Mold in the Home
Health concerns related to the growth of mold in homes have been featured heavily in the news causing a lot of unneeded fear of mold. I get calls regularly from people that are scared to death that they have black, or toxic mold in there home and don't know what to do. Problems do exist for someone with a moisture problem in their home who is allergic to mold, ranging from itchy eyes, coughing and sneezing, to serious allergic reactions including asthma and other respiratory problems. Even some Home Inspectors really don't understand mold. I have seen home inspectors on forums describe mold as being like cancer that if not removed will continue to grow. Some have described it as being like rust on metal, that has to also be cut out or it will continue to devour whatever it is growing on. The fact is that if any one of the requirements for mold growth, listed below, are removed it will NOT continue to grow, the easiest being water. A mold problem is a water problem. Here are a few basic simple facts about Mold. It is a Fungi and it needs water, oxygen, and a food source such as paper or wood to grow. It does not need light. Mold is part of our environment that turns dead mater, such as plants or trees back to soil. Mold spores (comparable to seeds for a plant) are everywhere. As mold grows it produces spores and they are what some people are allergic to. They are part of our environment, so they are commonly found in the air and in your home. Your home has plenty of food,(paper and wood) and Oxygen is always present so if water is allowed in, then mold will grow. Mold is an allergen, Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions to sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash. Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Mold can trigger asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. It is possible for mold exposure to irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people if present in high enough concentrations. And it is true, even though rare, some molds can produce mycotoxins that can be dangerous. So is mold dangerous in your home? The simple answer is that it can be if you are allergic to it. As you search the Internet about mold there are horror stories everywhere. If you look closely at those articles what you will find many times, is those articles are written by Mold Remediation companies. One recent study of post Katrina hurricane in New Orleans which flooded thousands of homes, found that there was no discernible increase in health issues related directly to mold. One study sited the negative health issues were similar to those found in Agriculture, which backs up the fact that mold is everywhere in our environment. So should you worry about mold in your home? Yes. A mold problem is a water problem. Water problems can cause other problems, including insects and pathogens, and is directly related to an unhealthy environment. Is your home ruined if you have a mold problem? No. Dry it up, clean it up, and live in it, and enjoy it. As more is understood about the health issues related to mold growth in interior environments, new methods for mold assessment and remediation are being put into practice. Mold assessment and mold remediation are techniques used in occupational health. Mold assessment is the process of identifying the location and extent of the mold hazard in a structure. A qualified home inspector can take air and surface samples to determine if mold is present. Mold remediation is the process of cleanup and/or removal of mold from an indoor environment. Mold remediation is usually conducted by a company with experience in construction, demolition, cleaning, airborne-particle containment-control, and the use of special equipment to protect workers and building occupants from contaminated or irritating dust and organic debris. The first step in combating mold growth is not to allow for an environment that is conducive to its growth. Controlling moisture and assuring that standing water from leaks or floods is eliminated are the most important first steps. If mold growth has already begun, the mold should be removed, and any affected surfaces should be cleaned or repaired. According to the EPA mold can be removed by cleaning with soap and water. The Internet is full of recommendations to use Chlorine Bleach to kill mold. Bleach is no longer recommended by the EPA or OSHA. Bleach will kill mold it comes in contact with but professionals widely believe that it could actually make the problem worse. Bleach dissipates quickly so it does not penetrate the surface, killing the roots. As it dissipates it leaves behind the water that will actually contribute to mold growth. Many have noticed that after treating with Bleach the mold quickly returns. Bleach can be effective on hard surfaces such as tile. Once again the key is to clean and dry.
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Of all the natural disasters that man has to deal with, Earthquakes hold a special fear. Storms, whether a hurricane coming in from the ocean or a tornado roaring across the plains usually offers some warning, and most folks know what to do to seek cover. Earthquakes on the other hand come out of nowhere with no warning and most people either freeze in place or run wildly, not knowing what to do. For thousands of years they have been blamed on God. No doubt because many times they are directly related to a volcano erupting and exploding causing death and destruction, or the Earth unexpectedly opens up swallowing homes and people. The Bible book of Matthew sites earthquakes as a sign of the "last days". Kansan's are a tough group made up of a core that has ties to the farm. When a band of thunderstorms roar through in the spring threatening tornados many don't give it a lot of thought. We are used to them. The farmers are just hoping that there isn't bad hail and are thankful for the rain they bring. But you let a trembler come through that someone in California wouldn't even pause for if they were in the middle of a sentence, and we'll talk about that for weeks. Face it, earthquakes in Kansas, that's just weird. So why would a home inspector write about earthquakes? Well, there was an article recently on www.drudgereport.com that sited an article from Wichita, Kan which had a quote from officials at the US Geological Survey that said we here in Kansas better get ready for more. So I thought it might be helpful to provide some information about our homes and businesses that in the event of a major earthquake may be of some help. The internet is loaded with information so I encourage everyone to do some research, educate yourself. Concerning your home, the main cause of injury and death during an earthquake is being struck or buried by falling debris. An earthquake comes so suddenly and lasts such a short period of time there is simply little time to think. You need to take the time and look at your surroundings and decide what could fall and injure you. Naturally TV's, bookshelves, large dressers, pictures, and so on can fall and hurt us. As far as your house itself is concerned it may be the opposite of what you think. If something looks solid and strong such as brick or rock, that is generally the most dangerous. An earthquake causes things to sway and shake and that is exactly what takes down masonry structures, so If you have a brick or stone house or fireplace stay clear of those areas. A brick wall or fireplace 8 feet tall can cause damage or injury twice that distance or 16 feet out. If you live in an older home with plaster walls and ceilings immediately seek refuge in a doorway or if you have time get out. Falling Plaster can come off ceilings and walls in big heavy pieces that can cause severe injury. Construction has changed over the years. Houses have gotten lighter, moving away from things such as plaster walls to drywall. Drywall is at least thirty percent lighter than when it first came out and stronger. Steel beams have been replaced by wooden Laminate beams. Studies have proven that this type of construction fares much better in earthquakes. Many are surprised to learn that modern houses are actually to a degree flexible. A house may sway and rock, drywall may split and separate, glass may break, but usually the structure remains standing. A typical residential house has a much better survival rate as does a concrete block and brick commercial building. What you should do to your home: Make sure your house is securely fastened to the foundation. I have been in many houses that have the foundation bolts in place but the washers and nuts were never installed. Check siding to make sure it is properly nailed. Check decks to make sure they are fastened to the house properly and screws or nails added as necessary. Basically what we are talking about is just standard home maintenance. There is a lot of information about earthquakes in Kansas. One website is KGS-Kansas Earthquakes. Another site that covers Kansas as well as other areas is www.earthquaketrack.com. I appreciate any questions or comments about my articles you may have. Please feel free to contact me. |
Larry SelleckMy goal is to have a series of articles that deal with items that may be found on the home inspection report. There will also be articles on choosing a home inspector and a realtor. This information will be based on my experience in the construction industry as well as information I research. I welcome your comments. If you have a question or would like to see an article on a particular subject please ask. Categories
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