Category: Home Inspectors

MOLD REMEDIATION GUIDE: MOLD IS A REAL THREAT

As a mold remediation professional, you know mold is more prevalent than the average person might realize. Although exposure to certain types of mold is harmless in small doses, large mold colonies that develop in moist, low-airflow areas can cause serious harm to anyone who occupies a building with mold.

This fungal life form grows in multicellular structures called hyphae. Hyphae have a thread-like shape and can be used to differentiate mold from single-cell fungi, which are called yeasts. When mold spreads into groups of multiple hyphae, it is called a colony.

Mold emits small airborne elements called spores as a means of reproduction. Trace amounts of mold spores are nearly always in the air you breathe outdoors, but in an enclosed environment like a building, the presence of large mold colonies can create high concentrations of mold spores that will eventually make their way into the respiratory tract of nearby humans.

HEALTH EFFECTS OF TOXIC MOLD

Exposure to spores can have moderate to serious health effects on people. These effects are magnified for immune-compromised individuals and can include respiratory agitation, respiratory infection, allergic reactions, rash, cold-flu type symptoms and in extreme cases even death.

The spores that molds emit contain natural poisons called mycotoxins. These toxins disrupt human cellular structures and processes — for example, protein synthesis, DNA and RNA synthesis. In more severe cases, neural effects have been reported, which include degradation of eyesight and color differentiation, deterioration of the visual field and reduced cognitive function.

Of the more than 21 million Americans living with asthma, approximately 4.6 million — nearly a quarter of all those affected — are believed to suffer from the condition because of exposure to mold. While this study was focused on fungus exposure in homes, rather than commercial buildings, the estimated cost of medical expenses incurred due to these cases was $3.5 million.

Mold Removal Tips and Cleaning Guide

Mold Removal Tips

This project is meant to serve as a guide for anyone who has experienced water damage and mold inside their building.  The methods seen here are just recommendations, and your specific mold removal specialist may choose to do things different.  Use descretion when deciding what is best for you

Containment for mold removal

A containment should be established before removing moldly building materials over 10 sq. feet.  The containment serves as a barrier and isolates the work zone from the remaining indoor environment.

Cover the flooring

Mold removal techniques involve the demolition of building materials – drywall and plaster.  Cover the flooring to protect the finished flooring within your work zone.

Note:  Not all flooring has to be covered.  Some mold removal companies will wipe the surfaces of the floor with an approved anitmicrobial solution before laying plastic on the floor.

Mold Sealants

Some mold removal specialist will use foam or silicone sealants to fill gaps in between the building materials. Filling the gaps in these areas will help prevent air, from exterior sources, intruding into the enclosure.

Note: Try to use these materials sparingly. A little goes a long way

Mold Removal Machines

Mold removal experts use specialized machines that filter mold spores and particles out of the air.  Mold Removal Machines are proficient at removing particles (such as mold spores) by passing the air through a HEPA filter.  The efficiency of a HEPA filter is 99.9% of particles 2-200 microns.

Note:  Directionality – what way do you point your negative air machine and how often do you change the filters?  Mold removal machines need to be broken down, cleaned, and each filter changed prior to or after finishing your job.

A Guide For Toxic Black Mold Removal

When a mold inspector is performing mold testing, any amount of Stachybotrys or toxic black mold is considered an automatic failed test. The reason for this is that there should never be any amount of these toxic species of mold in an indoor environment. Its presence alone is almost always an indicator of current or past water intrusion and mold growth on drywall somewhere.

While this species of mold is different in the fact that its mold spores release mycotoxins into the air, the process for Toxic Black Mold Removal is no different than any other professional mold remediation. The key word here is “professional”. When black mold is present the removal should not be attempted by anyone, even a contractor unless the have training specific to mold remediation. If you are considering taking on this job yourself, please take a look at all of the following steps needed to complete the job correctly and safely first.

