You look for quality in life: quality time, quality sleep, quality food, but what about quality air? Have you thought about the indoor air quality in your home and how it can affect you and your loved ones? When the quality of air in your home is poor, you can experience health problems. How can you get quality in life and improve your quality of life? One simple step is improving your indoor air quality.
Category: Mold
Health Risks of Mold Exposure & How to Keep Your Home Mold Free
By: | Published January 24, 2019
There are thousands of species of the fungi commonly known as mold. Mold exposure, especially for those with asthma or mold sensitivities, poses a serious risk to your home and family. Everything from yourself, to your pets to even your belongings can be harmed due to mold exposure. So what exactly are the health risks of mold exposure? Let’s look at the impact of mold and how to keep your home mold free.
How to Get Rid of Musty Smells in Your Basement
By: | Published August 23, 2017
Does your basement have an odor that’s keeping you from going downstairs? As much as you’d like to believe “that’s just how basements smell,” it’s not true. That musty smell is a strong indicator that your basement is being invaded by moisture, leaving mold and mildew in its wake. The first step was identifying the issue – so how do you get rid of musty smells in your basement? Read on to find out!
Find & Clean the Source
The longer you wait to attack a musty basement smell, the harder it will be. Hunt through your entire basement until you locate the cause. There are plenty of places where it might be hiding – behind walls, along your tiling, or in a crawl space. Leave no box unturned and you’ll eventually find the mold or mildew, that could be growing on your floors, walls or anything stored nearby.
How you clean the mold or mildew will depend on the surface where you found it. Some cleaners are better than others – you don’t want to damage your paint or floors while cleaning the mold away. You can typically use a bleach-water combination to wipe away mold and its remnants. Finish off by rinsing the bleach away with water, and thoroughly drying the area.
Keep in mind that you’re only cleaning up the visible part of the mold. There will be more mold under the surface. Now that you know where the moisture is and the area is clean, you can assess the breach. If it’s a small crack less than 1/8”, you may be able to
fix it with a small amount of waterproofing compound
Tips for Cleaning Mold Off Walls in Your Home
By: | Published August 4, 2017
When you find mold, it’s more than just an eyesore. It’s a health risk for you and your family. Your first instinct may be to clean it, but it’s important to know the proper way to handle it. In addition to the potential dangers mold and its spores, improperly cleaning mold off walls in your home will likely allow it to come right back. Read our guide on cleaning mold off walls like concrete, brick and drywall to learn the safest solutions for removing these invasive growths.
Safety First
Before you tackle your mold problem, you’ll want to wear some protective gear to prevent illness. Not all mold is inherently dangerous, but identifying which type of mold you have is usually more difficult than simply looking at it. Inhaling mold spores can cause anything from simple allergic responses to severe sickness – for you or your pets.
Your mold-busting gear should include:
- Breathing mask
- Goggles or protective eyewear
- Waterproof gloves
All of these will help you prevent unnecessary contact with your mold. In addition to protective equipment, we recommend opening windows and improved ventilation as you will be working with chemical cleaners.
How to Clean Mold off Walls
Before you clean the mold off your walls, make sure you know what type of wall you’ll be cleaning. You don’t want to cause more damage, and how you clean drywall will be different than how you clean a concrete wall:
Cleaning Mold Off Concrete or Brick Walls
If mold appears on concrete or brick walls, it’s very simple to clean it off, though it might be an indicator of a crack in your foundation. You will need to use a cleaning agent that is antimicrobial, which you can purchase at almost any hardware store or even make yourself. Once you’ve put on your protective equipment, simply scrub the moldy surface with the cleaner until it’s completely wiped away. Some specialized cleaners will have additional instructions – if you’re purchasing a cleaner from the store, make sure to follow its directions closely.
One way to reduce your chances of dealing with moisture problems in your stone or brick basement is DuraShield. These panels create a barrier against moisture, insulating your basement walls and giving it a finished look with no maintenance required.
Cleaning Mold Off Painted Walls
Mold is common in rooms that have a lot of moisture – like your bathroom or basement. Ideally, these rooms should be painted with water-resistant “wash-and-wear” type paint that will prevent mold from growing deeper than the surface. It also makes it easier to clean when you do spot growing mold.
If you plan to use store-bought mold remover, make sure the formula is mild enough to minimize any damage to your paint. It’s possible, based on the severity of the mold, that you may have to repaint or even replace part of the wall. With the mold remover and a rag or towel, spray the affected area and scrub the mold. You may have to do this multiple times. Afterwards, spray water on the area and wipe it with a new towel or rag to clear the surface of any remaining mold remover.
