This time of year in the early can remind us of the storms, hurricanes, flooding, etc when mold fungi and/or bacteria can begin to grow. The temperature combined with high relative humidity are ripe for growth in this atmosphere. It is imperative to always stop the source of water intrusion such as leaks, flooding, and controlling moisture to help combat microbiological growth. The longer water stands in a basement or in affected areas of ceilings, wallboard, etc. , it is an opening for mold contamination. The EPA states, "It is best to get to the water and leaks within a 24 to 48 hour time frame to help to prevent growth. If growth has occurred it is best to call in a professional who can conduct water and mold damage, such as providing mold and moisture assessments and detection. A few tips to remember this time of year is to keep gutters clean and free of leaves and debris. Keep downspout drains with extensions away from the foundation. Consider adding window plastic bubbles to keep snow and ice out of the window wells during the winter months.
If you do have a mold issue make sure the company you are calling specializes in Mold. To often I come across inspections that were done by contractors or handymen with out enough knowledge of mold contamination and they create a bigger problem.

Reasons To Test for Mold

 

There are many valid and valuable reasons to perform mold testing. Here are just a few reasons:

• 1. To establish a baseline for future testing. This allows a mold professional to track and evaluate the progress of mold abatement activities. If the current levels are unknown, it is difficult to establish that progress has been made.
• 2. To establish the presence of mold and the justification for remediation. Many remediators and insurance companies will not authorize or undertake mold remediation if the presence of mold growth is not scientifically demonstrated.
• 3. To set the parameters for the remediation. Many remediation companies will not initiate an abatement project without the input of a testing company to define the boundaries of the affected area needing remediation.
• 4. To identify the types of mold present, i.e. "natural" or "toxic". In many cases, residents are interested in the types of mold present and the possible relation to medical symptoms they may be experiencing. Certain mold species may cause serious illness in the elderly, or in infants; people who have weak immune systems due to chemotherapy or AIDS. Testing can assure the indoor environment is free of mold species that may cause infection in susceptible persons.
• 5. To find out the levels present. Although mold is mold, and its presence calls for remediation, it is useful to know if the ambient airborne levels are in a range of thousands, or hundreds of thousands. For example, this may affect decisions regarding the timeliness of remediation, and the continued occupancy of the premises.
• 6. To find "hidden mold". Mold growth may often not be visible in a house, but known water intrusion or a moldy odor provides cause for concern. Testing will identify if there is a mold problem, even when there is no visible mold growth.
• 7. To "clear" a remediation, that is, to show that all mold is gone after remediation. Often, mold remediation will miss a mold-contaminated area. Testing of the air in the contained work area will assure that the levels inside the work area are reduced to ambient levels. This also provides documentation for future real estate transfers that the mold was properly and effectively removed.
• 8. To "establish" the lack of mold, as in a home purchase. Sometimes a homebuyer will have concerns about mold when purchasing a new home. This may be as a result of a bad experience with mold in their previous residence. Mold testing can provide the peace of mind that there are no problems with elevated airborne mold in the new house.
• 9. To show that a flood has not yet created mold growth. Floods in homes and offices can occur due to breaks in plumbing lines, or failure of plumbing fixtures. After the cleanup and drying, it is useful to test for mold to assure occupants that mold has not grown as a result of the flooding.
• 10. To support a legal case. A lawyer or plaintiff usually needs to have objective evidence of the presence or absence of mold and mold exposure to support a legal action. Testing can show scientifically that mold was, or was not, present.

Myths and Facts About Black Mold

 

Myth #1: There is only one type of black mold, and it’s very bad.

Fact: In actuality, there are a lot of moulds that look black. The type of black mold that made the news years ago, associated with a lot of ill health effects, was called Stachybotrys (pronounced ‘stack-ee-bot-riss’). However, there are a ton of other molds that look black, and are fairly common and generally not of concern. The take-home message here is that not all black molds are ‘bad’.

Leaking roofs can cause major problems

 

Leaking roofs can cause major problems

 

                                                 

    

If your home has a leaky roof, it can open the door to a number of problems inside a home.One of the most hazardous side effects of this moisture accumulation is the growth of mold. When mold takes root inside a home, it can cause a number of serious health problems.

Roof leaks can be very noticeable as dark streaks on the boards that form the underside of the roof frame. They can be attributed to multiple causes. Leaks can start when shingles wear out with age and tear or curl up at the corners. Cracks in the sealing around chimneys or damaged flashing covering seams in the roof can also be culprits.

Replacing old roofing material with new material and fixing any cracks or holes can go a long way to stopping existing leaks and preventing new ones from springing up. An experienced licensed professional roofer can help homeowners to get the job done right.

Mold can forms if moisture accumulates in a spot over a period of time. It can turn up virtually anywhere inside your house where moisture is present including wood, paper and carpet.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to mold can cause or aggravate serious health problems such as allergies, asthma and other respiratory ailments. The EPA recommends that homeowners enact several moisture control measures to curtail the presence of mold in their homes.

These moisture control measures include:

• Fix the source of leaks and seepage inside and outside the home.
• Cover all dirt in crawlspaces with a plastic covering.
• Use kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans to vent moisture outside.
• Run dehumidifiers and air conditioners to reduce moisture in the air.

Excess moisture can not only form mold, but it can cause structural damage to the walls, floors and roof of a home if nothing is done to stop it from collecting.
If the accumulation of mold is severe, it is a good idea for a homeowner to hire a professional Certified Mold Inspection or Remediation company to Remediate the mold. Make sure the company you contact specializes in Mold to prevent cross contamination. After the remediation is complete you will want to have a clearance test done by a 3rd party testing company to make sure that there are no longer any mold spores in the air.