Archive for November 2009

All About Aspergillus Mold

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Aspergillus mold is a group containing over 150 different types of mold that can be found in Mother Nature. The species of molds were first discovered in the 1700’s by a biologist named Pier Antonio Micheli.

One of the most common places these molds can be found is on bread and potatoes that have gone bad. But, the mold also grows on plants and trees. However, many of the species can be found more indoors than outdoors.

The moldscan cause Aspergillosis, which is a name for a group of diseases that can attack the immune systems of both humans and animals. It is considered to be the second most common fungus disease known to man. There are more than fifteen of this group that can cause disease in humans and animals with two being the most common, which are Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus.

These types of fungus are especially dangerous to those whose immune systems are weaker such as newborns and the elderly. Many of the symptoms include chest pains, difficulty in breathing, coughing and fever. However, there are serious health related issues from the mold dangers, which can occur such as asthma and cystic fibrosis.

Of course not all of the species of molds are dangerous to humans and animals. As a matter of fact, some of the molds are used in certain beverages and as a source for citric acid.

Even so, there’s still that little no factor that a majority of the fungal species can cause health problems. And while there’s no way to completely get rid of every single mold that we come into contact with, we can at least remove a majority of it from our home.

Since most fungus relies on moisture to thrive, it’s necessary to minimize any sources of condensation throughout the home. If you have a leaky pipe or showerhead, you should get it fixed immediately. If your basement stays wet from the weather, you need to seal up any leaks or cracks along the walls.

If you live in a climate where it’s almost impossible to keep your house moisture-free, you may need to rely on dehumidifiers and fans to help reduce fungus growth.

Once you’ve blocked off the source of the problem, you can then remove the mold from your home. You can either choose to buy a commercial product or you can use a safer alternative using black mold removal home remedies.

And while most people prefer greener alternatives to chemicals, you should keep in mind that not every home remedy will work on all molds. So you must be willing to try different resources continuously.

You should also keep in mind however that not all commercial mold removers are full of dangerous chemicals. There are many on the market that is green and just as safe as a home remedy. Ultimately, the decision on what product to use is more of a preference.

Just remember that no matter what product you decide to use, do your research first. You’ll end up wasting not only your time, but also your money if you invest in a product that won’t destroy Aspergillus mold.  Research is a must.

Black Mold Effects You and Your Home

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Black mold effects are not only damaging to homes and businesses, they can also be damaging to humans and animals. And even worse, they can be deadly in those with weak immune systems, small pets and babies.

And from experience I can tell you that black mold really can do some severe damage. You see, several years ago I was unfamiliar with the fungus and the damage it could cause. I found myself coughing every single night that I slept in my bedroom and the symptoms were only getting worse.

At one point I thought it was a flu or pneumonia that wouldn’t go away. I kept telling my spouse I was very sick and didn’t know why. I began making guesses and in the end just simply assumed that I had a weak immune system.

Then when I moved I found myself removed from the situation and realized that my toxic mold symptoms were going away. It was not long after that when I learned that I had been affected by toxic mold in my bedroom. I soon learned that this dangerous fungus can grow on wood, tiles, wall paneling, cardboard, cotton, drywall, insulation and practically anywhere moisture is present.

I also learned that the symptoms of toxic mold sickness were nothing to sneeze about.  When a person is exposed to elevated levels of toxic mold poisoning, they may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

Allergies – The most common symptoms associated with mold and mildew. What many people believe is just a change in the weather outdoors, may actually be something more serious.

Asthma – As with allergies, asthma is another common symptom that many people mistake for seasonal weather changes.

Bleeding Lungs – A little less common in adults, but can cause deadly results in small children and pets.

Recurring Colds – Even if you have a weak immune system, a cold is practically never ending could be a sign of toxic fungus in your home!

Chronic Coughing – This is a symptom that can easily be associated with colds. It’s also the very same reason I assumed I had pneumonia at one point.

Fatigue – Another symptom I had that is very common with toxic molds. I found myself tired all of the time and assumed it was due to my sickness.

Headaches – I remember when I used to get a lot of migraine headaches and could never figure out why the sudden health issue. I had never had migraines in my life. I haven’t had any since then either. Well, now I know.
 
Many other effects that can be brought on by toxic mold are kidney failure, learning difficulties, memory loss, runny nose, seizures or dizziness, sinus congestion, sleep disorders such as insomnia, sore throat, lightheadedness and vomiting. And unfortunately the list goes on and on.

The bad news is, your doctor may not be able to determine if your symptoms are actually caused by the effects of black mold since they are so easily associated with other health problems.

The good news is, if you find that you do have toxic mold in your home and are able to remove them, your symptoms could go away. But first things first, you have to remove the dangers from your home! Otherwise your health will never get better.

Symptoms of Black Mold in Your Home

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A few days ago I found myself in the basement of a friend’s home and I knew immediately that they had symptoms of black mold. As soon as I’d spent a few minutes down there I could detect a musty odor, which is one of the most common signs that you have a problem. Several hours later I realized there was a really serious problem when I began coughing and had some difficult breathing. It wasn’t until I stepped outside and away from the basement, that I found myself feeling much better.

Of course the above are only a few signs that there may be a toxic mold problem. Musty odors, moisture on walls, woodwork and other surfaces are also most often a sign that you have mold in your house.  You may also have a problem if you find yellow, green, black or brown colored stains on your walls or ceilings, which is often a sign of leaking.

