RTS Environmental Services

Very thorough investigation and explanation of the problem areas, how to monitor them, and how to fix them. We had a very minor problem, so no remediation was required. RTS recommended a HEPA filter in the basement as well as dehumidifiers and Hygrometers to monitor relative humidity levels in the rooms with high humidity. It was worth the time and expense to know how to deal with a common household problem.

Paul Ramsey determined that there was no mold, but -- after checking the venting in the bathrooms, laundry closet and kitchen, could not ascertain whether or not the vents in these areas exited to the outside. He then completed a report with this information and he made recommendations, which we used and provided to the sellers.

When we bought our new house, our home inspector (not RTS) missed a TON of mold in our basement. Long story short, I would never buy a house again in the VA/DC/MD area without having RTS inspect it for mold on top of a regular home inspection. Standard home inspectors are not qualified to find mold. I'm highly allergic to mold, and couldn't be in certain parts of my house until the mold was removed. RTS tore out drywall, removed the mold, treated the areas to prevent further mold, sealed, treated and insulated our crawl space. We also had outside re-grading done and trees removed by other vendors. But RTS did all of the work on the inside of our house and we would highly recommend Paul and his team to anyone who thinks they may have a mold problem.

Provider prescribed appropriate medications and followed up a few days after the initial appointment with a personal phone call. Treatment was successful.

Paul Ramsey was very professional and very flexible in helping me with a mold problem that was severe in one room due to a leak in the window and that was beginning to develop in the basement. He and his crew were responsive and came in quickly to do the work. The price was high, but that is what it costs to have a professional and thorough job done in getting rid of mold.

The day after we purchased our house, we became concerned that there was moisture behind some built-in basement cabinetry. Before we bought the house, the prior owners had represented that there was never any mold or water issues in the house but our experience proved otherwise. I found a soft spot in the cabinetry, which cracked when I pressed against it. I was referred to RTS by a contractor I know, and Paul called me back right away. He spent a fair amount of time discussing the situation with me over the phone (without having met me), and he came to inspect the condition the following day. He discovered extensive mold (and obvious evidence of moisture) along the perimeter of the finished portion of the basement. He reassured my immediate concerns about my one year old son being exposed to mold and spores and talked me through the condition and the process. Initially, we believed that a contractor would be able to perform the remediation under Paul's instruction but the amount of mold was too extensive. An RTS crew came the next day to begin the remediation. The crew removed the wood paneling, carpeting, and the cabinetry; treated the cinder blocks with anti-fungal materials; set up a negative air machine to filter the air; and cleaned the ducts. The job took nearly three days to complete. RTS was very responsive, professional, prompt, and worked very efficiently to help us deal with this very stressful and frustrating situation. I hope that there is never a need for such services again but, if there is, I will call RTS to handle it. I have not disclosed the cost of the work done.

He completed the work on time and did what he said he was going to do. He got me a humidifier at the wholesale price. There was a charge for the estimate all but if you use them it goes toward total pricing. When they had a blowing maching in the basement it kept blowing out the pilot light of our water heater.

Called for information. Person answering phone seemed to want to do nothing except talk. Did not listen, interrupted when we spoke. Gave unsolicited advice.

I was most pleased with this company and their professional business practice. The diagnose the problem and told me the best solutions. I was delighted with them and would strongly recomment them anytime to anyone.

We had some concern about mold in the basement. Based on the positive reviews of this company on this site, we decided to obtain an estimate from this company. A service person surveyed the space and left with minimal comment. We received an estimate later that day for work to be done for almost $2,000. We sent in some questions by email and never got a response. Worse, we do not even know where they detected the mold. We got another certified inspector to take a look and he didn't find a problem. We were shocked. If the RTS inspector had taken the time to show us the problem spots and explain the mold types and what to look for, we would probably would have gone with this business without getting a second opinion. So, we probably were fortunate to be given a need to get a second opinion.

