Warnings About Mold
Buyers beware and Read this carefully
Molds are fungi. Molds grow outdoors and indoors and are found everywhere in almost all environments. Tiny particles of mold are present in indoor and outdoor air. In nature, molds help break down dead materials and can be found growing on soil, foods, plant matter, and other items. Molds produce microscopic cells called "spores" which are very tiny and spread easily through the air. Live spores act like seeds, forming new mold growths (colonies) when they find the right conditions. All molds are allergens however there are some species of molds that can be toxins. In door mold problems are usually the result of water intrusion. Remember, mold is already in almost every indoor environment on the planet. Mold growth requires a viable mold spore, a food source, water and proper temperature. Every structure already has all necessary requirements for mold growth except a water source. When water is introduced
Mold and Mildew
Toxic Molds in Homes, Stachybotrys chartarum
Mildew stains and odors scare buyers, especially now that toxic black mold is such a hot topic, and chances are you won't even get an acceptable offer if mold and mildew are present. Even if the mold in your house is the normal variety kill it and fix the source of the problem.
What is Mold?
Molds are fungi that reproduce by releasing tiny spores into the air.
Molds in Your Home Can Cause Health Problems and Structural Damage
The home buying and selling community is surrounded with talk about insurance and liability issues involving stachybotrys chartarum, also known as black mold or toxic mold.
Some homeowners have even burned down their homes, and everything in them, because they felt it was the only way to eradicate toxic mold from their surroundings.
Juries have awarded huge sums of money to homeowners who initiated lawsuits against their insurance companies, with most awards given to people whose insurer did not payfor moisture-related repairs in time to prevent severe mold problems. Awards have also gone against home builders when juries felt that shoddy worksmanship contributed to the mold.
Most homeowner policies now include a clause that excludes or limits payments for mold-related issues.
While mold is a problem, in most instances its growth can be prevented or stopped before it causes excessive damage.
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Spores that land on moist objects may begin to grow. There are thousands of different types of mold and we encounter many of them every day, in our homes and outdoors.
What is Toxic Mold?
Toxic mold is a type of mold that produces hazardous byproducts, called mycotoxins. While individuals with asthma and other respiratory problems may have reactions to many types of mold, it's thought
that mycotoxins are more likely to trigger health problems in even healthy individuals. These toxins are believed to be linked to memory loss and to severe lung problems in infants and the elderly.
Floating particles of mold are invisible to the naked eye, so it's impossible to see where they might have landed until they begin to grow. Loose mold particles that accumulate on items
within a house are easily inhaled and can be a constant irritation to the people and pets who live there.
The toxic mold we hear most about is Stachybotrys chartarum, a slimy, greenish-black mold that grows on moisture-laden materials that contain cellulose, such as wood, paper, drywall, and other similar products. It does not grow on tile or cement.
Even if the mold in your home is not toxic mold, it can still be a problem, because any mold growing on organic materials will in time destroy them--and too much mold of any type smells bad and degrades air quality.
Mold thrives in damp, humid conditions:
Bathrooms with poor ventilation. Install an exhaust fan if possible.
Leaky water pipes. Repair them immediately.
Roof leaks. Repair them right away.
Flood aftermath. Repair as soon as possible. See: EPA's Flood Info
Clothes dryers and exhaust fans that vent under the house or back into the room. Vent them to the outside.
Flood Damage
Houses that have been flooded are at serious risk for molds, especially in areas when are high humidity and temperatures provide the mold with the perfect place to reproduce before cleanup begins.
The houses flooded by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina--some still sitting in water--is the perfect example of homes that will likely suffer extreme damage from mold.
Help Discourage Mold Growth:
Install a dehumidifier in chronically moist rooms.
Don't carpet rooms that stay damp.
Insulate pipes and other cold surfaces to discourage condensation.
Install storm windows to eliminate condensation on glass.
Cover crawlspace dirt with plastic and ensure that the area is well ventilated.
Cleaning Mold
Make sure the room is well ventilated before you begin. If the mold covers a small surface area it isn't too hard to clean it with detergent and water. Allow the space to dry, then apply a solution of 1/2 cup bleach per gallon of water to help kill the remaining spores. Never combine bleach and ammonia because the mixture produces a toxic gas. There are products available that are designed specifically for mold. The Centers for Disease Control offers many tips for mold cleanup. Remember that the mold will very likely return unless you elminate the
underlying problems that caused it.
Before You Buy a Home
In the past, air quality testing was ordered primarily to detect radon gas, but mold spore tests are becoming more common. Your home inspector might not perform mold tests, but can probably help you find someone who does.
