Mold Cleanup In Your Home

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Mold Cleanup:

If you already have a mold problem – act quickly. Mold damages what it grows on. The longer it grows, the more damage it can cause.

Leaky windows:

mold will begin to rot the wooden frame and windowsill of a leaky window.
Who should do the cleanup?
It depends on a number of factors. One consideration is the size of the mold problem. If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch), in most cases, you can handle the job yourself, follow the Mold Cleanup Tips and Techniques. However:
If there has been a lot of water damage, and/or mold growth covers more than 10 square feet, consult EPA guide Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings. Although focused on schools and commercial buildings, this document is applicable to other building types.

Hiring A Contractor:

If you choose to hire a contractor (or other professional service provider) to do the cleanup, make sure the contractor has experience cleaning up mold. Check references and ask the contractor to follow the recommendations in EPA guide Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, the guidelines of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygenists (ACGIH), or other guidelines from professional or government organizations.

If you suspect that the heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) system may be contaminated with mold (it is part of an identified moisture problem, for instance, or there is mold near the intake to the system), consult EPA guide Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned? before taking further action. Do not run the HVAC system if you know or suspect that it is contaminated with mold – it could spread mold throughout the building.

If the water and/or mold damage was caused by sewage or other contaminated water, then call in a professional who has experience cleaning and fixing buildings damaged by contaminated water.

If you have health concerns, consult a health professional before starting cleanup.

Tips And Techniques:

The tips and techniques presented in this section will help you clean up your mold problem. Professional cleaners or remediators may use methods not covered in this publication. Please note that mold may cause staining and cosmetic damage. It may not be possible to clean an item so that its original appearance is restored.

Mold Inspections, Are They Necessary?

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Mold Inspections:

In today’s world, many families suffer from various allergies. Mold spores present in a home can greatly aggravate

these allergies. In addition, water intrusion issues present in a home can cause mold growth within 24 hours.

So, The Question Is: Should I Have a Mold Inspection in Addition to a Home and Radon Inspection?

The Answer Is: Yes!

Who You Gonna Call?

■ Home Inspectors today are trained to look for visual signs of water and mold while they are inspecting

various components of the home that are within the normal scope of the home inspection.

■ Home Inspectors who are also Certified Mold Technicians will look at other areas that are not within the

normal scope of the home inspection and will use special equipment that allows the technician to

determine moisture and mold conditions that are not visible to the eye.

■ In addition, Home Inspectors who are not only Certified Mold Technicians but also are certified to

perform Air Quality Inspections on the contaminants and various mold spores that are present in the air

of the home. This information can also assist Allergists who treat families with allergies.

What Is A Home Inspection?

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Schedule Home Inspection

A home inspection is a professional, objective, visual examination of the condition of a home. Home buyers now entering the marketplace view inspections as a way to gain valuable information about the biggest purchase of their lifetime. It helps them to determine whether there are any major defects or system inadequacies at the time of purchase.

In most cases, home inspections are performed after a sales contract, conditional upon a satisfactory home inspection, has been accepted by the seller. The inspection can usually be arranged immediately to within a few days. The home buyer is typically encouraged to attend the inspection, so that he/she can see first hand the workings of the home. It also represents an excellent opportunity for the prospective buyer to ask questions about the home or to discuss potential changes. Home inspections should also highlight the positive aspects of a home. In fact, many of the home inspector’s observations or recommendations help to dispel home purchaser anxieties, and provide useful repair suggestions.

The home inspector’s service to the purchaser is primarily one of education.The goal of the inspector is to provide the purchaser with a better understanding of the physical condition of the home in order that they can make a well-informed decision. It is also the inspector’s role to keep his findings in perspective for the buyer. After the inspection is completed, a written report should be prepared for the home buyer, documenting the results of the inspection.

The home inspection should not be confused with an appraisal, a municipal code inspection, an environmental audit, or a home owner’s warranty.

A complete home inspection should cover all of the major systems of a house, including structure, exterior, roofing, electrical, heating, cooling, insulation, plumbing and interior. As a minimum, an inspection should meet the Standards of Practice of the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI).

Consumers should be very careful when shopping for a home inspector. The industry, on the whole, is unregulated and many unqualified people offer home inspection services.