RTS (Paul Ramsey) was very professional and responsive to our needs and left us great recommendations on how to deal with the issue if the test should come back positive for asbestos. The test results are still outstanding. So far we can highly recommend RTS and would hire them again any time.

My experience with RTS Environmental Services was entirely positive, from the first telephone contact until Mr. Ramsey left my home. I hired RTS to investigate an unknown but strong, sharp odor in my home, which I was convinced was mold growing where I couldn't see. Mr. Ramsey immediately identified the smell not as mold, but excessive ozone being emitted from my home's electronic air filter. Sure enough, as soon as the air filter was turned off, the smell began to dissipate. Mr. Ramsey went ahead and completed the mold investigation throughout the house and did a very thorough job. I learned a great deal and will be able to handle a minor mildew issue in my crawlspace and basement storage room myself. Mr. Ramsey was personable and trustworthy. I never felt like he was trying to sell me his services, or induce me into any purchase whatsoever. I would recommend his services to anyone who suspects they may have a mold issue in their home.

Our finished basement had water enter during heavy rains for the past year and a half, the worst being during Sandy. There was no obvious visual evidence of mold, but we were considering opening up the drywall to try to figure out where the water was getting in, and were concerned there could be mold. Mr. Ramsey explained everything he was looking for during the inspection process. He pulled back the carpet and base trim, finding minimal amounts of mold on the tack board. He explained that this was nothing to be concerned with. (The carpet and trim was put back in place at the end of the inspection.) He used a moisture meter and thermo imaging device on the wall, and did not detect anything indicative of mold. We fortunately had a 12 inch access panel in the wall that he could open and look into, but if not he would have been able to drill into the wall and use a camera to view. He ultimately concluded that there was no concern for mold in our basement. He also explained the conditions in place that made the area behind the wall not conducive to mold growth. The remainder of the visit was spent investigating how the water could be entering the basement in the first place, and providing suggestions for fixes. He delivered a written report at the end of the inspection. Overall an informative and educational experience. I have a plan forward, next step is to hire someone to do some minor exterior repairs (replace flashing) where we think the water is getting in. I would hire him again for future mold concerns.

RTS was extremely professional. The company focuses on educating the homeowner, and that was evident throughout the service call. Everything was explained to us in detail. A variety of tools were used to locate the dampness, and some small holes were made in inconspicuous places to test behind the walls. The inspection was thorough, including the attic, basement, and outdoors. I was aware of other companies that had ripped off consumers with false findings of mold and exorbitant remediation costs, but we had none of that from this company. From the outset we were told that we likely did not have mold, and we were given suggestions for getting rid of the dampness and smell that we could do ourselves. We were extremely pleased with the company.

Paul arrived and we started in the basement where we discovered the mold. He pulled back the carpeting and used a moisture meter to determine the source of the moisture. The moisture/mold pattern indicated the problem was behind a panel which gives us access to a water main. He suggested we inject the hole with urethane caulk, remove the affected drywall, insulation, and carpet pad. He indicated this small problem did not require an extensive mold remediation effort and could be done by a handy man. He provided us with concise instructions and the products to use to resolve the issue. Paul then checked the rest of the house (including the attic) to see if we had any other problem areas. Luckily, everything else was okay. It was so refreshing to work with someone who did not use scare tactics and did not try and rip us off.

Because of an odd odor problem in a portion of my house, which I suspected was mold, I asked RTS Environmental Services to evaluate the problem. Paul Ramsey, the owner of the company, did a thorough whole-house inspection and narrowed the problem to an area in one bathroom. Turned out to be a water problem, but not a mold problem, so he did not do remediation, but he recommended a series of steps to mitigate the water problem (which resolved itself, as he said it would). He explained everything clearly and plainly. I was thoroughly satisfied with his service and assistance and would recommend the company to others.

