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Amanda Butterfield reportingIf you suspect you have black mold, first you need to have your house tested. A company that can do that is PSI.
For about $500, someone will come and test your home for mold because they know it can happen. Terry Bleckner, with PSI, says, "We have moisture, we have snow, we have water in our pipes, we have sheetrock. Any time you have moisture and organize material like sheetrock and ceiling tiles, you're going to have mold and possibly black mold."
There are several tests that can be done. A thermo-imagining camera can detect moisture through walls. Experts say you have find and stop the source of moisture to start fighting the mold.
And simple tape is used to test for surface mold. "Every home has mold in it, every building, your car, [and] your clothes. How much and what type, and do you have allergic reactions to it? That's the essence of what we're trying to do," Bleckner says.
There are no state or federal requirements for mold inspectors, so any could call themselves one. When picking a mold inspector, make sure you research the company, check references and see if it is a certified air quality inspector or certified industrial hygienist; that means employees have been through some training.
During this story, we worked with Terry Bleckner, a certified Industrial Hygienist with PSI. If your home needs to be tested, he recommends these companies:
PSI
2779 S. 600 West, SLC
801-484-8827
R&R Environmental
47 W. 9000 south, Sandy
801-352-2380
Industrial only
Utah Disaster Kleenup
13081 So. Minuteman Dr.
Draper 84020
801-553-1010
Mold solutions
1251 E. Hickenlooper Way
Draper 84027
801-201-2570
LHI Environmental
640 E. Wilmington Ave.
Salt Lake City, UT 84106
801 466-2223
R & E Cleaning & Restoration
15210 S. 1800 West
Bluffdale, UT 84065
801-254-6767
E-mail: abutterfield@ksl.com
