As part of routine building maintenance, buildings should be inspected for evidence of water damage and visible mold. The conditions causing mold (such as water leaks, condensation, infiltration, or flooding) should be corrected to prevent mold from growing. Specific Recommendations: Keep humidity levels as low as you can—no higher than 50%–all day long. An […]

Because we at Aspen care about our customers, we’d like to say Happy Thanksgiving and share this list of holiday safety tips provided by the National Safety Council. Holiday Safety Tips Decorating Safety Never use lighted candles near trees, boughs, curtains/drapes, or with any potentially flammable item. Wear gloves while decorating with spun glass “angel […]

A well-known expert in our area, when interviewed on a local New Orleans radio station, recently said, “When you have a mold problem, simply wash down the affected area with diluted bleach.” We have seen FEMA handing out gallons of Clorox to flood-victims. Lowe’s and Home Depot stock up pallets of the stuff whenever the impending doom of […]

Some local hotels invest in making rooms more breathable, including wallpaper that helps prevent mildew. Neicei Degen walked into her hotel room at Hilton Washington & Towers looking forward to a relaxing week in the capital. She walked right out. The problem, the Peabody, Mass., administrator says, wasn’t the glitzy décor or the limited view. […]

The research findings are clear. Indoor air quality is a huge factor in the health and well being of building occupants. The average American spends 60% to 90% of his or her time indoors and while a lot of attention has been given to the effects of outside pollution, the EPA estimates that indoor air […]

It’s that time of year already. Kids are waiting at the bus stop, backpack in hand, and anxious for their day to begin. We do our best to make sure they start their morning with a healthy breakfast, we pack a nutritious lunch, help them with their homework, and tuck them in by 9:00. We […]

Introduction To introduce this topic, it is first important to have the reader understand the terminology of a roof system so as not to confuse it with what is generally referred to as a roof. According to the National Roofing Contractors Association, or NRCA assembly is “a system of interacting roof components including the , vapor retarder […]

So we all know how humidity impacts us when we are outside – but, did you ever consider what humidity levels are doing to your indoor living space? Improper indoor humidity levels are a common home hazard that are often underestimated. In the summer, humidity levels should be less than 60%, anything higher and your […]

Plenty of plans, studies and assessments address warmer and wetter weather in southern New England, but is the region truly prepared to help the most vulnerable among us? Ozone, fine particulate matter, pollen and mold all influence air quality, and all are made worse by rising temperatures. Two groups considered especially vulnerable are children and […]

What are molds? Molds are fungi that can be found both indoors and outdoors. No one knows how many species of fungi exist but estimates range from tens of thousands to perhaps three hundred thousand or more. Molds grow best in warm, damp, and humid conditions, and spread and reproduce by making spores. Mold spores […]