04 Feb Basics, Process, and Possible Scams With Mold Remediation
Mold remediation helps homeowners and residents stay safe and healthy by identifying large-scale mould inside the home and eradicating or encapsulating it. Mold remediation has also increasingly become a frequent part of selling and buying a house. Because of the critical nature of types of mould, some operators can take advantage of homeowners. Is mold remediation a real, worthwhile project or just a big scam?
The Basics of Mold Within the Home
Mold is a familiar requirement in many homes. Wetter areas of the nation have moldier homes, and even homes in dry areas have certain rooms and spaces that are more vulnerable to developing mould.
Where there is moisture inside a home, there is undoubtedly mould. The most familiar example of mold is the type that develops in the grout between ceramic tiles. A simple form of homeowner-driven mold remediation happens each time you spray that mould down using a bleach-based cleaner and wipe it off. More critical mold, either from a health or aesthetic standpoint, happens elsewhere.
Warning
Just crawl from the ceiling above your bathroom and you’ll probably find mould. Some mold, but not all, produces health-threatening mycotoxins. Not everyone is affected by mold. But people that are affected are often gravely affected. Aesthetically, mould is never a good thing. In visible areas, mold signifies neglect and decay. Functionally, mold can reduce the effectiveness of insulation.
Areas of the Home That Produce Mold
All places where water is found can create mold. An inordinate amount of humidity in a house can float and cause mould. Ironically, newer homes can often experience more mold growth than older homes because they are more tightly insulated. Fiberglass insulation provides fertile ground for mold development and makes it difficult to eradicate and eliminate.
- Attics
- Crawl spaces
- Wall interiors
- Basements
- Around chimneys
- Furnaces
- Ducts
- Kitchens
- Under sinks
- Near foundation air vents
- Under window unit air conditioners
The Practice of Mold Remediation
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that any moldy areas less than 10 square feet (about 3 feet by 3 feet) can be remediated by the homeowner. Beyond that, you may want to talk to a mold remediation contractor. In the majority of cases, it is better to have a mold remediation contractor do the work than a general contractor.
Even though chlorine bleach is often used to kill mould, bleach is not an EPA-approved biocide. For that, you’ll need to use a product such as Mold Stat. If a space 3-foot from 3-foot of mould growth is heavily concentrated or near the HVAC system, it needs to be contained to prevent dispersal.
Containment and Ventilation
The first step, and arguably the most important, is establishing containment and ventilation. The use of suitable ventilation and air filtration devices (AFDs) such as air scrubbers is required to make sure that mould spores that are disturbed and become airborne are not spreading to an uninfected area.
Cleaning and Disinfection
Cleaning and disinfecting is the next step and this is the stage that comprises the actual remediation and disposal of infected materials. After the cleaning and disinfecting, then the technicians apply biocide/fungicide/moldicide solutions.
Fix the Mold Source
The next step is where the technicians address any moisture or moisture concerns. For example, if a loose bathroom fan duct is operating into an attic, the fan duct may be fixed. If the fix is easy, the mold remediation company may take on the repair by itself. For more related repairs, the company may employ a sub-contractor or recommend one for the homeowner.
Encapsulate the Mold
Mold that has not yet been removed is encapsulated by paint or a similar material. Encapsulation is an approved way of dealing with mold in a home.
Not All Mold is Toxic Mold
According to the Centers for Disease Control: “While certain molds are toxigenic, meaning they can produce toxins (specifically mycotoxins), the molds themselves are not toxic, or poisonous.” And although it is possible for toxigenic molds to create rare health conditions such as pulmonary hemorrhage or memory loss, this only rarely happens.
This is not to say that mold cannot produce health issues. Indoor vulnerability can cause coughing and wheezing in healthy people and severe issues for people with asthma and upper respiratory tract problems.
People ought to be educated using a clear understanding although not made to cause panic or undue alarm. There are some very serious health issues associated with mold mycotoxins but many folks will never have the requirement to be overly concerned with them.
Mold Remediation Scams and Scares
Mold remediation itself is not a scam. But within the mold remediation sector are scammers and those who try to create an air of panic around it.
The presence of mold is often used as a scare tactic and a bargaining chip on real estate property inspections. Mold remediation itself is a large, highly politicized industry. One leading mould remediation company, in trying to promote itself to potential franchisees, advertises mold remediation as the latest gold rush, the asbestos business of the 21st century.
Mold remediation companies certainly do great work when the mould is widespread and is in a public establishment or in commercial buildings. And while most mould is not toxic, some mould can be quite hazardous to one’s health. For this, you want a licensed, experienced professional dealing with the mold.
Too many so-called mould professionals attempt to use the scare tactics. Reputable mold remediation companies try hard not to but sometimes it is difficult to get accurate information dispensed into the public without causing concerns over health.
Many times the health issue is actually downplayed. If a person is not sensitive to or allergic to mold, they can get sensitive after repeated or prolonged exposure to mycotoxins.
Mold problems that we see today are issues that we unknowingly created ourselves and they are not problems we had just a few decades ago. Since the mid- to late-1970s, federal demands have directed that homes become more energy efficient. The more energy efficient the home, the tighter that home is sealed and the less natural breathability the home has.
Companies then can easily address concerns when folks ask,”If mould can be dangerous to our health, how come it has only been a issue for the past couple of decades? Mold had been around forever so why is it only a problem now?” The answer is often that homes and requirements have changed; it is not always a matter of scams and scare tactics.