Is This Mold And Could It Be Harmful My Basement Flooded I Called To Get It Fixed They Never Came Out A Month Later I Went In Basement And Seen This All Over The Walls And Railing
Yes, this is very likely mold growth. Based on the pattern, this was due to the condensation and humidity caused by the flooding event. It is difficult to determine the potential health impact without an on-site visit. Either way, I recommend focusing on cleaning the current mold growth instead of expensive testing. Once the cleanup is completed, a post remediation verification sample is a good technique for confirming the air quality has returned to normal.
Check Gutters And Downspouts
Since improperly installed gutters and downspouts can lead to moisture issues in your basement, its a good idea to double-check that they are working how theyre meant to. This means that there arent any gaps or leaks in your gutters and that the downspouts are pointing away from your home the way theyre meant to. If you notice any of your gutters arent working how they should be, make sure to get them fixed as quickly as possible.
Howdoes Moisture Get Inside A Basement
Thereare two main sources of water in basements, neither of which should surpriseyou. There is an outside moisture source and an inside moisture source.
Outside moisture sources are things like floods, rain, and groundwater. An inside moisture source could be anything from a leak to high humidity to homeowner negligence and poor practices .
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How To Detect Mold Growth In The Basement
You can do all ways to prevent mold, but there is still a possibility of growth. It is why you have to know how to detect mold so you can do thorough mold cleanup.
Limited ventilation in your basement makes it easier to notice strange odors. The easiest way to detect mold is to smell its musty odor. Looking for visible signs does not usually work as mold grows in areas you do not usually see.
Another thing you can do is mold testing. You can either call for professional help or do it by yourself using a DIY mold test kit. Since black mold is very common, heres a helpful guide to identifying black mold.
How Can I Tell If I Have A Mold Problem
Any part of your home that gets wet is likely to be moldy. Check for:
- Leaks in your roof or plumbing. If water is trapped inside your walls or under your carpet, molds may grow there, although they can’t always be seen. See if your walls or rugs have light stains or a strong musty smell.
- Mold in your basement, especially if your basement floods because of rain. Moisture can also seep through your home’s concrete foundation and make the bottom of carpets or the inside of a finished wall moldy.
- Water damage around your windows or doors to the outside of the house. In winter, moist air can change to water on these cooler surfaces and cause molds to grow there.
- Mold on walls, ceilings, floors, carpets, books or piles of newspapers. Smell these areas too sometimes a musty smell is your only clue that you have a mold problem.
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Air Conditioning And Heating Vents
You probably prefer your bedroom to be at the optimal temperature for you to get a good nights rest. While using the AC and heating unit are fine , its possible for mold to grow in the vents.
To prevent mold from contaminating your bedroom, you should:
- Use a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air
- Dry up any condensation you find on the walls and windows
- Invest in a mold-resistant mattress or, at the very least, a waterproof mattress cover
Is Mold On Concrete Dangerous
As with any mold, mold on concrete can be dangerous to your health. If the mold colony is growing inside your home, professional remediation needs to be performed as not to spread the mold spores to other places in the home.
The risks of having mold growing on your concrete surfaces are twofold. The first risk of having mold in your building or home is health concerns. Mold causes a variety of sicknesses and illnesses if you come in contact with it. Therefore, having it removed the correct way is essential to the health of your dwelling.
Mold Busters will provide all of your needed inspection and remediation services to ensure that your home is 100 percent safe while the remediation is being completed.
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Repair Leaks And Cracks
One of the first things you should do is eliminate any seepage or leaking in your basement walls. If you notice cracks in the walls, repair them promptly. You can use certain sealants to fill cracks in your basement walls, says Miguel Martinez, a masonry contractor in Milwaukee, Wis. He recommends epoxy and hydraulic cement as popular sealant options.
But wall leaks arent the only things to worry about, according to Ryan Thompson, a residential plumber from Florida who runs PlumberInformer. Leaky pipes are a very common problem, which occurs when pipes werent installed correctly, or they simply expanded over time and no longer connect tightly, Thompson says. It can be difficult at times to catch a plumbing leak before it leads to mold. Avoid this issue by regularly inspecting your pipes for leaks or bad connections. If you find any pipes that arent tightly connected, you can add plumbers tape and pipe joint compound to tighten them.
