By Anonymous September 07, 2010
Envirosentials home evaluation will give you the peace of mind, their knowledgeable staff will direct you in taking the needed steps to knowing your home is a healthy environment for you and your family. ...read more
By Dylan Klassen October 12, 2009
These guys were great! On time and professional. I will use them again. ...read more
Senate Bill 183 requires that carbon monoxide (CO) detectors must be installed in existing single-family homes that currently use fossil-fuel burning appliances, fireplaces or have attached garages by July 1, 2011. All remaining homes (such as apartments) will have to have CO detectors in place by January 1, 2013. What is SB 183? This bill deals with existing housing. It covers every "dwelling unit intended for human occupancy" which means single-family housing, factory-built homes, condominiums, motels, hotels, dormitories, and dwelling units in "multiple-unit dwelling unit buildings" (apartment houses). It applies to every dwelling unit that has "a fossil fuel burning heater or appliance, fireplace, or an attached garage". "Fossil fuel" means "coal, kerosene, oil, wood, fuel gases, and other petroleum or hydrocarbon products, which emit CO as a byproduct of combustion." Most homes are covered by this bill. The bill requires that these dwelling units install a "carbon monoxide device" that is designed to detect CO and produce a "distinct, audible alarm." The device may be battery-powered, a plug in, or hard-wired with a battery backup. It may be combined with a smoke detector, but if so, it must emit "an alarm or voice warning in a manner that clearly differentiates between a CO alarm warning and a smoke detector warning." California law states that anyone who does not comply with the law may face a $200 fine. However, residents will receive a notice and 30 days to correct any violations before they are fined. CO detector must meet the following requirements: · Certified and approved by the State Fire Marshall; · Installed, consistent with new construction standards or according to the approved instructions; · Sound an audible warning once CO is detected; · Powered by a battery, or if it is plugged in, have a backup battery; · Certified by a national testing lab, such as the Underwriters Laboratories. Green Irene’s CO detectortodayhttp://bit.ly/hwdd82meets the requirements of the new California law, and is listed with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Program. For single family residences, we would advise a CO detector/alarm be installed in or near each bedroom area, near any combustible appliances (gas furnace, water heater, stove/oven, etc.), and near the connection point where any attached garage(s) enter the house. Other types of buildings should, at a minimum, follow the applicable building code regulation, though as a very general rule, they should have a detector/alarm near each sleeping area, near any combustible appliances, near any garage entry points, and on each floor of the structure. Please note that some regulations require that CO detector/alarms be wired together (so that if one activates, all CO alarms in the building activate). Not a California resident? Carbon Monoxide is not limited by state lines. Protect your family by purchasing detectors. A small price to pay to save lives: · Health effects of acute CO poisoning include lethargy, headaches, concentration problems, amnesia, psychosis, Parkinson’s disease, memory impairment, and personality alterations. According to the American Medical Association (AMA), CO is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States. · The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that CO kills approximately 500 people each year and injures another 20,000 people nationwide. · According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), a person cannot see or smell CO. High levels CO can kill a person in minutes. · The State Air Resources Board estimates that every year CO accounts for between 30 and 40 avoidable deaths, possibly thousands of avoidable illnesses, and between 175 and 700 avoidable emergency room and hospital visits. For more information on SB 183http://1.usa.gov/fyqtKZ To purchase your CO detectors todayhttp://bit.ly/hwdd82 Envirosentials provides services and products for you to create a healthier home. Contact us today 800-604-3886 ...read more
By Envirosentials April 06, 2011
If you are like me, one of your favorite places to relax and wash away the stress of the day is your shower. We look for sanctuary within these three little walls yet we don't think of what's behind those tiles… I recently attended an excellent presentation by Don Halvorson fromForensic Tile Consultantsat the Irvine Chapter Workshop of the Indoor Air Quality Association. Don reminded us of the importance of the water dynamics in showers and the expensive repairs that occur when they are not properly installed and maintained. Depending on where you live, there is 2.2 to 414 times more water inside the shower than on your roof! (Don Halvorson, Technical Report, "Rainfall Inside My House" November 29, 2002) Now, you should be caring for your roof, maintaining the shingles, cleaning the gutters and downspouts, etc. What are you doing for your shower? Are you maintaining the grout? Monitoring the drywall behind and beside the shower for signs of water damage and mold? Water can get behind shower tile, under the floor tile and into drywall adjacent to the shower in a number of ways: water can impact the wall behind the tile through cracks in the tile and joints between the tub and tile, water can travel over the tub rim behind the tile, water can wick (absorb liquid through capillary action) up the wall board behind the tiles due to plugged weep holes in the floor drain, and improper sloping of tub edges/ledges and floor pan can prevent the water from properly draining, just to name a few. Keep an eye on the areas with greater potential to allow water to penetrate the tile. Some of these areas include seats, window seals, and shampoo/conditioner bottle shelves. Make sure all shower components and fixtures are properly sealed with caulk so water cannot travel behind the tile. Perform frequent visual inspections to look for signs of a potential problem: Dark grout, especially at the bottom row of tile and in the two back corners of the tub Darker row of tile at the bottom of the wall adjacent to the tub or floor Loose tiles Cracks in tiles and grout The shower pan (at the base of the shower) feels spongy and soft when you stand on it, or has water stains on the surface from improper drainage Water stained carpeting and vinyl flooring just outside the shower Water damaged drywall and baseboard just outside the shower/tubtypically at the lower left and right front corners (visual indications of water damage include water stains, mold growth, peeling paint, etc.) Many people ask us about mold growing on the grout inside the tub or shower. Mold can and often grows on grout under normal shower use. Frequent cleaning with an appropriate non-toxic, ecologically safemold/mildew cleanercan help prevent mold growth in these areas. Mold that cannot be cleaned from the surface of the grout may be caused from water damage behind the tile and a professional mold professional, plumber or tile expert should be contacted to investigate the area. A good idea is to leave the shower open and allow air to circulate through the shower/bath assembly to dry out. This will minimize the moldy grout issue. Envirosentials provides water damage investigations, mold inspections and healthy home consultations. Contact us if you are interested in learning how you can create a greener and healthier homeatinfo@envirosentials.comor 1-800-604-3886 ...read more
By Envirosentials March 31, 2011
http://www.envirosentials.com/pdf/novnewsletter.pdf?utm_source=SendBlaster&utm_medium=email&utm_term=november&utm_content=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eenvirosentials%2Ecom%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dreferral%253A%252Bgoogle%252C%252Bnovnewsletter%26utm%5Fmedium%3Demail%26utm%5Fcontent%3Dnovember%26utm%5Fcampaign%3Dnovember&utm_campaign=november ...read more
By Envirosentials December 01, 2010
The U.S. has one of the safest food supplies in the world. One main reason for this is the way in which the food is packaged. Balancing food packaging needs, consumer desires and the impact on the environment are the responsibilities of the food packaging companies. ...read more
Hospitals handle various types of hazardous waste. Typical hospital waste includes things such as discarded medical equipment, used needles, medications and bodily fluids. These types of waste must be handled with care and disposed of properly. Hospitals must have a plan and procedure in place to faci... ...read more
