Mold Control Tips For Homeowners

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Article Title:

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Mold Control Tips For Homeowners

Article Description:

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Suspect mold problems in your home? Need mold testing

information or mold inspection information. Certified

Florida mold inspector serving Broward Dade and Palm Beach

County including Miami and Ft Lauderdale provides info and

help with home or house mold test problems in South Florida.

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904 Words; formatted to 65 Characters per Line

Distribution Date and Time: 2009-08-11 11:12:00

Written By: Daryl Watters

Copyright: 2009

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Mold Control Tips For Homeowners

Copyright © 2009 Daryl Watters

A Accredited Mold Inspection Service, Inc.

http://www.floridamoldinspectors.us/

Tips on Mold Control

Mold is a member of the fungi kingdom. They are not plants

because they lack chlorophyll. However, they are plant-like in

some respects. For example, like some simple plants such as

mosses and ferns, mold generates seed-like reproductive particles

called spores that are designed to move in air. These mold

spores, being airborne exist indoors as well as outdoors. Both

the residents and the employee's health are at stake if the mold

spores indoors are at elevated levels.

Mold causes lots of health problems:

* According to a well respected MAYO clinic finding, molds cause

almost all sinus infections.

* According to a well-respected Institute Of Medicine study,

mold, mold odor, and moisture in buildings have been linked to

many upper respiratory problems such as allergy (itchy eyes,

runny nose, coughing, sneezing) as well as asthma problems in

asthmatics (tightness of chest and sometimes very serious

difficulty breathing).

* According to other scientific studies mold odor, even in the

absence of spores has been linked to a two fold or 200% increased

chance of asthma development in children.

It is also well known that mold can cause skin rash. In some rare

cases, it can cause flu-like organic toxic dust syndrome, and a

more long term condition with pneumonia like symptoms known as

hypersensitivity pneumonitis. In persons with a compromised

immune system, it can cause infections of the lungs or other

parts of the body. Toxic mold can cause serious toxic reactions

if eaten, or via other exposure routs. Toxic mold such as

Tricoderma, Fusarium, Mamnonellia, some species of Penicillium,

and Aspergillus, and of course the much feared Stachybotrys also

known as toxic black mold has not yet been proven to cause toxic

reactions when breathed in at the levels found in residential and

office settings.

Typically, it is not all the people in the house who are

affected. It is people with asthma or allergy, small children,

infants, elders, and people who are already suffering with grave

health problems that face acute problems. In this mold testing

firms experience women are almost always much more sensitive to

mold odor than men.

" Prevention is better than cure " can be followed in controlling

the development of mold. If you can adhere to these tips on mold

control, then you might keep away from perilous ailments and

expensive mold removal services.

Homeowner Tips

* When you notice plumbing or roof leaks indoors you have to

respond immediately. If wet areas or materials are dried within

24 to 48 hours, the mold growth can usually be restricted.

* The drip pans of the air conditioner should be kept clean and

the drain lines free and unhindered. Condensation leak related

mold under AC units is very common. By the way mold in or near

your AC is one of the most detrimental places for mold to occur

because the AC will bring it to you via your ducts.

* Ensure the slope of the ground is at a distance from the

foundation of the building to avoid water pool around the

foundation.

* Maintain the humidity below 60%RH indoors, the old ASHRA rule

of below 65%RH was abandoned years ago. I live in South Florida

so believe me when I tell you I have seen mold do serious

expensive damage because the humidity was at or above 65%RH. If

humidity problem persists call a mold inspector who also deals

with humidity problems.

* If you happen to notice moisture or condensation accumulating

on walls, pipes, AC registers, or AC ducts in your attic, do not

hesitate or waste any moment. Firstly dry the entire moist

surface and decrease the humidity level. If the problem persists

call a mold inspector who also deals with humidity problems.

Condensation can be considered an indication of high humidity.

* Clothes dryers and bathroom vents should have an outlet

outside so that it exhausts humidity.

* In humid climates keeps doors and windows closed.

Renter Tips

* Renters should report moisture problems and plumbing leaks

instantly to your building manager or the owner.

* If you get no satisfaction from your landlord do not stop

paying your rent, first contact an attorney, he or she will

probably tell you to have a mold inspection report with

remediation protocol prepared. The protocol shows the landlord

what must be done and by whom. If the inspection report and

remediation protocol recommendations are not followed in a

reasonably timely manner then you have a better chance of

breaking your lease. Consult a mold attorney or real estate

attorney, we are not lawyers. A cheap mold test will not result

in much; you need a professional inspection report and

remediation protocol prepared by a certified and experienced

professional mold inspector.

* If there is relentless water or air quality problems in a

public building you may contact the state, or local health

department.

* Pursue your hunt for moisture and mold signs on your home or

office. If it is found do not try to clean it yourself, in most

cases you should call a professional mold inspector for proper

inspection, assessment, testing, and recommendations.

The mold control tips are intended to not only protect your

materials and building, but also are intended to deter mold

related health complaints. Remember that these are helpful tips

and not in any way the final answer or a guaranteed cure, you

should have a mold test and inspection conducted by a trained and

certified mold inspector if you suspect problems.

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Daryl Watters is president of A Accredited Mold Inspection

Service, Inc. He provides home, mold, and indoor air quality

investigations in South Florida. He is also the creator of MIR

forms designed to aid inspectors in the production of computer

generated indoor air quality and mold inspection reports. For

more information visit: http://www.florida-mold-inspection.com/

http://www.floridamoldinspectors.us/

http://www.florida-mold-inspection.com/Florida_mold_inspecting.html