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Indoor Air Quality/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| Bathroom Moisture | 1/25/2012 | Stephen Major (Principal--Lakeland Environmental) |
| Q: The house is 100 years old does not have an attic only a small space between the ceiling and roof. ... A: In a temperate climate like Rhode Island, where winter temperatures can cause the roof area to be ... | ||
| dryer vent air pollution | 1/16/2012 | Stephen Major (Principal--Lakeland Environmental) |
| Q: A neighbor who joins my yard very closely uses detergent & fabric softener that makes me sick from ... A: Pamela, I certainly sympathize with you, those odors bother me as well. Take a look at this ... | ||
| Is asbestos present in drywall? | 1/12/2012 | Stephen Major (Principal--Lakeland Environmental) |
| Q: I have been doing a large amount of remodeling in a house that was built in the mid 50's. This ... A: Drywall can, in some instances, contain asbestos. If you have already begun to disturb the drywall, ... | ||
| Mitigation from drain tile? | 1/7/2012 | Val Riedman |
| Q: Lake Harriet Linda here again. I am being told by my contractor that a radon mitigation system can ... A: Yes he's correct. Drain tile or perforated pipe allows soil gases to be collected easily below the ... | ||
| crawl space vents - should I close in winter? | 1/5/2012 | Stephen Major (Principal--Lakeland Environmental) |
| Q: I have a house with basement and crawl space. The bsmt is under the bulk of the house and the crawl ... A: Marcy, In this case I would recommend the following: Close off the vents and insulate the exterior ... | ||
| Can't get musty smell out of my ducts | 12/20/2011 | Val Riedman |
| Q: I just moved in to a 40 year old brick duplex in august—3 ˝ months ago. It had not been updated in ... A: I normally pass on all odor questions, but with duct odors I do suggest one type of product that may ... | ||
| radon questions | 12/14/2011 | Val Riedman |
| Q: I am having my 1911 home near Lake Harriet renovated, it sits on sandy loam soil. I have a few ... A: You can make an assumption based on your county, Hennipin, that about 40% of homes there will have ... | ||
| Radon test procedure | 11/15/2011 | Val Riedman |
| Q: I recently purchased a home in the Washington D.C. metro area and I ran one of those home (First ... A: I'm not quite sure what this test requires but there usually is an up and down side so you have ... | ||
| Concret Odour | 10/3/2011 | Val Riedman |
| Q: Recently we've noticed a "earthy" odour in our family room. The room is sub grade in our side split ... A: An earthy odor is probably coming from the soil below the basement floor. If the basement has ... | ||
| protein burn odor in the house after a small kitchen fire. | 4/25/2011 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: I had a pot roast burn in the roaster and smoke fill my house while I went out shopping. The smell ... A: Amazingly, smoke has the ability to infiltrate into everything. Then when it is dissipating it off ... | ||
| radon mitigation | 4/21/2011 | Val Riedman |
| Q: I recently had a radon mitigation system installed from a basement. It is an active system with an ... A: Either the fan is undersized and not depressurizing all areas under the basement floor or the fan is ... | ||
| dirty smell | 4/11/2011 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: There are a couple rooms in my home that smell of dirt, and it seems to come from the return ... A: I'd first have your entire duct system inspected by a professional for possible air leaks. Next, I'd ... | ||
| I can smell sawdust | 4/2/2011 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: Occasionally I smell sawdust while sitting in my living room. It's not all the time and sometimes ... A: OK this may be a possibility, but it is the 1st thing that pops in my mind...and it is 'construction ... | ||
| I can smell sawdust | 4/2/2011 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: Occasionally I smell sawdust while sitting in my living room. It's not all the time and sometimes ... A: Need a little more info from you please... How old is the house, where do you reside, have you ... | ||
| cigarette smoke | 3/16/2011 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: We live in a 750 square foot townhouse-style apartment. There are six units in the building. Each ... A: Well it sounds like you have some infiltration. The duct system may be leaky, but if smoke/odor is ... | ||
| rental extreme ventilation problems | 3/11/2011 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: We have been renting a home for one year, when we moved in landlord promised to put in new roof. ... A: Well by what you're saying here, the duct system should replaced and either the HVAC system needs to ... | ||
