| Mold |
And mold spores enter the home through doorways, windows, and heating
and air conditioning systems. Spores also enter the home on animals,
clothing, shoes, bags and people.
When mold spores drop where there is excessive moisture in your home,
they will grow. Common problem sites include humidifiers, leaky roofs and
pipes, overflowing sinks, bath tubs and plant pots, steam from cooking, wet
clothes drying indoors, dryers exhausting indoors, or where there has been
flooding.
Many of the building materials for homes provide suitable nutrients for mold,
helping it to grow. Such materials include paper and paper products,
cardboard, ceiling tiles, wood and wood products, dust, paints, wallpaper,
insulation materials, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.
The importance of mold in the real estate market today
Much has been made of indoor mold in advertising and the media lately, so it’
s a common concern for homeowners and buyers. It's common to find mold
even in new homes. Whether you’re selling your current home or looking into
buying one, it’s vital to get a mold inspection. Presence of active mold can
drastically affect the resale value of any home.
For homeowners, a mold test will either put your mind at rest or make you
aware of any problems that could otherwise cause delays or deal breakers
once you’ve entered negotiations with a buyer. A professional mold tester
will give you a signed report from an expert before you put the home up for
sale. Imagine being able to show a “clean bill of health” to potential buyers
that express concerns – they’ll be impressed by your thoroughness and
commitment to your home.
For buyers, getting a mold test will ensure that you’re not surprised by costly
clean up and the potential health hazards of mold. If any mold is found to be
present and active in the home, the mold inspection will allow you to ask the
seller to do the clean up prior to buying the home.
Exposure to mold
Everyone is exposed to some amount of mold on a daily basis, most without
any apparent reaction. Generally mold spores can cause problems when
they are present in large numbers and a person inhales large quantities of
them. This occurs primarily when there is active mold growth.
For some people, a small exposure to mold spores can trigger an asthma
attack or lead to other health problems. For others, symptoms may only
occur when exposure levels are much higher.
The health effects of mold can vary. The production of allergens or irritants
can cause mild allergic reactions and asthma attacks. The production of
potentially toxic mycotoxins can cause more severe reactions, and in rare
cases death.
Should I be concerned about mold in my home?
Yes. If indoor mold is extensive, those in your home can be exposed to very
high and persistent airborne mold spores. It is possible to become
sensitized to these mold spores and develop allergies or other health
concerns, even if one is not normally sensitive to mold.
Left unchecked, mold growth can cause structural damage to your home as
well as permanent damage to furnishings and carpet.
According to the Centers for Disease Control*, "It is not necessary, however,
to determine what type of mold you may have. All molds should be treated
the same with respect to potential health risks and removal."
Can my home be tested for mold?
Yes. We offer thorough mold testing that involves visual examinations of the
most likely areas to harbor mold. We also take air samples indoors and out
to determine whether the number of spores inside your home is significantly
higher. If the indoor level is higher, it could mean that mold is growing inside
your home.
How do I remove mold from my home?
First address the source of moisture that is allowing the mold to grow. Then
take steps to clean up the contamination. Here are helpful links to lean more
about cleaning up mold in your home.
and air conditioning systems. Spores also enter the home on animals,
clothing, shoes, bags and people.
When mold spores drop where there is excessive moisture in your home,
they will grow. Common problem sites include humidifiers, leaky roofs and
pipes, overflowing sinks, bath tubs and plant pots, steam from cooking, wet
clothes drying indoors, dryers exhausting indoors, or where there has been
flooding.
Many of the building materials for homes provide suitable nutrients for mold,
helping it to grow. Such materials include paper and paper products,
cardboard, ceiling tiles, wood and wood products, dust, paints, wallpaper,
insulation materials, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.
The importance of mold in the real estate market today
Much has been made of indoor mold in advertising and the media lately, so it’
s a common concern for homeowners and buyers. It's common to find mold
even in new homes. Whether you’re selling your current home or looking into
buying one, it’s vital to get a mold inspection. Presence of active mold can
drastically affect the resale value of any home.
For homeowners, a mold test will either put your mind at rest or make you
aware of any problems that could otherwise cause delays or deal breakers
once you’ve entered negotiations with a buyer. A professional mold tester
will give you a signed report from an expert before you put the home up for
sale. Imagine being able to show a “clean bill of health” to potential buyers
that express concerns – they’ll be impressed by your thoroughness and
commitment to your home.
For buyers, getting a mold test will ensure that you’re not surprised by costly
clean up and the potential health hazards of mold. If any mold is found to be
present and active in the home, the mold inspection will allow you to ask the
seller to do the clean up prior to buying the home.
Exposure to mold
Everyone is exposed to some amount of mold on a daily basis, most without
any apparent reaction. Generally mold spores can cause problems when
they are present in large numbers and a person inhales large quantities of
them. This occurs primarily when there is active mold growth.
For some people, a small exposure to mold spores can trigger an asthma
attack or lead to other health problems. For others, symptoms may only
occur when exposure levels are much higher.
The health effects of mold can vary. The production of allergens or irritants
can cause mild allergic reactions and asthma attacks. The production of
potentially toxic mycotoxins can cause more severe reactions, and in rare
cases death.
Should I be concerned about mold in my home?
Yes. If indoor mold is extensive, those in your home can be exposed to very
high and persistent airborne mold spores. It is possible to become
sensitized to these mold spores and develop allergies or other health
concerns, even if one is not normally sensitive to mold.
Left unchecked, mold growth can cause structural damage to your home as
well as permanent damage to furnishings and carpet.
According to the Centers for Disease Control*, "It is not necessary, however,
to determine what type of mold you may have. All molds should be treated
the same with respect to potential health risks and removal."
Can my home be tested for mold?
Yes. We offer thorough mold testing that involves visual examinations of the
most likely areas to harbor mold. We also take air samples indoors and out
to determine whether the number of spores inside your home is significantly
higher. If the indoor level is higher, it could mean that mold is growing inside
your home.
How do I remove mold from my home?
First address the source of moisture that is allowing the mold to grow. Then
take steps to clean up the contamination. Here are helpful links to lean more
about cleaning up mold in your home.
Mold in the Home
The first thing to understand about
mold is that there is a little mold
everywhere – indoors and
outdoors. It's in the air and can be
found on plants, foods, dry leaves,
and other organic materials.
It's very common to find molds in
homes and buildings. After all,
molds grow naturally indoors.
The first thing to understand about
mold is that there is a little mold
everywhere – indoors and
outdoors. It's in the air and can be
found on plants, foods, dry leaves,
and other organic materials.
It's very common to find molds in
homes and buildings. After all,
molds grow naturally indoors.
" A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture,
and Your Home,"
" Repairing Your Flooded Home,"
FEMA
" Controlling Mold Growth in the
Home,"
Kansas State University
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