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For free email
answers to your mold questions,
please email
moldconsultant@yahoo.com.
[Nov. 14, 2002]
Q.
In the months of Oct-Apr we have heavy
condensation on our windows which has resulted in a lot of black mold.
I have tried to scrub it off with bleach and water, but it is stuck along
the seams of the window. Do we need to have all of our windows
replaced? Can I hire someone to sand and refinish them and would it
stir up spores? Also, how do I know whether this is a really bad mold?
A. You need to first determine the cause for the heavy window condensation that
causes the mold growth. The most likely problem is high humidity that
develops during winter months when your windows and doors are usually
closed, trapping and accumulating indoor air moisture. Buy a digital
hygrometer [about $30] from the thermometer section of Home Depot, Lowe's,
or a large hardware store. Take and make note of the humidity readings of
the different areas of your home throughout the year in all living areas,
plus your attic, crawl space, and basement. The best humidity level is 30 to
40%, a level that discourages mold growth. If the humidity is more than 50%
in any area of your home, the higher the humidity at above 50%, the
more air moisture is provided to strongly facilitate mold growth and mold
infestations in your home. The next step you should take is to do mold
testing of the air in the various areas of your home, including attic,
crawl space, and basement. You can use Mold Inspector's do-it-BEST-yourself
mold test kits with laboratory analysis. For more info, please visit: Mold
Test Kit. Or you can hire a Certified
Mold Inspector to do a thorough home mold inspection and
mold testing. Bleach is not an effective way to clean and kill mold. If you or someone you hire is going to remove mold
contamination safely and effectively, please follow the mold remediation
tips and suggestions provided at Mold Remediation.
[Nov. 14, 2002]
Q. We moved into our home in 1984. The windows are covered
all the time with black yuck and I believe it's black mold. No matter how
much I clean - it's still there, plus we have mold in every corner
of the bedrooms. Anytime anything is left on the floor it smells musty.
My problem is that my husband is HIGHLY allergic to mold and our one son
has had breathing problems most of his 11 yrs., and my husband won't
replace the windows, carpet,etc. because "we don't have the
money". I feel we can't afford not to and after reading some of the
Q&A -we should probably move ourselves. Will most insurance
companies help pay for this under the homeowners policy? Oh, and that
part of the house is on a slab. HELP!!!
A. This first message is for your husband: listen to your wife about the
wisdom of your family moving out of your mold-infested home until the
home has been completed inspected for mold, tested for mold, and has
been mold remediated to make your home safe for your family living.
Continued occupancy in a mold contaminated residence will destroy your
family's health permanently---what price or value do you place on your
and your children's health? Moreover, continued mold growth will destroy
the home. Homes can become unsellable due to mold problems and the high
cost of mold removal and mold remediation. Since you are on a
limited budget [as are most families who are facing serious mold
infestation nightmares], you may have to do your own mold testing and
mold remediation. Your insurance company will probably take the
position that your mold problems arise from poor home maintenance on
your part. For mold growth to even be a possibility for insurance-paid
remediation, the mold damage must be directly caused by a sudden water
problem that is specifically insured against in your homeowner's
insurance policy. As a guide to doing your own mold testing and
mold elimination, your first step should be to read Phillip Fry's
detailed recommendations in his book Mold Buster Tips. You can
order this book on the home page of Mold
Inspector.
[November
15, 2002]
Q.
Prior
to buying our house 4 months ago, we had it inspected by a home
inspector. The house was given a "thumbs up". My concern about
our house has only risen because a friend of mine rented a house which
was later determined to have black mold. We have not had any visible
evidence of any type of mold nor have we been sick (which I assume would
be the first indicators). There has not been any indication that our
house would have mold (flooding, water damage). My question is, after
having been here 4 months, would we be sick by now if the house did have
black mold?
A. The absence of common mold health symptoms [visit: Mold Health Effects],
no visible mold, no known history of water problems, and you have had
the home examined by a home inspector [next time also hire an inspection
by a
Mold
Inspector]
all add together to make it unlikely that you have a serious mold
infestation in your home. Please be aware that you may have mold growing
inside walls, above ceilings, beneath floors, in attics, and crawl
spaces that have not yet produced health problems for your family. If
you want to be even more assured that you have no problem, hire one of
our
Certified
Mold Inspectors
to inspect inside walls, above ceilings, etc., and to do air testing of
the various rooms of your home plus attic, basement, and crawl space for
evidence of water problems and mold problems. Please
read the webpage: Mold Inspection.
