Mold In Your Home? What Should You Do? When people think of mold, they think of that furry stuff that can grow on fruit or leftover foods in the refrigerator. To most people, that is their only reference to mold and even then most people don’t think of what it is – but rather, that the food needs to be thrown out because it’s old and been in the refrigerator too long!
Mold is actually a very common occurrence in homes both inside and outside. It represents a scary feeling because it is ugly to look at, but most people have no idea that it can cause health issues particularly if the mold is not detected or is able to spread and grow. Mold will grow anywhere that there is moisture and mold likes dark areas with little sunlight. Some common places that you will find it is under dead leaves or plants or shady outdoor areas and of course those fruits or vegetables and leftover food that have been long forgotten.
Mold likes moisture and it likes organic materials such as carpeting, drywall or wallpaper and even soap scum. If a leak under a sink, refrigerator or toilet develops it can remain undetected for a long time and do some major damage as it creates havoc in the drywall, flooring or ceilings if the leak is from the upstairs or even a roof leak. Flooding can be another major way that mold can get started, particularly if the water remains in a structure for any length of time. Homes that have been flooded from a hurricane or mudslide can be prime candidates for a mold infestation to develop.
In a tropical climate where the humidity is above 50% to 70% you have an atmosphere for mold to develop as well the use of an air conditioner which can have a leak or problems with condensation build-up. Leaks can also occur from the exterior grading and landscaping where the land slopes toward a structure rather than away from it which can cause water to settle next to a house and eventually can cause seepage into a garage and or the foundation of a home thereby causing structural damage.
Unless someone is visibly confronted with mold on a wall, furniture or ceiling most people would not think to look for mold in their home. It is therefore important to do regular visual inspections throughout your home to ensure that you don’t have any appliance leaks or leaking pipes under a sink or under a toilet. You should inspect every room in your house, every closet as well as the attic and garage or basement if you have one. Roofs should be checked to ensure that gutters aren’t clogged so that the rainwater runs freely and doesn’t have the opportunity to overflow under eaves or roof tiles seeping into your home.
Other areas to check include windows, doors and all accesses to your home, to ensure that all are tightly sealed with no possible cracks or areas that could cause or promote a leak. Landscaping should be checked as well as sprinklers to ensure than drainage goes away from the house and that sprinklers are all working properly and free of leaks.
If you have musty odors in a room like the attic or other room, it usually means that there is mold caused by moisture and that you more than likely have leakage from somewhere. If you find mold on a wall, under a sink or in your garage, you should carefully examine it without touching it and try to ascertain what is causing the mold.
Finding mold anywhere or the suspicion that it is present is a good reason to do a home mold testing with a kit that can be easily obtained. A testing kit comes with explicit instructions on what to do and how to proceed once you have obtained samples. If there is more than one area that seems to be affected, then you should do a separate sample on or in each area.
If you would prefer to have a mold professional to do your inspection and/or do the testing for you, you should ensure that the person is a certified and trained specialist in mold detection in homes, not just in an industrial setting which is different than a home. After testing is completed, your samples should be sent to a reputable laboratory that will perform an analysis of your samples and provide you with a report that will outline the types of mold present and the concentration levels in each area of your home that was tested. The next step would be to take remedial steps to remove the mold and ensure that it does not return. Mold and Mildew Inspection
and Removal Is it the science experiment that you found after your last vacation in the cottage cheese container hidden in the back of the refrigerator? Or is it the penicillin that saved millions of lives during World War II and since then? Or is it the blue veins that make your bleu cheese so tasty?
In fact, mold is all of the above, and more, more, and much more. Scientifically classified as neither plant nor animal, molds inhabit every ecological niche that may be found on the Earth. Growing from microscopically small spores, they are usually noticed when a colony has grown so large as to become visible to the human eye, as in the back of your refrigerator or mildew in a damp crawl space. But their spores are present in the air in virtually all places on the planet. And their presence can become known long before they are seen, causing disease and discomfort.
We have all experienced that musty smell upon entering the basement to retrieve the Christmas decorations or insulating the water pipes in the crawl space. You might think of that smell as a mold calling card. Wherever water and organic materials come into contact you have the necessary conditions for mold growth. Just add spores.
For many, the presence of molds causes simple allergic reactions, such as a runny nose and eyes, or a stuffed head. But the possibility also exists for severe illness for those who are particularly sensitive, and when the product of the particular mold, the mycotoxin, is more dangerous to humans.
Any water damage to a home is apt to generate molds. In recent years, due in large part to modern building materials and techniques, the infestation of a living space by molds has become a concern of homeowners, businesses, medical providers, insurance companies, and the government. An entire industry of mold inspection and mold remediation specialists has grown to identify, remove and rebuild living and working spaces that have been invaded by dangerous molds. A new field of law, “toxic torts,” has developed as a result of the many lawsuits instituted to remedy the injuries suffered by people sickened by molds.
A typical indicator that a person has a toxic mold problem is if the symptoms believed to be caused by the mold disappear upon leaving the location of the infestation. A follow-up by a mold inspection company will attempt to identify the type of mold and the particular mycotoxins—literally “mold poison”—produced by the mold. There are thousands upon thousands of molds, and each one can produce hundreds of different substances that may be more or less harmful to an individual depending upon personal sensitivity, concentration and other factors. That is why it is critical if you think you have a mold problem to locate a qualified inspector. Licensing and certification requirements vary from state to state and within a state, so choose carefully.
