What Is Mold On Insulation
The attic, basement, crawl spaces, and other unseen or forgotten areas of your home can harbor mold. It sneaks into these areas that turn out to be its prime breeding grounds. With insulation, it is essential to ask how mold gets to those areas.
Moldy insulation is simply fungi growth that thrives around your insulation. When mold glue itself to the insulating material, it starts to breed a lifecycle. This could lead to severe health conditions if not quickly spotted and eradicated.
Here Are Some Ways To Determine If There Is A Mold Infestation In Your Basement:
How To Tell If You Have Mold In Your House
It can be hard to tell if you have mold in your house. Obviously, if you see mold somewhere, youve got a mold problem in your house, but mold can hide in walls, ventilation ducts, crawl spaces, and in other hard-to-see areas.
A common way to check for mold is to smell for it. A musty smell in an area of your home is often an indicator that there is some kind of mold present. Symptoms like a persistent runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing and throat irritation could also be indicative of mold.
In addition, anywhere that has been exposed to a significant amount of moisture such as water damage from flooding is a potential area where mold may be growing. Look for water where it shouldnt be, and check areas which may have flooded in the past.
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Experts In Mold Inspection In Toronto For Over 31 Years
CleanFirst has performed over 10,000 mold inspections in the greater Toronto area. Help us help you restore your peace of mind.
If you suspect that you have a basement mold issue, call us and we will send a certified mold inspector to your home to inspect for mold and possible moisture issues that can activate mold growth. We will determine if there is a problem and the extent of it, and will also determine the cause and recommend a permanent solution.
Natural Ways To Remove Basement Mold
There are numerous different ways to get rid of mold, but some chemicals used in the process have the potential to be harmful. Below are a few steps to remove mold naturally.
Make sure the area in which the mold is growing is dry. Mold thrives on moisture, so fixing any leaks, cleaning up water, and ensuring that theres no humidity in the area should be your first step in removing mold.
After ensuring that the area in which the mold was growing is dry and has plenty of air, your next step should be cleaning the air.
Mold spores can be transported through your HVAC system or air ducts in your home. Because of this, it may be best to use an air purifier to ensure that no mold spores end up in other areas of your basement or anywhere else in your home.
Create a mold cleaning solution to remove and clean the area the mold was on and around.
Fortunately, theres a wide variety of natural solutions that will successfully remove mold.
Below are several solutions that will remove mold while not spreading harmful chemicals in your home.
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Best Practices For Detecting Basement Mold In Long Island
Mold. Never a good sign. Dont ever ignore mold. Mold left alone will only get worse. Here are a few thoughts on how to detect basement mold in Long Island.
Water Issues
If you have water issues in the basement, high humidity, condensation or even a basement flood or leak, then you may have or be developing a mold issue. Mold and water issues go hand in hand. In fact, mold needs water to grow. If you have a damp environment in the basement, you can expect to find mold.
Smell
Fortunatelyand unfortunatelymold has an odor. When you smell that musty odor in the basement it is a sign you have mold. If the area isnt well ventilated the odor will be stronger. Dont ever ignore stagnant odors in the basement. It is a sure sign that mold is growing.
Moisture
It is important to remember that you dont need a basement flood or serious water leaks to have a water problem. Condensation, moisture and high levels of humidity can create an environment where mold can grow. If you see condensation on the windows or walls, then it is a sign to watch out for mold. Moisture will make wallpaper and paint peel. Condensation is also common around pipes. Moisture and mold can build up behind walls and under carpet. If you see the signs of moisture but dont see mold yet it might be growing somewhere you cant see right now. Check these places for black or green mold growth.
Test For Mold
Protect Yourself
Prevent Mold
How To Prevent Mold And Mildew
- Keep things clean.
- Increase ventilation in the affected area with exhaust fans.
- Install dehumidifiers to reduce humidity.
- Ensure that sources of natural ventilation such as windows remain open, if possible.
- Make sure that sources of mechanical venting such as HVAC vents remain open and unblocked.
- Inspect vents for clothes dryers and ensure that vents are clean and that they are attached.
