Be Wary of Mold in Your Home

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http://www.wsoctv.com/money/2060935/detail.html

Be Wary of Mold in Your Home

March 24, 2003

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A Charlotte woman claims black mold inside her house made her so sick that she had to move out. Anita Wildauer has severe neurological problems which affect how she walks. Wildauer says what made her sick was toxic black mold inside her house that she says doctors also found inside her body. But, Eyewitness News had no independent confirmation of that.

"It's an invisible illness. It's almost like carbon monoxide. The only problem is I didn't see any mold until they pulled up the floors," Wildauer said. Wildauer says they found water under every floor in her house. Her insurance company moved her to a hotel and immediately ripped out the floors, ceiling and some of the walls. But when she was given the all clear to move back in, she hired an expert to find out if the source of the toxic mold had been eliminated. "That's still wet right there. You go touch it and its soaking wet," said Dr. Lipsey. Lipsey is a toxologist who's examined hundreds of homes for black mold. He found mold still growing on the refrigerator and moisture inside windows. Lipsey also blamed clean up crews for not removing black mold stains. "With the black mold if its stackey botris, you can't kill it with bleach, you've got to physically remove the material," Lipsey said. Lipsey says he's seeing a growing number of cases of black mold all over the country and he attributes it to faulty building materials. Lipsey says if you see signs of leaks at your house, warping or peeling, have it checked right away. Check it before it has a chance to make you sick. If you have a leak at your house, in many cases it's covered under your homeowners insurance. But, you need to file a claim within 48 hours of discovering the problem or they may not cover you.

Copyright 2003 by WSOCTV.com.

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Monitoring the relative humidity in a home serves the same function

as a smoke detector. When relative humidity is routinely above 60%

RH, look for the source of the moisture which is a water leak or

infiltrating high humidity air. Keep the %RH below 60% or expect

mold to grow. Wal-mart or Radio Shack for +$15. Find the water leak

or dehumidify. You can avoid all of these problems.

> http://www.wsoctv.com/money/2060935/detail.html

>

> Be Wary of Mold in Your Home

>

> March 24, 2003

>

> CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A Charlotte woman claims black mold inside her

house made her so sick that she had to move out.

>

> Anita Wildauer has severe neurological problems which affect how

she walks.

>

> Wildauer says what made her sick was toxic black mold inside her

house that she says doctors also found inside her body. But,

Eyewitness News had no independent confirmation of that.

>

>

> " It's an invisible illness. It's almost like carbon monoxide. The

only problem is I didn't see any mold until they pulled up the

floors, " Wildauer said.

>

> Wildauer says they found water under every floor in her house. Her

insurance company moved her to a hotel and immediately ripped out the

floors, ceiling and some of the walls.

>

> But when she was given the all clear to move back in, she hired an

expert to find out if the source of the toxic mold had been

eliminated.

>

> " That's still wet right there. You go touch it and its soaking

wet, " said Dr. Lipsey.

>

> Lipsey is a toxologist who's examined hundreds of homes for black

mold.

>

> He found mold still growing on the refrigerator and moisture inside

windows.

>

> Lipsey also blamed clean up crews for not removing black mold

stains.

>

> " With the black mold if its stackey botris, you can't kill it with

bleach, you've got to physically remove the material, " Lipsey said.

>

> Lipsey says he's seeing a growing number of cases of black mold all

over the country and he attributes it to faulty building materials.

>

> Lipsey says if you see signs of leaks at your house, warping or

peeling, have it checked right away. Check it before it has a chance

to make you sick.

>

> If you have a leak at your house, in many cases it's covered under

your homeowners insurance.

>

> But, you need to file a claim within 48 hours of discovering the

problem or they may not cover you.

>

> Copyright 2003 by WSOCTV.com.