Create Temporary Containment

Wear Mold Respirator and Full Tyvek Body Suit

HEPA Vacuum

Remove Contaminated Building Materials

Apply Anti-Microbial Cleaning Chemicals

Run Air Scrubbers for 72 Hours

Thorough Cleaning of HVAC System

Clearance Test to Ensure Job Completed Properly

Risk vs. Reward

We understand that nobody likes to pay for expensive services and mold remediation definitely falls under that category. At the same time we hope that the above list gives you a better idea about what is involved in the process of black mold removal and you see why the price tag on the service is as high as it is. If you truly want to get rid of black mold, hiring a professional is the only option to avoid hazardous living conditions

Mold Inspection, Evaluation, Removal and Remediation

Mold is found everywhere: indoors (100,000 spores per gram in carpet dust), outdoors (75,000 spores per cubic meter in summer air), and especially on the Web. Black mold (Stachybotrys) gets all the press, but it is by no means the most dangerous of the frequently found molds.

Truly Useful Information on Mold Testing and Remediation (Removal)

Here, and in the pages listed in the left panel, is our version of “All You Really Need To Know About Inspection, Evaluation and Removal of Indoor Mold:”

A “mold-free” building is an unnatural state and an impossible goal. Every breeze, draft or visitor brings a variety of molds in. The objective should be a normal indoor environment, without conditions that are unusually hospitable to the growth of naturally occurring molds.

Today mold X, tomorrow Y. Or here X, there (somewhere) Y. One must not read too much into snapshots of an ecology, as would be shown by either bulk or air samples. The air is a soup of different mold spores, and whichever one happens to land on a favorable spot will colonize it. Others that land nearby may fight for the same territory; it’s always a contest as long as the conditions for growth are favorable.

The existence of any visible mold — no matter what kind — inside a home is an indication of something wrong, i.e. an existing or prior moisture problem that should be corrected along with any decontamination.

No variety of mold can be said to have zero adverse health effects in all people.

Stachybotrys (“Black Mold”) is not the most dangerous of the frequently found molds.

Stachy needs a constant source of moisture. It loves wet drywall, but is seldom found on wood. 

Its claim to fame is the toxins in its body, and if you ate enough of them (some say one square inch) you could be dead in a hurry.

However, nobody — NOBODY — has ever died from breathing Stachy spores.

It is incapable of growing in the human body, but is equally toxic whether dead or alive.

Infectious organisms (such as some varieties of Aspergillus) may have sheaths that are less toxic, but they are capable of colonizing the lungs and then migrating to (for example) the brain. People have died from these molds.

Mold

Mold Basics

Molds can be found most anywhere – indoors and out.  There are thousands of types of mold in Tennessee and all over the world, many of which produce spores.  Spores spread easily through the air and can form new mold growth on surfaces when conditions are right.  Above all else, molds need moisture to live and grow.  If there is mold growing in your home, there must be a source of moisture or a water problem.

What are the health effects of mold?

Mold is usually not a problem indoors unless it finds a damp environment and starts to multiply.  Molds can produce allergens, irritants, and in some cases, mycotoxins. Many people have no reaction to mold.  Allergic reactions and irritation are the most common health effects for people sensitive to mold.  Mold exposure can also trigger asthma attacks in people with asthma

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a link between mold and other health effects such as memory loss, lethargy and acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage among infants has not been proven. The term “Toxic Mold” is often used by the media, but it is not accurate.  While some molds do produce toxins, the molds themselves are not toxic or poisonous.  Hazards presented by molds that produce mycotoxins are the same as other common molds that may grow in your home.

Should I test my home for mold?

In general, it is not necessary to test for mold.  Both the CDC and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) do NOT recommend testing.  No matter what type of mold is present, you should clean it up and make efforts to prevent further mold growth.  Since the effect of mold on people can vary greatly, the presence of mold in the home does not imply a health risk.

Tips for mold prevention:

Fix leaky pipes, roofs and windows

Maintain low indoor humidity, ideally 30-50%.

Perform regular HVAC inspections and maintenance

Do not carpet bathrooms and basements

Ventilate shower, laundry and cooking areas

Promptly clean up and dry out your home after flooding

Why A Mold Inspection Air Test Is Useful In The Winter

Having a mold inspection air test during the winter months isn’t generally top on our lists of winter home concerns. Many homeowners consider mold to be a spring, summer and fall problem, when water events can cause sudden floods or heat and humidity stick around and get trapped indoors. But mold can grow all year round, and a small problem that begins in the winter can grow bigger by the spring and bigger still by the summer months, making an air test in the winter an important tool in identifying mold problems.

