Hot Environmental Topics

Will finding mold growth hurt my chances of selling my home?   This is a common question we are asked when a home buyer finds mold during a real estate transaction.   Mold is a known health hazard, from inhalation of mold spores to the generation of MVOC and mycotoxins, which are generated by mold growing can adversely affects human health. And although you may be living with the mold without incident, you can guarantee that the new owner will not want mold in their new home

In states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware where the housing stock is older, building materials have had more time to degrade which allows mold to grow.  Heck a 50 year old home has had plenty of time to have plumbing issues.  If purchasing an older home, expect mold during a sale.

Finding mold and having to remediate mold is not driven by laws like a leaking oil tank would dictate remediation. Rather remediating a mold problem is going to be on the top of the buyers "To Do List" prior to purchase. Buyers can overlook the worn carpet, older windows and out-dated bathroom, but buyers can not overlook mold that tends to have buyers draw a line in the sand.  For one, buyers have plans for new paint, replacing the windows and carpet but not having to cleanup a mold problem.

Clearly visible mold is not a desirable feature of a home, we have never seen someone promote the presence of mold to sell a home. Sure we see homes that are being sold as is, which is a clear indication the owner knows there are defects in the home somewhere. But to say you have large walk in closets, newer kitchen and mold in the basement, yep we don't ever come across that statement.

Fretting over the type of mold and hazards associated with mold are a mute point, you won't see someone allergic to nuts try and differentiate the dangers between a peanut, walnut or cashew. 

Level heads prevail when managing a mold issue, you have to address mold on a molecular level.   You have mold growth in a home because the environment was conducive for the mold to grow.   Arguing that only a little water seeps into the basement after a heavy rain will not get a buyer to stop crowing about wanting the mold fixed. 

A competent mold company that is looking out for everyone's best interest is harder to find than you would expect, this is directly related to the fact that there are no mold regulations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania or Delaware.  Without mold regulations, you have no licensing, without mold licensing you have no competence hurdle for someone to perform mold work.   Any "Chuck in a Truck" will proclaim to be your mold expert.

At Curren we have completed 1000's of mold inspections and remediation and while each one is similar (they have mold) there are nuances to the project.  See the photo below, mold was caused by a disconnected dryer vent which exhausted moist air in the ceiling.  

We have seen a few things when it comes to mold.  We have a team of experienced inspectors and our crews are trained from the top down to do your mold job right.  This starts with finding the cause, fixing the sources and removing the mold.

If you are purchasing a property with an abandoned oil tank, be concerned that you are playing with fire.  Let's be clear, the concern with any oil tank is if the tank leaks.  If the property with the abandoned oil tank has a report that includes soil testing you should not have any concerns,  but that is not the common situation when a property has an abandoned oil tank.

The real hurdle regarding a property with an abandoned oil tank is that the owner does not want to do anything with the oil tank.    People will say the tank is fine, that they, themselves, purchased the house with the abandoned tank so its fine for those homeowners because they don't have the monies to remove the tank. 

So what is the underlying issue? The homeowner doesn't want to find that the tank is leaking.  It's costly to remediate, and they can easily pass that along to buyers who don't do their due diligence.    In some cases, buyers are tempted to take a credit for tank removal to allow the sale to go through.

This photo is from a leaking oil tank.  Cleanup cost exceeded a $100,000.00

I cannot advise having the work performed after settlement as you do not have enough data to determine what would be a prudent amount of money to set aside in escrow in the event that the oil tank leaks. For your reference, a small oil leak can cost $5,000.00 to $10,000.00, with larger oil leaks costing tens of thousands of dollars. In the absence of a written narrative (report) from the tank closure company and associated laboratory analysis that would have been performed during the closure activities, you cannot say that the tank does not represent an environmental issue.

Oil tanks represent an unknown financial liability that can affect the value of a home, the ability to obtain a mortgage and homeowners insurance. Since the abandoned oil tank is the hurdle to overcome in a real estate transaction, removing the oil tank is the logical course of action.

An Abandoned tank, closed in place tank, decommissioned tank, can mean many different things.

Abandoned oil tank can mean:

Tank is abandoned, stopped using it and left it "as is".  Think of it as an abandoned car.

This oil tank was abandoned 11 years ago when they switched to natural gas.  About 75 gallons of oil was left in the tank or should I say abandoned.

Oil tanks abandoned in place means something was done to the tank, like filling the tank with sand, stone, concrete or foam.  The question is was the tank cleaned and sampled?   A report would help secure this situation and address concerns of a tank leak.  This situation commonly has no documentation regarding the tank leak, the reason being is the owner didn't want to find  a problem, so no test, no problem can be found.  This is legal, but leaves the unanswered question regarding a tank leak to be answered when the property is sold.

