Tag: mold

Mold growth in the home, school, or office should not be tolerated because it is unsightly in nature; it physically destroys the building structure and materials as it grows producing pungent odors and as it sensitizes causes allergic reactions and health ailments in allergic or immune weakened individuals.  Sometimes it is necessary for a person to seek compensation for damages to personal or physical property due to mold and therefore mold litigation is essential.

In a mold litigation case, the plaintiff is often a tenant in a mold infested apartment complex or possibly the parent of a child who has fallen ill due to mold found within her school.  The plaintiff will seek compensatory damages for lost time from work, medical expenses, damage to personal property, etc due to the lack of attention to the mold problem despite attempts by the plaintiff prior to the initializing of the mold litigation.  Though pictures speak a thousand words, the success of any mold litigation case will weigh heavily upon the accessibility and credibility of expert witnesses to testify in defense of the wither the plaintiff or the defendant.  Some experts to consider using in a mold litigation case may be industrial hygienists, mycologists, toxicologists, construction experts, neuropsychologists, and immunologists.

One of the most famous examples of mold litigation was the attention brought to mold litigation by the now famed Erin Brockovich.  The newly publicized health risks associated with mold have also spurred a skyrocketing response in the amount of mold litigation cases brought before the courts every year.  Some opponents believe that not only are these lawsuits frivolous but costing taxpayers millions in revamped building code legislation and court fees.  Proponents champion the once powerless tenants paying slumlords for substandard living conditions and reciprocity for time lost due to illness from mold.

Although Connecticut is a beautiful state, its temperate weather can lead to so rather serious mold problems. Summer heat and humidity causes some mold Connecticut is particularly susceptible too. This is why you should always take steps to ensure that your home isn’t vulnerable to a mold problem. Some kinds of molds cause serious health issues, ranging from asthma to bleeding lungs, and oftentimes home owners are not aware of the potential threat that mold brings. Luckily there are plenty of simple options for removing a mold threat. If you take these simple precautions you can make sure that the worst mold Connecticut is known for doesn’t affect your home.

First, be sure to check areas around the house that are prone to mold growth. The mold Connecticut is known for often grows in the basements and attics of the Colonial homes in the state. Sometimes detecting mold is as simple as looking for it around the house using the naked eye. Many types of mold are dark in color and can be detected easily. It is best to use a flashlight for the type of observation to make sure you don’t miss any mold due to poor lighting in the room your are investigating.

Second, once you have found evidence of mold it is important to remove it from the house entirely. There are ways to kill off the mold and prevent it from growing further, but to fully remove the health risks involved with mold growth you must remove all mold from the house. This can be done several ways, although the simplest way is to use a damp cloth. The dampness of the cloth makes sure that it gathers mold from the affected area without kicking up particles of mold into the air. Causing the mold spores to become airborne is the last thing you want, so be sure that the mold and the cloth are wet before removing the specimen of mold. Mold Connecticut is known for is easy to clean up if you follow these steps.

Because of toxic black mold Maryland is cautioning residents to be on the lookout and to clean house immediately.  Mold is a microscopic fungus that typically grows in large colonies that appear like fluffy or fuzzy masses, ranging in color from white to blue-green or black. Molds can be useful in many ways to both humans and the natural environment, although we usually think of it as a negative occurrence. For example, molds play a role in the growth of certain kinds of cheese as well as in penicillin, one of mankind’s most useful medicines. Most molds are filamentous, made up of living thread-like structures that grow by the division of cells. These structures also produce spores that enter the environment through surrounding air and water and are often inhaled by humans and animals. 

The mold Maryland officials are warning residents about however is not of the beneficial breed.  Toxic black mold is responsible for numerous complications including: destruction of brain tissue, abdominal pain, altered immunity, cancer, central nervous system dysfunction, hemorrhage, frequent migraines, depression, seizures, and dementia among many other lessor and more serious conditions have been linked to toxic black mold poisoning and eventually death for many victims.

When finding mold Maryland officials from the Office of Environmental Health say not to panic  if you suspect that you have toxic black mold but to cover up you skin and wear a mask before attempting to clean and remove it from the affected area.  If you are not comfortable cleaning it yourself, you could always hire a certified mold specialist to remove and test the mold at your expense.  Because of the publicity lent unto the public about he dangers of mold Maryland residents have also jumped on the mold lawsuit bandwagon in the last few years.  Maryland officials say that the best way to combat mold is to prevent it by sealing any air leaks and having regular maintenance performed on plumbing that may leak or rust and by keeping a fresh and clean living environment.

The Florida Mold Remediation Act was put in place to regulate the mold remediation happening in the state of Florida.  Florida wanted to make sure there was legislature in place to prevent citizens in need of mold remediation from being in danger of physical or economic injury.  If you are looking to become a registered mold Remediation Company or consultant there are some topics that are included in the Florida Mold Remediation Act that you should be familiar with.

