I was recently in a development in South Ft. Myers doing a Visual Chinese drywall inspection. I was very saddened to discover that this very nice complex was suffering from the effects of the chemicals associated with Chinese drywall. I spent some time there speaking with residents of this development and found out that many of the units were being rented. I talked to one owner that recently moved his tenant out at his expense. He informed me that there were many empty units in the development.

As you can see the development that I did the visual Chinese Drywall Inspection was Avalon Preserve. Feel free to go to my blog at my website at www.mermininspections.comand click on the blog button which will take you to the INSPECTOR’S CORNER. Look for the “From the Inspector” posts and you will find all the previous Chinese Drywall update posts. You will find pictures of the visual evidence found in the unit I inspected in Avalon Preserve.  You will also see all the other corners that are made available for guests to write postings. There is a Realtor’s Corner that I allow Realtors to write interesting posts. Just send a post to me at jacob@mermininspections.comand I will look it over and if it fits into the whole concept of separate corners I would be happy to post it. I am looking for current events of the real estate business that you feel would be of interest to Realtors and sellers and buyers. No listing please, they will not be posted. Be looking of a Jacob Mermin Inspections monthly newsletter. It will cover all types of inspections.

                                                      These pictures are common visual evidence of the effects of the chemicals associated with Chinese drywall. Solid copper ground wires in a electrical outlet changes to black. Chrome plumbing fixtures become black, corroded and pitted. Copper air conditioning lines will turn black as well as the evaporator coil. And you will get blackening on the edges of a bathroom mirror.

I have seen these effects all over SW Florida and it always effects people. I have done these inspections just before a closing and feel very bad because their dream home is no longer a good investment. Every time I have to show my clients this kind of visual evidence they are sad at first and then they shake my hand and thank me for saving them thousands of dollars. When I hear this it makes me feel better and I realize I am doing what I am meant to do. I do full service home inspections that include a Chinese drywall inspection. I tell everyone that I meet no matter what get a home inspection before you commit to purchasing a home.

Jacob Mermin CHI/CMI/EPA Type ll

I believe that laws governing the HVAC industry are very important. These laws protect the homeowner in Florida. It amazes me that so many air conditioning contractors do not pull permits on their air conditioning and ductwork installations. What amazes me more is that the homeowner doesn’t care or doesn’t know that these permits need to be pulled and posted on the home in a place that can be seen from the street. This not pulling permits epidemic that has infected the air conditioning business in SW. Florida comes from the small mom and pop operation to the large corporate contractor. There are companies that sometimes pull permits and sometimes don’t. When the home is off the beaten path there is a good chance that a permit is not pulled. It costs about $100.00 considering the cost of the permit and the cost to post it to do business legally.

It is mind boggling that the County and City building departments do not have an advertising campaign to let homeowners know that it is the law that a permit must be pulled and posted for air conditioning and ductwork installations. Why don’t contractors go to the trouble of pulling and posting permits? One reason is that it can be a long ordeal at the building department to apply for these permits. It is a process that could be made easier and quicker but that is secondary to the requirement of following the law.

I believe that the companies that are not pulling permits are not doing the best work possible for the homeowner. When you pull a permit the contractor becomes responsible for any code violation issues that are at the home prior to the air conditioning installations. For example if the prior contractor who put in the previous air conditioner removed a portion of a roof strut to make that air handler fit in the attic it is the responsibility of the new contractor to fix that problem when they install the new unit. The present contractor has to bring the home to code with regards to their installation. The most important reason for pulling and posting a permit is that the work will be inspected by the appropriate building department to make sure that the job is safe and is up to code. Hopefully the code violations caused by previous contractors who did not pull a permit will be discovered by the building inspector. There are a few homeowners that have done previous work themselves that does not meet code. They do not want a permit pulled in fear that this work will be discovered. In my opinion there is no excuse for not pulling a permit. Homeowners should want the work they are paying for to be to code.

Many homeowners want the cheapest price possible and do not really care if it is done to code. I learned something recently that really made me think. I heard a statistic from the National Better Business Bureau. It stated that there were more than 10 million complaints last year against contractors. 80% of these complaints were filled against contractors who submitted the lowest bid. This means that homeowners are doing business with companies that are doing the cheapest work. I wonder how many of those companies did not pull permits on those jobs.

