Why You Should Have a Mold Inspection
Mold is a serious threat to the health of your family. According to the Center for Disease Control, studies have shown that breathing indoor mold is linked directly to a range of major health problems.
Molds are fungi that exist outside and inside. There are thousands of species. Problems occur when they grow in the house and people breathe in the mold spores.
The Danger of Mold
Mold spores can cause a range of problems from simple discomfort to major illnesses. Here is a look at a few of them:
Stuffy nose
Eye irritation
Skin irritation
Asthma
Fever
Shortness of breath
Upper respiratory tract problems
Coughing and wheezing
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis in certain people
Children are especially vulnerable for asthma and upper respiratory problems.
Reduce Your Risk
The first thing is to control the humidity in your home. Aim for no higher than 50% all through the day. This means checking the equipment during the day as the amount of moisture in the air and the temperature changes.
Make sure your ventilation and exhaust fans around showers and cooking areas is working well. Use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier during the hottest months.
Consider improving ventilation, and having a whole house fan installed. This keeps the air circulating all year round, reducing the chances that mold will grow in your home.
For mold you can see, eradicating it is the best way to reduce your chances of illness. This can be difficult but there are a number of things homeowners can do to clear it out and prevent if from returning.
If you notice mold on floors or walls, use commercial products made to get rid of mold. You can also try soap and water. Or you can make a solution from one cup of bleach in one gallon of water.
Add specially made mold inhibitors to paint before you apply it to walls. Use products to kill mold in your bathrooms. Never carpet the bathroom or basement since moisture collects there. If carpet or upholstery gets soaked, dump it. It is breeding ground for mold.
Mold Testing
Commercial firms can do a mold inspection in your home if you are having problems locating the source.
They do two things:
- Pinpoint where mold is growing
- Find water problems that contributed to its growing
If you have a history of leaks, this is probably the source of your mold infestation. The inspector can track down new leaks based on the information you give him about earlier incidents.
He will check for warped floorboards or linoleum, water stains or paint that shows signs of peeling. He will look at water pipes, leaks in air conditioners, cracks in shingles or other roof problems, and areas where flooding occurs.