Mold Symptoms
December 27th, 2010 Filed Under Mold Symptoms
Discovering The Beginning Of Mold Symptoms
There are very few people in the world who are not aware of or have not been exposed to mold. It is found in every country in the world although not as prevalent in dry countries as those that have a great deal of moisture. It is very easy to recognize mold symptoms.
Mold Symptoms Photo by Bell And Jeff via Flickr
One can be sure they have mold in their home by several methods. One is the odor. The strong, musty smell, given off by mold, is very unpleasant and easily recognized. The other is distinct coloring of black spots or brown or cream colored marks, often on the ceiling, wall, windowsills and doors.
Many people do not realize that mold was even mentioned in the Bible. This is discussed in Leviticus 13 and 14 when a priest would examine a house and, if finding mold, would order stones torn out and replacements made. It is also believed it was food poisoning, caused by mold, resulting in hallucinations and other mental problems, which was responsible for the Salem Witch Trials in 1692.
History continues with the 1800’s when a mold fungus ruined the potato crops of Ireland and caused a great famine. Some people in Egypt died, when they opened an ancient tomb, because of poisonous fungus found there. Research has found that mold does, indeed, cause human illnesses and, in extreme cases, even death.
Modern symptoms of human illness caused by mold in homes can be a number of things such as dizziness, headaches, respiratory problems, sinus problems and others. Mold can also affect the nervous system and even, as shown at the Salem Witch Trials, cause hallucinations and mental problems in extreme cases. This is why, when mold appears it should be considered very seriously and every attempt made to get rid of it.
Mold usually appears around areas where there is moisture, such as might be found in bathrooms, under kitchen sinks, basements and other such places. The fungus thrives and grows very rapidly in such areas. Anyone suspecting there is mold in their house should immediately check such areas, make necessary repairs to stop moisture leakage, treat the area and keep it dry.
The mold fungus does not like, nor thrive, in heat and light. After eliminating the water or moisture source, the area should be treated with a solution to kill mold and see that it is exposed to air and become thoroughly dry. Once killed, the mold will not return unless the area becomes damp again.
Mold is everywhere, in plants, wood or anything that has moisture. It can be brought into the house on the shoes, by pets, and hundreds of other ways. This will not be harmful unless it finds a nice damp place to multiply. Since mold can become established anywhere, including restaurants, garages, offices and elsewhere, it is important that these areas be kept clean and dry. This is the only way mold symptoms will not suddenly appear and be difficult to get rid of, especially with basement mold removal. Sometimes it may be necessary to call in an expert in mold removal if one cannot solve the problem themselves.
Mold Remediation Cost
December 19th, 2010 Filed Under Mold Removal
The job of completely eliminating a mold problem and the mold remediation cost, in one’s home, depends on the severity of the problem. In cases of extreme flooding, such as occurred at Katrina, it can mean completely stripping a home, drying it out, eliminating the mold and rebuilding. This can sometimes be so expensive that the home is just leveled. Having mold in one’s basement, bathroom, sink or other area is much less expensive but requires perseverance and finding the right products to use after the cause of the mold is cleaned up.
Mold Remediation Cost Photo by Keith Williamson via Flickr
Basement mold removal can involve stripping the basement and starting from the bare walls, depending on the severity of the situation. If water is seeping through the walls, from the ground outside, then it is a matter of drying the concrete, applying mold removal products and installing moisture barriers. This can be on the walls, the floor or both. Allowing this problem to continue can cause problems in the upper part of the house as well as family health problems.
The odor of mold is very strong and distinctive. If it is severe in the basement it is going to drift upward and penetrate the entire house. This is not a pleasant atmosphere to walk into and certainly not one wishes to expose their guests to.
Mold of all kinds, and especially black mold, has long been known to cause human illnesses. Everything from headaches, dizziness, memory loss and sinus problems can result from the presence of mold. It has even been known to invade and grow in the sinus cavity, requiring surgery to remove.
People have been around mold for their entire life and, for the most part, it has been harmless. Mold seen on plants or left-over food is simply disposed of. It is when it moves into where people live, and becomes entrenched, that it becomes dangerous and needs treatment to get rid of.
Mold will grow wherever there is excessive moisture. People living in areas, such as on the river where there is a lot of moisture, have been known to find mold on their shoes in the closet, as well as other places throughout the home. Mold is commonly found around windows, windowsills and doors in these areas. Mold does not like dry areas or sunlight, therefore anyone with these conditions should investigate moisture proof windows and a type of heat that is very drying in order to eliminate the problem as much as possible.
Whenever a person discovers they have a mold problem, regardless of the location, it is essential that it be taken care of immediately. This is not only to keep it from spreading and getting out of control but for family health as well. Investigating all the information possible regarding mold, how to prevent it and what to do to get rid of it will pay off in the long run, not only in removing it but preventing it from returning.