I am aware of many air conditioning companies that do not pull and post permits for air conditioning systems and ductwork. In my HVAC design work I will not do business with these companies when I represent one of my clients. I supervise each job and insist that these companies pull permits. I am aware of one local air conditioning company that has pulled less than 10 permits for air conditioning installations in the last two and a half years. I know of approximately 200 of their customers that permits were not pulled. This company is under investigation by all  the local building departments and the State of Florida and I am not at liberty to disclose the name of the contractor or the homeowners names. As soon as this information is public knowledge I will be reporting it in this blog.

Here is something I have heard, “Mrs. Jones since you already have an air conditioner I don’t have to pull a permit on your job, only when you don’t have air conditioning do we have to pull a permit.” Do not let contractors lie to you. If they are not pulling a permit it could mean they are cutting corners because they know that the building department is not going to do an inspection and will not see those short cuts that could be going against codes.

Remember if you do not see a permit posted on your house when the job is completed the contractor is breaking the law. Unfortunately the homeowner is also responsible for this permit and could also be liable for any fines the building departments may levy. It is your property and it is your family. Do not be apart of a code violation or a safety issue that could threaten your investment or your loved ones. I am a certified home inspector, mold inspector, air quality inspector, and air conditioning technician. I have seen problems during my inspections that I would not wish on anyone. Do not be a statistic or become a news report because shoddy work has affected your home or family.

Stand up for yourself with your contractors.

Jacob Mermin CHI/CMI

www.mermininspections.com

jacob@mermininspections.com

239-243-7322

It’s a quiet week ahead when it comes to scheduled economic reports, but that doesn’t mean the volatility will quiet down. Keep a look out on Thursday for the Existing Home Sales Report for a read on the housing market. Last week showed a decent Housing Starts number, so it will be interesting to see if Existing Home Sales shows some good news for the Housing Market.

Also on Thursday, another Initial Jobless Claims report will be released. Last week, first time claims for unemployment benefits dropped by 47,000 to the lowest level since January. However, the reading is somewhat distorted by shifts in the timing of auto plant shutdowns. Usually plants would shut down in July, meaning last week’s unemployment claims number would usually have been higher, but the shutdown process was accelerated due to the bankruptcies of GM and Chrysler. Therefore, the seasonal adjustment makes this number look rosier than it really is.

In addition, earnings season continues with important reports from Legg Mason, Coca Cola, Dupont, Apple, Wells Fargo, Pepsi, eBay, and Xerox among others…and if these reports are good, Stocks could continue to improve, at the expense of Bonds and home loan rates.

Remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, while strong economic news normally has the opposite result. Bonds and rates worsened on the heels of a rally in Stocks. I’ll be watching to see if Bonds can remain above key support, which would help home loan rates stabilize. As always, I encourage you to give me a call to discuss how the current rate environment might benefit you.

Jim Marcinkowski

Mortgage Consultant

8695 College Pkwy.

Suite 2440

Fort Myers, FL 33919

239-936-4232 Office

239-826-6400 Cell

239-985-4486 Fax

Confidentiality Notice: The documents in this transmission contain confidential information belonging to the sender, which is legally privileged. The information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or the taking of any action in relation to the contents, is strictly prohibited. If you have received this facsimile and/or email in error, please notify the sender immediately and destroy the document(s).

Recently I was asked by a long  time Friend’s son for help. I have known this kid since he and my daughter were in baby carriers watching their young fathers play on a church softball team. He says ” Jake you know all about that IAQ stuff right”. “Yes Ronald I know all about Indoor Air Quality”. He then proceeds to tell me that his girlfriend’s grandmother is always sick, and that he noticed all this black junk on one of the air conditioning grills the last time he was over there. He asked me to go take a look at it and tell grandma what I thought and what she should do. Well I am going to show all of you a picture of what I saw, and I hope it doesn’t look familiar to anyone who maybe keeping up with the Inspector’s Corner.                                               

I get there and remove the filter from in front of this coil and I can’t believe my eyes. I put the filter back in front of the coil and went out to my truck. I found my rubber gloves and my respirator and had one hand on my hazmat suit. I didn’t want to scare poor grandma so I left it in the truck and told myself to be careful. You must understand that I see this almost every day and each time I do I still don’t understand why. There are people out there breathing this in, making themselves sick and not even realizing it. This includes this grandmother.