Cleaning Mold Off Unsealed Drywall
Unfortunately, it’s not so easy to clean mold off unsealed drywall. Drywall is porous, which means the mold may be visible on the surface, but it’s also growing inside the pores. Without water-resistant paint, it’s very likely that by the time you notice the mold, it’s already inside the drywall too. You can look for mold by cutting inspections holes into the drywall. Remove the insulation and use a mirror to inspect the other side of the drywall.
If mold is growing on the insulation, it will need to be removed and replaced. Likewise, if you find that your drywall has mold beneath the surface, you will need to remove and replace it as well.
Unless you’re trained in mold remediation, the most you can do is temporarily reduce the overall mold growth by using a mold removing cleaner and scrubbing the visible mold away. You will need to contact your local mold experts for an inspection to discover the full scope of your mold damage. Even if you clean away all the mold, if it still has a source and some mold remains, it will continue to grow back.
Mold Encapsulation
Sometimes with porous surfaces, you will have trace amounts of mold that you can’t remove. If that’s the case, your only option may be mold encapsulation. To encapsulate mold, purchase a mold sealant and apply it to the mold after you’ve done everything to clean and scrub it away. This should be used as a last resort if the mold can’t be removed and the surface the mold is on cannot be replaced. If you think you need to do this, you should first contact a mold professional to make sure you don’t risk making the problem worse.
It’s often surfaces like brick or wood that will require encapsulation. Non-porous surfaces, or those that can be easily replaced like drywall should never need to be encapsulated.
DIY Mold Removal Cleaner
If you only see a small amount of mold and don’t want to purchase a mold remover, you can also create your own mold removal solution from common household products. The most common solution is simply a mixture of ¼ cup of bleach with 2 cups of warm water. Pour this combination into a spray bottle and it functions similarly to a store-bought cleaner.
Identifying the Source of the Mold
After you clean away any visible mold, it’s critical that you backtrack and find the source. Without correcting the cause of the mold, it’s guaranteed to come back.
The best way to fight mold is to prevent it
Black Mold Identification & Stopping It at the Source
By: | Published August 1, 2017
House molds are a growing concern in the minds of homeowners across the nation. Regardless of your area’s climate, leaks and cracks can promote mold growth in any nook or cranny of your home. Often, these growths go unnoticed for days, weeks or even months, allowing them to become health hazards and even damage your property. Certain molds are more dangerous than others; black mold identification in particular has become an important topic for property owners.
But how do you know which molds are dangerous and which are benign? It starts with knowing the properties of mold and understanding the symptoms they can cause. Read on and learn about house molds that could be affecting your family right now!
Stachybotrys Atra: Infamously Known as the “Black Mold”
Stachybotrys atra, or Stachybotyrs chartroom, is a specific type of toxic mold. This is what most people refer to when they say, “black mold.” While sometimes found in grain or soil, it’s much more frequently found in building materials that are rich in cellulose – often following water damage. High moisture content is a requirement for black mold to grow, so it is unlikely to be found in homes that are properly inspected and have been protected through waterproofing services.
This species of mold appears black or dark green, and has a unique shiny looking surface. Some would describe it as slimy-looking, but if it dries it often becomes gray and powder-like. The problem is when it comes to black mold identification, the only real way to confirm if it’s the dangerous, toxic species is with a microscope. Many different molds have similar appearance to Stachybotrys atra. Only with careful examination by an expert, practicing caution, can the species be accurately identified.
Low levels of Stachybotrys atra tend not to have any effect, though if you’re immuno-compromised it’s more likely to cause symptoms. Larger volumes of the mold lead to higher exposure, which can cause a variety of symptoms sometimes referred to as Toxic Mold Syndrome:
- Chronic coughing or sneezing
- Throat irritation
- Rashes
- Sinusitis
- Asthmatic Attacks
- Conjunctivitis
- Chronic Fatigue
- Persistent Headaches
These symptoms usually diminish or clear completely soon after removing the mold and its source.
Black mold affects animals too. While you may not notice a small spot of mold growing in that dark corner of your basement, you can be sure your pet will! Their curious nature may lead them to direct contact with the mold, causing illness or other reactions. If you have pets, keep an eye out for symptoms and take them to the vet immediately! Then,
contact a professional to inspect and locate the source of your mold problems.
Prevent Frozen Pipes & Water in Your Basement During Winter Vacation
By: | Published December 21, 2016
Winter is back and so is that – dare we say it – polar vortex! We’ve already had our first taste of below-zero temperatures, which has many of us thinking about vacationing in a warmer climate. If you’re doing more than thinking about it – if you’re planning to take a trip away from home this season – you should take steps to protect your home by winterizing your plumbing.
