The word "mold"has become a household name. It seems that there is so much information out there about health and air quality in our immediate environment stems back to "mold".
It is as big an issue as the dreaded Termite problem. This is now so big that even home insurance companies may not issue new home owners coverage until they come to photograph key locations in your home to ensure that you do not have existing "mold".
Insurance companies can go so far, as excluding coverage for any pre existing mold in your house. So what is the big issue with "mold" and why are we so cautious today?
Well, recent studies show how sick it can make you and your loved ones in the home. It may well be the source of many allergies, and many other problems that we had not even noticed in the past years. Sometimes "mold" can be very obvious, and sometimes not If you are living in an old home, as many are in the US then chances are you may have mold in some places in your home, that have water issues, which then possibly lead to a mold problem.
This is not to say that just because you are in a new home that you are for sure not going to have moisture problems. "mold" can grow as quickly as 48 hours in some cases, so unless your house is less than two days old, you should always be on the look out for moisture and mold. Water in your home can come from many sources. Water can enter your home by leaking or by seeping through basement floors. Showers or even cooking can add moisture to the air in your home.
Here are just a few of the EPA's recommendations: Fix leaks and seepage. If water is entering the house from the outside, your options range from simple landscaping to extensive excavation and waterproofing (The ground should slope away from the house) Water in the house basement can result from the lack of gutters or a water flow towards the house. Water leaks in pipes or around tubs and sinks can provide a place for biological pollutants to grow. Put a plastic cover over dirt in crawlspaces to prevent moisture from coming in from the ground. Be sure crawlspaces are well ventilated .
Use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to remove moisture to the outside (not in to the attic) Vent your close dryer to the outside of the house. Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners, especially in hot, humid climates, to reduce moisture in the air, but be sure that the appliances themselves sources of biological pollutants.
The Environmental Protection Agency has many resourceful tips. Please check their web site for more detailed information.
www.epa.gov
It is as big an issue as the dreaded Termite problem. This is now so big that even home insurance companies may not issue new home owners coverage until they come to photograph key locations in your home to ensure that you do not have existing "mold".
Insurance companies can go so far, as excluding coverage for any pre existing mold in your house. So what is the big issue with "mold" and why are we so cautious today?
Well, recent studies show how sick it can make you and your loved ones in the home. It may well be the source of many allergies, and many other problems that we had not even noticed in the past years. Sometimes "mold" can be very obvious, and sometimes not If you are living in an old home, as many are in the US then chances are you may have mold in some places in your home, that have water issues, which then possibly lead to a mold problem.
This is not to say that just because you are in a new home that you are for sure not going to have moisture problems. "mold" can grow as quickly as 48 hours in some cases, so unless your house is less than two days old, you should always be on the look out for moisture and mold. Water in your home can come from many sources. Water can enter your home by leaking or by seeping through basement floors. Showers or even cooking can add moisture to the air in your home.
Here are just a few of the EPA's recommendations: Fix leaks and seepage. If water is entering the house from the outside, your options range from simple landscaping to extensive excavation and waterproofing (The ground should slope away from the house) Water in the house basement can result from the lack of gutters or a water flow towards the house. Water leaks in pipes or around tubs and sinks can provide a place for biological pollutants to grow. Put a plastic cover over dirt in crawlspaces to prevent moisture from coming in from the ground. Be sure crawlspaces are well ventilated .
Use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to remove moisture to the outside (not in to the attic) Vent your close dryer to the outside of the house. Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners, especially in hot, humid climates, to reduce moisture in the air, but be sure that the appliances themselves sources of biological pollutants.
The Environmental Protection Agency has many resourceful tips. Please check their web site for more detailed information.
www.epa.gov
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