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Mold in my Home: What do I do?
ABOUT MOLD
What is it? Molds are simple, microscopic organisms,
found virtually everywhere, indoors and outdoors.
Molds can be found on plants, foods, dry leaves, and
other organic material. Molds are needed for breaking
down dead material. Mold spores are very tiny and
lightweight, and this allows them to travel through
the air. Mold growths can often be seen in the form
of discoloration, ranging from white to orange and
from green to brown and black. When molds are present
in large quantities, they can cause allergic symptoms
similar to those caused by plant pollen.
Should I be concerned about mold in my home? Yes,
if the contamination is extensive. When airborne mold
spores are present in large numbers, they can cause
allergic reactions, asthma episodes, infections, and
other respiratory problems for people. Exposure to
high spore levels can cause the development of an
allergy to the mold. Mold can also cause structural
damage to your home. Similarly, when wood goes through
a period of wetting, then drying, it can eventually
warp and cause walls to crack or become structurally
weak.
What does mold need to grow?
For mold to grow, it needs:
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food sources - such as leaves, wood, paper, or dirt
-
a source of moisture
-
a place to grow
Can mold become a problem in my home?
Yes, if there is moisture available to allow mold
to thrive and multiply. The following are sources
of indoor moisture that may cause problems:
-
flooding
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backed-up sewers
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leaky roofs
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humidifiers
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mud or ice dams
-
damp basement or crawl spaces
-
constant plumbing leaks
-
house plants -- watering can generate large amounts
of moisture
-
steam from cooking
-
shower/bath steam and leaks
-
wet clothes on indoor drying lines
-
clothes dryers vented indoors
-
combustion appliances (e.g. stoves) not exhausted
to the outdoors
CAUTION:
If you see moisture condensation on the windows or
walls, it is also possible that you have a combustion
problem in your home. It is important to have sufficient
fresh air available for fuel burning appliances, such
as the furnace, water heater, stove/range, clothes
dryer, as well as a fireplace. A shortage of air for
these appliances can result in back drafting of dangerous
gases such as carbon monoxide into the home. To prevent
back drafting of air, you need either open vents or
a ventilation system that brings fresh air into the
home to replace air that is exhausted out. Have your
local utility company or a professional heating contractor
inspect your fuel-burning appliances annually.
HEALTH EFFECTS
How am I exposed to indoor molds? Mold is found everywhere,
indoors and outdoors. It is common to find mold spores
in the air of homes and growing on damp surfaces.
Much of the mold found indoors comes from outdoor
sources. Therefore, everyone is exposed to some mold
on a daily basis without evident harm. Mold spores
primarily cause health problems when they enter the
air and are inhaled in large number. People can also
be exposed to mold through skin contact and eating.
How
much mold can make me sick?
It depends. For some people, a relatively small number
of mold spores can cause health problems. For other
people, it may take many more. The basic rule is,
if you can see or smell it, take steps to eliminate
the excess moisture, and to cleanup and remove the
mold.
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Who is at greater risk when exposed to mold? Exposure
to mold is not healthy for anyone inside buildings.
It is important to quickly identify and correct
any moisture sources before health problems develop.
The following individuals appear to be at higher
risk for adverse health effects of molds:
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Infants and children
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elderly
-
immune compromised patients (people with HIV infection,
cancer chemotherapy, liver disease, etc.)
-
pregnant women
-
individuals with existing respiratory conditions,
such as allergies, multiple chemical sensitivity,
and asthma
People with these special concerns should consult
a physician if they are having health problems.
What symptoms are common? Allergic reactions may be
the most common health problem of mold exposure. Typical
symptoms reported (alone or in combination) include:
-
respiratory problems, such as wheezing, and difficulty
in breathing
-
nasal and sinus congestion
-
eyes-burning, watery, reddened, blurry vision, light
sensitivity
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dry, hacking cough
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sore throat
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nose and throat irritation
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shortness of breath
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skin irritation
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central nervous system problems (constant headaches,
memory problems, and mood changes)
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aches and pains
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possible fever
Are some molds more hazardous than others? Allergic
persons vary in their sensitivities to mold, both
as to amount and type needed to cause reactions. In
addition, certain types of molds can produce toxins,
called mycotoxins, that the mold uses to inhibit or
prevent the growth of other organisms. Mycotoxins
are found in both living and dead mold spores. Materials
permeated with mold need to be removed, even after
they are disinfected with cleaning solutions. Allergic
and toxic effects can remain in dead spores. Exposure
to mycotoxins may present a greater hazard than that
of allergenic or irritative molds. Mycotoxins have
been found in homes, agricultural settings, food,
and office buildings.
DETECTION
OF MOLD
How
can I tell if I have mold in my house?
If you can see mold, or if there is an earthy or musty
odor, you can assume you have a mold problem. Allergic
individuals may experience the symptoms listed above.
Look for previous water damage. Visible mold growth
is found underneath materials where water has damaged
surfaces, or behind walls. Look for discoloration
and leaching from plaster.
Should I test my home
for mold? The California Department of Health Services
does not recommend testing as the first step to determine
if you have a mold problem. Reliable sampling for
mold can be expensive, and requires equipment not
available to the general public. Residents of individual
private homes must pay a contractor to carry out such
sampling, as it is not usually done by public health
agencies. Mold cleanup is usually considered one of
the housekeeping tasks of the private citizen, along
with roof and plumbing repairs, sweeping and house
cleaning.