RTS was referred to us by another Angie's List provider that does not do mold remediation. The woman who answered the phone took my information and when I told her where I lived, she said oh no, we don' come in that area. WHen I told her that according to Angie's list, her company recently peformed this service within 5 mile of where I live, she said I know but we would not come in your area and I said that is strange- yet you can go 5 miles away. SHe said I know, but we will not come in your area, we just don't. I could not believe what I was hearing. She then offered to refer me to someone else and I said no thank you. I could tell that she was obvioulsy biased and would never trust her recommendations. By the way, our local newspaper (which is also a national paper) described our community as one of the best kept secrets in the city.

They were professional, and did what I needed, which was to find any indication of mold. They described the remediation process, which I was unable to do with my own contractor. I would give them all A's, and I would use RTS again.

Paul was great. His inspection and report were thorough. We did have a little bit of confusion when we were trying to schedule an appointment and the process of dealing with the woman in his office that schedules appointments was a little frustrating. Once we got things scheduled though, we were very happy with Paul's services. We would recommend him to others and would hire him again. He was also available to answer questions afterwards and happy to clarify information in his report.

I started a bathroom renovation and found mold behind the shower walls. I called RTS to see if I should have someone come out to inspect for me and treat the mold. Instead of an estimate, the woman who answered listened to my description and walked me through the steps to clean the mold problem (which is small) on my own. I was very pleased that she was so courteous and helpful when I'm not even a client yet! I will definitely call RTS should we have any mold issues in the future.

They clean the air ducts and take apart the walls. They use special techniques to clean the mold and mildew in the house. We seem to be in pretty good shape since then.

The job was made worse by my tenants who caused the damage due to their neglect and excessive belongings in the basement. There were mental health issues of the tenants that clearly made the job more difficult for RTS. RTS handled the challenges professionally and did a great job making the basement safe to use again. We had two other companies evaluate the situation and give bids. RTS was the most expensive but we believed it was the only proposal that understood the extent of the problem and the health and safety precautions needed to make the house safely habitable. This was a situation that called for an educated person and company to be involved. I was happy to pay what it took to have it done right.

We were primarily worried about lingering effects on my wife (who is extremely allergic to mold) and our 1 year old son. Paul was able to make an appointment within 2 weeks of my initial call, which was a little longer than I would have liked but understandable given the backup from TS Lee storm damage to the area. Paul was very professional when he came out, and provided concrete recommendations as to what we could do to lessen problems now and in the future. His services were a little pricey, but you pay for experience and thoroughness.

RTS offered to do asbestos abatement at my home. I checked with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to check on the licensing status of this company. MDE informed me that their license (to remove/encapsulate asbestos) had expired years ago. Let this review serve as a reminder and warning to anyone seeking asbestos removal in their home in the State of Maryland. CALL MDE's Division of Asbestos Licensing and Enforcement (410-537-3200) and ask about the licensing status of the asbestos contractor. Also, ask for the number of violations cited against the contractor in the last ten years. The MDE will give you this critical information. You can get specific details on the nature of any violations through the FOIA. MDE will tell you how to request this information as well. You do not want unlicensed asbestos abatement companies in your home. (I do hope that Angie's list will allow this phone number to be included in my review. If not, google MDE Division of Asbestos Licensing and Enforcement. The phone number is listed on the website) You must call MDE. Current licensing information and number of violations are not listed on MDE's website. Also, be aware that asbestos inspectors (aka IH Firms) are NOT LICENSED in the State of Maryland. We found this out the hard way after our home was contaminated with asbestos and the Maryland firm did not detect the asbestos. We had to hire a company in Virginia to find out that our home was indeed contaminated with friable asbestos (See my review on Geller Environmental). RTS may be fine for mold removal or asbestos inspection, but be aware that they are not licensed to remove asbestos (as of June 2011 when I called MDE). I believe they are licensed inspectors in the state of Virginia. Check with the Virginia Asbestos Licensing board to be sure. Asbestos is dangerous. Do your homework!

He is really great. He told me that he would be a little more expensive than some others and that if I wanted I could probably have a handyman take care of it. I had him do the work and he did a wonderful job cleaning up the problem and replacing and painting the drywall.