How To Remove Mold From Walls?
It’s common knowledge that mold can creep up walls, but did you know it can do so inside the walls as well as out? You don’t have to see mold to be affected by its presence, but you do need figure out how to remove it fast, keep it from spreading, and causing both health and structural issues. How Can You Tell If Your Walls Have Mold? The most obvious sign of a mold problem is visible. Green, brown, orange or black spots on your walls pretty much signify there is an issue, but there are other, less apparent signs when of mold infestation. Cracked, peeling or discolored paint, wall bulging, or a musty, damp smell [...]
How Sunlight Fights Mold Exposure & Mold Illnesses
Anyone who is exposed to mold can become sick by it. Allergies, asthma, and other respiratory illnesses can manifest from mold and cause lifelong problems. However, there are several ways to combat these ailments, one of which is through sunlight. What Causes Mold Illness? Exposure to molds usually occurs in water-damaged indoor environments. Here, they begin to produce mycotoxins and noxious gases called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Left unchecked, people living in these conditions are at risk for various sickness due to the inhalation and ingestion of mold spores. Immune dysfunction, chronic inflammation, allergies, asthma, gastrointestinal disorders, cognitive issues, and neurological symptoms can all take place as a result of mold exposure. How Can Sunlight Combat [...]
Hurricane Harvey Puts Public At Risk With Massive Mold Exposure Risk
Hurricane Harvey’s devastation posed an immediate danger to the lives and health of many Texans, but as cleanup begins, residents are not yet out of the woods. As the waters recede and evacuees return home, they face another threat—mold. Harvey's torrential rain, destructive winds, and widespread flooding have so far taken the lives of 44 people and caused over one million more to evacuate their homes. The destruction Harvey left in its wake will likely make it one of the costliest storms in U.S. history. How Does Mold Thrive In Hurricane Conditions? Mold growth after hurricanes is widespread. In 2005, extensive mold growth occurred in New Orleans homes affected by Hurricane Katrina—even in those that had [...]
How Does Mold On Drywall In New Construction Happen?
Finding mold in new construction is not only frustrating but costly. Yes, it can happen, but mold—which can harm the structure of your home and family’s health—IS avoidable, if you know what to look for. How Does New Drywall Attract Mold? Recent findings suggest that some instances of mold in new drywall start at the manufacturing stage. Drywall is made of gypsum plaster (which consists of recycled drywall reclaimed from other building sites) pressed between two thick sheets of paper made from recycled newspapers. It appears the paper exterior is the culprit behind mold growth in new construction. To find the cause, researchers disinfected wallboard discs to remove any traces of mold or bacteria. Then, they [...]
Sick Teacher In NJ Awarded $1.8 Million Due To Mold Exposure
A Millburn, New Jersey music teacher, Mary Jean Alsina, was awarded nearly $2 million for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages after a judge ruled that classroom mold was responsible for her asthma and other chronic lung problems. Essex County Superior Court Judge Christine Farrington handed down the $1.8 million dollar verdict in the tenured teacher’s favor in April 2016. Alsina filed suit against the school district three years earlier, after she said she believed she had been exposed to mold while working in a particular room in the middle school. While teaching in this room, she had complained about a musty smell and damp air, water dripping from the ceiling, and stains and seepage [...]
How Much Does Water Damage Repair Cost?
Repairing water damage can be costly, depending upon a few variables—the location of the damage, how long it’s gone unnoticed and what materials are affected. The cost of the problem can also increase regarding health and safety issues. The best way to avoid costly cleanups, hospital bills, and renovations is to address any potential leaks, or flooding, as soon as you notice them. Prevention Is Key In Avoiding Water Damage Stopping water damage before it starts is always the best defense. Routinely check for leaks around your home and repair any cracks and holes, replace old pipes, varnish wood surfaces, install sealants around your doors and windows, and make sure a proper ventilation system is in [...]
Could Mold Fungal Infection Cause Alzheimer’s Disease?
While mold is known to cause illnesses such as asthma, allergies and other respiratory issues, Alzheimer’s disease has also been found to have a possible connection to mold exposure. Alzheimer’s is a heartbreaking progressive and degenerative disorder that is diagnosed by the presence of memory loss and disorientation. While scientists have proven the brains of people with Alzheimer’s are different than those without it, it is not yet known what causes the disease. However, some recent research points to mold as one of the possible, and main, culprits. How Does The Brain Of An Alzheimer’s Patient Differ From Others? Plaques—abnormal clusters of chemically “sticky” proteins—and tangles are the prime suspects in cell death and tissue loss [...]