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Basement Mold Removal With Borax
Borax: While perhaps not quite as non-toxic as some of the other aforementioned solutions, borax is still a better alternative than stronger chemical solutions and also deodorizes.
Each cup of Borax should be combined with one gallon of water and applied to mold. Its best to scrub the surface with a sponge or something stiff such as a scrub brush.
Borax does not require rinsing and can be left on surfaces safely.
Finding And Identifying Basement Mold
- Written by Igor Studenkov on Dec 16, 2009To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.Reviewed by
Basement mold refers to the types of fungus that grow in basements under certain conditions. It is harmless in small quantities, but it becomes more and more of a health hazard as it grows. Some mold causes allergic reactions while others are outright poisonous.
If left untreated, the basement mold will keep growing, eventually spreading through the entire building. That is why you must find the mold before the problem gets out of hand. Once you find it, you will need to be able to identify it otherwise, you won’t be able to get rid of it.
WARNING: Before you search for mold, put a face mask, gloves and safety glasses to avoid getting any of it into your system. This is especially important if you have any allergies or respiratory issues.
Finding Basement Mold
One of the easiest ways to identify some types of mold is its stench. Other types of mold may not start to smell until the growth reaches a certain stage. That is why you may want to take a more proactive approach and check the spots where the mold is most likely to emerge. That way, you will have a better chance of spotting it while it is still a manageable size.
Mold Safety
Identifying Basement Molds
The Next Step
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Other Places In The Kitchen
Wooden cutting boards, trash cans, behind the stove and windows and window sills in the kitchen are like heaven for mold spores. They feed off of these places, so keeping them clean and dry is critical for keeping mold at bay.
To keep your kitchen mold free, be sure to:
- Ventilate when cooking and doing dishes by opening a window, using a fan, or both
- Wash the dishes every day, so they dont pile up in the sink
- Clean and dry the stove top, microwave, counters, cabinets, and window sills regularly
- Clean out the inside of your fridge and your fridge drip tray often
- Take the trash out every day
Mold On Fiberglass Insulation
Fiberglass insulation is a composite of finely spun glass fibers. It usually comes as either loose-fill insulation or blanket insulation.
Plumbing problems and leaking roofs can create moisture and allow dust and dirt to settle on fiberglass insulation. Since moisture is the perfect recipe for mold growth, it makes the collected particles sediment on the insulation.
In the wet, dark corners of your building wall where the insulation is, fungi start to grow and spread across the loose pieces or batts. As hot air surges in the attic during the winter period, mold problems can arise through condensation from relative humidity levels.
What are the signs of mold growth on fiberglass insulation?
The following alert tells you mold is present in your fiberglass insulation.
- The musty smell gets stronger as you move closer to the insulated wall or attic
- Experiencing constant cold, allergy symptoms, and other health problems
- Observation of black, green, gray, or brown splotches on your fiberglass insulation
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Why Does Mold Form In Homes
Mold forms in homes because, in many cases, a home is the ideal place for mold to grow particularly in basements and other areas which may be dark and moist, and have a similar temperature all-year-round, due to furnaces and water heaters.
Essentially, there are mold spores in the air at all times and once they find a place thats hospitable to them, theyll start reproducing, causing a visible mold problem.
What Is Black Mold
When people say black mold, they refer to Stachybotrys, a greenish-black mold that grows on damp material with a high cellulose content. In our homes, that includes wood, fiber or gypsum board, paper, fabric, or green insulation. Just because mold is black doesnt mean its the dreaded Stachybotrys though, which by the way also manifests itself in blue and grey. But because Stachybotrys can off-gas dangerous mycotoxins, its the mold variety most feared.
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Mold In Crawl Spaces Insulation
Homeowners usually forget about crawl spaces until something is taking them there. Often, these spaces are out of sight and tend to be an irresistible home for mold when they are wet. In the long run, it grows and extends to the insulation in the area.
For example, an insulating material like fiberglass in your crawl area will soak up moisture and hold it against the floor joists and sub-flooring. Practical signs of mold in crawl spaces include:
- Awful odor or stale smell
- Greenish or black spots on insulation and walls
- Rotting or decaying beams and joists
- Itching eyes, runny nose, or coughs
Read more information about crawl space mold removal.
