The
Truth About Mold
One of the
most prevalent concerns on today's home market is the presence of
mold in homes and condos. As many of us already
know, mold can cause significant damage to a house and also has
many negative health aspects. In order to better understand the
growing mold problem, let's have a closer look at mold itself. Mold
is a naturally occurring fungi that develops in dark and moist areas
on organic materials. In regards to a home this is most likely drywall,
flooring or support beams and other carbon-based products. Mold
usually indicates the presence of some type of moisture leak within
the structure of the home, although this is not always the case.
Mold reproduces by sending out spores, microscopic in size and nearly
undetectable, that thrive on moisture. In fact moisture is just
about the only thing that mold needs to survive.
Most commonly, mold can
for in certain appliances such as humidifiers or indoor vented dryers,
or as the result of flooding or leaks. This can include plumbing
leaks, continually damp basements and crawl spaces, and any other
area that is moist on an ongoing basis. The question remains, how
much of a danger is mold in the home? Stereotypically mold in the
home causes a number of allergy-like symptoms like runny nose, itchy
eyes, sneezing and nasal congestion. However these symptoms can
be worsened in those who are extra sensitive to molds such as individuals
with a compromised immune system, those with respiratory conditions,
the elderly, and infants. There is also a few different forms of
mold that can be severely damaging to humans such as Stachybotrys.
This mold grows only on cellulose products such as paper or wood
and needs time to grow.
Usually in a home the
biggest threat of mold comes after a house has flooded. After a
flood there are several steps that should be observed to ensure
that mold does not begin to grow in your home. First, when cleaning
up, try to lower the temperature & humidity of the area. This
creates an environment that the mold cannot develop or thrive in.
Now, the best step to take is to remove all moldy objects from the
area. If possible, it is a good idea to simply throw then all away,
if these items are keepsakes or valuables either drying completely
or freezing them will kill all of the mold. Disinfecting any surfaces
is essential to ensuring that mold does not occur. Once all of these
steps are done, then bring in the industrial fans and dryers to
clear out any remaining water or dampness.
In order to minimize
your contact with mold while doing a cleanup ensure that you utilize
a HEPA respirator. This will minimize the amount of spores that
you breathe during the process. Also, always position fans so that
they exhaust to the exterior of the home. Another good idea is to
shut off the heat and/or the air conditioner, this will prevent
the spreading of spores throughout the home.
Mold can occur in homes
in many different forms, make sure that when considering the purchase
of a home, you have a proper inspection done. Ask the inspector
to keep a sharp eye out for any signs of mold in the home. If you
are selling a home that has flooded in the past, have an inspector
come in after your cleanup efforts to ensure that you did not miss
anything. This can save you both time and embarrassment during the
sale process. Any negative aspects of the home can and will be utilized
by a smart buyer as bargaining points to bring down the asking price
of your home, so minimizing them is essential. If your home is clean
and mold-free, then you chances of receiving your asking price are
much greater.
For more helpful information
about other areas, check these sites out:
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Tampa MLS
for Tampa Bay area real estate and homes.
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