(701)566-1446 Mold FAQ
Why do I have mold in my home?
What kind of doctor should I contact with mold exposure?
Is it necessary to do sampling/testing for mold?
Is it necessary to do sampling/testing for mold?
What is a mold count?
A mold count is the number of mold spores counted in a certain volume of air over a certain amount of time. A dangerous level of mold counts will vary depending on the type of the species, time of the year and the location.
A mold count is the number of mold spores counted in a certain volume of air over a certain amount of time. A dangerous level of mold counts will vary depending on the type of the species, time of the year and the location.
What are some of the most common indoor molds?
- Alternaria
- Aspergillus
- Ascospores
- Basidiospores
- Cladosporium
- Myxomycetes
- Penicillium
What kinds of molds are allergenic?
Not all types of mold are allergenic. Certain mold spores are very small and light, and could float around in the air for days. These spores are likely to end up in in your respiratory system. Some of the most common allergic molds are:
Not all types of mold are allergenic. Certain mold spores are very small and light, and could float around in the air for days. These spores are likely to end up in in your respiratory system. Some of the most common allergic molds are:
- Alternaria
- Aspergillus
- Chaetomium
- Cladosporium
- Fusarium
- Mucor
- Penicillium
- Stachybotrys
My landlord won't take any responsibility for cleaning up mold in my home. Where can I go for help?
There is no enforcement that can make the landlord clean up your mold, unless you can proof the presence of it. If you suspect you have a mold problem, contact your local mold inspector. On your own cost; have your air quality tested, and from there on you bring the results to your local health department. With evidence of dangerous levels of mold, the health department will do an inspection in the property, and send the landlord a warning to clean up within a certain number of weeks.
Often tenants claims there is a mold problem in their home just to get out of their lease. That is why many landlords ignores the complains.
If you really think you have a real problem with mold, suggest this to your landlord:
Tenant pays for the air quality testing. If results are abnormal, the landlord will reimburse the tenant and properly remove the mold and correct the source.
There is no enforcement that can make the landlord clean up your mold, unless you can proof the presence of it. If you suspect you have a mold problem, contact your local mold inspector. On your own cost; have your air quality tested, and from there on you bring the results to your local health department. With evidence of dangerous levels of mold, the health department will do an inspection in the property, and send the landlord a warning to clean up within a certain number of weeks.
Often tenants claims there is a mold problem in their home just to get out of their lease. That is why many landlords ignores the complains.
If you really think you have a real problem with mold, suggest this to your landlord:
Tenant pays for the air quality testing. If results are abnormal, the landlord will reimburse the tenant and properly remove the mold and correct the source.
Can I get out of my lease if mold is present in my house/apartment?
The only way to legally get out of your lease would be to have evidence of dangerous levels of mold spores, and bring your landlord to court.
How can I tell if I have a mold problem?
- If you see a black, green, gray, brown or yellow material growing on your wall, floor or ceiling it could possibly be mold.
- If you had any water leaks.
- If your humidity is high(60% or higher)
- If you have health issues your normally don't have
How does mold affect people with asthma?
Molds can strengthen the typical asthma symptoms to sensitive individuals with asthma. Asthmatic's should avoid exposure from mold.
Molds can strengthen the typical asthma symptoms to sensitive individuals with asthma. Asthmatic's should avoid exposure from mold.
What health symptoms are there with mold exposure?
Symptoms for short term mold exposure
Symptoms for high levels of exposure over a long period
Symptoms for short term mold exposure
- Headaches
- Sneezing
- Watery and/or itching eyes
- Itching or irritated skin
Symptoms for on and off mold exposure over a longer period
- Constant headaches
- Sinus infections
- Nose bleeds
- Ear infections
- Constant fatigue
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Neurological and nervous disorders
- Short term memory loss
- Hair loss
- Sexual dysfunction
- Asthma attacks or breathing disorders
- Bronchitis
- Coughing black debris or blood
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain
- Skin rashes and open sores
- Swollen glands in neck and armpit area
- Pain in joints and muscles
- Fever
Symptoms for high levels of exposure over a long period
- Brain damage
- Long term memory loss
- Blindness
- Bleeding lungs
- Cancer
- Death
What kind of doctor should I contact with mold exposure?