Mold In The Basement: Identifying And Treating It
Homes that have basements often have mold. Due to basements’ proximity to groundwater, water can wick up through concrete floors and continue wicking up through floor sleepers and wall studs. Homes without a robust water diversion system may accumulate water in the soil that can crack the foundation, which results in water leakage.
Identifying and treating basement mold is a multi-stage process. You must find the mold, then test it to make sure of what you’re dealing with. You’ll remove structural elements to permit access to the mold, as needed, and go through the process of killing the mold. Then you’ll mechanically remove or encapsulate the dead mold spores, depending upon which is best for your situation. Finally, you’ll turn your attention to fixing the problem that allowed the mold to grow in the first place.
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What Do I Do If I Think I Have Mold
A simple, inexpensive fix is increasing the light in the space. Youll want to look for LED bulbs above 4,000K in spectrum temperature, or 100-watt bulbs, in a larger area. In smaller areas, a 40-60 watt is acceptable. Leave these lights on continuously in a basement with lots of mold or mildew. This trick will stop mold growth in basements or any other dark, damp space in your home.
The key to keeping your family safe and comfortable is ensuring you are looking for signs of unhealthy and unsightly mold. If youre not sure, call an expert! Theyll help you determine next steps.
At Basement Waterproofing, well come by for a free, no-obligation estimate, give you all your options, and let you make the decision that is right for you. Just give us a call at 800-439-4951, and we’ll be happy to help.
What To Do About Mold In Basement
Ill cut straight to the point: hire 2 professionals. Why two? Because youre going to need an expert plumber to determine and fix the original problem, which could likely be your plumbing.
That plumber should also have resources to help you mitigate the moisture problem. That means, someone needs to professional clear out the moisture with industrial-strength equipment and remove the mold safely so it does no more harm.
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Common Causes Of Mold
If youre wondering how mold takes hold or appears in basements, look no further than inclement weather flooding is a major cause of mold growth, since standing water and damp interior features like carpet or furniture can all serve as prime culprits and places for mold to grow and thrive.
A similar issue, water leaks, can cause mold to appear. Situations like leaky pipes, faulty appliances, or clogged basement drains can all be the cause of a mold outbreak.
Lastly, a less obvious culprit, high humidity, can be the root cause of mold in the basement. This is especially true in humid climates like those found in the Southern and Midwestern U.S. If the problem exists year round, it could be worth installing a fan or avoiding appliances like humidifiers or air vents.
Use Vital Oxide To Prevent And Control Mold
When faced with a mold problem, reach for a product that will destroy mold from its roots, like Vital Oxide. Vital Oxide is a 3-in-1 cleaner, EPA-registered disinfectant, and mold growth inhibitor that controls mold and mildew on a molecular levelneutralizing spores and inhibiting fungal growthwithout damaging the surfaces treated. Think of Vital Oxide as your effective sidekick in your fight against mold.
Unlike bleach and other harsh products that are only effective on hard, non-porous surfaces, Vital Oxide can also effectively penetrate surfaces like carpets, upholstery, drywall, concrete, and woodand destroy the roots of tough mold and mildew.
At Vital Oxide, were proud to offer a revolutionary product thats powerful enough to kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria without harsh chemicals or alarming safety ratings. If you have any questions, please Contact Us or . Were here to help.
Merilyn McGonigal
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Most Common Places To Check For Mold In Your Home
If you have allergies or a chronic lung disease like asthma, youre probably very aware of the effect mold can have on your health. But even if you have a healthy immune system and no allergies, mold can cause a variety of health problems coughing, wheezing, and throat, skin, and eye irritation, to name a few. Mold is everywhere and, though you cant fully control your exposure to it outdoors or in public spaces, you can check for mold in common places around your home and take measures to prevent and remove it.
Can You Spray Foam Insulation Over Mold
While spray foam can starve mold its food source , yet it is not ideal to spray foam moldy insulating material. Spraying foam can cause breathing problems at home, thereby adding additional health problems. Also, poor mixing of spray foam chemicals can make insulating material detach from the wall cavities holding it.
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Checking For Visible Mold
