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Where molds hide ?

If your house has a musty-smell or stale odor, you might have a problem with mold growth. Molds are usually accumulated in the kitchen, bathroom, and basement, where moisture levels are higher than other parts of the house. Molds are actually microscopic fungi that produce spores. In most of the United States, the regular outdoor mold season is from spring to late fall. Indoor mold can grow year-round and can cause perennial allergy and asthma symptoms if not properly controlled.

Aside from the damage mold growth can do to furniture and clothing, airborne mold spores can cause a range of symptoms, including a stuffed-up nose, eye irritation, wheezing, shortness of breath, and fever. Exposure to common household mold such as aspergillus and fusarium has also been implicated as the main cause of fungal sinusitis. After exposure to certain mold, people with weak immune systems especially the elderly or patients who have undergone chemotherapy are particularly susceptible to life-threatening infection from fungus.

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Control heat and moisture

In addition to using a dehumidifier, increase ventilation to reduce indoor moisture. Everyday activities like showering, draping wet towels, or using the dishwasher can increase indoor humidity. If possible, use exhaust fans that are vented to the outdoors to remove excess water vapor. Clean or replace shower curtains once they start growing visible mold.

Here are some products you might consider using:   

➢Dehumidifier

Mold  Prevention: Trades Can Work Together

By Bruce M. Small, P.E.

     There is no reason that well-designed and well-built modern buildings should go moldy!

The building occupants will first notice molds through the walls and ceiling surfaces. Sometimes, molds arises in cold spots where insulation is inadequate or has settled over time. Mold often shows up first as a stain from a water leak, gradually getting darker as the mold colonizes within the damp area. Inevitably, we all point at the wall or ceiling first, even if it is far removed from the actual source of moisture penetration and mold growth.

The challenge for any building designer and owner is to exclude, deflect or otherwise harness all of these moisture flows so that they don’t cause damage. In actual practice, it turns out that a combination of common sense and modern building science can effectively meet this challenge.

How do buildings end up moldy? The problem is that it takes only one small mistake to cause a moisture problem inside a building. Sometimes, mistakes are made when a building is designed. For example, a missing roof closure detail can allow rain to enter a building under adverse wind conditions. Or designs that work well in one climate are mistakenly applied in another (e.g. houses designed for operating in cold winter conditions don’t make good houses for air conditioning in humid southern climates).

TOP

• The key to mold control is moisture control.

• If mold is a problem in your home, you should clean up the mold promptly and fix the water problem.

• It is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.

Click Here: Mold Cleanup Guidelines      

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Molds are part of the natural environment. Outdoors, molds play a vital part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees, but indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Mold reproduce by means of tiny spores which are invisible to the naked eye and are floating through outdoor and indoor air. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet. There are many types of molds, and none of them will grow without water or moisture.

Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet on damp spot and begin growing. Mold have the potential to cause health problems. They produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions to the sensitive individuals.  Allergic responses include high fever-type symptoms, sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold. Research on mold and health effects is ongoing.

It is impossible to get rid of all molds and mold spores indoors. Some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in house dusts. The mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean up the mold, but don’t fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will come back. Molds can gradually destroy the things they grow on. You can prevent damage to your home and furnishings, save money, and avoid potential health problems by controlling moisture and eliminating molds' growth.

Moisture, Mold Prevention, & Control Tips                   

Moisture Control is the key to Mold Control

• If wet or damp materials or areas are dried 24-48 hours after a leak or spill happens, in most cases mold will not grow.

• Clean and repair roof mold regularly. 

• Make sure the ground slopes are away from the building foundation, so that water does not enter or collect around the foundation.

• Keep air conditioning drip pans clean and the drain lines unobstructed and flowing properly.

• Keep indoor humidity low. If possible, keep indoor humidity below 60 percent (ideally between 30 and 50percent) relative humidity. Relative humidity can be measured with a moisture or humidity meter, a small inexpensive($10-$50) instrument available at many hardware stores.

• If you see condensation or moisture collecting on windows, walls or pipes - ACT QUICKLY to dry the wet surface and reduce the moisture/water source. Condensation can be a sign of high humidity.

 click here more mold Prevention Tips

• Vent appliances that produce moisture, such as clothes dryers, stoves, and kerosene heaters to the outside where  possible. (Combustion appliances such as stoves and  kerosene heaters produce water vapor and will increase the humidity unless vented to the outside.)

• Use air conditioners and/or de-humidifiers when needed.

