Got Mold ?
Fungi and mold naturally occur in our environment. In fact, over 100,000 kinds of fungi have been identified. Mold is literally a growing concern!
Mold produces some
wonderful results. Yeast is a form of mold used in preparing breads, baked goods,
and other food products including some alcoholic beverages. The unique flavor of
bleu cheese is a result of mold. An edible mushroom is simply a type of fungi, and
life-saving penicillin is a product of mold, specifically penicillium chrysogenum.
As with many things that provide value to our lives, excessive amounts of mold, different types of mold, or exposure to molds by some people may present health concerns.
Intrusion of water can occur into your home or business in many different ways: broken water pipes or water heaters, sump pump failure, roof leakage or failure, long-standing leaks or from poor humidity control. A water damage situation offers opportunities for mold spores that are normally present on surfaces to grow and multiply, and it is one of the reasons for promptly drying any water damage. Furthermore, moisture and humidity levels usually increase in a structure that has experienced a water damage, and if left unattended for any period of time, will probably lead to mold growth. Molds are naturally present in wood, cellulose, and paper products. Yet, these organic materials found inside a building, such as wood, paper, drywall, and some types of insulation, provide food sources for molds (given an adequate amount of moisture) to flourish and thrive, with subsequent indoor environmental conditions that can become "unhealthy".
Such water damage, if left unattended for any period of time, may lead to mold growth and then health concerns may arise. People may experience health effects associated with exposure to mold in damp buildings, according to a two-year study by the Institute of Medicine. These health effects may include a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, congestion, aggravation of asthma, sore throat, or inflammation of the sinus.
Concerns are more likely to arise when "at risk" individuals are exposed to mold growth. "At risk" people can include immune suppressed or compromised individuals, young children, and individuals with chronic inflammatory lung diseases such as asthma and severe allergies. In some situations, there may be more serious health concerns.
The most important safeguard against mold growth is to remove excess moisture. Needless to say, excessive moisture should not be allowed to remain in a building or residence over a long period of time.
You need an action plan to eliminate Mold
Prompt action is required to prevent new mold growth. If your property has sustained a recent water damage, it is vital to have the water removed and the structure dried promptly and thoroughly. Failure to stop the cause of the water damage and not properly drying the damaged area will probably result in mold growth and damage.
When excessive mold contaminates a building, remediators follow five steps in dealing with the mold:
Step 1:
Make health and safety a priority.
Since moldy homes and buildings are associated with health problems, remediators protect
the health of occupants and workers. Some work practices prevent workers from exposure as
they disturb the mold during cleanup. Other work practices prevent mold from spreading to
occupied areas of the home or building.
Step 2:
Document conditions and processes.
Remediators record conditions in the building such as the extent of the contamination and
the amount of moisture saturation. Air sampling with lab reports can be quickly completed.
Once remediation is completed, an new air samplings are taken to record that mold
in the building is returned to normal conditions.
Step 3:
Control the mold contaminant at its source.
Work practices aim at keeping mold contamination from becoming airborne and then spreading
from the source to clean areas. This reduces the amount of airborne mold that
inhabitants
are potentially exposed to. It also makes the process of removing mold more efficient.
Step 4:
Remove contamination.
Once mold has grown, the most effective solution is to remove all mold contamination. This
may be accomplished by physically removing materials damaged by growing mold, by vacuuming
excessive mold spores into HEPA filters, and by damp wiping soiled surfaces with detergent
cleaning products.
Step 5:
Correct the moisture problem.
The source of moister must be stopped. This is the key to dealing with mold. Stop
the source of moisture that initially contributed or caused the mold growth. Even
the best cleanup efforts will not keep mold from returning if a home or building continues
to have moisture problems.
Mold Inspections -- your first line of defense!
Since there has been so much media hype surrounding mold, Mold sampling has become a standard practice during home inspections by either the seller or the buyer as well as in commercial buildings when there is concern or questions about the indoor air quality. Our advice is to not buy a home with mold or to sell a home with mold or to live in a home with mold. A MOLD INSPECTION is your first line of defense! To find out if mold is a problem, you MUST have a mold inspection conducted by a Certified Mold Inspector.
Visual Inspection: A visual inspection is the initial step in identifying possible contamination problems. It will identify any visible water leaks or moisture stains on ceilings, walls, floors, foundations or under counters. The air conditioning and heating systems, attics and crawl spaces under homes will also receive a visual inspection as well. The use of equipment such as a boroscope allows the inspector to view spaces in ductwork or behind walls an moisture meters are often used to help identify hidden sources of mold growth and the extent of the water damage. Mold sampling will be recommended if there is any noticeable mold growth, musty odors, visible water damage or stains, poorly maintained HVAC systems or construction defects. By combining a visual inspection with air samplings, tape or swab samplings, the certified mold inspector can help identify the hidden source's) of mold, allergens and indoor pollutants and the extent of any acute or chronic water or moisture damage.
Air Sampling: The purpose of air sampling is to determine the type and amount of airborne contamination in a building. Air sampling may be necessary if the presence of mold, allergens or toxins is suspected (e.g. musty odors, allergies) but cannot be identified by a visual inspection. When air sampling is performed, both the indoor and outdoor air are sampled, so the results can be compared to see if a problem exists and to what extent. Typically the indoor sample is taken while the heating and/or air conditioning unit is operating, this will ensure the interior air is effectively tested.
Tape / Swab Sampling: Tape/Swab samples are usually collected from visible moldy surfaces by wiping the air with a sterile swab. This type of sampling is used to identify specific mold types.
Recommendations and Laboratory Results: Once the home or building has a visual inspection and the mold circumstance evaluated, action can be planned to clean it up and prevent future contamination. Based upon site evaluations and sampling lab analysis results, your certified mold inspector can provide a detailed written report that can be used for disclosure and references. In all situations, if mold exists, the underlying cause of the water damage must be corrected.
However, it is important to understand that whether a mold problem is present or serious can only be determined by an on-site indoor environmental inspection. Also, please keep in mind that Glass City Home Inspectors do not interpret insurance policies or insurance coverage. You must consult with your insurance company to determine the scope of policy coverage if it is determined that corrective actions need to be taken!
Why Thermal Imaging ? Interior Air Quality (IAQ)
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Got mold? Call the Mold Pros .........
