#835 - 08/25/05 02:49 PM
Mold, Mold, Mold !!
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Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered
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I think we have mold, but I am not sure if it is in the house or out side. Which one of all the do it yourself tests do you recommend. My daughter seems to be suffering of allergic rinitis since we moved in and we have literaly remodeled the whole house.
Very stressed out
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#836 - 08/25/05 03:58 PM
Re: Mold, Mold, Mold !!
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provip
Super Do It Yourselfer
Registered: 03/03/01
Posts: 1153
Loc: Victoria, BC, Canada
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There's a number of things to consider aside from black mold.
- do you have carpets and are they new or from the previous owner. Also, cleaning carpet does not always solve a mold or dander problem, sometimes the only way is get new and there is a trend going to wood floors.
- where is your daughters room, downstairs/upstairs
- do you have forced air heating/airconditioning and have filters been checked or replaced and what about the ducts, have they been cleaned or inspected.
- check closets for black mold, this is where they often hide form view.
Tyr this for starters.
Let us know what's happening.
------------------
Bart Blainey, B.E.R.
Consultant/Journeyman Carpenter
Building Envelope Specialist
Master Renovator
provip@prodeck.org
http://www.prodeck.org
Barton Blainey (provip) specifically assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information or process disclosed. The above further expressly advises that any use of or reliance upon the information and or opinion disclosed is at your risk .
_________________________
Bart Blainey, B.E.R. Consultant/Journeyman Carpenter Building Envelope Specialist Master Renovator provip@prodeck.org http://www.prodeck.orgBarton Blainey (provip) specifically assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information or process disclosed. The above further expressly advises that any use of or reliance upon the information and or opinion disclosed is at your risk .
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#837 - 10/02/05 11:28 PM
Re: Mold, Mold, Mold !!
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Anonymous
Anonymous
Unregistered
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Cynthia,
There are no do-it-yourself kits for mold testing that will tell you anything. They will all tell you that you "have mold" because there is always mold in the air. But that doesn't mean you have a mold problem.
If you are going to spend any money on testing, hire a Certified Industrial Hygienist (as recommended by EPA and just about any other agency who isn't trying to sell you something) to do the kind of testing that will tell you something useful.
But BEFORE YOU DO THAT, check CAREFULLY for any water problems. Testing is usually a WASTE OF MONEY. Do you have leaking pipes or dripping pipes (like uninsulated pipes where the water condenses)? Gutters that are overflowing during heavy rains? Does the water drain away from your foundation, as it should (don't forget those gutters - do they empty out far enough away from the house?). Any signs of leaks in the roof? Any wet spots on your ceiling or drywall?
Now, you said you recently remodeled and implied the rhinitis started after that...what kinds of products were installed? There are zillions of products that will cause rhinitis-like symptoms (glues for carpet or vinyl flooring; binders for laminate flooring, wood subfloors, pressed wood products, etc; latex paints; 2-part coatings; you name it). There is a good chance any of these things could be causing your child's problems, not mold. Many of these gases do not have a strong odor, but can irritate the sensitive mucous membranes of the nasal passages.
Finally, make sure you haven't inadvertently introduced something that is causing your child's problems. For example, have you recently started using an air cleaner/filter that is also an "ionizer" or "electrostatic precipitator"? That's a big one for causing rhinitis-like symptoms. Have you started using any new air fresheners, sprays, laundry soaps, pesticides, etc?
Before you spend money on mold testing, I urge you to first look for water problems and fix them if you find them. At the same time, maximize the fresh air so that if new materials are off-gassing, you can get those irritating gases out. And stop using any of the items I mentioned that could be causing the problem.
If those things fail to help, then it might be worthwhile to consider testing as a next step, but I'd ask your child's doctor first. There is a ton of "hype" about mold by the media and by people who want to sell you their products or services, most of which are worthless. And some of the products (such as the air cleaners I mentioned, and the mold "foggers" that are being marketed now) are actually dangerous.
Best of luck to you.
http://www.booneih.com
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