Once the problem has been identified as a dangerous mold, the fix is simple, removal. Or not. Depending on the type and location of the mold, as well as the extent of the infestation, remediation may be as simple as a careful scrubbing of the affected surface or as extensive as the removal of major components of the building, including drywall and structural members. Drywall provides a particularly good feed stock for mold, and it may be necessary to remove large sections in a remediation project. It is therefore critical to choose a qualified contractor to take on what may be the equivalent of a major remodeling project. Again, licensing and certification standards vary, and a bad mold remediation job may only spread mold throughout the house.
We’ve lived with molds through the entire history of the human race and we’re not going to eliminate them from the planet. And I don’t think I want them to go away; thank you very much for my cheeses, breads and beer. Yes, yeast is a mold. But we need building techniques to evolve with the awareness that the creation of healthy living spaces for humans is our purpose, not the enhancement of living spaces for molds. Conscientious construction practices will help insure that water will not intrude into our living spaces. New building materials can be developed that will not favor the growth of molds. Local, state and the federal government are aware of the impact of mold on our health and lives, and the costs to individuals, businesses and society in general. Let your elected representatives know that you support their efforts to advance the science and the licensing of professionals in the field.
Until we’ve got a better handle on this threat to human health, apply that old adage among the early frontiersmen—keep your powder dry—to your home, office and working spaces.
|
| Mold and Mildew Removal Guidelines Removal of mold and/or mildew goes hand in hand with understanding its development. Tiny particles of mold are present indoors and in the outdoor air. Microscopic cells called “spores” cause mold and mildew damage. These spores are microscopic, spread easily and are attracted to damp areas. Mold and mildew can grow on food, carpet, paper and wood. Mold and mildew will also occur when excessive moisture or water accumulates and remains undiscovered to un-addressed.
Here are some common forms of mold and mildew to be aware of. Chaetomium is commonly found in a variety of paper products and plant compost. It can be readily found on the damp or water damaged paper in sheetrock.
Cladosporium is found in dead plants, wood, food, soil, paint and textiles. This form of mold and mildew is the common cause of asthma and other health issues.
Penicillium/Aspergillus is common to indoor environments. It has a musty odor and considered a common contaminant of food and food products.
Stachybotrys is a slow growing fungus that is common on building materials with high cellulose and low nitrogen content.
It is imperative that moisture damaged areas be dried immediately and no later than 48 hours from occurrence. Moisture comes into homes and buildings through roof or plumbing leaks, air infiltration, humidifier use and inadequate venting. Evaporative coolers should be inspected yearly to help decrease mold and mildew damage as well.
There is no practical way to do away with mold and mildew spores indoors, the way to control mold and mildew development is to control moisture. Reducing indoor humidity to between 30-50% will diminish mold and mildew growth. Ways to decrease humidity includes adequately venting bathrooms, using de-humidifiers and using exhaust fans whenever cooking, cleaning or using the dishwasher. Leaks under sinks should be fixed immediately to prevent any mold or mildew growth that can cause a more serious and costly problem.
There are indications of mold exposure that one must be aware of at home or in the office. Most common health symptoms are asthma aggravation, congestion of the nose and chest, coughing and eye irritation. Individuals who think they have been exposed to mold will need to see their physician for medical evaluations as soon as possible. If exposed to high amounts of mold, decisions must be made about removing the individual from the affected area and not returning until infected areas have been treated and with no signs of reoccurrence.
Mold and mildew affects people in different ways. Some individuals are genetically prone to developing allergies to mold and mildew. Others might become sick from breathing in mold or mildew spores and also eating or absorbing them through the skin. Children are more susceptible to the effects of mold or mildew contamination than adults.
Your eyes and noses are the best detectors for mold and mildew. If fuzzy, musty, discolored and blotchy areas form near damp quarters, this is an indication that mold is forming. Mold and mildew removal can be easily addressed depending upon the size of the affected areas. Eye protection, face masks and gloves should always be used when cleaning or disposing of mold and mildew. Use properly fitted goggles to help prevent eye irritation from the mold or mildew removal. Face masks protect from inhaling airborne mold and mildew spores. Gloves help protect the skin from contact with mold or mildew. Long gloves that extend to the middle of the forearm are recommended. Clothing worn during the removal of mold and mildew should be disposed of. This is to prevent the transfer and spread of mold and mildew to clothing and to eliminate skin contract.
If mold and mildew are forming on hard surfaces the best remedy for that would be to wash the affected areas with soap and water, allow time to dry and either repaint or sand for a smooth finish. Consideration for possible hidden mold must be investigated and evaluated. In some cases, you will need to use professional judgment from a mold inspector to determine that the mold cleanup was sufficient.
Larger mold and mild infected regions such as sheetrock will have to be removed and replaced. The entire infected area should be removed and the vicinity around the infected area should be washed with soap and water. Some feel that bleach will eliminate mold and mildew, but that is not always the case. Moisture control is essential to the control of mold and mildew. Shortly after remediation, the infected areas should be revisited to make sure no signs of water damage or mold growth has reoccurred. Depending upon post removal sampling results, the air will likely need to be remediated as well. This is best done prior to any installation of new materials or the reintroduction of new or decontaminated belongings such as carpeting, furnishings and clothing into the remediated home.
|
