Sunday, April 21, 2024

Why Is There Mold In My House

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Black Mold Was Growing In Their Walls | Here’s Why | THE HANDYMAN |

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We Have Wood Rot On Unfinished Pine Furniture White Mold Moving From Behind Armoire And Spreads It Spreads Along Baseboard Base Of Closet Theres Also Brown Fungus Seeping From Underneath Closet Door Which Spreads Onto Hardwood And Moves Up Floor Boards Destroying Floor Vinegar Borax Bleach Sanding

It appears the room is suffering from very high levels of humidity. This is due to either a hidden water leak, or more likely, poor ventilation. Often cases this severe are due to a combination of the two. Your focus should be on finding the source of the excessive moisture instead of cleaning. The mold and fungal rot will continue to return until the moisture is removed.

If the room is above a crawlspace, investigate the area for standing water or a missing vapor barrier. These issues can often lead to high levels of humidity in the rooms above. If the room sites on a concrete slab, test the slab for vapor emissions. Concrete can allow a surprising amount of water vapor to pass through it, leading to elevated humidity.

If none of these yield fruit, your next focus is on indoor humidity. Purchase a humidity gauge and mount it on the wall in the room. If it rises above 55% during the winter months, you need to increase ventilation. Increasing the heat/temperature of the room will also lower the humidity.

Tips On How To Remove Mold From Home

The first step is to locate and confirm the presence of mold. In addition to looking for the obvious discoloration spots, you can have your home tested for mold. According to homeadvisor.com, the average cost to test for mold is $834. However there are home mold-testing kits available for $10 to $50.

It is quite important that you remove the mold the moment you discover it, because the spores can affect the quality of air in your home. It is always advisable to hire a professional to remove the mold, but if you do it yourself, use an OSHA approved respirator, gloves, disposable coveralls, non-vented goggles. Listed below are a few tips on how you can remove mold from your house:

Remove moldy materials

If not properly disposed of, moldy materials may stir up spores, which can spread into your house. Because of their microscopic size, a square foot of wall can have over 3,000 million mold spores. You have to use the appropriate equipment and follow the safety procedures so as to protect yourself from the spores.

Excessive levels of contamination may require that you discard absorbent materials such as carpets, wall paper etc. To avoid airspore becoming airborne, professionals seal off the affected area with tape, and use plastic sheets to seal doorways and vents. They also use air movers, dehumidifiers and HEPA air scrubbers to eliminate moisture and dry out the air and surfaces.

Heating, Insulation and Ventilation

Find and fix interior plumbing leaks

Check the ductwork

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If The Contaminated Surface Is Small To Moderate:

  • Wear safety glasses or goggles, a disposable N95 mask, and household disposable gloves.
  • You may want to isolate the area by taping plastic sheeting to the walls and ceiling to prevent the spread of dust and mould particles.
  • Vacuum the area with a HEPA vacuum cleaner before and after cleaning.
  • Clean the mould by using water and dish detergent. Theres no need to use bleach. When cleaning drywall, use a damp cloth so you dont make the drywall wet.
  • Sensitive people should not be in the same room during the work and may want to leave the house until the mould is removed.

Also Check: Is Mold Really That Bad

I Heard About Toxic Molds And Black Molds That Grow In Homes And Other Buildings Should I Be Concerned About A Serious Health Risk To Me And My Family

Why Is There Mold in My Home?

There is always a little mold everywhere in the air and on many surfaces.

Certain molds are toxigenic, meaning they can produce toxins . Hazards presented by molds that may produce mycotoxins should be considered the same as other common molds which can grow in your house. Not all fungi produce mycotoxins and even those that do will not do so under all surface or environmental conditions.

Mold growth, which often looks like spots, can be many different colors, and can smell musty. Color is not an indication of how dangerous a mold may be. Any mold should be removed and the moisture source that helped it grow should be removed.

There are very few reports that toxigenic molds found inside homes can cause unique or rare health conditions such as pulmonary hemorrhage or memory loss. These case reports are rare, and a causal link between the presence of the toxigenic mold and these conditions has not been proven.

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Where Did The Mold Come From

All types of fungus love the wet, warm, and the dark. Humid areas, properties that have recently been flooded or had problems with leaks can attract and foster growth. You can find this substance growing on a wide variety of materials depending on the species you have.