We Moved Into A New Home With What We Thought Was A Healthy Enivronment Since Moving In Ugly Stains Have Begun To Appear On The Carpet We Cleaned It And A Litle While Later The Stains Were Back So We Pulled An Area Of The Carpet And Although The Padding Was New We Found Hygroscopic Crystals Embedded In The Underneath Netting Of The Carpet We Have Also Started Havng Various Health Issues If We Spend Time In That Room Since The Padding Is Obviously New And The Carpet Isn’t Does That Mean The Problem Is In The Subflooring Because It Wasn’t Cleaned Properly Or What Do We Need To Replace The Carpet Do We Need To Seal The Subflooring What Do We Do
Carpet cleaning can ironically exacerbate stains in certain situations. For example, if pet urine was present on the carpet, the bleaching will not be revealed until the carpets are cleaned. The urine can loosen the dye from the carpet fibers. This isnt obvious until the next carpet cleaning, when the dye is inadvertently removed by the cleaning action. In this situation the carpeting cannot be salvaged and must be replaced.
If the carpet is located on a concrete slab, other factors may be involved. Vapor emissions moving through the carpet can cause staining, mold growth and strong odors. The presence of vapor emissions can be verified by testing the concrete. Note, this can only be done during the rainy season when vapor emissions will be highest.
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Eps Xps Mineral Wool:
SPUF is quite expensive so rigid insulation panels and a 2×4 wall with batt insulation can be a much more affordable option – but you need to know the right techniques for a succesful and mold-free wall assembly for a basement application – read on!
Rigid insulation board against concrete adds R value, breaks the thermal bridge and raises the temperature of the stud wall, which helps prevent moist air from condensing. The stud wall allows for the installation of wiring, additional insulation and drywall.
Drywall should be attached directly to studs, latex paint will act as a vapour retarder slowing any outward moisture migration while also allowing walls to dry inwards.
You may hear that EPS is somewhat moisture permeable this is true, but only slightly so and not enough to be a problem. According to Professor Straube, two inches of EPS has a perm rating in the range of 60-75 ng, or 1-1.25 US perms, which is right on the cusp of what is defined by building code as a suitable vapour barrier .
At that level of moisture permeability, an almost immeasurably small amount of moisture will be able to migrate into the wall, but with no interior vapour barrier it will pass through harmlessly. EPS, XPS and mineral wool are unharmed by moisture, and perhaps most importantly, EPS and XPS are unlikely to provide a breeding ground for mold.
Dealing With Outdoor Causes Of Mold
Since there are two main causes of mold , we are going to take the same approach to mold prevention. Lets dig deeper into outdoor moisture causes and what you can do to prevent moisture inside your basement.
First of all, you should be aware of rains and floods as they are a direct source of water. Following the flow path of rainwater or the access part of flood will give you enough information to start with.
Pay attention to where the rainwater flows after it falls on your roof. If the ground surrounding your home is on the same level as your home or higher, it is very likely that rainwater is going to get into your basement. Talk to your contractor to have the outside ground slope away from your home or heap soil onto the ground against your home.
Rain can cause a problem without even touching the ground. The windows on your home may be a problem too. Inspect your windows and check window wells for signs of insulation problems or potential build-up issues.
Additionally, do not forget to clean the gutter to ensure proper water flow. Ensure that all downspouts extend far away from the home, especially if the grading is not optimal. That way you will ensure that rainwater flows away from your home, not into it.
Another outdoor cause of excess moisture, although not a frequent one, is flooding. Its almost impossible to prevent floodwater from coming into the basement but it is crucial to act the minute it happens, in order to prevent mold from growing.
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Insulate Your Water Pipes
Insulating water pipes is another tactic Ortiz recommends to reduce humidity levels, reducing moisture for mold growth.
Plumber Thompson agrees, adding that its especially important during winter when basement pipes can freeze, then burst if uninsulated. The water damage that is caused by a burst pipe can quickly lead to mold if not dealt with right away, he says. Clean the pipe thoroughly and allow to dry completely before insulating, Thompson says, to help ensure it stays put.
How To Test For Mold
If you suspect an incoming mold infestation in your basement, then you need to have it tested.
- Surface test You need to take a mold sample and send it to a laboratory for classification for this test. There are also some D.I.Y. kits available for sale.
- Air test You use a monitor to check if any mold spores are floating around.
- Bulk test You need to remove a small section of infested material and bring it to a lab for testing.
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Monitor Humidity Levels In The Basement
Preventing water infiltration is one of the most important steps in preventing mold growth in the basement. Water infiltration is the act of water entering the soil where it may damage the foundation and cause moisture and dampness in the basement. Once this occurs, mold growth is almost inevitable if other breeding conditions are present. Something as simple as heavy rains pooling near your basement can cause trouble. The best ways to prevent water infiltration include:
- Ensure that gutters and downspouts are properly installed
- Keep gutters and downspouts clean and free of debris
- Fix plumbing leaks immediately
Mold needs a humidity level of about 60% to produce spores and grow. Most places in the U.S. rise above this level during the summer months. It is important that youre prepared to fight back against these high humidity levels to keep your basement free of mold. Using a hydrometer, you can easily measure the humidity levels in the basement to ensure that the humidity is below 30%. If your hydrometer shows high humidity levels in the basement, it is imperative to take action at once.