Looking on the Internet one will find a number of recommendation for natural and manufactured products for mold removal. If the problem has gotten out of control, such as with flooding, it is a matter of calling in an expert to take care of the problem and can run into quite a large expense unless one’s insurance will cover it. However, many times one can lower all but a minimal cost by cleaning up all the moisture problems and either using natural or commercial products to eliminate the problem.
Mold Removal Products
December 12th, 2010 Filed Under Mold Removal
Do you know that molds do not only grow on edible materials such as bread but it also grows on many other material surfaces? It can grow on your carpet at home, any clothing material, wooden furniture, soil, siding of your home, garage area, etc. Now you would probably ask the question, “How to get rid of mold in homes?” the answer would be, use mold removal products that are available in the market.
Mold Removal Products Photo by Jewish Women’s Archive via Flickr
There are many products to choose from. Some of your home cleaners can do the job especially if it’s not the toxic molds. You will know if it’s toxic because it has a blacking color and it usually grows baseboards and wallboards. These types of toxic organism are bet removed by experts. If you want to know the different products you can use on removing the organisms, look below.
The first commonly used remover is the distilled white vinegar. It is used always because it is accessible and it is found in many homes. You just need to wipe the area with the vinegar and let that area dry for a couple of minutes so that the product can effectively kill the organism.
The next product that is commonly used is the chlorine beach. Again, this is very accessible because it is found in almost every home. Again, you just wipe it or pour it on the area and leave it for a couple of minutes. Be sure that you use gloves and mask in removing the organisms so you will not inhale the spores.
Another product is hydrogen peroxide which is a safer alternative. Some other remover releases fumes that can be harmful to our body. Hydrogen peroxide is commonly found in drugstores and it can also be available in supermarkets. Aside from hydrogen peroxide, the distilled vinegar is also a safe product to use.
One more product that can be used is dehumidifier. This is very reliable because what it does is reduce environmental moisture. When you have this at home, you can control the growth and spread of the organisms. The organisms grow best on damp area and surfaces that easily abhor moisture. If you want to prevent the organism’s growth and spread, buy one for home use.
If the following products above are not enough, you can now go to the supermarket and select the best remover dedicated to killing and controlling the growth of the organism. There are many brands available that you can choose from and if you want the best, buy only from companies that have good reputation.
If you do not have much time to do the task or the mold removal products is not enough, better call professional service provider to do the job for you. You can easily find them on newspaper ads, recommendation of someone you know or by browsing online. Many companies already have online websites so clients can easily find them and contact them. Be sure that you choose the best company that you can get high quality services and get a good value of your money.
Basement Mold
December 5th, 2010 Filed Under Mold Removal
Cause And Problems With Basement Mold
Basement mold is a common occurrence in areas where there is a lot of rain if the basement is not sealed correctly. Mold can be very dangerous to a person’s health and every precaution should be taken to prevent this from happening. It is a fungus that can grow anywhere there is dampness.
Basement Mold Photo by Patrick Fitzgerald via Flickr
Mold is especially dangerous to the health. It can cause headaches, dizziness, memory loss and a number of other problems. Black mold is the specially known for poisoning which is indicated by respiratory and nervous system problems.
A basement can be kept free from mold with a few precautions. The first thing a person should check is moisture coming through the walls from the outside. If this is the case walls should be treated with basement mold removal, and dried out. They should then be painted with the water resistant material, covered by a moisture barrier. This moisture barrier can then be covered with the wall board or some other type material.
The floors are especially susceptible to moisture seeping in. All basement floors should have a moisture proof barrier beneath flooring. The idea is to keep any moisture from seeping into the basement. It is also a good idea to have some type of heat to maintain an even temperature. An air purifier is a very good type to use for this purpose.
Any water pipes in the basement should be well insulated to prevent moisture from forming and dripping on the walls or floor. Many people have a washer and dryer in their basement. A careful check should be made to be sure that all water pipes are securely fastened so there is no drip.
It cannot be emphasized enough how important it is to keep the mold from any part of the home. If it is not eradicated serious health results can occur. When a home, that has a basement, is built it is very important that every possible kind of moisture barrier is used. If this is checked with the builder it can help one avoid having a problem with basement mold later on down the line.
If a person discovers they have mold in their basement, it may require tearing everything down to the bare walls. There are different mold removal products you can use to get rid of mold in your basement. A very good way to eradicate mold, that is also used, is a good scrubbing with water and bleach. Once this is done, and the basement must be dried out, then one can proceed with the waterproofing materials.
Basement mold is not only dangerous to the health but is also has a bad odor. This odor can proceed to the upper part of the house and be very noticeable. If there are leaking pipes in the upper part of the building, such as in the bathroom or kitchen sink, it will also have mold form very quickly. Anywhere that moisture can accumulate will soon have mold as a companion. This mold a can appear as green or brown patches or black spots and needs to be taken care of immediately before it spreads further.