In my area mold testing costs between $300-$500 dollars. If your mold problem is severe, you will likely need the help of a mold remediation company, someone who specializes in mold removal.
If mold is in the air, find out where it's coming from. Mold should be removed and repairs should be made to ensure it won't come back. Talk to your real estate agent or to an attorney to determine if a special contingency should be inserted in the contract that will allow you to back out of the deal if toxic mold or other molds are detected and
cannot be thoroughly eliminated. Many standard forms used by real estate agents include the option of a mold contingency.
FACT:
The following health problems have all been associated with toxic mold allergies.....
arthritic-like aches, asthma, bloody noses, chronic headaches, coughing, "crawly" feeling skin, depression, dizziness or stuffiness
epileptic-like seizures, equilibrium or balance loss, fatigue, flu-like symptomsm, irritation of the eyes, nose or throat
loss of memory, loss of hearing, loss of eyesight, nausea, restlessness, runny nose, sinus congestionm skin rashes
sneezing, trouble breathing, unexplained irritability, upper respiratory distress
People at Greatest Risk from Mold
People with asthma, allergies, or other breathing conditions may be more sensitive to mold. People with immune suppression (such as people with HIV infection, cancer patients taking chemotherapy, and people who have received an organ transplant) are more susceptible to mold infections.
Possible Health Effects of Mold Exposure
People who are sensitive to mold may experience stuffy nose, irritated eyes, wheezing, or skin irritation. People allergic to mold may have difficulty in breathing and shortness of breath. People with weakened immune systems and with chronic lung diseases, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs. If you or your family members have health problems after exposure to mold, contact your doctor or other health care provider.
Recognizing Mold
You may recognize mold by:
Sight (Are the walls and ceiling discolored, or do they show signs of mold growth or water damage?)
Smell (Do you smell a bad odor, such as a musty, earthy smell or a foul stench?)
Safely Preventing Mold Growth
Clean up and dry out the building quickly (within 24 to 48 hours). Open doors and windows. Use fans to dry out the building.
When in doubt, take it out! Remove all porous items that have been wet for more than 48 hours and that cannot be thoroughly cleaned and dried. These items can remain a source of mold growth and should be removed from the home. Porous, noncleanable items include carpeting and carpet padding, upholstery, wallpaper, drywall, floor and ceiling tiles, insulation material, some clothing, leather, paper, wood, and food. Removal and cleaning are important because even dead mold may cause allergic reactions in some people.
To prevent mold growth, clean wet items and surfaces with detergent, bleach and water.
If there is mold growth in your home, you should clean up the mold and fix any water problem, such as leaks in roofs, walls, or plumbing. Controlling moisture in your home is the most critical factor for preventing mold growth.
To remove mold growth from hard surfaces use commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water. Use a stiff brush on rough surface materials such as concrete.
If you choose to disinfect, use bleach to remove mold:
Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners. Mixing bleach with ammonia or other cleaning products will produce dangerous, toxic fumes
Open windows and doors to provide fresh air.
Wear non-porous gloves and protective eye wear.
If the area to be cleaned is more than 10 square feet, consult the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide titled Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings . Although focused on schools and commercial buildings, this document also applies to other building types. You can get it free by calling the EPA Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318, or by going to the EPA web site at http://www.epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html .
Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when using bleach or any other cleaning product.
More information on personal safety while cleaning up after a natural disaster is available at www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/workers.asp.
If you plan to be inside the building for a while or you plan to clean up mold, you should buy an N95 mask at your local home supply store and wear it while in the building. Make certain that you follow instructions on the package for fitting the mask tightly to your face. If you go back into the building for a short time and are not cleaning up mold, you do not need to wear
12 tips for a mold-free home
Follow these suggestions to keep mold from growing in your home:
1. Check the exterior of your home regularly for accumulation of ground water. 2. If you ever see bubbling or dampness in a wall, get the wall opened to see what's causing it.
3. If your house sits above a foundation and there's a heavy rain, put electric fans under the house to dry the ground.
4. Fix leaky faucets, pipes and other leaks as soon as you find them.
5. Have your heating and air conditioning system serviced each year.
6. Clean and dry out wet or damp areas within 48 hours.
7. Keep indoor humidity below 60 percent by venting bathrooms and dryers to the outside, using air conditioners and dehumidifiers,
using exhaust fans or opening windows when cooking, washing dishes or cleaning, and increasing ventilation.
8. If you have a leak that saturates carpet, ceiling tiles or upholstery, remove them.
9. Use paint that has an EPA-approved mold inhibitor.
10. Clean kitchens and bathrooms with mold-killing cleaners.
11. Don't carpet bathrooms.
12. Don't put vinyl wallpaper on walls that are at risk of sustaining water damage.
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