Video - New Homeowners Sick Over Mold

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New Homeowners Sick Over Mold

Problem more widespread than couple led to believe

Apr 16, 2008

WOWT - Omaha,NE*

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http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/17835669.html

Buying a first home should be a dream come true, but for one Omaha

couple it's been a nightmare after discovering a huge mold problem.

Meghan and her fiance Bo walk through a plastic tarp when

going to their basement. They had big plans for this room, but two

days before closing their realtor spotted a problem.

There was standing water in the laundry room. " The realtor called

the inspector and said, hey, come out, come look at this and they

pulled down the paneling and found the mold inside the laundry

room, " says Meghan.

She was advised to simply scrub the area with bleach and it would

take care of the problem. So they closed on the house only to

discover a few days after moving in the mold was much more

widespread.

Meghan and Bo had hoped to make a room for a 7-year-old boy. Instead

they found rotted-out wood, rusting electrical fixtures and a moldy

carpet pad. All the paneling and carpet had to go, but this mess and

lost money is not Meghan's biggest worry.

" We've all been sick. They said just take allergy medicine right now

and see if that helps. If it doesn't we're all going to have to do

mold tests on everybody. "

The couple has no choice but to spend more money on their new home

at 126th Avenue and Center while working out a cleanup strategy. " We

don't really know what to do because we're first-time homebuyers.

We've got so many questions and not enough answers. "

One thing they do know now. When it comes to a mold problem, it's

best to assume the worst until the problem has been thoroughly

investigated.

Here's what we can learn. An area of mold 10-square feet or less can

probably be handled yourself. The County Health Department says if

it's any larger, call in professional help.

Paramount Mold Remediation advises to inspect your attic. Homeowners

generally don't go up there. If it's not properly ventilated, mold

can flourish.

Jim Pagle of AMI Lab Testing advises not to worry so much about the

type of mold in your home. Get rid of it and shut down the source of

moisture that is causing it.