The scientists use the phrase “mold is ubiquitous”, meaning it is everywhere. Mold occurs naturally everywhere on earth where there is food and water for it. As an example, some molds are Mother Nature’s recycling plant. There are molds that grow on the dead trees in the woods and turns them into topsoil so that new trees and plants can grow. Mold has many uses essential to the grand plan of the universe.
Some types of mold can be very beneficial. Without mold we would not have cheese, antibiotics, wine and many other important products of everyday life. On the other hand we have some potentially toxic molds such as Stacybotrys also known as "toxic black mold"
Mold travels through a number of methods. It can be carried by moving air or water. Mold can hitch a ride on an object, person or animal. Furniture, firewood or clothing can each carry mold from one location to another.
If a spore lands on an object that is food for that mold and there is sufficient water for it to grow, it will create Colony Forming Units (CFUs). These CFUs are the fuzzy splotches that you recognize as typical of mold growth.
In our homes, if mold spores find a suitable food source such as drywall paper, wood or dirt, they will grow. This is no different than when Johnny Appleseed (whose real name was John Chapman) traveled through Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana with apple seeds. He dropped apple seeds in the soil and left a legacy of apple trees.
The lesson learned from how mold starts to grow is that the underlying conditions of high moisture and a mold food source need changed after treatment for mold is complete. If the old conditions continue, new spores will land and the mold problem will return.
The use of enzyme treatment systems such as Oceanic is an effective way to eliminate mold with a treatment system that is safe and healthy for building occupants. Enzymes differ from most mold treatments by digesting the mold rendering it inert. This differs from the bulk of treatment products that poison the mold and can harm pets and family members if exposed.
Moisture control can be achieved by dehumidification, correction of leaks or changes in the heating systems and vapor barriers. There are times that building materials can be changed to materials less favorable to mold growth. Changing how contents are stored can be the difference that keeps a healthy home free from mold.
Understanding mold is building science. Solutions to mold problems require professionals that understand the science behind mold problems. Your Envirospect professional is trained and dedicated to making your home, business, school or office a healthy environment. Envirospect is a Testall approved company
First, let me tell you right up front. I do not change the oil in our cars often enough. Heck, I do not check the oil levels when I should. And my teeth? I hate to go to the dentist.
The reason I tell you this is that I admit there are things I do not do when I should. I remember those things when I am called in to a home where the mold could have been taken care of before someone got sick. Every mold professional has put off something other than mold until their little problem has become a big problem. A client should not be embarrassed to call the mold specialist when a problem has gotten bad. Everyone has “been there and done that” in some part of their life.
These are some of the most common reasons that there are delays in seeking professional help.
The truth is, just like I wait too long between oil changes, delays do happen. Mold professionals know that, understand that, and we will do everything we can to get you back in shape with a healthy home. You can be assured of our providing a judgement free zone.
The professionals at Envirospect and other TestAll Certified environmental testlng companies believe that consumers deserve answers and explanations in plain English. Confusion and high pressure hocus pocus explanations are not good business practices and not what you will receive when working with us.
Imagine picking up the flood water soaked baby blanket, your parents wedding picture or the family bible. The question of what to do with possessions, furnishing and contents is important to the financial and emotional recovery after a flood water or mold disaster. When talking about items that have a sentimental value, the understanding of “what to clean or throw out” can also a deeply emotional question.
The short story is if it has porous surfaces and is already moldy or was under flood water, it will probably need thrown away. This includes cardboard, carpet, padding, stuffed animals and upholstered furnishings. Mattresses and box springs are on that list.
Food items that have been in contact with mold or flood water should be thrown away.
Materials that have a solid surface such as plastic, glass or metal are easily cleaned and preserved. Soap and water is the simplest cleaning method. A mixture of ½ cup of Clorox to a gallon of water is a great way to disinfect the hard surfaced materials. Do not use a higher concentration of Clorox as it can result in injury to people, pets and the items the mixture contacts.
Fabric clothing is readily saved by washing in regular laundry detergent unless the fabric has been damaged. The sooner the material is cleaned, the less chance of irreversible damage to material. Mold and flood contaminants will clean out of cloth material, but damaged clothing is not restored to its original condition by washing. Leather is difficult to properly clean and should be handled by a cleaning professional as soon as possible.
The paper and cloth materials that did not get wet or damp and do not have visible mold or damaged may be preserved by simply HEPA vacuuming.
Larger appliances that have some mold exposure but have not been under water may be saved with cleaning. The exception can be the electronic systems of appliances that can be damaged by moisture or mold. Consult a professional about these items. As an example, a hard drive may be removed from a computer and salvaged, but the drive could be damaged if it is powered on while in a computer with damaged circuitry.
Food preparation appliances that have been exposed to flood water or mold will probably need replaced. The cost of cleaning some of these items will often exceed the cost of replacement. Failure to clean these can result in recontamination of the home or illness to residents.
Forced air furnaces can distribute mold, flood water disease and bacteria through an entire home. These need professionally addressed as serious health problems can be caused by airborne biological contaminants
Any handling of contaminated materials should be done with personal protective equipment such as gloves, eye protection and masks. Some contaminants can enter through the eyes and skin, especially if there is an open cut or wound. Use proper protective equipment as appropriate for the conditions.