[November
21, 2002]
Q. I have had a mold
problem since 12/24/01 when I had a water line break in the house flooding
the kitchen, dining and bathroom. When I filed a claim, the insurance
company wanted to do some minor work replacing part of the wood floor,
painting that was it. We live in Redlands Ca, semi arid dry low humidity
climate. Well the mold grew and the cabinets started to turn black and rot
the floor lifted. They still ignored the problem now after almost a 11
months. I retained an attorney and they have gotten a little better
and finely have done a mold test. It came back positive with Chaetomium, Aspergillus, Penicillium,
Ascorspores, Cladosporium and Basidiospores. They sent a crew out,
contained the area. Removed the walls and cabinets and treated the
framework. They left some kind of a Hepa filter that supposedly
moves 20000. cfm run for 4 days. Then they returned for a re-inspect
placed a small canister in the area with the filter running for about 10
minutes. Called me 48 hours later and said it passed. All while we lived
in the house. My questions are.
1. Should we have stayed in the house
for 11 months utilizing the kitchen and bath as normal w/ mold in the
areas?
2. What should the insurance company be doing and have done?
3. My daughter whose bedroom is closest to the exposed area became ill during
the time and medicine was $300.00?
4. Should the re-test have been done
with the filter off for several hours and shouldn't a visual also be
done before the (plastic) been removed.?. What is the industry standard?
5. Where should I go from here?. They're still dragging their feet.
6. Should
we test the whole house?
7. Should we be seen by our doctors for
health concerns?
A.
Because no Certified Mold Inspector from our nationwide mold
association has provided mold inspection and mold testing services
for your home, our company is not able to answer several of your
questions which seek FACTS and FACTUAL CONCLUSIONS about your home as
your desired answers. The information provided in your email about what
has happened to your family and home is sufficient to answer some of
your questions. Before a mold clearance test can be done after the
completion of a mold remediation project, the hepa filters must be
turned OFF for at least 24 hours PRIOR TO the clearance testing so that
the large hepa filters don't minimize the real extent of any remaining
mold contamination problem by constantly removing air spores from the
air of the mold infested area. Second, taking just one mold sample
for a clearance testing is very inadequate testing. Third, it is much
better if the clearance testing is done by an independent mold testing
company, and NOT by the mold remediator company [which has an obvious
bias to test in a way NOT to find any remaining mold infestation
problem]. Fourth, usually people should leave a mold-contaminated home
as soon as possible and not return until after successful, documented
mold remediation results. Fifth, you would be very wise to have your
home thoroughly inspected for mold and tested for mold, at your expense,
by a Certified Mold Inspector who will provide you with an unbiased mold
inspection and mold testing. Visit:
Certified
Mold Inspectors.
Then you and your lawyer will know the real truth in dealing with both your
mold removal company and your insurance company.
For more mold advice, please visit:
Mold Advice Section. Enhance your
mold
knowledge!
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Do-It-Best-Yourself Mold Solutions Phil can help you fix your own property’s mold problems at low-cost, more safely, and better-in- results than what is done by many mold inspectors and mold contractors. How can Phil help you?
1. Read Phil’s five plain-English, mold advice books to master mold inspection, testing, removal, remediation, and prevention for your house, condo, apartment, office, or workplace.
2. Buy do-it-yourself, affordable mold test kits, mold lab analysis, video inspection scope, mold cleaner, and mold killer, for the successful toxic and household mold inspection, mold testing, mold species identification and quantification, mold cleaning, mold removal, and mold remediation to find mold, kill mold, clean mold, and remove mold from your residence or commercial building.
3. Get FREE mold advice, mold help, and/or answers to your mold questions, by emailing mold expert Phillip Fry at envirodangers@yahoo.com. You can also email pictures of your mold problems in jpeg file format as email attachments. BROWSE THIS WEBSITE:
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