How To Get Rid Of Mold Under The Floor
There is no such thing as living in an entirely mold-free environment. There are more than 100,000 kinds of mold in existence, and most have a beneficial purpose—they decompose biological matter that would otherwise drown the world in waste. But when mold spores drift inside your home and find a damp environment, they can grow and prove hazardous to your health. If mold finds a home under your flooring, you’ll need to fix the cause, remove the mold and replace the flooring. You Have Mold Growing Under Your Floor—Now What? First things first: Don’t track mold through the clean rooms in your home. Place your mold-free shoes outside of the contaminated area to slip into as [...]
What Are Biggest Mistakes When Cleaning Mold
When homeowners suspect they have a mold issue, some decide to clean it themselves. It’s possible that they can do so with the proper equipment and technique in place, but occasionally, they bite off more than can chew by either underestimating the size of the job or using the wrong materials. Here’s how you can avoid disaster in a larger mold problem or possible health issues down the road. Do NOT Use Bleach! You’ll see plenty of tutorials online suggesting bleach kills mold—it doesn’t. While it may change your mold white, it won’t kill the organism. Bleach helps create an environment for mold to grow, and when you spray bleach on mold, all you’re doing is [...]
Why Is It A Bad Idea To Do Mold Remediation Yourself?
When it comes to mold removal, you may be getting more than you bargained for if you try to do the job yourself, without the proper tools or experience. Mold can affect the health of everyone in your home, and if you don’t complete the job correctly, it can create a larger issue for you, your family and your property. What tools are needed for mold removal? To perform a mold remediation job properly, special supplies and equipment are required. Just a fan or open window generally won't do—air filtration devices that are strategically placed and are vented out through a window to create negative air pressure are needed to ensure that no contaminants enter the [...]
When Should I Have My House Tested For Mold?
It’s not always necessary to do a home check for mold—sometimes it’s in an easily-accessible area that you can see plainly, but other times mold can proliferate quickly and hide in hard-to-get-to places, like inside walls, under carpets, and in crawlspaces. Because mold can adversely affect the health of you, your family and pets, it’s best to have your home tested if you suspect there is an infestation. There are key moments in which it’s wise for a mold remediation company to test your home, and if mold is found, to remove it promptly and safely: When you are purchasing a new residence If flooding or a leak has occurred somewhere in your home If you [...]
What is the New York State Mold License Law & How Does It Affect You?
New York State’s mold law went into effect on January 1, 2016. Any private or public property that has had a moisture intrusion event, mold growth, resident/occupant complaint(s), or a due diligence request can affect you if you own, manage or maintain a property. What Does The Law Define As Mold? “Mold” refers to any multicellular fungi growth capable of creating toxins that—even with minimal exposure—can cause pulmonary, respiratory, neurological, or other, illnesses. A wide variety of events can fall under a mold assessment, and remediation regulated definition, so it’s best to be not only prepared and but well informed regarding what, and who, the law covers. Who Is Required To Obtain A Mold Assessment And [...]
How Mold Affects Indoor Air Quality?
According to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), the air we breathe indoors is often more polluted than the air outdoors, especially in the major industrialized cities, and this can adversely affect our health. What is Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)? The air quality in and around your home or office, as it relates to the health and comfort of the people inside, is referred to as Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). Mold is just one of thousands of pollutants that can affect the air you breathe indoors, and there are over 100,000 different types. Understanding and combatting common pollutants indoors can help reduce your risk of health concerns. Otherwise, potentially damaging effects may be experienced both in the [...]
What Is The Difference Between Toxic And Non-Toxic Mold?
Where Can Mold Be Found? Mold can be found anywhere, indoors and out. Outside, mold proliferates in shady, damp areas and places where leaves or other vegetation is decomposing. Inside, it can be found in basements, kitchens, and bathrooms—anywhere humidity is a factor. Drywall, ceiling tiles, carpets, furniture, ductwork, roofing, paneling, wallpaper, and the areas around plumbing pipes are some places that can harbor mold if the necessary growing conditions are present. What Kinds Of Molds Are There? The USDA estimates that there are 100,000 or more types of mold, which can appear in a number of different shades or hues including black, white, yellow, green, pink to name a few. The color of mold can [...]
House Flooding And What To Do? The Dangers Of Mold After A Flood.
If your home has been flooded, chances are, mold will soon follow. Here’s what you can do to clean it up and take precaution against it returning. How To Dry Out Your Home After A Flood It’s imperative to get the water out of your home as quickly as possible, as mold spores can start growing within a day or two after it becomes flooded. The quicker you are at removing floodwaters from your residence, the greater the likelihood of preventing mold altogether. Make sure your home’s structure is safe before entering. Once inside, remove anything that isn’t waterlogged or wet, including furniture, clothing and other personal items that are still dry. This way, you’ll have [...]
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