|
Mold Mold What is it? Where is it?Medical research indicates that mold is the number one cause of allergic symptoms. Mold naturally occurs in home, office, and school environments, and many thousands of different molds exist, but only a few of them are known to cause significant health problems, of which Stachybotrys chartarum (toxic black mold) and Aspergillus niger (widespread in indoor environments) are the most common. Mold can be found in every area of your home: attics, basements, bathrooms, carpeting, ceilings, chimneys, closets, raised foundation crawl spaces, doors, flooring, garages, kitchens, ventilation systems, walls and framing, and windows. It grows in most building materials, including concrete, dry wall, carpeting, wall paper, fiberboard, ceiling tiles, and thermal insulation.Molds reproduce by making spores that cannot be seen without magnification. Mold spores move naturally through the indoor and outdoor air. Because mold requires an environment with a high moisture content in order to grow and thrive, it should not pose major problems in an environment such as Salt Lake’s. However, because many homeowners do not regularly inspect their own homes for water and drainage leaks, mold problems do occur in our homes and buildings. How do I make sure it’s not in my home?It is in your home, and there’s nothing you can do about it. You are breathing it as you are reading this. However, you can prevent it from growing and thriving in your home, and affecting your health, by inspecting your home on a regular basis (monthly at a minimum) for water and drainage leaks. This means:
You should also use your exhaust fans in your bathrooms and kitchens or open whatever windows are located in those rooms to help prevent a build-up of moisture in those areas and a subsequent growth of mold or mold-like substances. If I have it, how do I get rid of it?Most of us know what mold looks like and smells like. If you believe that you have mold in your home, you should first seek out and correct the problems that are providing the mold with the moisture that it needs to grow and thrive. Reducing moisture, removing all visible signs of mold, and disinfecting surfaces with chlorine and ozone, is the best way to combat a mold problem. Please read the attached “Mold Remediation” page for information about mold remediation techniques.Where can I get more information?The HomeTeam Inspection Service is not a mold testing laboratory and, therefore, we cannot state unequivocally whether any form of mold is or is not present. When we do smell musty odors or see mold-like substances growing, we do, and always have, noted it in our reports. If you want additional confirmation, toxic mold test kits are available at The Home Depot (plumbing department, item #761-572) or at Lowe’s (product item #174419). If you need to know what type of mold is present in your home, we urge you to seek the services of a qualified and licensed industrial hygienist or a qualified and licensed mold testing laboratory. Only they have the necessary laboratories set up to determine unequivocally what types of mold, if any, are growing and thriving in your home. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at any time at 913 642-3515 or 816 810-3515.Mold Remediation Deciding When to Call a ProfessionalWith the prevalence of household mold cases across the nation, many homeowners are wondering whether or not they can clean up mold themselves. The answer is yes, but without knowing the type of mold is growing in a home or the extent of the problem, many contractors are hesitant to recommend homeowners tackle a mold infestation themselves. Homeowners trying to decide whether or not to clean up mold themselves should realize that there will be a significant difference in the approach used for a small mold problem (total area affected is less than ten square feet) and a large contamination problem of more than 100 square feet. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a homeowner wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) may handle small cleanup areas. However, for larger areas, the EPA advises hiring an experienced, professional contractor. For in-between sized cases, the type of containment and personal protection equipment to be used will be a matter of personal judgment. Any home that has sustained major water damage or flooding needs to be inspected by a qualified water loss specialist. If, after evaluating the problem, homeowners decide to clean mold themselves, they should keep in mind that they will be exposed to potentially toxic mold, strong detergents, and disinfectants. Steps should be taken to protect residents' health during cleanup:
If a water invasion occurs, it is important to eliminate the water source and dry water damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. If mold returns after a cleanup, it may indicate an undetected problem, such as a leak. If mold contamination is extensive or if the homeowners ever feel unsure of themselves during the cleaning process, a professional abatement company may need to be consulted. ©1999-2002 contractorresource.com, All Rights Reserved Mold Related Websites There are many, many valuable web sites with information about mold assessment and remediation. Simply type in keyword “mold” in any search engine and you’ll receive thousands of replies. Be sure to check the site sponsor(s) for legitimacy (or conflict!), but you will undoubtedly find something viable related to what you’re looking for. The following is a short list of web-based mold information that we at The HomeTeam have referenced in the past and feel comfortable recommending: General Information: www.epa.gov (type “mold” at search queue and several documents will appear) |