| Smells like wet cement in here! | 3/8/2011 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: You had a question from someone named Kerry a while back about her house smelling like wet cement. ... A: I haven't heard either way from Kerry. But maybe a new approach at this may help. If you know, are ... | ||
| Rental property, no pipe under toilet!!! | 2/26/2011 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: We rent a house here in TN. For five months now we have had a bad smell from the bathrooms. It is a ... A: You know these kind of theatrics go on a lot more than people realize. Sometimes they work harder ... | ||
| Help | 2/21/2011 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: I wanted to ask you several questions about air quality. Excuseme If my questions are so stupid: why ... A: I'm not quite understanding the lockers & doors of toilets part....but the air conditioning part ... | ||
| asbestos | 2/8/2011 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: I am concerned as my hous has popcorn ceiling(has asbestos).The hous I live was built in the mid ... A: Well with out professional cleaning you are potentially taking a risk. Now moving forward, that ... | ||
| asbestos | 2/7/2011 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: I am concerned as my hous has popcorn ceiling(has asbestos).The hous I live was built in the mid ... A: It sounds like a lot of uncertainty....do you plan on staying in that house for a long time or do ... | ||
| asbestos | 2/7/2011 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: I am concerned as my hous has popcorn ceiling(has asbestos).The hous I live was built in the mid ... A: The only safe measure is to have it professionally assessed. Yes it can go airborne if dry. May or ... | ||
| Lower radon reading | 1/22/2011 | Val Riedman |
| Q: I wanted to find out if the sump pump cover needs a fan and venting outside to pull the radon gas ... A: Sealing your sump is an important step when installing a radon reduction system so it's worth a try. ... | ||
| Chemical smell strongest in bedroom closet | 1/21/2011 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: I hope you can give us some direction as we are lost. I came home this afternoon to a very strong ... A: From what I see reading your question makes me think of off gassing. Now the part you mentioned ... | ||
| Dusty Musty Smell Cont... | 1/19/2011 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: You have been really helpful in directing me with this problem of the dusty/musty smell coming out ... A: Well, it seems like the Technician did all they could do...and unaccessible coils are a pain to get ... | ||
| Musty smell from A/C | 1/11/2011 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: I notice a dusty/musty smell coming from my air conditioner when the cooling goes on. Since I live ... A: Well you could ask your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. who they use. But make sure ... | ||
| Musty smell from A/C | 1/9/2011 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: I notice a dusty/musty smell coming from my air conditioner when the cooling goes on. Since I live ... A: The evaporator coils are in the air handler. By what you are describing about the cooling being on ... | ||
| Musty smell from A/C | 1/6/2011 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: I notice a dusty/musty smell coming from my air conditioner when the cooling goes on. Since I live ... A: I recommend getting another qualified professional to re-examine your HVAC & Duct Systems. I suspect ... | ||
| air quality | 1/3/2011 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: My husband and I are renovating a vacant older home. A section of textured ceiling material was ... A: Well if there is asbestos in the particles, you'll need a professional clean up crew, thing is you ... | ||
| insulate duct?. | 12/29/2010 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: I have an exhaust fan in my downstairs bathroom (full bath). The bathroom is located in a portion of ... A: This sounds more like an air infiltration/exfiltration issue. Now it could be seeping through the ... | ||
| Air Duct Cleaning and Coating | 12/9/2010 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: Am I wasting my money having my heating and a/c ducts cleaned for the first time in 35 years? How ... A: Well it just depends on the structural health of your duct system, how it's engineered, how it's ... | ||
| Sump pump cover for Radon | 12/1/2010 | Val Riedman |
| Q: We bought our first house a year and a half ago. When we were going through the inspection process ... A: Sorry I missed this. Yes it's probably fine to allow the kids in the basement. Radon exposure for ... | ||
| Cigarette Smoke Smell in my Basement | 11/30/2010 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: I live in a rowhouse/townhouse. Recently, my next door neighbor moved a heavy smoker into her home. ... A: Besides spray foam insulation & caulking....the only thing that may help is to get a large room air ... | ||