Another problem is that
there are few available standards for judging what
is an acceptable quantity of mold. In all locations,
there is some outdoor levels of molds. If sampling
is carried out, an outdoor air sample needs to be
taken at the same time as the sample indoors, to provide
a baseline measurement. Since the susceptibility of
individuals varies so greatly, sampling is at best
a general guide.
The simplest approach
is: if you can see or smell mold, you have a problem.
Once you know the problem exists, follow the procedure
given next.
Unless the source of
moisture is removed and the contaminated area is cleaned
and disinfected, mold growth is likely to reoccur.
GENERAL
CLEAN-UP PROCEDURES
- Identify and correct
the moisture source
- Clean, disinfect,
and dry the moldy area
- Bag and dispose any
material that has moldy residues, such as rags,
paper, leaves, or debris.
What can I save? What should I toss?
Substances that are porous and can trap molds, such
as paper, rags, wallboard, and rotten wood should
be decontaminated and thrown out. Harder materials
such as glass, plastic, or metal can be kept after
they are cleaned and disinfected.
Ultimately, it is critical to remove the source of
moisture first, before beginning remedial action,
since mold growth will return shortly if an effected
area becomes re-wetted.
Removal of Moldy Materials After fixing
the moisture source and removing excess moisture,
the cleanup can begin:
- Wear gloves when handling
moldy materials
- Remove porous materials
(examples: ceiling tiles, sheetrock, carpeting,
wood products)
- Carpeting can be a
difficult problem -- drying does not remove the
dead spores. If there is heavy mold,
- disposal of the carpet
should be considered
- Bag and discard the
moldy substances
- Allow the area to
dry 2 or 3 days
- If flooded, remove
all sheetrock to at least 12 inches above the high
water mark. Visually inspect the wall interior and
remove any other intrusive molds. (This step may
have to be carried out by a licensed contractor).
CAUTION: Spores are
easily released when moldy material is dried out.
Soap Cleanup
Before disinfecting contaminated
areas, clean the areas to remove as much of the mold
(and food it is growing on) as possible.
- Wear gloves when doing
this cleanup
- Use a non-ammonia
soap or detergent, or a commercial cleaner, in hot
water, and scrub the entire area affected by the
mold
- Use a stiff brush
or cleaning pad on block walls or uneven surfaces
- Rinse clean with water.
A wet/dry vacuum is handy for this
Disinfect Surfaces
- Wear gloves when using
disinfectants
- After thorough cleaning
and rinsing, disinfect the area with a solution
of 10% household bleach (e.g., 1½ cup bleach per
gallon of water). Using
bleach straight from the bottle will not be more
effective
-
Never mix bleach with Ammonia - the fumes are toxic
- For spraying exterior
large areas, a garden hose and nozzle can be used
- When disinfecting
a large structure, make sure the entire surface
is wetted (floors, joists, and posts)
- Avoid excessive amounts
of runoff or standing bleach
- Let disinfecting areas
dry naturally overnight -- this extended time is
important to kill all the mold.
CAUTION: Bleach fumes can
irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, and damage clothing
and shoes. Make sure the working area is ventilated
well.
Can
cleaning up mold be hazardous to my health?
Yes. Exposure to mold can occur during the cleaning
stage. Mold counts are typically 10 to 1000 times
higher than background levels during the cleaning
of mold damaged materials. Take steps to protect your
health during cleanup:
- When handling or cleaning
moldy materials, consider using a mask or respirator
to protect you from breathing airborne spores. Respirators
can be purchased from hardware stores; select one
for particle removal (sometimes referred to as a
N95 or TC-21C particulate respirator). Respirators
are not as effective removing bleach fumes, so minimize
your exposure when using bleach or other disinfectants.
- Wear protective clothing
that is easily cleaned or discarded
- Use rubber gloves
- Try cleaning a small
test patch of mold first. If you feel that this
adversely affected your health, you should consider
paying a licensed contractor or professional to
carry out the work
- Ask family members
or bystanders to leave areas when being cleaned.
- Work over short time
spans and rest in a fresh air location.
- Air your house out
well during after the work
CAUTION: Never use a gasoline
engine indoors (e.g. pressure washer, generator) --
you could expose yourself and your family to carbon
monoxide.
Can
Air Duct Systems become Contaminated with Mold?
Yes. Air duct systems can become contaminated with
mold. Duct systems can be constructed of bare sheet
metal, sheet metal with an exterior fibrous glass
insulation, sheet metal with an internal fibrous glass
liner, or made entirely of fibrous glass. If your
home's air duct system has had water damage, first
identify the type of air duct construction that you
have. Bare sheet metal systems, or sheet metal with
exterior fibrous glass insulation, can be cleaned
and disinfected.
If your system has sheet
metal with an internal fibrous glass liner, or are
made entirely of fibrous glass, the ductwork normally
will need to be removed and discarded. Ductwork in
difficult locations may have to be abandoned. If you
have other questions, contact an air duct cleaning
professional, or licensed contractor.
After I've cleaned everything
as thoroughly as possible, can I still have mold odors?
Yes. It is possible that odors may persist. Continue
to dry out the area and search for any hidden areas
of mold. If the area continues to smell musty, you
may have to re-clean the area again (follow the cleaning
steps given in this sheet). Continue to dry and ventilate
the area. Don't replace flooring or begin rebuilding
until the area has dried completely.
How can further damage to my home be prevented?
Check regularly for the following:
- moisture condensation
on windows
- cracking of plasterboard
- drywall tape loosening
- wood warping
- musty odor
If you see any of the above, seek out and take steps
to eliminate the source of water penetration, as quickly
as possible.
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