Contact your general health care provider who will determine if you need to be referred to a specialist.
Is it necessary to do sampling/testing for mold?
It is highly recommended to have air samples collected for several reasons:
It is highly recommended to have air samples collected for several reasons:
- Determining the counts of mold in the air will tell you if it is safe to live in your home, or if the levels are too high and you need to temporarily move out while the mold remediation is in process.
- To determine if the counts of mold spores are too high in the non suspected contaminated areas(where you have no visible mold growth). Often the rooms/areas adjacent to the area with visible growth could be contaminated with just as high counts of mold spores, and needs to be re mediated.
- To determine the type of mold, and what precautions that should be made during the remediation process.
- After the remediation process is finished, it is highly recommended to perform post remediation samples. These samples will also be compared to the samples taken before the remediation started, to confirm that the mold remediation was successful.
What is the difference between mold and mildew?
The term mildew is often used generically to refer to mold growth, normally with a flat growth habit. Mildew is normally found on papers, fabrics, caulking in bathrooms, shower walls, and windows.
Mold grows more on porous and hard substances, and can be black, gray, blue, red or green, while mildew usually are white, gray or black in color.
Mold can look hairy and slimy depending on the type, and can be irregularly black or gray shaped spots.
The term mildew is often used generically to refer to mold growth, normally with a flat growth habit. Mildew is normally found on papers, fabrics, caulking in bathrooms, shower walls, and windows.
Mold grows more on porous and hard substances, and can be black, gray, blue, red or green, while mildew usually are white, gray or black in color.
Mold can look hairy and slimy depending on the type, and can be irregularly black or gray shaped spots.
How do I get rid of mold?
Before starting the mold remediation, it is very important to correct the moisture/water source that are causing the mold growth.
Depending on the size of the job, it is highly recommended to have a certified and professional mold re mediator to do the job. This to be confident that the right products are being used, and everything will be done in the right order to prevent cross contamination.
Mold growth on hard substances(wood,concrete etc), should be scrubbed hard with detergent and water.
Mold growth on absorbent or porous materials(sheet rock, ceiling tile, carpet etc) might have to be discarded. Mold is likely to be growing on the backside of the substance, and will be impossible to clean properly.
Make sure to use proper protection like face respirator, goggles and hand protection.
If you are insecure about how to clean your mold, you may wish to consult your local mold inspector or re mediator.
Before starting the mold remediation, it is very important to correct the moisture/water source that are causing the mold growth.
Depending on the size of the job, it is highly recommended to have a certified and professional mold re mediator to do the job. This to be confident that the right products are being used, and everything will be done in the right order to prevent cross contamination.
Mold growth on hard substances(wood,concrete etc), should be scrubbed hard with detergent and water.
Mold growth on absorbent or porous materials(sheet rock, ceiling tile, carpet etc) might have to be discarded. Mold is likely to be growing on the backside of the substance, and will be impossible to clean properly.
Make sure to use proper protection like face respirator, goggles and hand protection.
If you are insecure about how to clean your mold, you may wish to consult your local mold inspector or re mediator.
Can I clean off mold with bleach?
Bleach is not a registered EPA mold removal product. Mixing bleach with water will help you remove the mold, but wont kill it.
Mold grows into the porous substance(like roots on a tree). When applying the bleach mix, the bleach will evaporate within a few seconds, and the water will soak into the substance and potentially create a moist and perfect environment for mold to grow.
Bleach is in general considered as unsafe for cleaning/removing mold, and could do more damage to the individual that are cleaning than the mold itself.
Bleach is not a registered EPA mold removal product. Mixing bleach with water will help you remove the mold, but wont kill it.
Mold grows into the porous substance(like roots on a tree). When applying the bleach mix, the bleach will evaporate within a few seconds, and the water will soak into the substance and potentially create a moist and perfect environment for mold to grow.
Bleach is in general considered as unsafe for cleaning/removing mold, and could do more damage to the individual that are cleaning than the mold itself.
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