We Recently Had A Concrete Shower Installed 30
Yes, this looks like light mold growth. While this may be aesthetically unpleasant, its not likely affecting the indoor air quality. Concrete can be surprisingly porous, depending on how it cured. This porosity allows water to penetrate and can lead to mold growth. Prevention is best achieved by treating the concrete with a penetrating sealer. Note this should be done relatively soon, as the concrete loses its ability to absorb the sealant over time.
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Keep Plants Out Of Your Basement
Mold spores spread through the soil in your plant pots. If you really want to place plants in your basement, be extra-vigilant for the signs of mold and avoid overwatering them. Although plants are not usually placed in dark areas like basement as they require sunlight, it is still good to be informed.
Remove Moldy Material If Possible
If the mold has damaged a small area of soft or fibrous material like carpet, ceiling tiles, or wall material thats not load-bearing , you can remove the material yourself and replace it. Just be sure to wear protective eyewear and disposable dust masks, gloves, and possibly protective clothing so you can ensure youre not bringing the mold into your living spaces.
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We Just Purchased Our Home Three Months Ago And Recently We Discovered These Discolored Areas In Our Garage Should We Be Worried Should We Be Seeking Some Type Of Environmental Remediation
Its difficult to determine from the photo whether this is mold or efflorescence. An easy way to distinguish between the two is by flicking a bit of water on the surface. Efflorescence will dissolve in water, mold will just mat down a bit.
Either way, it likely indicates vapor emissions moving through the concrete. You can verify this by taping a piece of plastic to the concrete. Recheck this in a few days. If you find condensation on the backside of the plastic, you have a vapor emissions issue.
In a garage this is not a problem, as long as you keep sensitive items off the floor. The vapor will eventually evaporate from the surface. Do not install carpeting on any concrete showing signs of vapor emissions! This will lead to major mold problems.
In On And Under The Kitchen Sink
A lot happens in your kitchen sink. Dirty dishes pile up , food goes through the garbage disposal, wet sponges sit in the sink or in caddies and collect bacteria, and faucets run. All of these things contribute to the potential for mold growth, so check in these areas often if you want to prevent mold. Oh, and dont forget to check underneath the sink leaky pipes are a big problem for mold.
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How To Prevent Mold In Your Basement
When you think of your basement, whats the first thing that comes to mind? While many homes feature finished basements that provide additional living and recreational spaces, others are simply used as utility or storage spaces. But no matter what you use your basement for, all these below-ground floors share one thing in common: their tendency to collect excess moisture and grow mold.
As a homeowner, discovering mold in your basement can be an unsettling experienceespecially since many types of molds produce microbial volatile organic compounds that are harmful to human health. And even if your basement seems dry, mold could be lurking behind walls, underneath carpet, or below your furniture unknowingly due to moisture vapor or humidity seeping in from your foundation or leaky pipes.
Fortunately, there are a few ways you can prevent mold in your basementand they all encompass reducing the chance of moisture hanging around in the lower-level of your home. These prevention methods include:
- Repairing leaky water pipes and insulating them
- Fixing cracks in your foundation
- Sealing and insulating windows and window wells
- Keeping your gutters clean
- Ensuring your yard is properly graded
- Addressing floodwater immediately
- Avoiding houseplants in your basement
- Laundering responsibly
- Booking professional basement waterproofing services
I Found A Hard Black Coating Under Painted Concrete In My Basement If After Cleaning Can I Paint Over It It Did Not All Scrub Up Does Mold Get Imbedded In The Cement
Based on your description, this does not sound like mold. On concrete, mold will appear in either a fuzzy format or a stain like appearance. It would not feel like a hard coating. In either scenario, it is fine to paint the concrete after youve thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned the area. Anything remaining is simply the pigment from the prior mold growth, which cannot regrow.
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Basement Mold Prevention Tips
Mold requires nourishment, warmth, and moisture in order to grow. Unfortunately, your basement most likely has all three things, making it the perfect place for mold growth. Fortunately, there are ways to deal with basement mold growth. Four key steps in dealing with mold colonies are:
The fourth step, protection, is the most important and will be our focus here. As the old cliché goes, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Preventing the growth of mold is ultimately cheaper and easier than trying to get rid of a mold colony. Also, focusing on protecting your homeyour basement, especiallyfrom mold growth will make sure you wont have to deal with the first three steps.
The next two sections will briefly discuss the usual causes of mold growth and the methods of detecting mold in your basement. The third section provides simple tasks that you can apply right away to prevent mold growth in your basement.
UPDATE: We have recently added a checklist to help you get started on attaining a mold-free and healthy household that is safe for your family and loved ones to live in.
This is a summary of the tips below. See the checklist here!