Tank abandoned in place with a permit and inspection by township, city or municipality.   This is the most dangerous of abandoned tanks as buyer and sellers assume that the permit and inspection portion of the work certifies the tank as non leaking.    This is actually not what the town inspects for they inspect for the physical work completed. 

Abandoned oil tank, no paperwork, current owner bought it with the abandoned oil tank.  Tank was abandoned from a prior owner and there were promises that it was done properly but you have no written documentation.

This tank was abandoned in place, we removed sand, slate pavers, bricks and beneath all that was oil. 

Tanks abandoned in place and the work was done by the homeowner with some friends. No permits, but a really good story about what hard work it was to do.  Yes - this does happen and 99% of the time the DIY tank abandonment is not performed as well as it could have been performed.   Think about it if you have never done something before how good are on your first attempt?

This tank was foam filled, but the tank was never entered and cleaned.  So oil remained in the tank.   You can see how the foam is discolored from the oil.

 

Tank abandoned in place, but the tank was actually best served to be filled in place due to obstructions.  Meaning there are tanks by pools, under decks, under garages, basically in a location where it would be excessively expensive, even dangerous to remove so the tank gets abandoned in place.  This is common on commercial tanks as commercial tanks are larger and longer and removal causes a larger footprint of disturbance.  In this circumstance after the tank is cleaned samples are acquired and a report documents that yes a steel object remains on the site, but it is technically no longer a tank as it can't hold  liquid (there is a big hole cut into the top of the tank).   This is what we do to document commercial tanks that are abandoned in place, you should expect the same for any residential tank.   Why an abandoned tank may not have a report is either the owner not wanting to test and find a problem, cost, owner went with the cheapest company (cheap means something is lacking) or simply the company that did the work doesn't test, or isn't licensed for testing. 

25 plus years of oil tank work, Curren Environmental can confidently say 99% of oil tanks can be removed.  So many abandoned tanks should have been removed but were not.   Don't buy a property with an abandoned tank that you are  not 100% certain it did not leak.

Call Today for Expert Advice and Service. 

New Jersey has a grant program available if you removed your underground oil tank and soil contamination above the NJ standards are present. Eligible applicants can request reimbursement for tank removal costs and future remediation expenses. There are, however, some stipulations that you must be aware of first before you can begin your application.

The NJ Economic Development Authority (EDA) makes the determination on the applications eligibility for the grant award. To be considered for the grant the following must exist:

• It must be an underground oil tank. For the tank to be considered an underground oil tank it must be at least 10 % underground.
• Taxable income of no more than $250,000 and a personal net worth, exclusive of applicant's primary residence, employer-sponsored pension and traditional retirement accounts such as 401K’s and IRA’s, of no more than $500,000.
• You must use a licensed oil tank removal company to remove the oil tank and provide soil sampling.
• Must own tank at time of removal and home must be primary residence.

Those applicants not meeting the criteria for financial hardship will not be considered for the grant program.

The application itself is detailed and applicants need help filling out the application and acquiring the attachments. The NJDEP Grant application requires information including the site address, case number, tank removal company and information regarding your insurance coverage. Below is an example of what should be filled out:

1. Application (3 Pages) – (if a section does not pertain to your site, please mark N/A). Note on the first page of the application the total amount requested is blank; this will be completed upon receipt of all paid invoices and the final amount of the remediation is determined.
2. Attachment A (1 Page)- sign in the presence of a notary
3. Attachment B (1 Page)- sign in the presence of a notary
4. Attachment C is for Non-Profit Organizations.
5. Attachment D (Information on the tank removal date and company that provided the tank removal)
6. Attachment E (if it pertains to you and your property)
7. Attachment F (if it pertains to you and your property)

Once your application is filled out, receipts and lab data are included and the application is notarized, it is ready to send to the NJDEP.

The following is a general overview of what you can expect about the timing and costs for the grant process.

Grant applications are reviewed in the order in which they are received and are approved as funding allows. The NJDEP Bureau of Contract & Fund Management will review the proposal for compliance with their rate structure. The NJDEP Bureau of Contract & Fund Management will also determine if the scope of work is acceptable, which validates the cost structure. Upon completion of its review, the NJDEP will forward eligible application to the NJEDA.

New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA)

After the NJEDA has received notification from the NJDEP accepting the scope of work, the NJEDA will send you, directly, an application packet to be completed and returned to the NJEDA. The NJEDA will then review your application and determine eligibility for the program based on your financial situation. You will need to submit a $250.00 (nonrefundable) application fee. You will be notified of their findings. Curren does not have an estimated timeframe for the review process, but in the past it has ranged from 2 to 4 years.