Mold can grow in your home during the winter for many reasons. One common reason is that your furnace may have a built-in humidifier to add moisture to dry winter air. When combined with decreased ventilation and high temperatures, the right conditions for mold growth can arise in even the coldest of months. Another way mold can form in your home is in improperly insulated spaces, where warm indoor air meets a cold exterior wall, forming condensation. Moisture is the single most important factor when it comes to mold growth, and, along with humidity, is one of the things we look for during a mold inspection in the winter.

Where Mold Likes to Grow

During any mold inspection air test at SafeAir, we generally start in one of two places: the basement or the attic. Year-round, they’re the most common places that mold likes to grow in your home, and a mold inspection in the winter can help reveal areas that may become bigger concerns later in the year. Basements are particularly prone to mold because they are often under-insulated, have less traffic, have water sources or are at risk for leaks, and have restricted airflow. At the top of your home, an air test in the winter can reveal a great deal of how your home is coping with increased heating and what problems that warm air could be causing in your attic.

The Benefits of A Mold Inspection Air Test

Having a mold inspection in the winter can help you keep your home and family healthy all year round. Catching mold early can save you time, money, and the headache of remediation by dealing with any mold growth while it’s small and hasn’t caused damage or made anyone ill. An air test in the winter compared with one in the summer can tell you a lot about your indoor air quality and the areas in your home that may need improvement. Mold isn’t the type of problem that goes away on its own – to be certain it’s gone for good, a thorough, professional mold inspection in the winter months is needed to prevent it from continuing to grow and spread.

Prevention is the best method

In the end, the adage ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’ applies to mold as well. Preventing mold, through proactive measures like fixing leaks, upgrading ventilation, and by having an air test in the winter are some of the best ways to ensure that mold growth is caught early and removed before it begins to affect your home and your health

WHEN DO YOU NEED A MOLD INSPECTION?

Whether you are moving into a new home or conducting annual maintenance on your own, one of the biggest problems you and your home inspector might not be able to detect is mold. Mold can be tricky to spot and even trickier to remove depending on its type and severity.

Mold 101

Mold is something that occurs normally and naturally outside. It helps to break down dead organic plant or animal matter into materials that can be reused by nature. Mold is incredibly important to our ecosystem, but it should stay outside! You can naturally encounter mold and mold spores every day outside without having any negative results, as long as you aren’t allergic. Once mold moves indoors, it becomes less useful and much more harmful. Without the air circulation and outdoor environment, the mold and its spores will multiply (and you’ll breathe them in) in larger concentrations.

Why Does Mold Like the Inside if It Comes From the Outside?

Mold relies on dead organic material to stay “alive,” so it is constantly releasing spores to find new things to feed and live on. Homes are a restaurant for mold and mold spores, as they are made of tons of different materials that mold loves—wood, drywall, fabric, and paper to name a few. Regardless of how appetizing your home is, mold still needs water and moisture to thrive. If you can control and eliminate moisture, mold should not be able to grow in your home. A professional mold inspection can identify spots susceptible to mold growth and give you tips on preventing mold, even if they don’t find any mold currently growing.

Getting Rid of Mold is a Tall Task

Mold remediation or mold removal is the process that a professional contractor will go through to make your home safe to live in again after finding mold. All materials affected by mold need to be completely removed from the home, as spores are still living on them. As parts of your home structure may be affected, they will need to be replaced with the proper materials. The more damage mold has done to your home, the more you will need to pay to remedy the damage

Trust the Mold Inspector on Mold, Not the Home Inspector

Part of your home-buying process is hiring a home inspector to walk through the home and identify any potential problems before you move in. However, most home inspectors are not skilled at identifying mold problems. Mold can be hidden away in moist areas like underneath baseboards, beneath carpet, or lurking behind a paint job.

TESTING FOR MOLD – SCAM OR SCIENCE?

Let’s start with a quiz.  Which house has a higher mold spore count?

The room on the left is a bathroom with significant mold growth on the walls and ceilings.  This was due to the lack of a bathroom fan.  The photo on the right is a basement with no visible mold growth, but a damp rug and a strong musty odor.  Mold testing was performed in both areas.

Why such weird results?

