About Mold
Mold…Literally, a growing concern. National media attention has alerted the public to the destructive and possibly toxic dangers of hidden mold spores that could affect their family’s health and their homes. EPA studies indicate that air levels of indoor pollutants may be two to three times higher than outdoor levels. Mold, the most dangerous offender of all, often goes undetected because of its invisibility. Most people spend as much as 90% of their time indoors and are not aware of the health hazards created by this pollutant. You owe it to yourself and your family to minimize your exposure to mold spores in the indoor environment. We recommend testing for mold today!
If the home you are thinking about purchasing has mold,
do not panic! You can remove unusual mold levels from the home, and bring it back to the original condition.
NOTE: If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean the mold, but do not fix the water problem, the mold will grow back.
If the contaminated area involved is very large, you may wish to consider hiring a professional. Call us at 1-888-508-MOLD (6653).
MOLD PREVENTION STEPS
- Step 1 - Eliminate Moisture
- Clean gutters and divert drainpipes away from the house
- Cut back overhanging tree branches and remove trees that are too close to the house
- Grade your yard away from the house, 1/4" to the foot for at least 10'
- Run a dehumidifier in the basement
- Vent bathroom fans to the outside
- Vent dryers to the outside
- Areas that may require professional help:
- Repair all foundation and floor cracks
- Apply waterproofing to walls and floor
- Install a sump pump and/or a French drain system
- The sump pump must have a cover
- If you have a high water table we recommend a back up generator to supply power to the sump pump as well as the major electrical systems of the house
- Step 2 - Do Not Over-Insulate Your Home
- Insulation will absorb water like a sponge
- Never insulate a damp or dirt floor basement
- When insulating the attic, do not block off soffit vents - use vent chutes
- Block off (fire block) all plumbing and electrical chasses or pathways to the attic.
- Install a cover over the attic staircase. This will prevent heat loss in the winter (upward) and heat migration (downward) in the summer
- A house that is "too tight" can actually be a health hazard. Use common sense and don't trade air quality for energy efficiency.
- Step 3 - Ventilation
- Soffits
- Rule #1 - The airflow at the soffit vent (intake) must be equal to or greater than the airflow at the exhaust ( the ridge vent)
- Typically the best application is a metal strip vent for wood soffits or fully perforated vinyl soffits for vinyl siding.
- Ridge
- Just as in soffit vents - there are different types of ridge or roof vents. We have found the best type to be the hard plastic vents with baffles that promote negative air pressure.
- Gable vents do not provide enough air flow and should be blocked when using a ridge and soffit system
- Roof vents usually do not provide a balanced exhaust
- Roll vents (cobra style - unbaffled) are usually flattened to the point of providing almost no airflow at all
- Power fans can be used in certain applications.
- Step 4 - Remediate Properly
- Engineering controls
- Use containment barriers
- Create negative air pressure and use air scrubbers in the containment area to prevent living spaces from becoming contaminated
- Step 5 - Remove Mold
- Methods could be demolition, ice blasting, chemicals and/or hand tool cleaning
- Apply a disinfectant with an application of biocide - this application can be sprayed or fogged. Typical cleaners/disinfectants would be fosters 40/80, or shockwave.
- Apply a cleaner/biocide to remove stains and kill mold on wood surfaces. A Typical cleaner would be IAQ 1000.
- Apply a long-term anti-growth - this is usually applied with a high pressure airless sprayer. A typical anti-growth would be IAQ 6000 or Aftershock.
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"Quality Without Compromise”
For more information call 508-294-5756