Once the NJEDA has approved your application, you then send the approval to the company that assisted you with the application.

More information can be located at the NJDEP. 

Curren Environmental has over 15 years experience with the NJDEP EDA LUST grant program, helping homeowners in New Jersey with tank leak problems. Surprisingly we find many eligible applicants are unaware or misunderstand the grant program and very few environmental companies actually explain the program to their tank removal clients. If you want to know your options and get expert advice call Curren.

Mosquito remediation service treats your property for mosquitoes, but really is the definition of remediation? 

• Fix an underlying condition causing a problem.
• Removing something that is unwanted.

If you don't want to get bit by mosquitoes, you want your yard remediated, meaning the "removal" of mosquitoes.  Mosquitoes are a problem that Curren's will remediate.

We precisely treat mosquito breeding areas in your yard.  We target the mosquito life cycle including both adults as well as eggs.  The following photo highlights where you will find mosquitoes in the heat of the day, that is where we apply our treatment.

 

Our trained technicians will inspect your property for mosquito habitats (yes you have them too) and will take the appropriate treatment measures.    If we find issues on your property our software program will email a photo of that specific problem area on the day of treatment.

Our treatment has an immediate (24 hour) knockdown on the mosquito population in your yard.  A residual barrier portion of the mosquito treatment provides continued protection for 3 weeks.

This video shows a yard being treated, which includes landscaping and fences.  We don't treat where you sit and eat, since mosquitoes don't breed there during the heat of the day.

 

If you have a yard you want to enjoy then you should call and speak to one of our professionals.

 

                              Disinfect for Business Reopening

As the economy reopens, businesses are asking employees to return to work.  Safety of its employees are on every business's mind.   Many work spaces are undergoing a deep office disinfecting prior to employees returning to their place of work.  This professional disinfecting reboots the space.

 

Office Disinfecting

Curren can apply an EPA N listed disinfectant to treat areas where your employees work.  Utilizing precision application equipment, including cold mist foggers, which have power-mist capable of 56 micron droplets to ULV 20-35 micron droplets to surfaces throughout the space. These powered devices can yield single digit micron droplets: or deliver a soaking mist dependent on the surface treated. As indicated by the name, ULV (Ultra-Low Volume) misters and foggers transform low amounts of fogging liquid to substantial yet very fine droplet mists ensuring thorough application to surfaces.  This ensures that surfaces  are thoroughly treated

   

Disinfectant Efficiency

Curren has been using disinfectants for years in our mold remediation projects.  Our disinfectants are commonly used in hospitals, hence the appeal of using them on our project sites. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) produced and maintains a list of EPA-registered disinfectant products that have qualified for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Fiberlock Shockwave Concentrate with EPA registration 61178-73884 is on the list and will be utilized for this project. (List N).  Shockwave is Curren's choice for mold projects and for disinfecting business office spaces. 

While surface disinfectant products on List N have not been tested specifically against SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, EPA expects them to kill the virus because they:

• Demonstrate efficacy (e.g. effectiveness) against a harder-to-kill virus; or
• Demonstrate efficacy against another type of human coronavirus similar to SARS-CoV-2.

Curren's technicians are trained in PPE (personal protective equipment) procedures such as how to put on and remove PPE equipment and utilize proper PPE during the duration of all work activities.

Professional office disinfecting allows businesses and landlords to help ensure the safety of their employees and provide the space a safe environment for business operations.

The CDC has many guidelines that businesses should follow once operations restart.  Once you reboot a space you have to follow your own plan such as:

1. Limit entry of the work space to employees only. You must then trust your coworkers to be safe. FedEx, UPS,  food delivery everything gets stopped at door.
2. Disinfecting common areas, such as copiers, during the day.
3. Provide hand sanitizers in office for employees use.
4. Offering masks and gloves for employees to use.
5. Installing plexiglass at offices on desks in common areas.
6. Keeping doors open so door knobs (common touch area) don't get touched.

CDC Guidance can be found here: CDC Guidance Documents.

 

 

 

                                          Mosquitoes and Mosquito Control
Mosquitoes are both a nuisance and a health threat. If you do not want to be bitten by mosquitoes in your backyard, you must reduce the mosquito population.