• Run the bathroom fan or open the window when showering. Use exhaust fans or open windows whenever cooking, running the dishwasher or dishwashing, etc. 

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• Reduce the humidity.

• Increase ventilation or air movement by opening doors and/or windows, when practical. Use fans as needed.

• Cover cold surfaces, such as cold water pipes, with insulation.

• Increase air temperature.

Mold Prevention
The most important consideration in preventing toxic molds is that fungi and molds is in need of moist, wet, or damp environment in order to thrive or survive. By maintaining a clean, dry home or workplace, dangerous mold species cannot grow. Unfortunately, it is often extremely difficult to distinguish between toxic molds and those that don’t pose a risk. Most types of molds appear quite similar. The good news is that even if toxic molds are around a home, most homeowners remove them through normal cleaning before they are able to grow to a size where they would pose a threat.

Regardless of the type of molds that will be found in a particular home, the relative safety of those inside depends on the size of the mold infestation. The danger level occurs when molds reaches a size of roughly 2 square feet. Also of concern is if molds have infested household items like insulation, drywall, or carpet. If so, these materials should be immediately extracted and the source of the dampness or wetness should be fixed. When replacing these items, it's best to use a non-cellulose and low nitrogen replacement material.

If the mold patches are small, it can be removed with a chlorine-bleach solution (1 cup of bleach in 1 gal. of water). Molds should come off with simple scrubbing (individuals should protect themselves with eye protection, rubber gloves and carbon filter respirators). Dried molds should not be scraped because this greatly increases the chances in releasing toxin-carrying spores into the air.

Sources in and around homes that can create a dangerous environment include leaky or broken pipes, windows or older doors that lack good seals, roofs that leak, and any cracks or holes in the building. If flooding has occurred, it is extremely important to make sure that the water is thoroughly dried up to avoid festering water or dampness. In addition, reducing the humidity through the use of a dehumidifier can prevent the growth of dangerous toxic mold.

All buildings should undergo scheduled maintenance that includes inspection for water leaks, problem seals around windows and doors, as well as checks for visible mold in moist or damp parts of the building. Any conditions that could be a possible cause of mold or fungi growth should be corrected to prevent possible problems in the near future.

ATTIC VENTILATION / LIABILITY CONTROL

Moisture

Roof leaks are the most common source of moisture in attic. Vigilance by the builder and subcontractors can reduce this source of moisture. Even if the roof does not leak, the occupants introduce moisture to the home. Activities such as breathing, bathing, washing clothes and cooking meals generate warm moist air. As this warm moist air naturally rises, it is constantly working its way into the attic through even the smallest crevices around light fixtures, wiring and HVAC vents. Even with so-called vapor barriers, it is naive to expect to keep 100% of the occupant generated moisture from penetrating the attic spaces. As a result, efforts to prevent moisture intrusion to the attic space may only be partially effective.

Low light

Stagnant Air

Natural Ventilation

NATURAL VENTILATION is the flow of air driven by pressure differentials.

Due Diligence Documentation

There are significant differences in the airflow performance of various ridge vents. As part of your liability control, you should maintain files documenting your due diligence in vent selection.  Requesting independent certified reports supporting your vent manufacturers net free ventilating area (NFA) and other performance claims is one method of documenting that due diligence. If your current vent manufacturer starts a lot of double talk when you request independent certification of his claims – BUYER BEWARE!

When the weather is damp, you may find items in your home that have musty odors and mildew stains. Once you find mold and mildew spots, remove them as soon as you can. Old stains are very hard to remove.

1. Brush off all the mold. If you can, take the item outside to do this. If you can not take the item outside, use a stiff brush or broom and brush the item over a piece of newspaper. Then, roll up the paper and throw it away. If the mildew is on a carpet, vacuum to remove as much as you can. Throw the vacuum cleaner bag away after vacuuming the mold.

2. Dry-clean materials that can not be washed. Be sure to point out spots to the cleaners.

3. Wash clothing at once with laundry soap and water. Rinse well, but dry in the sun, not the clothes dryer. Heat from the dryer may make spots harder to remove.

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Mold answers and advices by mold expert, Phillip Fry.  You can ask everything about household mold, toxic mold problem, mold abatement, mold infestation, mold solutions, mold control, toxic mold inspection, toxic mold testing, mold investigation, mold contamination, mold allergy, mold illness, mold sickness, mold diseases, black mold, mold infestation, mold investigator, certified moldinspector, toxic mold removal, mold decontamination, toxic mold remediation, toxic mold, stachybotrys, toxic mold prevention, and more.

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