Showing the progression of Microbial Matter is very important in explaining a client’s indoor air quality issues. For those who don’t understand the process the blower motor pulls the cold air off an evaporator coil and sends it through the supply plenum to the duct system. The air handler is center stage when it comes to the average indoor environment. While the system is running air is continuously re-circulating from the return into and out of the evaporator coil to the blower and out the duct system. It is a vicious circle that needs to be broken.

The evaporator coil, blower motor, and the unit’s insulation are full of Microbial Growth. As a National  Certified Mold and Air Quality Inspector I do not like it when I hear about others calling this mold. This word is thrown around by air conditioning companies to get home owners upset and worried and I guess in the mood to buy what ever is presented.

After I do a visual inspection I need to decide whether to recommend to my client to have lab testing done. In this case there is so much Microbial Growth that lab testing is the next logical step. We need to know if there is something in this home that could be dangerous. Most people do not realize that there are thousands of different molds with many sub species that look so much alike under the microscope that they are just lumped into one category. The EPA has developed a testing system called ERMI/DNA Mold Testing. This is the only mold testing developed by the EPA. It is very technical, it goes directly to the mold DNA where they can separate out the sub species. It is very CSI like, and very expensive. It is not every day mold testing. This type of mold testing is for Law suites and litigation or for insurance purposes. Mold effects us in different ways. Some people react to it from as far as 100 feet away where some can stand over it and not be bothered. It is well documented that mold usually effects the young and the old and those with breathing issues and immune system deficiencies. Molds that produce Mycotoxins usually effects everyone. Molds like the “Black Mold” which is actually called Stachybotrys.

In the case of grandma I took a swab sample of the evaporator coil, blower motor wheel, and a supply vent. Results came back from the lab with four different types of mold. It also came back with something called back ground particulate. Which is dust, dirt, pollen, pet dander, dead skin cells, bug parts and etc. etc. etc. Back ground particulate can be considered food for mold along with paper, drywall, dead plant material, etc. etc. etc. Another item came back in the test results called Hyphae which is the feeding apparatus of the mold. This usually means that there is a growing and feeding mold colony in the area where the testing was taken. Mold needs only two things to grow, moisture and a food source. Well we have already discussed the food source. Mold will grow in 70% humidity. There is always 70% humidity in Florida. I have seen it 65 degrees outside and 90% humidity.

An air conditioner’s air handler is a prime area fod mold growth. An air handler can be it’s own environmental system. The air conditioner is a dehumidifier with cold air being a by product. Remember the evaporator is exposed to the air in your house and then removes your home’s humidity. Combine that with the dust, dirt, pollen, etc. and you have the two items needed for mold to grow and start a living feeding colony. This is my passion. I want everyone to have good quality air. If you see dirt on the air conditioning supply grills in your home you may have a growing, feeding mold colony inside your air handler. You might want to call a Certified Mold Inspector and find out if you may have a problem with your indoor air quality. If you have kids that seem to always be sick. People have told just when they thought they were better they were sick again. If your nose starts running and your eyes keep watering you may have allergies or you could have mold in your house. People are allergic to mold. Florida is the number one state for breathing problems. In closing I would like to share the most stupid thing anyone has ever said to me about these issues. It was from one of those know it all wise guys we have all met. He actually  told me, “Mold is not that bad once you get use to it”. My answer to him was, “Well it’s obvious you do not care about your indoor air quality, how about your wife and kids”. My motto is “without air quality, we cannot have quality of life”.

Jacob Mermin CHI/CMI

www.mermininspections.com

jacob@mermininspections.com

239-243-7322

On the economic news front, the headlines were mixed. On the disappointing
side was a worse than expected Retail Sales Report, which showed that
consumers are continuing to tighten their purse strings. Not entirely
surprising, but it did mark the eighth decline in the past ten months for
Retail Sales. Initial Unemployment Claims were also reported worse than
expected - which some said were due to massive Chrysler layoffs - but still
was disappointing after there had been some recent signs of improvement in
the labor markets.

