- Proudly Servicing Western Montana & Surrounding Areas
There are 3 types of molds:
1) Allergenic which produces allergies and allergic reactions such as asthma.
2) Pathogenic which causes health issues in those suffering acute illness.
3) Toxigenic produces toxic substances that lead to dangerous and deadly health issues.
Though a lot of molds will be obvious upon a visual inspection, not all are. Mold can hide behind and inside walls. What if you have health concerns regarding mold? What is available?
At Safe Home Environmental we offer several options to meet your needs:
Direct Sampling, Air Sampling, ERMI sampling, & HERTSMI-2 sampling.
Direct Sampling: Uses swabs or bio tape to send to the lab. Direct sampling is most often performed in attics & crawlspaces. Where ever “apparent mold” is seen.
Samples are sent to a qualified lab with results coming back within 2 – 3 days.
Air Sampling:
Safe Home Environmental also can test for the presence of mold spores in the dwelling. Air-O-Cell cassettes are used for this service. An air pump is used to pull air through a cassette that captures debris from the air on a sticky slide within the cassette. This service is most often performed when there is a concern for mold with no “apparent mold” visible. It is also used after remediation of a property has been completed. This is the industry standard.
Typically 3 samples are taken, two indoor and 1 outdoors. The outdoor sample becomes the point of reference to understand the indoor samples.
The cassette is sent to the lab where it is analyzed for mold species and quantity. Results are typically returned within 2 – 3 days.
ERMI & HERTSMI-2 Sampling is the newest form of testing. It is typically performed when there is a health concern involved.
ERMI (Environmental Relative Moldiness Index) and HERTSMI-2 (Health Effects Roster of Type-Specific Formers of Mycotoxins and Inflammagens with a Health Weighting) testing were developed as methods to assess indoor environments for potential mold contamination and associated health risks.
ERMI was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to evaluate mold contamination in homes. It uses a DNA-based method to analyze dust samples from buildings for the presence of specific mold species associated with water damage. This index helps in quantifying the relative moldiness of a building compared to a national database.
HERTSMI-2, an extension of ERMI, was developed by Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker, a physician specializing in biotoxin-related illnesses. It’s a subset of molds within ERMI that are considered more closely linked to adverse health effects. HERTSMI-2 focuses on specific mold species that are known to produce mycotoxins or cause inflammation, and it assigns a health risk weighting to these species.
Both ERMI and HERTSMI-2 testing aims to provide a standardized and quantitative assessment of indoor mold contamination and associated health risks. They help identify problematic mold species in indoor environments, aiding in remediation efforts and potentially reducing health risks for occupants exposed to indoor mold.
Results for either ERMI or HERTSMI-2 testing is typically 7 – 9 days.
For more information regarding mold check out the EPA website.
CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT THE EPA SAYS ABOUT MOLD
We perform all environmental testing by EPA guidelines for the most accurate results possible. In this electronic age, it’s relatively fast and painless. Have more questions? Give us a call or email.
IMT is IAC2 Certified for Mold
Our technical staff holds IAC2 certification for indoor air quality and our senior team members are certified by both DEQ and NRPP for environmental quality and radon proficiency.
Water, Radon, Mold, Meth, Asbestos, Lead-Based Paint, and more.
We're here to answer any questions you have about your testing.
Radon testing (short & long term), Radon Mitigation, Mold testing (Direct, Air, & Dust Sampling), Water Quality testing (Bacterial, Metal’s, Custom), Asbestos testing (Bulk Sampling), Lead-based paint testing, and Meth residue testing.
Testing will help you discover an increase health risk in your living environment.
Radon over 2 pCi/L can lead to an increased risk of lung cancer.
The presence of mold in your home can lead to increased health risks and also deteriorate the structure of your home.
Impurities in your drinking water and lead to an increased health risk.
If your home is older and contains either asbestos or lead-based paint this will change how you perform updates on your home.
Methamphetamine is a dangerous substance particularly for young children. When buying a new home, testing for meth residue is a must.
Call 406-961-9602 to schedule your service.
Once on the schedule you will receive an email that provides a link to your online portal. Through your customer portal you can sign agreements, pay for your services, and review the report when it is available.
For Radon (short term), Bacterial Water testing, Mold, Asbestos, Lead-based paint your results will be available within 2 – 3 days.
For Radon (long term), Metals or Custom Water testing & Meth testing the results will be available within 8 – 15 days, depending. Some of these longer term tests can be improved by paying for a rush on the order at time of service.
Some of these tests can be perform directly by you using over the counter test kits or through local lab providers.
Safe Home offers certified technicians to perform these testing services. Our radon units are calibrated annually in the lab and comply with the highest standards set by AARST.
We send our samples for water, mold, asbestos, and meth to analytical labs that are certified at the highest level. Let us take care of the testing concerns you have so that you can focus on the best things in life.
Pricing is based upon specific services desire and will typically range from $150 – $500.
Radon Mitigation services will range from $1999 and above.
If a test result does come back contaminated, Safe Home will recommend local remediation specialists to work with you to restore your home.
If you do have high radon levels in your home, Safe Home is a certified Radon Mitigation Specialist and can work with you to reduce the radon levels.
Safe Home does offering radon monitoring services using the Luft Monitor.
The EPA does recommend testing for radon every 2 years for homes that have been mitigated.
Safe Home Environmental, LLC provides quality home testing services in and around Western Montana including Missoula, Ravalli, Granite, Powell, Silverbow, Lake & surrounding areas.