RTS Environmental Services

A musty odor from the attic and one particular bedroom would occur during last summer's hot days. On the first hot day this Spring the odor came back. I called American Restoration Services to inspect the area. When they could not find any signs of mold/moisture, they recommended we contact someone who specializes in moisture/mold testing . I contacted RTS Environmental Services to arrange for an inspection and wanted to know the approximate cost. RTS had someone working in the area and they were able to come either the same day or the very next day. Mr. Ramsey of RTS made a thorough inspection of the related area and other nearby areas as well as our basement and laundry room areas. He even checked our air conditioning setup up and air flow. There was no obvious mold issues and he suggested that we keep the air/heat vent open in the bedroom and place a fan in front of the vent to keep the air moving. He suggested that the odor could be due to lack of air movement. I used the fan periodically for about two week. We recently returned from a two week trip with the air conditioner set hight and there was no odor in the bedroom or upstairs hall. This inspection has given me peace of mind. I would definitely hire and recommend RTS to others. The estimated cost I received over the phone was about $100 more than actual cost. The cost for this inspection was $350 but I received an Angie's List discount of $30 which brought the final cost to $320.

I called RTS on 6/1/11 and the receptionist was very nice and explained the process to me and the initial inspection cost. She said someone would call back and set up an appt. I got a call back later in the day and we set up an appt for the next morning. I was pleasantly surprised that I got such a quick response. Paul Ramsey was the person that came out for the inspection. He was VERY knowledgeable and explained everything that he was going to do and also while he was doing it. We have been having a moldy smell in our master bedroom only in the summer when it got around 90 or above. It seemed to have started about 7 yrs ago after we had new siding installed. The master bedroom is at the far end of the house and gets a lot of sun. He used a probe/meter to see if there was any moisture behind the walls by taking off all of the outlet plates, pulling up the edge of the carpet along the wall and even pulling off a piece of trim below one of the windows. When the new siding was installed we also had new windows put in and he checked the chalking around them both inside and outside and said it looked OK. He could not see any water stains or discoloration on either the floors or wallboard. He also checked out the shower area and that was OK also. He climbed up into the attic and checked that out but everything looked OK. He went down into the basement (where our furnace an A/C are) and basically that looked OK also except for a slight moldy basement odor but no sign of water leakage. He said that as far as he could see he didn't see any signs of mold. He did suggest that a dehumidifier in both the master bedroom and basement may help a little. I was VERY pleased with how it all went and that he did a great and thorough inspection.

Shaun came to determine whether there was a mold problem. He cut open a section of drywall and inspected. There was no mold. Shaun suggested an alternative cause for the odor.

I discovered mold growing on my bedroom ceiling two weeks ago, along a wall/ceiling seam where there was a water stain that had been the same size for years. I cleaned the mold then climbed into my attic to investigate, and found a PVC pipe that stretched from floor through the roof had apparently 'loosened' to the point where excessive rain (like we've had in the area this spring) was leaking through the roof, down the pipe, and dripping onto my ceiling sheetrock. I noticed significant water stains on the sheetrock but nothing overtly horrible, but what WAS worrisome was that the insulation I pulled up from the sheetrock was black. I asked around and researched online and was told the black insulation was mold and that worst case, I need to replace my insulation and maybe parts of my ceiling; worst case I needed to replace my entire attic & roof. Since I had to have a full-scale mold remediation done in my basement in a previous home years ago AND had just done my own little remediation after discovering a broken toilet flooded the basement bathroom ceiling, I was ultra-sensitive to mold issues. Needless to say, I freaked out. I contacted RTS and after speaking to Paul directly (who answered the phone in person and after hours and also reassured me that the problem was most likely not as bad as I thought given what I was telling him), we set up an appt for 2 days later (Fri). He unfortunately had to cancel due to a schedule snafu but handled it very professionally and we rescheduled for the next business day (Mon). Paul showed up a few minutes early with all his equipment in hand, and so began the inspection. Paul inspected my bedroom first, found no signs of mold on the water stain where I'd cleaned it. So began non-stop Q&A (me Q, Paul A). He examined my windows & existing water damage and then the flashing outside for potential mold problems. We then climbed in the attic (which was only, what, 115 degrees at that point!?) and I showed him the leak, my repair of it (he thoughtfully complimented my handiwork), the "moldy" insulation, and the supposedly doomed sheetrock. We then went into the finished basement where he inspected the window & door, then the finished bathroom where I'd done my own remediation, then the unfinished laundry room. He even inspected the furnace. I dragged Paul onto my deck so he could tell me if I needed to be worried about mold on my outer door frame and deck posts. The inspection ended in the main floor where he checked behind the baseboards in the previously flooded bathroom, etc. The end result is that I do NOT have a mold problem, I do not need to have any formal testing done, and a remediation is wholly unncessary. My attic is fine, the insulation is just really dirty, the sheetrock damage is very minor. Per Paul's suggestion I will put a drip pan under the pipe and check it after it rains, and treat the water-damaged sheetrock with Kilz just in case. Bottom line, I WAS being overly paranoid after all, but it was the best $300 I've spent in a long time just to be reassured my home was safe. To sum it up, Paul was awesome. He was incredibly professional, friendly, and (in my opinion) thorough. I admitted upfront to being ultra-sensitive and thus maybe a bit paranoid about my mold problem (I'd just been diagnosed with an allergy to it), but not once did he patronize me or treat me as if I was a nutcase. He was patient with my non-stop Q&A, provided helpful information about mold & remediations, offered suggestions about random home maintenance stuff when appropriate, and through everything explained what he was doing and why. I am VERY pleased with his services overall. Furthermore, should I ever suspect mold again, I have someone I can call for a thorough, professional inspection upfront.