  • Carpeting, Mattresses & Home Textiles
  • Potted Plant Soil & Pet Droppings
  • Wet Building Materials, Fiberglass Insulation, Drywall
  • On Windowsills, Walls & Wallpaper
  • In The Shower & On Caulking
  • Any Areas With Unresolved Water Damage
  • In HVAC Systems & Dusty Areas
  • On Wood, Books, Newspapers & Other Porous Materials

Fungus In The Furniture

Mildew is attracted to moist leather and wood, and mold particles are more likely to be retained in porous materials like upholstered furniture and foam. Frequently inspect thefibers of your furniturefor any discolored spots, fuzz or spores.

Does your furniture seem a little funky? Mold particles are attracted to porous materials like upholstered furniture and foam. Be sure to inspect the fibers of your couches and chairs for any discolored spots, fuzz or spores.

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Liability For Toxic Mold In Texas

If you have health problems caused by mold on a Texas property you are leasing, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the landlord or property manager.

It is their responsibility to keep the property in habitable shape and to protect the tenants physical health and safety, as noted before, in Texas. As such, any problems associated with the building would be their problem to handle.

Also, if you just purchased a new home in Texas and toxic mold becomes obvious, the previous owner could be held liable for losses. If the previous owners knew about the mold problem, they were legally obligated to disclose this information to potential buyers.

Just like they were obligated to tell you about a leaky roof, they had to tell you about the black mold if they knew about it.

Your Floor Feels Squishy

MOLD IN THE HOUSE – WHAT I DID ABOUT THE MOLD!

You know to be concerned about a soft spot in your hardwood floor. If you can access the subfloor through a crawl space or a basement, check for moisture. If thats not possible, youll have to pull up a section of flooring. Its worth it: That moistureand any mold growth will eventually spread. If the wood floor is rotted, then the whole flooring needs to be changed, says Piotraut. If the flooring is still in good condition and only has a small amount of mold, it can be removed with mold remover.

Also Check: How To Clean Mold Under Vinyl Flooring

Air Purifier For Musty Smell

An air purifier is another great resource that can be used in a home or other personal indoor environment to help improve the indoor air quality while also removing pollutants and odors from the air. The OdorKlenz Mobile Air System is a great air quality solution when it comes to removing odorous smells from the air space. This revolutionary air purifier uses a patented earth mineral technology that is effective at capturing, containing, and neutralizing a broad spectrum of noxious and toxic chemicals and odors from the air including the musty odors that can be found in a house, along with other household odors. In addition to the use of this earth mineral technology for odor and chemical neutralization, the OdorKlenz Mobile Air System also contains a HEPA filter for fine particulate removal larger than 0.3 microns in size at a 99.99 percent efficiency.

Simply place the OdorKlenz Mobile Air System in your home, moving it from room to room to remove the chemical and odors in the environment, quickly and effectively.

Mobile Air System

Common Causes Of Mold In Homes

One of the most common forms of mold found in many homes is known as Alternaria.

You may know exactly what it looks like, typically characterized by its velvet-like texture and dark green and brown coloring.

Alternaria mold tends to grow where ever dampness occurs, and throughout the average home, this could be a number of obvious places.

Its a hyper-allergenic mold, meaning long-term exposure can lead to respiration problems in the upper respiratory tract, nose, and mouth.

So if youre wondering what the exact causes of mold could be in your home, we outline it all in this blog.

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I Need To Store My Shoes In Plastic Shoe Boxes Due To Lack Of Closet Space If I Drilled Holes In The Boxes Would This Be Enough To Keep The Humidity Down

Youre on the right track. Drilling holes will allow the shoes to breathe . Youll also need to ensure the closet does not have excess humidity. Make sure there is at least a 1/2 air gap between the bottom of the door and floor/carpet. If its an older home with poorly insulated walls, you might need to keep the door cracked slightly to allow heat to enter the closet. If humidity still remains a concern, consider placing a Damp Rid unit such as this or this.

The Difference Between Buyers That Conduct Mold Inspections And Those That Dont

Why is Mold Spreading in My Home?

Before you buy any home, you should conduct a professional mold inspection regardless of whether you see visible signs or not. This will let you know how much mold, if any, is in a home and whether its easily removable. You want to know the house is worth the investment upfront.

When buyers DO conduct a mold inspection, they have the chance to:

  • Identify all of the different affected areas.
  • Understand the extent of moisture or water damage.
  • Learn about past claims to insurance.
  • Talk to the seller about covering/addressing mold remediation costs.
  • Negotiate a better price for the house after finding the mold growth.
  • Back out of the sale if the mold problem is out of control.
  • Remediate the mold immediately if they plan to move in and stay safe.