| concrete block odor?? | 11/26/2010 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: Help!!! Ever since we moved into our Florida home (built in 2002)in 2007, we have noticed a strange ... A: Thanks you for your comments as well! I'll review your answers. I'm on call this weekend and I'm ... | ||
| concrete block odor?? | 11/25/2010 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: Help!!! Ever since we moved into our Florida home (built in 2002)in 2007, we have noticed a strange ... A: Well let me first say WOW! OK, now I'll need you to answer a few questions to help me help you pin ... | ||
| sump/radon | 11/17/2010 | Val Riedman |
| Q: I have 2 sump pump pits in the basement, one at each end of the basement about 70 feet apart one in ... A: If you have drain tile coming to the sumps they are likely tied together. So only one vent was ... | ||
| attic vents | 11/14/2010 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: i am insulating my attic. i have a vent at the peak of roof on both sides of house. would that ... A: Make sure you're insulating to a R-49 value usually @ 12" - 14" inches thick for sprayed in ... | ||
| Where to Insulate? | 11/9/2010 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: I have a 1600sqft two story house built in 1993. My upstairs seems to be cooler then downstairs. ... A: Yep, you got it, that's exactly how zoning works, and it ecomonically friendly on your energy ... | ||
| Where to Insulate? | 11/8/2010 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: I have a 1600sqft two story house built in 1993. My upstairs seems to be cooler then downstairs. ... A: The zoning system uses a master control circuitry board that allows for usually 2-4 zones. Some ... | ||
| Where to Insulate? | 11/8/2010 | TJ Nichols |
| Q: I have a 1600sqft two story house built in 1993. My upstairs seems to be cooler then downstairs. ... A: Well you definitely want to insulated the garage (walls & ceiling). This will be well worth the time ... | ||
Answers by Expert:
TJ Nichols
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Hello, I'd be glad to answer your questions on IAQ & other related issues! The top TEN are as follows: (1) IAQ mysterious symptoms and how to locate & stop the causing problem. (2) Duct system designs & engineering. (3) Duct cleaning & filtration. (4) HVAC inspections, repairs, & installs. *see below. (5) Carpet & furniture cleaning. (6) Restoration services. **see below. (7) Crawlspace humidity problems. (8) Home insulation. (9) Home energy saving tips. (10) Home/Apt. maintenance with plumbing, electrical, carpentry, etc. With these following * & ** questions I'll try my best to assist you in. *(some basic knowledge & experience on oil fired furnaces, very limited knowledge on water furnaces, no boilers or chillers questions, please). **(just water damage, no smoke or fire damage questions, please)
Experience
My approach is to treat the home as one system with individual working parts. Think (TEAMWORK). When one or more areas (PLAYERS) are failing or bad, it affects the whole system (TEAM) to operate less efficiently. I aim to address the problem, not just the symptoms, to offer better solution options. I've been experienced in carpet & upholstery care since 1994; Have been EPA Licensed & Certified in Types I & II Refrigeration since 1997; and have been working in IAQ issues & Home Energy Testing since 2004. I have experience with the new refrigerant R410-A. I'm currently studying Home Inspection Courses & NATE Certification Courses. Also, I've been an apartment maintenance supervisor at a couple communities. I have lived & worked at a four seasons resort supervising housekeeping & maintenance issues. I've worked for local & regional service companies. I have sold HVAC units, Duct Systems, Home Energy Tests, Infiltrometer Tests, IAQ Tests, Crawlspace Dehumidifacation Upgrades, Home Insulation Upgrades, & Water Heater.
Publications
Hopefully here, in the near future.
Education/Credentials
High School Grad (06/1991)(VA)
EPA licensed & certified in Types I & II Refrigeration (04/1997)(MD)
Various Lennox Certifications (04/2007) (SC)
Awards and Honors
I have several letters of recommendations from customers I've served while being employed & self employed. My business opportunities grow from customers word of mouth.
Past/Present Clients
Self Employed: Local Sprint/Nextel offices in SC; local REMAX real estate office in SC; local real estate investors in SC; Apartment Communities Across NC & SC; Several Church Daycare Centers in SC; Wintergreen Resort Property Owners in VA; Home Owners across VA, MD, WV, TN, NC, SC, & GA.
Employeed Locally in VA, SC, & MS to service Home Owners & Business in VA, WV, MD, DC, NC, SC, GA, TN & MS.
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