In people, mold poisoning can often result in respiratory system problems, headaches (including migraines), coughing, red and irritated eyes, skin rash, nausea, short and long term memory loss, lethargy, dizziness, irritated mucous membranes, asthma attacks, severe allergic reactions, watery eyes, runny nose, urinary tract infections, liver pain, liver damage, lack of concentration and irregularity in blood pressure.

Prolonged exposure to toxic molds may cause bleeding of the lungs, infertility and even death in infants, elderly and those with a weak immune system.

If you find there is a mold problem in your home, depending on the amount of fungus present, you may be able to remove it yourself or you may need to hire a contractor to do it for you. In any event, you need to take the problem very seriously.

You need to take all of the precautions necessary by wearing protective gloves and a respiratory mask when working around the mold. And if the problem is larger than 10 square feet, do your research by asking neighbors, friends and even local businesses what contractor they would recommend. Get estimates and shop around. And always make sure to get everything in writing before any work is started.

You will also want to control future mold problems by keeping moisture levels to a minimum. You can do so by opening windows and using exhaust fans and humidifiers where they are needed. An air purifier can also be an essential prevention tool since it can rid the air of airborne particles and fungus spores. You will also want to repair leaking pipes, roofs and other leaky structures.

If your home has an air conditioner or HVAC unit, check to see that the air and ventilation ducts are clean and free of dirt and debris. And don’t forget ceiling fans, which can also gather dust and dirt.

Consider replacing wallpaper and carpet in kitchen, bathrooms and basements where signs and symptoms of black mold occur most often. Or paint rooms with a moisture or mold resistant paint, which can generally be purchased in most home and remodeling stores.

Tips For Removing Mold on Roof

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While a mold on roof problem may not be deadly, those black or green stains can cause wear and tear on your shingles – not to mention, make your home look bad.

It may seem like replacing all the roofing with new shingles would be the easiest solution, but in reality it’s not the most practical. If however you do find that the shingles are worn out, you should consider replacing them with copper granules laced ones since it will help prevent future mold growth.

A less expensive solution however, would be to spray wash the shingles with a mold spray. Do not use a pressure washer since it can remove surface granules from the shingles and damage them.

And if you have any plants that are below on the ground, you’ll want to water them or cover them if you can with plastic since some cleaners can harm them. Afterwards you’ll want to rinse the plants even if they were covered in plastic just to be safe.

When spraying the shingles, you should allow the solution to sit for at least 15 minutes, and then rinse the areas with a hose. To check if there is any remaining mold, test the surface to see if it feels slimy. If it does then there is still mold present and you will need to allow the area to dry, then spray the shingles with the mold cleaner again.

As a word of caution, you may be tempted to use a solution of water and bleach to kill the mold. While in some cases using bleach may work, it’s has been recently shown in studies that it cannot kill deep down below the surface where mold tends to hide. Bleaching can also damage the shingles if it is allowed to set in for even a short amount of time.

Because many of us are not fond of climbing roofs (or simply can’t) even if it means spending a little more money, there is always the option of hiring a professional to do the job for you. However, you should know that the cost of mold remediation will not come cheap and some companies may charge as much as $800 for their services.

Just be sure to shop around first before you go with the first company you see. Not every company will charge the same fees for their services so shopping around and comparing prices can actually save you money.
But before you hire a black mold removal professional you may want to make sure that it’s really fungus growing on your shingles and not dirt. You can do this by placing a few drops of a mold remover on an affected area. If the area becomes clean chances are you have a mold problem. If the area remains the same, it’s probably just dirt.

With or without a professional, you’ll want to prevent future mold on roof problems after the job is done by keeping tree branches away and any other debris that may be preventing the shingles from staying dry and help prevent another mold attack on your roof.

Mold on Ceiling Tips

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Last night as I was taking down old wallpaper from my kitchen walls when I noticed water damage. And then I thought, “uhh ohhh”, because where there’s water damage there’s bound to be mold on the ceiling!

So now I’m wondering, will I have to hire a contractor to get rid of the stuff or can I do it myself? Is the damage minor or is there attic mold as well? There was only one way to find out, so I went upstairs and investigated. As it turns out, the damage is minor as far as fungus is concerned. However, I will need to replace the drywall, which should be an interesting job.

Still, if the damage had been anything but minor, I would have needed to hire a black mold removal company and it wouldn’t have been cheap. You see, I live in a fairly small town and the nearest contractor is nearly 2 hours away! When hiring a contractor most people don’t take into account for travel expenses and as I learned they are necessary in some cases.

Some mold removal companies may include a specific mileage fee depending on the total distance, but most will charge a fee based on per a mile. And if they need to come out several times, those fees will add up. So to save yourself a lot of stress, you should ask the contractor about mileage fees and be sure to get it in writing if you do decide to hire them. Unfortunately even if you don’t decide to hire them, you may end up having to pay mileage fees for their initial visit.

If you have homeowner’s insurance, you may or may not be able to recover the costs. If you do have to hire a company from out of town, you may want to ask to see if they will give you a discount on services if you do decide to hire them. Another option may be to do as much of the work as you can yourself before you hire the contractor.

However, before you try to do the work yourself, it’s wise to check with your city about codes and laws. Some cities may not allow anyone other than a licensed professional to remove toxic mold from a home or business.

If you do find that you don’t need a contractor to remove the problem, then hooray! For minor problems, you may be able to apply a mold removal product to the affected area and simply wipe away. Just be sure to read the bottle directions and make sure it is one made specifically for black mold removal. Otherwise, the problem will just come right back.

If the mold on ceiling area is more than 10 square feet, please don’t attempt the project alone. Black mold is very dangerous and can cause severe lung damage and even death if it is not handled properly. Leave it up to the professionals and keep yourself and your family safe from harm!

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