When buyers DO NOT conduct a mold inspection, they will likely:

  • Not find out about the mold until weeks or months after the purchase.
  • Overpay for a house with serious problems.
  • Expose their family and pets to health complications after moving in.
  • Jeopardize the safety of their belongings by exposing them to mold.
  • Face a hefty remediation bill .
  • Deal with hefty medical bills after mold exposure.
  • Have to vacate the property if the infestation turns out to be extensive.

The bottom line is that if youre considering buying a home, you need to have a mold inspection done to cover yourself and to avoid purchasing a nightmare of a situation.

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Protect Others And The Building

If you decide to clean the mold yourself, it is important to protect yourself and the other people in the building. When cleaning a large amount of mold, consider the following:

  • Remove furnishings and items from the work area.
  • Enclose and seal mold material in plastic before carrying them through the home.
  • Cover air supply and return vents in the work area.
  • Use a fan to pull contaminated air out of the work area and exhaust it outdoors.
  • Consider renting an air scrubber to operate in the area .
  • Remove the outer layer of work clothing inside the work area and wash separately, or bag and discard the clothing.

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Ive Had A Reoccurring White Mold Issue In My Clothes For Years It Started With A Dresser From A Garage Sale Since Then I Have Switched Dressers Washed All My Clothing Several Times With Vinegar Borax Baking Soda Detergent And Bleach But It Always Grows Back In The New Dressers Or Boxes A Dark Stain That Looks Like Clear Oil Will Appear And A White Film With A Musty Smell Is What Always Regrows On The Clothes It Used To Only Grow On Some Clothing But Sonce Moving To An Apartment With No Air Flow It Took Over All Of My Clothes And Now Grows Back Within 1

Mold growth on clothes and furniture is due to excessively high humidity. In a warm/humid climate such as the Southwest US, this occurs when the air conditioning is not adequately stripping the humidity from the air. In wet/cool climates such as the Pacific NW, this occurs in poorly heated rooms or closets with inadequate ventilation. The answer depends on your climate. If this is occurring during the winter months and you live in a cool climate, increase your heat and ventilation. The easiest way to improve ventilation is by simply running your closest bathroom exhaust fan 24×7.

If you live in a warm/humid climate, contact a HVAC company to investigate the issue.

In both scenarios, your goal is to keep the relative humidity below 60%, ideally below 55%. You can purchase an inexpensive RH gauge for ~$30 from a hardware store or online.

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What Can You Do

To prevent and get rid of mold:

  • Keep your house clean and dry.
  • Fix water problems such as roof leaks, wet basements, and leaking pipes or faucets.
  • Make sure your home is well ventilated and always use ventilation fans in bathrooms and kitchens.
  • If possible, keep humidity in your house below 50% by using an air conditioner or dehumidifier.
  • Avoid using carpeting in areas of the home that may become wet, such as kitchens, bathrooms and basements.
  • Dry floor mats regularly.

To find mold that might be growing in your home:

  • Search for moisture in areas that have a damp or moldy smell, especially in basements, kitchens and bathrooms.
  • Look for water stains or colored, fuzzy growth on and around ceilings, walls, floors, windowsills and pipes.
  • If you smell a musty odor, search behind and underneath materials such as carpeting, furniture or stored items.
  • Inspect kitchens, bathrooms and basements for standing water, water stains and patches of out-of-place color.

To control moisture problems and mold:

  • Fix any water problems immediately and clean or remove wet materials, furnishings or mold.
  • Clean up spills or floods within one day. If practical, take furniture that has been wet outside to dry and clean. Direct sunlight prevents mold growth.
  • Dry all surfaces and fix the problem or leak to prevent further damage.
  • Install a dehumidifier when a moisture problem is evident or when the humidity is high.

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“It is pretty tough to detect until it starts coming through the walls because mold, as you know, is a problem with some sort of leak somewhere,” Hayes-Raitt said. “So the problem starts behind the walls. But if you’re getting sick, it might be because of a mold problem.”

If you’re dealing with symptoms that you can’t exactly pinpoint, it could be that you’re stressed, haven’t been taking care of yourself, or wound up with some sort of virus, of course, but it could also potentially be that you’re dealing with mold.

If possible, Hayes-Raitt said that one of the best ways to determine if the sickness you feel is related to the house or not is to leave for a few days and then return home. If you feel those same symptoms coming on again, it might be the result of something more than a cold or virus.

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