Overall we were very happy with what they did. They gave us a detailed plan with their bid. Paul kept us informed each step of the process. They even resolved unanticipated issues beyond the original scope of work. They were punctual and very considerate.

We were very impressed with Paul's thoroughness and professionalism. Paul was clearly very knowledgeable about mold and was able to talk to us about the causes of mold and the process he recommended for elimiating the mold and preventing its return. Paul did a thorough investigation of the entire house -- looking under the carpet, in closets, the crawlspace, attic, HVAC, etc. We were very concerned about the mold situation and it was reassuring to listen to Paul describe the scope of the problem and the process by which it would be remediated.

Paul walked through the whole house. We spent most of the time in the rooms where I already knew there was mold. The house has been vacant for a year with the utilities off. He explained what type of mold it most likely was and how to remediate. He used a non-invasive meter to determine the moisture content of and behind the drywall and thus places where there may be mold, even if it is not apparent. In one place, with our permission, he cut a whole in the drywall to confirm his suspicion that there was mold behind the drywall as well on the front. He also discussed what should be done after the mold is removed to prevent it from coming back, mainly waterproofing the inside of the walls that are underground.

Went extremely well. They came when they said they would come and did exactly what they told me they were going to do. Put my mind at ease about the extent and type of mold problems I had and answered all of my questions. Paul Ramsey came and gave me the estimate, and came with his crew on the first day to make sure they knew what they were supposed to do and where. The crew was very friendly, and when I had to leave, felt no hesitation about leaving them alone in my home.

My experience started with my initial call to RTS Environmental Services. I was a little panicky because tenants in my condo had called me about mold showing up around air conditioning vents, and I was envisioning huge costs for remediation. Paul Ramsey talked to me and was very calm. He explained to me that large-scale remediation is not usually necessary and that he would perform an inspection for $300 and then recommend a plan of action. This was the opposite of my expectations; I expected a free inspection and a recommendation of services. His way makes sense, since he is not motivated to sell costly remediation to make money. He showed up for the inspection exactly on time and was even patient while I had to run to my house to get the keys I had forgotten. He explained everything to me during the inspection and wrote a detailed report about the cause of the growth. He reassured me that it was not dangerous, and wrote a detailed list of instructions I could follow to take care of the problem. Overall I was extremely pleased with the service; it was professional, punctual, and most of all HONEST.

Mr. Ramsey was prompt, courteous, and thorough. He responded well to all our questions, and wrote out a lengthy list of steps we can take to take care of the problem.

The service was great. He didn't find any evidence of mold and made a few recommendations for the future in terms of not developing a mold problem.

It went well. They concluded that it was a minor issue which I could address myself.

We had a musty smell emanating from the kitchen area. A plumber and another environmental service were no help. Paul made a complete inspection including behind wall with fiber optics. He found the likely source of mold, and advised on removal.

The women who answered the phone was trying to rush me off the phone. She was very rude to me. Their customer service is greatly lacking kindness and patience. I would not use them in the future based off of this experience.

FANTASTIC! We received a very thorough evaluation of our property. Paul was prompt, professional, honest, and very knowledgeable. He spent lots of time answering all of my questions, and did not seem rushed at all. He evaluated our upstairs bedroom for moisture and found none. He also eased our concerns aboout some slight moisture in our basement, and assured us that we needed nothing more than a little Tilex to clean up a small area of mold. A prior company came in to do a free estimate and told us that we needed to have the walls professionally scrubbed, insulation replaced and air tests performed, totalling approximately $1500. It was well worth the $300 to have RTS come in and assure us that that was not necessary, that the problem was minor, and could be fixed ourselves. I highly recommend going with RTS!!

They offered an unbiased inspection of the damage and a mold inspection. They were very thorough. They were prompt in getting back to me and were there on time. They were knowledgeable as well. I used them because they were recommended by my realtor. I trusted them and they came through. They had all the proper equipment and they did a good job.

Awesome! Paul Ramsey is a professional. We had purchased a home in which a company named Mold Aid out of Gainsville VA was to have performed mold remediation. I had little confidence in them because after living in the house about a week I found some mold in one of the closets. When I tried to reach them by phone I could not get a hold of them after repeated attempts. I contacted Mr. Ramsey because he had received good ratings on Angies List. He responded promptly and was soon out to the house testing for mold. He walked me through the entire process and patiently answered all of my questions and responded to my concerns. He later sent the results of the tests and recommendations as to what we should do moving forward. He encouraged us to pursue MoldAid to do the further needed work even though there was no financial gain there for him. He has been a wonderful resource in handling the mold issue in our home and has readily responded to my continued requests for information, even though he stands nothing to gain financially from it. Mold in a home can be a real health concern particularly for those with allergies. We needed to have someone that we could trust guiding us through this, and he has been that person. I highly recommend him.

