Tag: mold

If you have found mold in your home or your family is showing the signs of sickness due to mold then you need to call a certified mold inspector as soon as possible.  Mold is present in your house at all times but can become active after such instances of flood or spike in humidity.  Your family can become very ill with symptoms such as lung infections, ear infections, skin infections or chronic fatigue.  It does not matter if you can see the mold or not because a certified mold inspector will be able to look at you home and detect the cause and rid you of poisonous mycotoxins.

Certified mold inspectors have been trained in the breeding causes of mold.  Mold becomes tricky because it does not always show itself on your walls.  Mold may grow on the inside of walls or in the carpet of your home.  Certified mold inspectors will have the tools to find the cause of your illness and return your home up to code. 

If there have been no signs of illness from your family but you are still concerned about mold then you should call a certified mold inspector.  It is a good idea to have a certified mold inspector out to your home at least once a year to make sure seasonal weather changes have not caused a detriment to your home.  The sooner you can spot the mold the more you will be preventing illness from causing your family heartache.  It is always easier to prevent mold then it is to repair a large mold growth problem.

You want to have a home that you can return to at the end of a long day and feel good about.  When you come home to a home that will make you sick you lose the respite after a long day and you will not only find yourself becoming physically sick you will also become stressed out and the health problems will only be exasperated.  Turning your worries over to the hands of a certified mold inspector will help clear up the sickness and the stress in your life.

Mold Spores Are Always Around

Understanding what causes mold to grow can help to control mold damage.  Mold spores are found at all times, both indoors and out. Indoors mold spores are continuously found flying in the air, mixed with household dust or lying on surfaces. Outdoors mold breaks down dead organic materials as part of the cycle of life, but indoors mold causes damage to wood, walls, ceilings, floors and other building parts.  Uncontrolled mold growth will cause extensive and expensive mold damage to your home.  It is impossible to kill all the mold spores in your home so management is imperative to prevent mold damage. 

Mold Control

Controlling mold in the home is simple but can be time consuming.  Regular cleaning with detergent and drying completely any areas that get wet or are dampened regularly, such as bathroom fixtures, can keep mold under control.  Repairing a leaking pipe, weeping window or cracked basement floor as soon as any problem is found will prevent mold damage that is very destructive.  Mold spores float through the air or lay dormant on surfaces until warm, moist conditions initiate the mold growth.  Controlling all moisture causing situations will go a long way to controlling mold damage. For example, after proper repairs are made to stop a water leak in your home, any water spillage must be dried completely within twenty-four to forty-eight hours to prevent mold spores from growing.

Running the bathroom fan or opening the window when showering, cleaning the roof gutters often, making sure the ground slopes away from the foundation of your home and keeping air conditioning drip pans and water lines clean and unobstructed are all simple ways to prevent mold damage.  Cover cold surfaces, such as water pipes, with insulation to help prevent condensation and increase air circulation with the use of open windows or fans. Using a dehumidifier and raising the air temperature will also inhibit condensation from forming.

Water damage is already enough of a problem itself without worrying about mold too.  But water damage mold occurs regularly along with the irritation of the water damage itself.

The first thing to do is inspect and treat your home for even subtle signs of water damage. Whereas dramatic water damage (such as you might get from a tub, toilet, or other plumbing problem) is quite noticeable, other water damage is subtle. Look for peeling wallpaper or faint brown spots (especially on your ceiling or the highest part of a wall).  A slight bubbling in latex paint, or a shiny appearance may also be a clue.  If the problem appears to be spreading, you may want to hire a contractor to examine it further (or do it yourself if you know your way around home repairs.) You’ll need to fix the troubled patch of drywall, and removing a small section may also give you insight into the root cause behind the damage. Also, check your house’s siding where the damage appears (and above, since water can flow down before it appears as visible damage).

Once you’ve identified the root cause of the water damage mold can be prevented.  Wherever the water damage occurred, use a mold-killing primer on the surface before you paint.  Wear a mask and latex gloves when you apply primer, as the fumes can be quite strong and the primer difficult to remove from skin.

If water damage mold has already appeared, it’s not too late. You can swab the moldy area with a diluted bleach solution (again, use gloves and a mask).  You can also remove the drywall (which you may need to do anyway, depending on the degree of water damage.

Be sure to dehumidify your house to prevent future mold growth.  Mold adores humidity, so don’t let conditions in your house be a mold haven.

If the mold reappears or seems particularly aggressive, get a mold testing kit to determine the type and potential toxicity of the mold. Be sure to keep an eye out for less evident types of mold (pale or pinkish molds).

Several varieties of mold can be quite aggravating those with allergies or labored breathing, but any issues can be avoided by following a few mold prevention techniques. The key ingredient in the growth life of mold is moisture, and there are several steps that can be taken to reduce the amount of moisture in a home.