Despite the heavy staining from the mold growth in the bathroom (left), the flat growth profile did not lead to substantial spreading of spores.  The high spore count in the basement (right) was due to moisture trapped in the rug.  Despite the fact the area rug was only 6′ across, the constant exposure to vapor emissions from the concrete slab led to a tremendous amount of mold growth.  Amazingly, very little mold growth was visible.  This is common with carpeting, as the mold grows within the pad and carpet fibers without much visual evidence.  These are both good examples of when mold testing is helpful.

When should you test your house for mold?

Before any sampling is conducted, you must first identify the potential results.  This may sound obvious, but many inspection companies charge thousands of dollars for sampling without ever identifying a real benefit.  They may provide their clients with pages and pages of data, but no actionable information.   Before any sampling is collected, you must first identify potential actions you’ll take based on the results.

You don’t see visible mold, but you have high humidity

If your home suffers from condensation on the windows, this is often an indication of poor air flow and high humidity.  High humidity is one of the main causes of mold growth.  In these scenarios, it is reasonable to suspect that mold growth may be occurring in the home and therefore, testing is a worthwhile option.  This is especially true if you see condensation on a modern, double pane window.

You’ve found visible mold growth, but it’s unclear what materials have been affected

Let’s say you own a condo and you find mold growth on an exterior wall behind a bed.  Your inspector concludes that the mold growth is due to condensation from a poorly insulated wall.  The extent of the actual growth is obvious, but the extent of the settled mold spores is not.  During mold growth’s cycle, thousands, even millions of spores can be released into the air.

Important Things You Need To Know Before Choosing A Mold Inspector

There are so many mold inspection companies out there in the market, and we can get overwhelmed with all the choices that lay before us. Which company should we choose? Is that company reliable? Will they be able to help me? We know that choosing a mold consulting company can be a difficult and challenging process and therefore, we have put together four important things that you need to know before choosing a mold inspector for your home or office.

Are Mold Remediation Or Cleaning Services Included?

There may lie a conflict of interest for the firm to conduct both the inspection as well as the remediation of mold. You may not be able to trust the mold inspector completely as well since there is a possibility that they may use the inspection to their advantage and profit from the discovery of mold. It will be best for you to engage a third-party company for your initial investigation and testing so as to get a neutral and unbiased opinion.

How Reputable is the Firm?

There are many companies online that you can choose from. To prevent yourself from wasting unnecessary time and effort calling every firm, you can do some homework beforehand. Look up each company online and check out the customer testimonials or reviews about the mold inspector. This will be a good way to gauge the reputation of the firm, if it is worth continuing your search. Quality companies should have a list of satisfied customers, and probably personal statements from past clients who endorsed their services. The more highly rated the reviews and personal statements are, the higher the chances are that the mold inspector is someone good and reliable.

Is the Firm in Good Standing with the BBB (Better Business Bureau)?

Another great way to determine the reputation of the firm is to see if the firm is in good standing with the BBB (Better Business Bureau). The BBB is a great platform for customers to assess the quality, ethicality and honesty of the mold companies. If a company has zero complaints and favorable ratings, you are probably in good hands!

Does the Firm Has a Professional Liability Insurance?

Also known as the Errors and Omissions insurance (E&O insurance). The E&O insurance is a form of liability insurance. Most of the reputable and quality companies carry general liability (GL) insurance.  This is because E&O insurance is usually expensive and cost prohibitive for most mold inspection firms.   Therefore, majority of the mold inspectors do not carry this form of insurance. By engaging companies with such insurance can provide you with a higher level of protection.

Mold Testing & Indoor Air Quality Consulting

From mold remediation to air quality testing, have the tools and the skills to handle all of your property inspection needs. If you’re purchasing a new property, you can’t afford to sign your name on the dotted line without getting an accurate picture of the property’s condition from team of inspectors.

As an established  Mold \ IAQ inspection company with over a decade of experience, helped countless area residents get the answers they deserve about their current or prospective property. here to do the same for you.

When customers seek a locally owned and operated  Mold \ IAQ inspector they can trust, they choose us because:

ACAC-certified

An active member of the IAQA

An AIHA-accredited microbiology laboratory

experienced Mold \ IAQ inspector is known for producing nothing less than stellar results. When you turn to us for help, we’ll present our findings in a clear and concise manner that enables you to make an informed decision.