What You Need to Know About Asbestos in Tiles
Asbestos Tile in Portland Homes and Businesses You may have heard that asbestos is common in old homes, but do you know which building materials are the culprits? A naturally occurring mineral, asbestos is made up of millions of tiny fibers that brought both benefits and risks to building products. In fact, it was one […]
When a Heating Oil Tank Should Be Decommissioned
While the majority of the U.S. – especially the West – relies on natural gas or electricity to heat its homes, some residences still use a heating oil system. Heating oil systems work through the following steps. Heating oil systems were most popular in the 1970s. Since then, the number of people who rely on […]
What Exactly is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber. Asbestos fibers’ resistance to heat, electricity, and corrosion made it a popular construction material for insulation and strengthening cloth, paper, cement, plastic, and other materials. Types of Asbestos The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) classifies asbestos into 2 categories: Amphibole: Fibers are straight and jagged. Amphibole asbestos […]
Septic vs Sewer Systems: Pros & Cons of Each
A drainage system is designed to carry sewage and wastewater away from your home or business, purify the water to remove any harmful bacteria and viruses, and then return the water back to the environment. Properly designed drainage systems help protect water quality and the health of both people and the environment. The 2 most […]
What You Need to Know About Asbestos in Insulation
The typical U.S. homeowner spent $117.46 per month on their energy bills in 2020, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). You may be aware of how much you’re spending on energy, but do you know where most of that money goes? Heating and cooling costs amount to 42% of the typical U.S. energy […]
Why Dry Cleaning Properties Are So Difficult to Remediate
If you’ve ever owned a suit, silk dress or other delicate professional wear, chances are you’ve been to a dry cleaner. Dry cleaning services are common in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s estimated that there are roughly 38,000 dry cleaning shops located across the country. Dry cleaning […]
What Common Household Items Qualify as Hazardous Waste?
Many of the products you use in your home everyday can’t just be thrown out in the trash—they need to be disposed of as hazardous waste. When disposing of common household products, they’ll fall into 1 of 2 categories of waste: Municipal solid waste (trash or garbage): This kind of waste, which isn’t considered potentially […]
How to Reduce Radon in Your Home or Business
If you recently had your home or business tested for radon and uncovered elevated levels of the gas inside your building, chances are you were told you’d need to have radon mitigation performed. The results may have left you with questions like: Radon is a naturally occurring gas that is produced by the decay of […]
How Long Does Heating Oil Stay in Soil?
Roughly 4% of U.S. homes use heating oil systems as their primary fuel for space heating, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). While this number is small compared to the amount of households that use electricity or natural gas for heat, residential heating oil sales surpassed 3 billion gallons in 2020, and another […]
Why Radon Levels Fluctuate in Portland, OR
If you’ve had your home or business tested for elevated levels of radon in the past, you might feel confident that your home is in the clear. But your confidence level should depend on how long ago that radon testing took place. Radon is a naturally occurring gas that is released when radioactive metals, such […]
