Why is mold
growing in my home?
Molds are part of the natural
environment. Indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Mold is a
type of fungus. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the
spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor
and indoor air. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores
land on surfaces that are wet. There are many types of mold,
and none of them will grow without water or moisture.
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Can mold cause
health problems?
Mold spores grow on a wet or damp
spot. Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds
produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic
reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic
substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold spores may
cause allergic reactions in different individuals. They can be
immediate or delayed. These allergic responses include hay
fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and
skin rash (dermatitis), asthma, irritate the eyes, skin, nose,
throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people.
Research on mold and health effects is ongoing.
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Where can mold
be found?
Indoor mold can be found in
several spots in a house e.g.
- Water damaged areas
- Crawl spaces
- Basement
- Boats
- Floor joists
- Attic
- Automobile
- Washing machine
- Walls
- Drywall
- Bathroom & showers
- HVAC
- Air conditioners
- Carpet
- Campers, trailers
- Painting
- Mobile homes
- Clothing
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What are the
common types of mold?
- Acremonium
- Aspergillus
- Cladosporium
- Fusarium
- Mucor
- Neurospora
- Penicillium
- Rhizopus
- Stachybotrys
- Trichoderma
*Only testing and
analysis will allow you to be sure what strain and type of mold
you are dealing with.
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How do I get
rid of mold?
It is impossible to get rid of
all mold and mold spores indoors. The mold spores will not grow
if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth can and should
be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If
there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold
and fix the water problem. If you clean up the mold, but don't
fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will
come back. If you have health concerns, consult a health
professional before starting cleanup.
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How can
we clean up Mold?
- Places that are often damp
can be hard to maintain completely free of mold. If there's
some mold in the shower or elsewhere in the bathroom that
seems to reappear, increasing ventilation (running a fan or
opening a window) and cleaning more frequently will usually
prevent mold from recurring, or at least keep the mold to a
minimum.
- Fix plumbing leaks as soon
as possible.
- Keep all items completely
dry.
- Scrub off mold from hard
surfaces with soapy water and then dry again.
- It is difficult or sometimes
impossible to remove mold from absorbent materials such as
ceiling tiles or carpet; as it starts growing in the empty
spaces in between the gaps. In such case, it is better to
replace the item.
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How can I
reduce humidity in my home?
- In case of any leakage, you
must respond ASAP. If you can get rid of the issue within
24-48 hours, mold will more than likely not grow on such
surfaces.
- Keep your roof gutters
clean.
- Make sure the ground slopes
are away from the building foundation, so that water will
not accumulate in and around the foundation.
- Keep all drain lines
unobstructed.
- Monitor indoor humidity on
regular basis and maintain it below 60%.
- In case of any visible
accumulation of moisture on your window, walls or pipes, you
must find the source and fix it right away. This
condensation is a sign of high humidity level in your house.
- Use de-humidifiers when
needed.
- Keep your air exhaust
systems running while showering, cooking and/or running the
dishwasher.
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How can I help
prevent condensation?
- Monitor indoor humidity, at
an optimum level (30% - 50%)
- Increase ventilation by
keeping your doors and/or windows open
- Use de-humidifiers or large
commercial fans to keep the area dry
- Cover cold surfaces like
pipes with insulation
- Increase air temperature
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What should I
do if I suspect hidden mold in my house?
You may suspect mold if the
building smells, there has been water damage. It is hard for you
to get to the hidden source, as mold may be hidden in places
such as back side of dry wall, behind wall paper or paneling, on
the other side of the ceiling tiles or under your carpet/ pads,
inside walls around pipes, behind furniture, and inside
ductwork. If you find it hard to detect the source, it is always
a good idea to have a professional do the investigation for you.
Often times mold spores are released in the air by disturbing
the sites of potential mold growth. If you believe that you may
have a hidden mold problem, consider hiring an experienced
professional.
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What are
Biocides?
