What you need to know to protect your home against MOLD.

What you need to know to protect your home against MOLD.

Further to our blog  (https://glennduxbury-inspections.com/7-secrets-saving-heating-costs) on keeping your house warm and sealed up from the cold air entry, be aware of the potential for mold to occur.

Mold is a common, and often undetected, problem homeowners & others are forced to deal with. It can be harmful to your property, as well as the people living in it. There are simple ways to detect some types of mold, but not all types are easily found by the naked eye, as lab – testing may be needed.  Glenn Duxbury can help you detect and help prevent against mold problems, to put your mind at ease.

What is mold and how can it affect me?

Mold is a type of fungus. A common type of mold found in homes is mildew. It can live in the interior or on exterior of your home, thriving in damp, warm and humid environments. Typical areas that homeowners find mold are in the bathroom and basement, but it can be found in other areas as well.

Extreme basement mold

Mold can be destructive and harmful to your home or building by staining & discolouring and wood-rot but more importantly, excessive mold can negatively affect the air- quality in your home as well as your overall health. Allergic reactions to mold are the most common health risks associated with the fungus.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction to mold include:

  • wheezing
  • rash
  • watery eyes
  • runny nose
  • itchy eyes
  • coughing
  • red eyes

Red, watery eyes

 

How can I protect my home and my family against mold?

Mold can sometimes be detected visually by discolouration, however not all discolouration is caused by mold. It can also be detected by a musty, earthy smell, but a smell is not always present. Often times, it can be very difficult to find out on your own. Certain types of mold can be odourless and can go undetected for years. Materials in your home can appear “dry”, but could contain high moisture levels. Some homeowners don’t find out they have mold in their homes until it’s too late and someone gets sick, or materials in the home need repair.

Mold from wet drywall.

The most efficient way to detect mold is by hiring a Professional Home Inspector to thoroughly check for you and recommend a Professional Mold Technician.

How can I protect my home and my family against mold?

We encourage all concerned homeowners start by getting the air quality checked in their homes to ensure that their family is protected against mold and what type(s) are present. Duxbury & Associates work closely with experienced mold technicians who collect air samples, which are then sealed, recorded for quality- control and couriered to a lab for testing. A comprehensive report is then provided which determines the level of the potential mold toxicity and recommends actions to improve air- quality.

FAQs

Q: If we have mold, can’t we just kill it with bleach?

A: NO, killing mold this way is not recommended by leading industry experts.             Bleach can actually be more harmful than the mold you are fighting. Even if you can ‘kill’ mold, hibernating spores can become just as toxic as when it was living and can be easily re-activated with sufficient moisture in your home. Mold does not behave the same way as bacteria and killing it should not be mistaken as a complete clean-up or removal.

Q: If we have mold on drywall, why don’t we just tear it out? Do we really need a professional inspection and renovation?

A: YES, you should seek a Professional. Mold growing on drywall is often an indicator of a more serious mold issue. Disturbed mold also spreads easily. If the wall is opened without protecting the rest of the area from traveling mold spores, you may be making the problem worse and more expensive to fix.

Do not treat mold lightly, for your sake and that of your family and also your home. Sound advice from your caring Home Inspector and Consultant.