EPA’s 4.0 picocurie action level.

Map of California Tahoe Radon Potential

Map of Nevada Radon Potential

How Does Radon Enter the Home?

In most homes, elevated radon comes from air entering from the ground below. It doesn’t matter if your home is constructed over a crawlspace, a slab, or a mix of both. Less common, radon can also enter through well water and become airborne with showering and washing. New construction techniques designed to increase energy efficiency also reduce the amount of fresh air that enters a home’s envelope. It is required in most jurisdictions that exhausting fans be installed in bathrooms, kitchens, and other humid areas. Without required fresh air ventilation to replace the exhausted air, our homes are often pulling air from below.

Even without the exhaust devices running, the “stack effect” is a natural phenomenon that causes air to rise. All these factors can be made worse by leaky heating systems and openings around plumbing and electrical. Sealing all of this can reduce the amount of air that enters the living space from below.

Providing a moisture barrier that covers the soil and additional ventilation to crawlspaces are good building practices, though are often not effective radon mitigation techniques. The most effective way of mitigating most radon problems is the consistent depressurization of the soil under the home. This requires a fan that pulls air from under a sealed radon barrier or slab and exhausts the air to the outside of the structure.

When radon is present in water, it is common to find levels of radon higher near rooms with plumbing, especially bathrooms. Water from most public/municipal water sources is stored and/or processed in a manner that removes radon. Test kits are available for measuring radon in water, and should be used if the home is serviced by a private well. Filtration, aeration, and storage systems can be used to remove radon from the water before it is released into the air.

More on Mitigation

Health Effects

• The Surgeon General puts radon as the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.
• There is no safe level of radon. A 3.9 picocurie house is not much healthier than one at 4.0.
• The greater the time someone is exposed to elevated radon and the levels of radon they are exposed to, both have an impact on the incidence of lung cancer.
• No accurate information is available regarding radon gas causing short-term effects like congestion, sore throat, headaches, or any other identifiable symptoms.

Estimated Deaths Per Year

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says exposure to radon is responsible for an estimated 21,000 cancer deaths each year. Even though California has the highest incidence of radon-related deaths, it has very low rates of consumer and real estate related radon testing.

Radon Risk If You Have Never Smoked

Radon Level

If 1,000 people who never smoked were exposed to this level over a lifetime*…

The risk of cancer from radon exposure compares to**…

WHAT TO DO:

20 pCi/L

About 36 people could get lung cancer

35 times the risk of drowning

Fix your home

10 pCi/L

About 18 people could get lung cancer

20 times the risk of dying in a home fire

Fix your home

8 pCi/L

About 15 people could get lung cancer

4 times the risk of dying in a fall

Fix your home

4 pCi/L

About 7 people could get lung cancer

The risk of dying in a car crash

Fix your home

2 pCi/L

About 4 person could get lung cancer

The risk of dying from poison

Consider fixing between 2 and 4 pCi/L

1.3 pCi/L

About 2 people could get lung cancer

(Average indoor radon level)

(Reducing radon levels below

2 pCi/L is difficult.)

0.4 pCi/L

(Average outdoor radon level)

Note: If you are a former smoker, your risk may be higher.

* Lifetime risk of lung cancer deaths from EPA Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003).

** Comparison data calculated using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 1999-2001 National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Reports.

How Radon Works

We are exposed to radon gas by breathing it, or drinking it. Radon gas is the “vehicle” for exposure, as it can move freely into a structure and become trapped. The exposure dangers come from the progeny, or the radioactive elements it produces during its breaking down to more stable elements. Having a 3.8-day half-life, radon gas is only a small part of the breakdown to Lead 206. Each time its progeny breaks down to another element, a release of energy occurs. This is in the form of Alpha, Beta, and some Gama releases. It is the Alpha releases that cause damage to the inside of our lungs. Some of the progeny that are produced are magnetic, and stick to dust, surfaces, and lung tissue. We typically account for 50% of the gas to “plate out”, or stick to surfaces in the home where it is unable to be breathed in.

The radiation created by radon gas is not an issue until we breathe it. Once inside of our lungs, the radiation in the form of Alpha releases can damage our sensitive lung tissue. Even being exposed to low-levels for a short period of time can have exposure risk. It is not possible to eliminate all our exposure to radon, as it is found in the outside air. What we can do is test, and decide if our risk outweighs the cost of mitigation in our home.

Useful Links

• Finding the Problem – Testing and Consulting
• Fixing the Problem – Radon Mitigation
• Consumer Guide to Radon Reduction
• NV Locations – Free Radon Testing Devices
• CA Radon Map
• NV Radon Map
• Real Estate Proffesionals
• Buyers & Sellers
• Builders