Biocides are substances that can
destroy living organisms. The use of a chemical or biocide that
kills organisms such as mold (chlorine bleach, for example) is
not recommended as a routine practice during mold cleanup. Never
mix chlorine bleach solution with other cleaning solutions or
detergents that contain ammonia because toxic fumes could be
produced. Dead mold may still cause allergic reactions in some
people, so it is not enough to simply kill the mold, it must
also be removed.
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What is
Mildew?
Mildew is a growth caused by
micro-organisms, whose spores, become molds in a moist and warm
environment. They obtain their food from the substances on which
they are formed, e.g. the materials of a book. During their
growth they produce citric, gluconic, oxalic, or other organic
acids, that can damage paper, leather, cloth, etc. Mildews also
release color, leading to staining which is difficult to remove.
The best way to treat mildew is proper ventilation, relatively
low temperature, sunlight, dry circulating air and cleanliness.
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What
analytical services are provided by NVL Labs for Mold?
AIR-Non-VIABLE-DIRECT EXAM
- Fungal ID quantitative -
Air-O-Cell, Versa Trap. Bio Cell, Micro 5, Cyclex, Cyclex-D
- Fungal & Particulates ID
Quantification - Air-O-Cell, Versa Trap. Bio Cell, Micro 5,
Cyclex, Cyclex-D
Bulk- Non-Viable
- Fungal ID Tape lift/ Bulk/
Swabs- Direct Exam
Air Viable
- ID and Quantification of
culturable Fungi - *By arrangement only (Min Wait time 7-10
days)
Total Nuisance Dust - NIOSH
500
- Respirable Dust - NIOSH 600
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What Mold
Field Services are offered by NVL Labs?
Investigation, Sampling,
Services
Do you suspect an indoor air
quality (IAQ), mold, or contaminant problem in your building Our
staff at NVL Labs is among the most respected and experienced in
the Pacific Northwest when it comes to these tough issues. Our
investigative approach concentrates on quick problem resolution,
common-sense solutions and cost controls. Using
industry-accepted sampling and analysis methods, our experienced
Industrial Hygienists and Certified Hazardous Materials Manager
can tackle your problem and partner with you on solutions.
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Collect Samples of
mold-infected building materials |
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Collect samples of airborne
particulate matter |
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Identify (separate) fungi
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Evaluate environmental
factors, including HVAC issues |
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Inspect buildings for
water/sewer intrusion using non-invasive moisture detection
equipment. |
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Provide inspection report
detailing problems, if any, and strategies for resolution
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Mold Abatement Management
NVL's experienced staff can write
a protocol for your abatement project that will assist you in
preventing the spread of IAQ contamination or exposure to your
employees and the public.
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Present and discuss solution
alternatives |
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Provide written Mold
Abatement protocols |
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Qualify contractors and
assist with bid selection |
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Provide project oversight
and quality control evaluations |
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Supply final clearance
sampling |
OTHER INDOOR ENVIRONMENT
ISSUES
NVL also investigates other
issues relating to problems with building conditions, and can
perform these services and more:
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Collect samples of standard
IAQ gasses (CO, CO2, etc.) |
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Detect levels of
formaldehyde (HCHO) in office air from off-gassing lastic
and rubber-made office products (for instance, carpet and
mastics, and plastic furniture) |
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Determine humidity levels
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UNKNOWN CONTAMINANTS
NVL often receives calls about unknown causes of worker illness.
Many people may have allergies to particulate matter such as
animal dander, dust mites and other allergens. Also, other
environmental factors, including those surrounding your
workplace, may be affecting your employees' health. NVL can
respond quickly, identifying hazards using easy-to-understand
terms, and coordinate timely corrective solutions. When
scheduling investigations in occupied buildings, NVL can work
off-hours or on weekends.
Our Unique background in
insurance investigations into unknown contaminants helps
us answer questions such as:
- What is the unknown black
particulate on your wall
- Is the mold damage new, or
longstanding
- Has a contractor
contaminated your building with unseen asbestos fibers
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