However, there was positive economic news as well, including improved
readings from the manufacturing sector, as the New York Empire State
Manufacturing Index improved for the third month straight. Consumer
Sentiment was also better than the previous reading and the best since
September of last year. So although the consumer isn’t out spending money
with abandon just yet, this report shows that most folks are indeed starting
to feel better about the economic outlook, likely due in part to the values
of their investment accounts improving as Stock values move higher.

Remember, inflation is the archenemy of Bonds and home loan rates, so I will
be keeping a close eye on this in the coming months.

And as if that all weren’t enough, the government got in on the action, with
the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Federal Housing
Administration making a very interesting announcement that ultimately
appeared to be slightly premature. They announced a new plan to allow
first-time homebuyers to use the Federal tax credit of up to $8,000 for a
down payment at closing, rather than making buyers wait to receive the
benefit after the fact at tax time. However, no details or logistics of how
this will actually work were released, causing them to actually pull some of
the industry announcements as they regroup to provide more details. This
could be great news for first-time homebuyers, who are slated to account for
53% of home purchases in 2009.

Jim Marcinkowski

Mortgage Consultant

Neighborhood Funding, Inc.

8695 College Pkwy.

Suite 2440

Fort Myers, FL 33919

Your Direct Lender!

239-936-4232 Office

239-826-6400 Cell

239-985-4486 Fax

Apply online @

www.JimNFI.com

Licensed in: Florida, California, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina,
Arkansas, Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, Oregon, Conneticut, Washington and soon
in Indiana.

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action in relation to the contents, is strictly prohibited. If you have
received this facsimile and/or email in error, please notify the sender
immediately and destroy the document(s).

Copper ground wire has turned black

I have been promising everyone who would listen that a fellow Inspector and I have been developing an affordable laboratory test for Chinese Drywall. I wasn’t lying, it just seemed like it. Jacob Mermin Inspections has this testing available for those who qualify. My fellow inspector and I have decided that the right thing to do is require a visual inspection first, before people just start spending money because they are desperate for help. I will come to your home and do a visual inspection to see if there is evidence of the effects of Chinese drywall. Believe it or not, not every home has Chinese Drywall. I did five inspection in Lehigh Acres, Fl. last week and all five house were negative for the effects of Chinese Drywall. I have an extensive checklist that I go by to determine if there is any visual evidence of the effects of Chinese Drywall. My visual inspection checklist will be filled out and left with the homeowner.

Tarnished silver bowl

I will also take digital pictures and put them in a report to explain this visual inspection. This report will then be e-mailed to the client in a day or so. With this checklist, digital pictures, and a written report the homeowner can make a intelligent decision on whether to go ahead with lab testing.  The good news, is that the air testing available will determine if your home contains the four gasses that are causing these effects. The four gases are Carbon Disulphide, Carbonyl Sulfide, Sulfur Dioxide and finally Hydrogen Sulfide. There is also a bulk drywall lab test available. The great thing about the air testing is that we can give you the results right then and there in your home. The bulk drywall testing requires us to cut a piece of drywall out and send it to the lab. This test takes approximately 10 days.

Dryer plug starting to turn black

I have been able to help people with my certified home inspections, mold inspections, indoor air quality inspections, and air conditioning inspections, but when I came across the effects of Chinese Drywall I couldn’t answer those final questions. “What do we do now, and where do we go from here”. I hated hearing that, mostly because I had to say, ” Very expensive testing “. I am very happy that I have all these new answers and I am able to talk to these folks about very affordable lab testing. There are dishonest people out there who are taking advantage of the fear that so many homeowners have about the possibility of having Chinese Drywall. I am not going to allow this. I am not going to let people spend their hard earned money on even affordable lab testing with out first having a visual inspection. If after we do this visual inspection together we decide it would be a good idea to have the testing done, we will do it.  My clients are going to be in control. Go to my website at www.mermininspections.com and take advantage of my Chinese Drywall Visual Inspection Special. Or you can call me directly at 239-243-7322. Together we can get the honest answers everyone deserves.

Call someone you can trust.

I tell everyone to use a qualified inspector who is also certified to open your air conditioner. It makes sense to call Jacob Mermin Inspections. Your one stop shop.

Jacob Mermin CHI/CMI

jacob@mermininspections.com