During months in which the indoor air becomes humid, removing moisture from the air is a very helpful step in mold prevention. Both dehumidifiers and air conditioners are cable of extracting water vapor from the air, which will prevent mold from growing on interior walls. In the bathroom, a circulation fan with a system of ducts, venting to the outside of the living area, will remove the very humid air that is produced when the shower is used. In addition, a properly ventilated stove hood in the kitchen will take care of the vapors created while preparing meals.

Proper maintenance of the home itself is also a necessary step in mold prevention. Any time a large amount of water penetrates the structure of the house, a serious mold problem can occur. Water intrusion can happen when the roof leaks, when water supply and drain lines start to age, or when windows or siding are improperly installed or need replacement. Even if a minor problem is detected, it should be fixed as soon as possible.

When water does enter the home, more immediate mold prevention techniques will be needed. The source of the leak must be immediately fixed, and then any wet areas must be dried as quickly as possible. Wood, drywall, insulation, and other porous materials that have become soaked with water should be replaced. Any other materials should be dried with fans or other equipment. If the area is extremely large, it may be best to call in a professional service help with mold prevention, especially if one suspects there may be hidden damage.

In the year 2001, insurance companies spent over 1.2 billion dollars in black mold cases. The cost included the inspection and testing, remediation, attorney fees and punitive damages. Since this time the number of cases against black mold has continued to rise. Billions of dollars is paid out every year in lawsuits. Therefore, as a landlord, builder or property owner it is best to looking into the mold insurance option and know specifically what you are covered against.

As a result of the increase in cases many insurance policies now have a mold exclusion clause. If you find that your insurance does not have this policy then it would be a good idea to hold onto it. Because of these newer clauses it is becoming increasingly difficult to get mold coverage. Often mold insurance is a stand-alone policy or one that has higher premiums. You can even choose to have mold insurance added on to your existing policy, but the cost is often high.

It is a good idea to invest in mold insurance if you live in a humid area such as the Pacific Northwest. If is even more important to get mold insurance if you have an old property since older buildings have a strict guideline to follow when it comes to toxic black mold removal. Often you can reduce the cost of mold coverage by developing your own Operation and Maintenance plan. These plans often include a schedule for inspection and training for employees to deal with mold remediation.

The best then that any building owner can do is to take care of all mold problems when they occur either inside or outside your building. You need to keep an eye on any properties that have a history of mold. Communicate with any tenants and employees. Make sure everyone in the building knows how to check for mold and that they will notify you when they do find mold.

We often hear about mold when referring to things like moldy bread or the term black mold.  So what is mold, and how does it affect human beings in our environment?  Mold is a form of a microscopic fungus that feeds on dead organic matter such as rotting plants, leaves, or even animals.  It thrives in moist and humid climates, and most forms of mold exist in the form of tiny little organisms called spores.  There are thousands of different species of mold, although some are a little more common to humans than others.  It may be surprising to know, but some molds actually have important uses.  So what is mold used for?  Mold can be used to produce certain cheeses, and is also an important part of food production in many countries.  On the other hand, some molds can be very harmful and dangerous when breathed in, consumed, or even touched.

What is mold looking for in order to thrive in an indoor environment?  Mold needs three basic things to grow successfully inside someone’s house.  These three things are moisture, food (for the mold to thrive), and period of time where it can remain undisturbed.  If mold has enough humidity or moisture, it can grow rapidly.  Combine that with organic matter (food), and a decent amount of time being undisturbed, and mold can become a menacing force.  The question what is mold can be answered in many ways, depending on the type of mold.  While most of us don’t really see the positive effects or results of mold, we do know the negative.  Educating yourself about the different kinds of mold and what it needs to survive, as well as how to avoid letting it grow in your home is the best way you can be protected against its harmful effects.

Mold is a fungus that can cause serious health consequences in many people.  However, not all molds are harmful, and some are more harmful than others.  What makes mold even more of a threat, is the fact that some people may respond negatively to one type of mold, while that same mold may not affect another person.  Therefore, it is important to identify the different types of mold and know which ones are more serious or harmful.

Just as not all molds are toxic, not all molds are allergic either.  Again, it is a good idea to know the different types of mold to determine if there are any present in your home that may cause allergies for you and your family.  The most common types of mold present in homes that cause allergies are, Aspergilus, Penicillium, Mucor, Fusarium, Chaetomium, Stachybotrys, Cladosporium, and Alternaria.

When it comes to determining toxic types of mold, one stands apart from the rest that is Stachybotrys.  Stachybotrys is also referred to as black mold.  This mold is extremely dangerous and has caused fatal lung bleeding in many infants.  Where as some of the other types of mold may attribute to allergies, Stachybotrys is more serious and can be fatal.  It is very important that if you detect mold in your home or business, that you have the mold tested to determine what type it is.