• 
  All mosquitoes need water to breed and survive. DIY Mosquito Control can be performed by eliminating breeding sources such as the following:
  • stagnant water
  • water trapped on tarps
  • old tires
  • tree pots
  • puddles
  • clogged gutters
  • buckets and flower pots
  
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mosquito Remediation can help eliminate the nuisance of mosquitoes and protect your family. Our professional applicators will walk around your home and throughout your backyard to address your specific problem. We are trained to identify the unique areas of risk around your property. Adult mosquitoes are found resting in vegetation or other cool shaded places (under decks, sheds) during the day time. To get rid of adult mosquitoes we spray the lower portion of foliage, bushes, tall ornamental grasses and shrubs with a microencapsulated ultra low volume , insecticide that will prove an immediate knockdown of mosquitoes and with micro encapsulated technology provide a 21 day residual. Our barrier application as we call it (this shields you from mosquitoes) is safe and effective as we only treat areas mosquitoes are likely to feed and reproduce as well as hide from the heat of the day. We often call under decks and sheds mosquito condos.

Enjoy your yard without mosquitoes.
We recommend a treatment every 21 days to ensure effectiveness. Our dedicated software will remind you in advance of your next application, provide electronic notification the moment it is completed and if we find problem areas in your yard you will receive photos via email or text of the concern. Once you sign up you can literally sit back and enjoy your yard. Our schedule is automatic, no one needs to be home. We only ask to allow 30 minutes post treatment for the barrier to fully dry before returning to the yard.

 

Learn More call Tiffany at 856-858-7172

 

 

Mold likes to grow where people don't like to be.  Attics are a common place where we find mold during inspections.  Home sellers are often surprised to find out that they have mold in their attic.   Attics are not heated nor air conditioned, which means both humidity levels and temperature fluctuations are very varied and due to these conditions mold will find a home to grow.

All photos you will see on this page are from the same attic, each area of mold grew because of different environmental variables.

The mold you see in this photo was caused by the bathroom vent leaking moist air onto the wood sheeting.

 

The mold in this photo was from natural humidity over the years.

How do you correct attic mold.  First you need to identify the moisture source and correct the issue.  Attic mold may be caused by insufficient ventilation or air leaks from finished spaces.  Some bathrooms will vent moist air into the space creating an environment for mold growth.

 

Remediating mold rarely ever requires replacement of the wood surface but rather thorough cleaning of the wood, application of a fungicide and lastly a preventive coating that warranties that the wood will not allow mold growth.

 

This photo shows an attic that has been remediated.  The white coating you see is fungistatic, meaning it inhibits mold growth.  These coating provide the owner a warranty that mold will not grow on the treated surface.

 

Curren environmental has over 20 years experience with mold, we have remediated thousands of properties over the years.

If you have a mold question or requested mold remediation Curren can help with an appropriate solution.

 

 

 

 

Mold remediation is the process where you remove the mold as well as the source of the mold growth. The most important part of any mold remediation is knowing what caused the mold, since mold can come back if the driver of the mold is not stopped.

 

You can complete mold inspections with infra red cameras (photo above), that are calibrated for moisture.  This inspection tools can help you pinpoint problem areas behind walls and other materials. 

Since "mold = water", the source of the mold should be determined and repaired (water issue). It is possible that the cause of the mold was repaired, but if it was not, then the necessary corrective action is needed. A qualified mold remediation company should be able to ascertain the cause. If they cannot, you are dealing with the wrong mold company. Remember only 11 states have mold regulations, so you are likely dealing with an unlicensed company.
 Tough to see in this photo, but if you look through the plastic you see mold.  where as you do not see mold on the white ceiling or the concrete block wall above the plastic.  This mold growth was driven by improper vapor barrier installation.  100% preventable.

For successful mold remediation, you must remove the mold from impacted surfaces. (Mold remediation can entail deconstruction of walls to get access to the mold). Mold removal is typically accomplished via HEPA vacuuming surfaces. If items can not be cleaned than  demolition of items such as sheetrock and/or wood framing that is water damaged or mold impacted on both sides is necessary.

Application of a broad spectrum fungicide is another step. Fungicide application sterilizes the space, disinfecting the surfaces to address any mold spores that can’t be seen. It also allows porous surfaces to absorb the fungicide, grabbing spores that may have implanted themselves deeper into the surface of the material. This is common of wood surfaces as wood is porous, ensuring that you are rebooting the space.

The final and most important step is applying a fungistatic coating to cleaned organic surfaces in the area of remediation. This coating essentially provides mold proofing in the treated area. The best coatings have 10 year warranties. The coating is not a paint you buy at a home improvement center, but a coating that is designed for a specific purpose which is mold prevention. Coatings with fungistatic agents are commonly applied to new construction to mold proof the space. The application of fungistatic coatings as part of the remediation is also a corrective action that is designed to help the space resist mold in the future.