In order to qualify for registration under the Florida Mold Remediation Act a person or company wishing to take part in Florida mold remediation must meet certain standards.  The applicant must be at least eighteen years of age and of good moral character.  The applicant must hold certification from the American Hygiene Association, Indoor Air Quality Association or an equivalent program as cleared by the Florida board.  A mold remediation company must be accredited by a company such as the American Industrial Hygiene Association Laboratory Accreditation Program or National Cooperation on Laboratory Accreditation.

When a person or company is applying for registration under the Florida Mold Remediation Act they must only perform mold assessment or mold remediation or mold analysis on a single project.  The Florida mold remediation company must provide a work order stating where the work will be performed, how much will be cleaned and or removed, methods for remediation and clearance criteria for each area. 

If a person or company fails to uphold any part of the Florida Mold Remediation Act the state of Florida may suspend registration.  If registration is suspended then an emergency hearing will be held within the next twenty days.  If the person or company is found guilty of deceptively attaining a registration, violating a rule or standard for mold removal, or fails to maintain accurate records then disciplinary action will be taken up to and including losing registration and the ability to re-register for the period of at least five years.

Florida is a warm and sunny climate.  There is a lot of humidity in Florida and there is quite a rainy season.  Because of these two conditions if you own a home or a business in Florida then you should perform mold inspection regularly once a year. 

Mold is everywhere.  All it takes to cause a large mold outbreak is water.  Flooding or high humidity can trap water in the walls and provide the perfect breeding ground for mold spores to multiply and create Black Mold and cause serious health problems.  Mold inspection in Florida on a regular basis will make sure mold does not interrupt your life. 

Mold inspection in Florida is something you can do yourself.  Take a look around your home in bathrooms or basements that may trap humidity.  Look for signs of mold growth on tubs and in corners or around windows.  Self mold inspection in Florida will make you more aware of your home and the condition that it is in.

Once a year or every other year you may want to seek professional mold inspection in Florida.  Sometimes you can not smell or see mold.  You will want a Mold Analysis Service to come in and inspect your home.  There is no need for your family to be sick when all it would take to make them well is a mold inspection in Florida.

Keeping your home in good condition and keeping your family safe is important no matter where you live.  When you live in a warm wet climate you want to take extra precautions.  You want your family to be running around outside enjoying the sun and sand of Florida, not inside sick with flu-like symptoms because there was mold in your home.  Mold inspection in Florida is easy and should be done every year to make sure your family is safe.

Mold preventing strategies should be on the top of the list for home owners, but often times mold isn’t recognized as a major health threat. Fortunately there are several ways to prevent mold so that you don’t have to worry about it becoming a problem. If you use a couple simple mold preventing ideas you can minimize the threat. Some of these strategies include things like monitoring your home humidity and heat levels, or using an air filtration system or dehumidifier. It’s best to get on top of a possible mold problem before it happens to avoid the hassle later.

The simplest way to work on preventing mold is to keep an eye on your living space. If you monitor certain aspects of your home’s climate control you can eradicate a mold problem before it ever becomes an issue. For example, take a tour of your home and try to note the difference in humidity levels between rooms. Sometimes a certain bedroom or family room is more humid than the other areas of the house. Be sure to note the difference in heat between the rooms, especially during the summer months. If you use these two pieces of information you can pick out the most humid and hot rooms as those to target with mold preventing devices.

What devices work best to prevent mold? Using a dehumidifier is always a safe bet. Although dehumidifiers can be loud they remove water from the air to dramatically reduce humidity in a room. There are various kinds of dehumidifiers and each kind is made for a different sized room. Some humidifiers are great for small rooms while others are especially powerful and can handle a whole entire basement. Make sure you use a humidifier that is powerful enough for the room you are targeting. Another strategy for mold preventing is the use of an air purifier. Air purifiers reduce pollutants and dust in the air so that you can be sure your home’s breathing space is safe. All of these techniques can beat mold before it starts.

You or a professional inspector have gone though your entire home and have found that your home may have a significant mold problem.  What could this possibly mean for you as a homeowner and your home’s profitability if you decided to sell?  How will this affect the health and wellness of your family?  Before you start to panic, you should first consider your options and your need for a professional mold assessment. 

A mold assessment is a service in which certified mold inspectors are specially trained in identification and removal of mold and mold friendly conditions.  These inspectors will investigate the whereabouts and causes of the mold in your home for a fee.  When considering a mold assessment for your home, it is always a good idea to check the credentials of the individual and company the inspector works for as fraud has been a problem in recent years and thousands of dollars were lost with no resolution to any mold issues in the homes.  A mold assessment should only be performed by a specially trained and certified inspector whose main focus is molds and not as a side project or odd job.  Remember, this is your family’s health and your home’s structural well being, don’t just trust it to anyone.