There are some building materials used in the construction that, in all circumstances, will require replacement as opposed to cleaning. Fiberboard ductwork is one such example. Insulation is another common example.
In Summary
To minimize loss, begin the effort to protect your home and possessions as soon as it can be done safely. If attempting the work, yourself, learn about safe methods and follow proper safety precautions.
Consider consulting a professional for work beyond your comfort zone or background. Good health is priceless and improper handling of contaminated materials can result is serious health problems. Proper remediation cleaning may also protect materials from requiring replacement and save more money than the cost of the services.
Go to www.Envirospect.info for more links and additional information about Sick Building Syndrome and its effects on your health. To download a PDF copy our Article “The Top 6 Questions After Flooding”, go to: http://goo.gl/vMIU9s
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For information about mold testing professionals across the country, go to www.Testall.com Email questions to: DanH@Testall.com Like Envirospect on Facebook or connect @DanHoward251
Giving heavy duty electrical extension cords and checking that they are plugged into outlets designed to carry the load can save lives. Too many people fall victim to the logic that the cord that did not burn the last time they used it, will be safe the next time. That’s just not how that works. Go to a quality hardware store and purchase cords that are rated at 14-2 for 15 amp circuits or 12-2 for 20 amp circuits.
If there is a fireplace or wood burner in use, have the chimney checked. The high temperatures of burning wood and then cooling off damages chimney. Wood leaves a flammable creosote coating that can ignite that creosote and start a house fire. The cost of cleaning and checking a chimney is typically between $150.00 and $200.00. That is a wonderful gift for a family you care about. Check with the National Chimney Sweep Guild ( http://www.ncsg.org/) to find a qualified technician.
The issues of home health and safety can become more complicated than the examples above. Just as parents, family and friends can help with the other important issues above, a significant portion of Sick Building Syndrome work is arranged by caring family members rather than the residents of the sick or moldy building.
Picture the family with asthmatic children, or the senior that has pneumonia four times in a year. These and hundreds of other health issues are often the result of environmental problems that need corrected. Caring relatives or friends can arrange for the needed assessment and testing.
The big problem with this issue is finding qualified professionals working with accurate laboratories. A recent development is helping bring dependable environmental testing across the country. Testall.com is a source to find the right person serving where your family member lives.
Christmas is a wondrous and joyous time of year. It’s a time of giving, caring and sharing. That time of beauty is also a time of fires, carbon monoxide poisonings, falls and other tragedies in homes.
These stories are sad any time of year, but particularly during the time that is supposed to be a celebration of joy. Many times a few timely gifts like smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, proper extension cords or a service call for a furnace could make the difference between life and death, or inconvenience and homelessness.
Sometimes it’s a senior, sometimes a financially struggling family, other times it is a person with health challenges. It is those people who have the toughest time recognizing what they need to do or buy to keep themselves and their homes safe. What better gift to give than one that could save the life of someone you love?
Writing this article reminds me about what my dad did during winter weather. When all of the kids came over for dinner on Sundays, he would disappear for about 15 minutes. He would sneak outside with rags and a bucket of windshield washer liquid. He cleaned all of our windshields and headlights. He quietly came back in when he was done. We usually didn’t even know a thing about it until we went to our cars. Never, ever did we ever talk about it. The message was simple, and we all knew that he loved us. That is exactly the kind of gift I am suggesting here.
Giving new smoke detectors, or even changing the batteries in existing smoke detectors is easy to do and inexpensive. Even 15 seconds of warning about a fire can be the difference in survival. If the “change the battery” idea sounds strange to you, imagine the senior that can’t climb a ladder or the young family that used all of their batteries for their children’s toys. Getting up to a smoke detector to change the battery could be as far as the moon for a senior that had a broken hip.
Carbon monoxide detectors are as important as smoke detectors. Purchase carbon monoxide detectors that have both a digital readout and a loud alarm. The “sound only” CO detectors have a delay that allows levels in some models as high
400 PPM (parts per million) without making a peep. The threshold level that is considered unsafe is 10 PPM. The digital readout allows earlier warnings and is well worth the difference in cost. Make sure the detectors are installed near gas appliances or warm air furnace vents and where the residents can see the reading.
There will be many tragic news stories over the holidays that have their start with a furnace that was defective or not working at all. People freezing or ill from a malfunctioning furnace is one set of problems. Carbon monoxide poisoning or fires can be another outcome.
Having a furnace serviced and the needed repairs completed for someone in need can be a very loving gift. A service call where the furnace operation and vent system are checked and adjusted usually costs between $75 and $150. It is a great idea to make sure that the gas lines or oil lines and tanks are checked at the same time.
Taking the time to help someone apply of LIHEAP fuel assistance could be a gift of an hour’s time that make winter bearable for someone in need. This can be done online at http://www.dhs.pa.gov
There are a number of things to check in a home when someone is using supplemental heaters to try to stay warm. Check the heaters themselves for evidence of wear, fraying or burning. If there is any damage to the heater, it needs replaced.
Check the area where the heater is located. Make sure there is a safe distance to combustible materials and surfaces. Oil filled heaters are generally safer than those with exposed elements.