Since mold requires the presence of moisture to thrive, toxic or black mold is often found in the same locations as other types of mold.  Therefore, any place in your home or business that is conductive for mold growth is a place where toxic mold may grow.  It is important that if you have any mold growing in your home or business that you have it tested, cleaned, and removed immediately.  After the mold has been cleaned, you will then need to take steps to ensure that the mold does not return.

Mold is a type of microscopic organisms living on plant and animal matter and break down dead and decaying matter recycling environmental nutrients.  Molds are prevalent just about everywhere and reproduce by releasing spores to the air, water, and with animals and insects.  Favorable mold conditions are high humidity, condensation, and organic materials such as paper, fibers, wood, etc.  Molds are certainly a concern for homeowners because the spores are carried so easily by air and in water.  Homeowners should inspect their homes for symptoms of mold growth due to flooding, leaky piping or roofing, damp basements, and steam in bathrooms and kitchens.  Symptoms of mold growth are also prevalent in places with poor ventilation ad insulation around clothes dryers and combustion appliances.

Mold can make people sick, especially children, the elderly, and those with respiratory and continual and preexisting health problems.  Mold most commonly affects the body by triggering responses to allergens due to inhaling mold spores.  These triggers are most commonly felt in the manner of hay fever, asthma, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and lungs.  Even less commonly, mold can very seriously detriment a person’s health with exposure leading to infections and toxicity, especially in those with weak immune systems or autoimmune diseases such as HIV/AIDS. 

The symptoms of mold exposure are nasal and sinus congestion, eye irritation and respiratory problems, cough, throat and skin irritation, and headache.  Anyone experiencing symptoms of mold exposure should see a doctor if irritation and symptoms persist and find the source of the mold and clean it thoroughly and immediately.  Cleaning the mold can be tricky so the first step in removal is to control the moisture problem that is allowing the mold to thrive in the area.  Porous or materials that cannot be dried should be thrown away and the area cleaned with a 10% bleach solution to kill the mold.

Mold is a type of fungus which lives by breaking down dead material and returning nutrients to  its environment. Mold digests plant and animal material to grow, feeding off of dirt, bark, wood, paper,  or leaves. It spreads itself by releasing floating spores that drift through the air. Mold favors damp, dark locales and is fond of garbage, piles of rotting leaves or other yard waste, and humid basements.

 On food, mold often is visible on the food’s surface, such as the fuzzy green spots that appear on bread. However, mold has tiny roots and “fingers” that allow it to spread. As it grows, the mold’s roots can penetrate deep inside the food, where it cannot be seen.  For these reasons, mold detection can sometimes be difficult.  Usually, mold detection is signaled by the smell of it.  It carries in the air a pungent smell that most people associate with older homes, or wet basements. Because it prefers dark cramped quarters, mold detection is something that might have to be actively approached in order to find the source.

These days, as with anything else, mold detection has evolved.   Where as before mold detection was simply walking around with a flashlight searching, it is now part of a high tech science and business, in order to assure and guarantee that all mold has been detected, and appropriately handled.  The new breakthrough in mold detection is actually canine power.  Dogs, with a better sense of smell than humans, are naturally equipped to assist in mold detection.  Now, businesses specialize in training dogs for the purpose of mold detection, allowing the home owner to hire the business to find his or her mold problem, and eliminate it.  With these naturally advancements the operation of mold detection is now a much easier one, with better results, making the clean up effort easier as well.

Most people do not think about mold when it comes to their home’s overall health.  The unfortunate fact is that mold can affect people of all ages, and often comes on unannounced.  Some people simply experience an allergic reaction, while others may have much more severe symptoms.  Regardless of the type of symptoms a person feels, it’s important to remove mold from your home if you find it.  With a mold test, you can find out what strains of mold may be living in your home, and if you have a serious problem or just a mild one.  You can buy your own mold test at many home improvement stores, online, or via other mail order methods.  The basic method for an in home mold test is to get a sample of either the air where mold may be present, or a sample of the material that may have mold on it.  Most test kits ask that you keep the sample for a 48 hour incubation period before sending it off to be tested.

When you send your mold test kit off, it will arrive at a laboratory where it can be further examined.  Usually in a matter of days you will receive a report listing the types of mold found, and their impact on your health.  At this point once the mold test is completed it is time to take proactive steps to removing it from your home.  It is important to know what strain of mold you have so you can take the proper steps towards eliminating it.  Mold has been known to cause all kinds of respiratory problems as well as mood swings, headaches, dizziness, and nose and throat irritation, to name a few.  With a mold test kit, you can discover what types of mold exist in your home so you can get rid of them and keep your family safe.