Mold is a four letter work and most companies say they know mold and in reality they  don't. Mold experts for over 20 years, billions of spores remediated.

Learn More:Mold Remediation

 

 

You can smell mold?

Spending more time at home than usual? Many people are in the safety of their homes and our office is getting called regarding musty smells, that people think relates to mold in their home. These calls coincide with rain events and we find a simple equation. People have mold in their homes they didn’t know existed. Many people find mold during a real estate transaction, since that is when a home under goes scrutiny, meaning multiple inspections occur and the wear and tear items that we often ignore are brought to light. I mean do you ever go into your attic or basement and look for mold?

The musty smell you have is most likely mold and it is active mold growth because when mold is consuming organic matter it off gases, hence the smell. Growth can correlate to rain events (not necessarily flooding), temperature changes, and humidity levels. In short moisture above 55% humidity as most molds in the northeastern United states will grow above that range.  Add in the fact that the northeast has an older housing stock and you have a higher probability of mold. Why older homes have mold, simple put the older a home the greater the time frame for mold to grow somewhere in the home. This gives mold the toe hold it needs as mold won’t die when it is dry it just goes dormant. This mold will then grow sporadically (no spore joke intended) over time until the owner complains of a smell, has a health concern or buyer’s inspector finds mold

 

Our calls lately have been from people who are working from home or simple spending more time at home and they either smell musty odors or are having health concerns. These people never had a mold inspection performed so the idea of a mold inspection makes sense.  Our mold inspections typically find mold, which makes sense.  The key to finding mold is understanding why it is there and how the mold can be addressed (mold remediation) and future prevention.  A typical mold survey might find a half dozen reasons why it’s there (yes there is typically more than  one cause for mold growth. We provide the homeowner a DIY  list for everything they are doing wrong and a corrective action plan (mold remediation) outline and costs. All mold remediation has a 10 year warranty against future mold growth, best in the industry.

We also teach several classes on mold so you know you are getting expert advice.

 

All our inspector use N-95 masks and have at least five years experience with both mold inspections and remediation.  We inspect and remediate mold so we get to see mold from both sides which gives Curren a full perspective.  Different building materials from pour concrete walls, to cider block walls to wood studs to plaster wall all affect how mold can and will grow.To schedule an inspection call 856-858-9509.

 

Green Lawn Tips

During this trying time, you may be at your home more than you have been in the past.  As we try to find things to do where we are not around many people, it may be a good time to fine tune your lawn.

Americans spend over $6.4 Billion a year on lawn care, according to the Professional Lawn Care Association of America. While we are at home now, it may be a good time  now to ensure a beautiful green and healthy lawn.

Start out by checking the soil pH levels. Winter can alter the soil pH and create conditions that are friendly to weeds and disease. The soils pH should read between 6.5 and 7.0 which are slightly acidic. You can test your soils pH by purchasing a pH tester.    Lime can be added to adjust pH.

After the soil has been checked, invest in a rental aerator (you can group rent with a neighbor). In high traffic grass areas becomes compacted. The aerator will draw wine cork-sized plugs out of the lawn surface giving roots the room to spread and allow for air, nutrients and moisture to penetrate the soil.  Leave the cores where they lie a they will ad nutrients to the soil.

 

Pro Tip

The soil cores should not be raked, as they contain bacteria and nutrients that will return to the soil.

In the early spring, apply a pre-emergent weed control to prevent crabgrass in early spring. https://amzn.to/3b6dzXz (Right now would be a good time)

Pro Tip

½ the dosage of preemergent (now) and reapply in 3 weeks to increase the treatment duration. Try to get your immediate neighbors to do the same so you encompass a larger spread of weed control. If your neighbor does not apply preemergent, weeds can grow and move to your yard.

During late spring fix any patchy places and apply your seed. When seeding in the spring it is pertinent that you provide consistent watering to allow the seed to germinate

Pro Tip

When you plant seed, the seeds must reman wet to germinate. Water twice a day for 7 to 10 days to allow the seed to germinate.

When watering, make sure one inch of water to 12 inches of soil is preferred ratio for watering actively growing grass. You most likely will have to seed again in the fall months.

Pro Tip on conserving water

Twice a year in season (Spring and again in July) apply a wetting agent, this makes water wetter.  Wetting agents apply a non ionic surfactant (soap) which allows water to more evenly penetrate soil (think less run off).  Golf course follow this process. Lawn Wetting Agent

With the spring upon us, it is very important to prepare your lawn for the warmer, sunnier months ahead. Having a nice, thick green lawn helps with excess rain, capturing the moisture so it does not end up in your house to produce mold.

Questions about Mold growth?