During a mold assessment, the inspector will first make a visual inspection to identify a possible contamination problem.  When a potential problem has been found, the inspector will perform bulk or surface sampling of the contaminated area.  The inspector will then monitor the air through a complex collection process in order to determine the types of fungi in the air.  Air monitoring is also useful in determining the concentration of the fungal spores in the air relative to health problems the occupants may be experiencing at the time of the inspection.

With all that’s been in the news in recent years about mold and its potential effects on health, many are seeking information on how to stop mold. In principle, it is fairly easy to stop mold. However in practice, given the changes in how we use fuel and design and construct home today, it can be a bit more complex to stop mold from growing in your home.

The bottom line about mold is that it likes to grow in places that are moist, damp, and while it does grow in places that have light, it really flourishes well in dimmer places. It doesn’t take a whole lot of moisture for mold to appear, just a bit of condensation will the trick, as mold spores are everywhere, and nearly impossible to avoid.

Influenced by price and availability, we tend to be more conservative with heating fuels these days, and that desire to conserve has let to changes in the way homes are being built. Homes are much more airtight than they were in the past. Quality windows designed with new manufacturing techniques and materials prevent the drafts that used to keep a bit of fresh air moving through the home, drying up moisture and condensation. There have been many similar home building advancements that have reduced the amount of air coming out of and moving into houses and other buildings. This air-tightness, while good for the fuel bill, can make it a little challenging to stop mold.

Despite being a bit challenging, it is possible to stop mold. Cleaning the area of the mold with bleach will kill it most of the time. However, to prevent it from returning, the matter of the hospitable environment must be addressed. That may entail fixing a leaky pipe, finding a way to eliminate condensation in a particular area, or a solution geared to the specifics of a given location or mold situation.

The way to stop mold is to deal with the environment that enables its spores to flourish. Moisture is the primary culprit when it comes to making a particular site welcoming to mold spores. With the way homes are constructed today, eliminating condensation and other types of dampness may be challenging, but usually can be successfully accomplished.

The health risks associated with airborne mold are well known to the public and the statistics revolving around the dangers of bread mold and toxic black mold are absolutely alarming.  With new types of molds being discovered every day and new symptoms developing due to allergies and ailments produced by inhaling mold spores, science must always strive to stay one step ahead of the game in preventing and treating the adverse effects of mold related ailments and in the identification of new species.  For answers and insight, we turn to the professionals in the mold lab.

A mold lab can perform any number of functions such as educational, legal, and research consultations, analytical services in the identification and examination of fungal and bacterial cultures.  A mold lab can also examine microscopic bioaerosol spore trap, tape-lift, swab, mushroom / macrofungus, and bulk/miscellaneous samples. 24-hour or 48-hour rush services are sometimes available for an additional fee.  Depending on which mold lab you choose, you may also be afforded an explanation of the test results, diagnosing the source of your problem, to developing a cost effective remediation plan for removal of the mold in your home. 

Though use of a mold lab may not be the most cost effective way to identify the mold you may have in your home, if you can afford the service, it may well save you much more money in future renovations, health care costs, and lost revenue from missed work days or depreciated property values.  If mold is left untreated for several years it has been found to eat though sheetrock, wood, and other surfaces and will constantly be in the air to be breathed in by your family.  If a mold lab is not a viable option then perhaps a home testing kit may be in which the samples are collected by the homeowner and sent to the lab in the mail.

Although you can certainly have mold removed if you find it, it’s far better to avoid a mold problem in the first place. Here are a few tips and strategies for mold protection and prevention.

First of all, mold adores damp, humid conditions.  Basements and bathrooms are the most likely mold habitats. Having adequate heating and cooling in your house is a good way to make it harder for mold to grow.  Ensure that your air ducts are clean, that your house is well-ventilated, and that your heating and air conditioning systems are working efficiently for the best mold protection possible. If your house has severe problems with humidity, you can move to a different climate zone. If that seems too drastic, you can get dehumidifiers for every room, or at least for the most mold-vulnerable places, like your basement and bathroom.  Always leave the fan on while you shower or bathe, and be vigilant about conditions that favor mold. 

If you have mold and you are working to remove it, mold protection also includes the right respiratory gear.  Prevent mold spores from being inhaled by wearing a good face mask with a filter.  A small face mask (such as surgeons wear in the OR) is probably fine for most mold removal, but with more toxic varieties, more serious mold protection is necessary.  If the mold requires more than a small face mask, it is best to have a professional remove it and take care of all cleanup procedures. 

For mold removal with a diluted bleach solution (as with light cases of mold in bathrooms or basements) it’s a good idea to use gloves as part of your mold protection system to keep your skin safe from the bleach itself.  Mold itself can also cause skin irritation, so that’s another good reason to wear gloves and other forms of mold protection.   Professional mold cleaning and prevention services are the best protection, of course.