Press Releases at EMSL

Cinnaminson, NJ, August 16^th, 2016  

Owning a full-time or vacation home on the coast is a dream come true for many people. Oceanfront and nearby coastal homes can also provide lucrative rental income for property owners. However, these properties come with unique exposure risks and typically require additional preventive maintenance to protect the owner’s investment and even the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of the home.

Many properties along the coast lie in flood zones and may be subject to strong storms or even hurricanes. These weather events can cause land erosion, tidal and storm surges, and flooding that may threaten a building. Extreme wind and rain can also be a concern and cause extensive property damage. Any moisture that penetrates a building’s envelop can lead to water damage, mold growth and even termite infestations. Water damage caused by flooding may contain raw sewage, microbial contaminants and even hazardous chemicals.

Beach homes also require additional preventive maintenance steps to minimize the corrosive effects of salt that can be carried onto a home or building by seaside wind, spray and mist. These salts coat exterior surfaces accelerating rust on metal objects and the corrosion of other materials.

To help maintain a beach property and prevent indoor environmental issues from occurring, monthly inspections and a comprehensive annual building checkup are recommended by many experts. The inspection may include: 

• Checking the foundation for signs of erosion and the building’s exterior for corrosion, wind and sun damage, and water infiltration.
• Inspecting the building’s HVAC system for dirt, debris and signs of corrosion.
• Ensuring large trees remain pruned and that sheds and other objects in the yard are properly secured to prevent damage during high winds.
• Inspecting the interior for signs of leaks, water damage, mold growth and termites.
  
  

“Property owners of homes that do sustain damage should also be aware of potential exposure risks due to lead-based paints and asbestos-containing materials,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “This is especially true during cleanup, demolition and repair activities that can easily aerosolize these substances.”

Those who do experience damage or have concerns about the indoor environmental quality of their property can turn to the experts at EMSL Analytical, Inc. EMSL offers testing, sampling supplies and test kits for water damage, mold, bacteria, lead, asbestos and other common IEQ concerns. They also recently sponsored a video about beach home maintenance and IEQ that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/84QlEuqDFDQ.

To learn more about this or other indoor environmental testing and property damage issues, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com. To view the complete line of indoor environmental test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical, Inc. is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of environmental, indoor air quality, consumer product and materials testing services and products for professionals and the general public. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.