Mold Questions (LONG)
Question:
Look under <mold remediation>, <mold removal>, <air quality> or something like that in the yellow pages. The cost is high because the work requires that air samples and tapes be taken to capture the spores, then analysis for several days in a laboratory. The ensuing report is written by a qualified engineer … any mold remediation work must follow his or her recommendations. The woman who did our work made a number of cogent suggestions such as have a French drain built to lower the water content in our building slab. Al Fisher
Response:
Who does this kind of mold count? And why does it cost so much? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->We just finished mold remediation after a pinhole leak in the under-the-sink >water purifier went undetected for a long time. First thing we had done >was to >have the air tested for mold spores … in our case, the outdoor count was >2500; inside we had counts of 25000 for 4spore types and 280000 for one. > Some >of the kitchen cabinets had to be gutted and all carpeting removed. After >mold >remediation, the count inside was lower than outside! Most important, my >asthma is better than it’s been for a long time. Now if we can only get >the >air ducts cleaned, we can turn on the heat! >Costs here in San Diego (western Washington may be lower) were $400 for >the >mold count, $5200 for remediation and restoration, $8000 for new flooring, >plus >lots of hidden costs (drapes, etc). So you can see why the landlord may >not >want to deal with it. We had air scrubbers and dehumidifiers in for a week >and >this is what got the mold count down. In a small apartment, you might get >away >with a HEPA filter to remove lingering airborne spores and a dehumidifier >to >keep the moisture down. >In the final essence, my suggestion would be to deal with it aggressively. > If >you have the air tested on your own, you’ll know right off if the problem >is >corrected or not, and if not, what should be done. If minor, the air filter, >dehumidifier, and space heater may deal with it. If not, the info will >probably be useful in breaking the lease. >Hope this helps. >Al Fisher
Sue M.
Response:
We just finished mold remediation after a pinhole leak in the under-the-sink water purifier went undetected for a long time. First thing we had done was to have the air tested for mold spores … in our case, the outdoor count was 2500; inside we had counts of 25000 for 4spore types and 280000 for one. Some of the kitchen cabinets had to be gutted and all carpeting removed. After mold remediation, the count inside was lower than outside! Most important, my asthma is better than it’s been for a long time. Now if we can only get the air ducts cleaned, we can turn on the heat! Costs here in San Diego (western Washington may be lower) were $400 for the mold count, $5200 for remediation and restoration, $8000 for new flooring, plus lots of hidden costs (drapes, etc). So you can see why the landlord may not want to deal with it. We had air scrubbers and dehumidifiers in for a week and this is what got the mold count down. In a small apartment, you might get away with a HEPA filter to remove lingering airborne spores and a dehumidifier to keep the moisture down. In the final essence, my suggestion would be to deal with it aggressively. If you have the air tested on your own, you’ll know right off if the problem is corrected or not, and if not, what should be done. If minor, the air filter, dehumidifier, and space heater may deal with it. If not, the info will probably be useful in breaking the lease. Hope this helps. Al Fisher
Response:
Mold only grows where there’s water or very high humidity. Track the water source, see if the walls or woodwork is damp, check the humidity in the different rooms with the door closed overnight. Usually water seeps in from a leaky roof or from underground and occasionally a leaky plumbing system. Lane
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi……I’m looking for some advice on indoor mold growth……We moved > into an apartment last May…its about 40 years old and the building has > had flooding problems but the manager said its all been taken care of > and a new roof was put on etc….. > About 1 month ago I started having respitoriy problems > coughing..congestion etc and so has my 3 kids…….Doc said I had > Bronchitis but I’ve been on antibiotics and I have improved but I still > have coughing and congestion. > Anyways I decided about 3 days ago that I was going to rid my house of > Germs so I pulled the matteres out from behind our bed where we store it > and use it as a headboard and found white fuzzy mold on it, just the > side that was against the wall and there were black colored mold on the > wall where a piece of the paint was chipped so I called in the > maintenance man and he scrapped the wall where the paint was come up and > scrapped about a 2ft by 1ft area of the lower wall where mold was > visible and where the paint came off easy…..He washed it and sprayed > kils primer over it and said there you go….we looked over the rest of > the apartment and only found a little quarter size mold in the bathroom > corner of our room and some under the toilet which I sprayed bothe with > bleach…. > The maintenance man said that the mold growth in our bedroom was due to > not using our heater so he gave us a radiator heater since I don’t like > forced air kind…. The guy also said the mold did not go into the wall > because it was just surface and the wallboard is still nice and firm > Its been about 3 days now since he did this and I’m still having > congestion and coughing and same with my kids. > So after that long story….Here is my questions……How do I tell if > there is additional mold growing inside the wall where I cant see > it……Is his explanation for not using the heater causing the > mold…is he correct? > Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. > Thanks, > Melissa > P.S I live in Western Washington..it that helps and also I have had no > problems prior to 1 month ago besides an occassional asthma and > allergies but they were controled with medication could this be a long > viral infection instead of mold over growth. and is there any way a > doctor could tell? > Also the only thing that helps my congestion in my chest is Exporatant. > my inhaler doesnt help.
Response:
Hi……I’m looking for some advice on indoor mold growth……We moved into an apartment last May…its about 40 years old and the building has had flooding problems but the manager said its all been taken care of and a new roof was put on etc….. About 1 month ago I started having respitoriy problems coughing..congestion etc and so has my 3 kids…….Doc said I had Bronchitis but I’ve been on antibiotics and I have improved but I still have coughing and congestion. Anyways I decided about 3 days ago that I was going to rid my house of Germs so I pulled the matteres out from behind our bed where we store it and use it as a headboard and found white fuzzy mold on it, just the side that was against the wall and there were black colored mold on the wall where a piece of the paint was chipped so I called in the maintenance man and he scrapped the wall where the paint was come up and scrapped about a 2ft by 1ft area of the lower wall where mold was visible and where the paint came off easy…..He washed it and sprayed kils primer over it and said there you go….we looked over the rest of the apartment and only found a little quarter size mold in the bathroom corner of our room and some under the toilet which I sprayed bothe with bleach…. The maintenance man said that the mold growth in our bedroom was due to not using our heater so he gave us a radiator heater since I don’t like forced air kind…. The guy also said the mold did not go into the wall because it was just surface and the wallboard is still nice and firm Its been about 3 days now since he did this and I’m still having congestion and coughing and same with my kids. So after that long story….Here is my questions……How do I tell if there is additional mold growing inside the wall where I cant see it……Is his explanation for not using the heater causing the mold…is he correct? Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Melissa P.S I live in Western Washington..it that helps and also I have had no problems prior to 1 month ago besides an occassional asthma and allergies but they were controled with medication could this be a long viral infection instead of mold over growth. and is there any way a doctor could tell? Also the only thing that helps my congestion in my chest is Exporatant. my inhaler doesnt help.
Response:
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