Mold inspection was performed and remediation advice was provided. Very helpful information in understandable format.

I called Mr. Ramsey in the morning and he was able to squeeze us in the afternoon between jobs in the DC area. He was very professional and upfront about the $300 fee. He arrived at the house on time and did a thorough inspection. Even though our problem turned out not to be mold, Mr. Ramsey went through the entire house (including the roof) to help us identify the cause of the smells we thought were mold. Worth every penny.

I am about to buy a property where I suspected mold because the roof had shingles missing. I called RTS on Friday and briefly talked to the person on phone. She was very courteous, polite and informative. I wanted someone to come and check the property quickly. I called back on Monday and talked to Michelle, she was nice and helpful. I explained her the situation and she took my contact information. She wanted to talk to Paul first regarding when he can be available. I got a call back promptly informing me of possibility of inspection on Monday itself. We setup a time. Paul arrived on time. He introduced himself and we went inside the townhouse, where he explained he likes to check the basement first and then go on other levels. He was very thorough in his inspection, he looked under the carpet, behind the baseboard etc. He explained what he was doing and why it is important. Because of vaulted ceiling there was no attic space so he used infrared camera to detect moisture and possible mold behind the wall. He was very direct, didn't try to scare us or sell anything extra to us. He gave all the facts in plain and simple terms. If he saw a potential issue he explained what needs to be done and how big of deal it is. Overall a very nice experience. Very thorough and knowledgeable. He answered all of our concerns and questions. Very professional.

I was very pleased with the mold inspection. Not only was the inspector thorough when looking for mold, he was also very knowledgeable and professional. He gave me lots of good advice on mold removal, mold prevention, and how to avoid water damage in general. He told me how to get rid of the musty basement smell by removing dust and debris. While RTS does do mold remediation, the inspector told me that I could easily remove the mold myself, and advised against spending a lot of money hiring them to do it. He gave me detailed advice as to how to remove it. I appreciated his honesty and the fact that he was not trying to sell me more services. I would definitely hire RTS again.

I called RTS and was able to schedule an appointment for a few days later. Paul Ramsey arrived right on time. He was friendly and professional at every turn. He was very thorough. As he was doing his inspection, he explained what he was doing and why he was doing it. In the end, he advised me that the problem was not severe or serious. He told me what I could do to remedy the problem myself. He gave honest, objective information. If you want an honest, unbiased assessment from someone who is not going to try to convince you that you need a lot of remediation work if you do not, then I highly recommend him.

I called the company explaining that I have mold in my basement and that I would like an estimate for remediation. I inquired if they cover the washington, dc area and the answer was yes. I was then asked where in DC and notified the company of my location. I was then told that they charge $300 for an evaluation up front. I expressed that I already know I have mold, I don't need an evaluation, I need an estimate on remediation. Their response is that they charge the $300 no matter what and if I would go with them, it would be deducted from their total cost. I have not had this type of problem from the other mold remediation companies that I got of off Angie's List. I already had one company come to give me an estimate and another scheduled in 2 days without any "charge" to evaluate. I was very unsatisfied with thier response and disagree with how they do business. Although I can't confirm my suspicions, I think this "charge" was because of where in DC my property is and they basically was not interested due to area, and it was location discrimination. It is unfortunate because I don't lack finances and actually am doing a major renovation in fixing up a property. Their loss not mine. Their loss in potential business from not only me but also my friends, families, colleagues.

They were really extraordinary, They were very professional. The owner Paul gave us the initial extimate for the work. He was very knowledgeable, professional, and new what he was doing. The crew was very professional. It was managed very well. They had all the safeguards in place, proper venting, etc. They were very clear about what they were doing and why they were doing it. THey were very honest and professional. The place was spotless when they left.

I am selling my home and a very overzealous home inspector on the buyers' side determined my attic to have inadequate ventilation causing a 'mold-like' subtance in the attic area. Needless-to-say, the mere mention of mold causes everyone to panic and the best course of action was to just have the attic inspected to determine if this was the case or not. I actually found Mr. Ramsey and his company through Angie's List, and the positive reports here along with an A+ rating from the BBB convinced me to hire him to perform a mold inspection. Mr. Ramsey was able to come the day after I spoke with him and showed up right at the appointed time. He was extremely professional and after a careful examination of my attic was able to explain to me in detail exactly what was in my attic, which thankfully was NOT mold. It was actually a residual mud or silt from long ago when townhouse was originally built and the attic trusses were probably laid down in some mud prior to being used in the house. The mud dried over the course of 35 years and still resides on the trusses. Mr. Ramsey also reassured me that the attic has the appropriate ventilation with the correct type of venting and no further actions on my part were necessary. I also appreciated that even though he wrote up a detailed description of his findings, he also volunteered to speak with anyone necessary in the future who may have questions about his findings. I would 100% recommend Mr. Ramsey and his company to any person looking for a qualified mold inspector.