Frozen pipes can be more than a temporary inconvenience. Left unchecked, a frozen pipe could burst, leading to significant water damage and creating an environment where mold can thrive. But by following simple winterizing steps, you can keep your plumbing intact despite the freezing temperatures.
Tip #1: Turn Off Your Water Supply
5 Tips for Preventing Toxic Mold Syndrome
By: | Published August 17, 2016
Mold is everywhere – it’s in the food we eat, the air we breathe, and on almost every surface we touch – and most types of mold are relatively harmless. But one particular type of mold, Toxic Black Mold, has been identified as a dangerous strain. Exposure to this variety of mold can lead to Toxic Mold Syndrome, a cluster of symptoms that affect mental as well as physical health.
Mold loves damp, dark places, which is why your basement needs to be checked for water seepage, cracked foundation, and visible damage regularly.
What is Toxic Mold Syndrome?
Toxic black mold produces neurotoxins – chemicals that damage neurons in the brain and impair a person’s mental ability. Exposure to these neurotoxins can cause symptoms such as:
- muscle pain, cramps, burning, unusual shooting (ice pick-like) pains
- headaches
- fatigue, weakness, flu-like symptoms, fever, chills
- shortness of breath, cough
- abdominal pain, diarrhea
- chronic sinusitis, sore throat
- burning eyes, red eyes, sensitivity to light
- difficulty with thought processes, anxiety, memory loss, loss of concentration, confusion, disorientation, “brain fog”
- dizziness, balance problems
- metallic taste in mouth
- numbness and tingling
- night sweats
- temperature regulation problems
- excessive thirst and urination
- rash
- excessive menstrual bleeding
- flushed face
- chest pains
- kidney disease
In rare, but extreme cases, Toxic Mold Syndrome has even been linked to death!
Toxic Black Mold grows naturally in our environment, usually out of doors. But when conditions are right – dark, warm, and humid – it will thrive indoors because the cellulose contained in many building materials is an excellent source of food.
Since Toxic Black Mold cleanup can dangerous and costly, it should only be done by professionals. However, with a few simple preventive measures, you can save yourself and your family a lot of headaches (both literally and figuratively).
How Can You Prevent Toxic Mold Syndrome? Follow These 5 Tips!
Keeping your family safe from Toxic Black Mold isn’t difficult; it’s a matter of making your home inhospitable to molds of any type. Here are 5 ways you can accomplish that:
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Check water pipes for leakage and sweating on a regular basis.
Sweating pipes can be easily eliminated with an inexpensive insulation kit available at most hardware stores. If you’re remodeling rooms that need a water exchange, make sure that pipes are wrapped in insulation and that there is absolutely no leakage before the wall is sealed. Consider wrapping basement pipes, as well; sweaty basement pipes are easily overlooked, making them a frequent contributor to mold growth.
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Monitor indoor humidity levels.
If areas of your house tend to be humid – particularly in the basement – keep an eye on the humidity levels. Mold likes to grow in humidity levels above 60%. If you don’t have a thermostat with a humidity gauge, you can purchase an inexpensive one for about $30. In rooms with high humidity levels, add a dehumidifier to help keep them comfortable and mold free.
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Check the attic on regular intervals, especially during the damp months.
Although mold cannot eat attic insulation, it loves the backing attached to it. Check for signs of moisture and keep the air in the attic circulating to prevent mold from taking up residence. Use a flashlight to look for signs of moisture. If your attic seems more humid than it should be, install an attic fan.
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Look outside the house, too.
Piles of leaves, trees and shrubs, and other landscaping around the home can harbor black mold. Check these areas on a regular basis and remove any accumulated organic debris. While you’re there, you can multitask and check your foundation for cracks and settling.
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Don’t forget your roof.
After a bad storm or high winds, take out a pair of binoculars and scan your roof for loose shingles. When shingles become loose, it’s easy for moisture to get in and set the stage for mold growth. Repair any loose shingles as soon as possible.
Concerned About Mold in Your House?
If you suspect that mold may be invading your home, Team EverDry is here to help! Contact us online or give us a call at (419) 469-5833 to schedule
a free 20-point basement inspection
5 Hidden Dangers in Your Home
By: | Published June 30, 2016
You work hard to make sure your home is a safe haven for your family. But not all home hazards are easy to spot, and many can be deadly if they remain undetected. We’ve put together a list of 5 common, but hidden, dangers that could be lurking in your home and some tips on how you can eliminate or prevent them.
Lead in Your Drinking Water
Recent headlines about the Flint Water Crisis have people wondering if lead could be a problem in their home. The answer is, maybe. Aging infrastructures, including municipal pipe and plumbing system component, are the main contributors of trace amounts of lead in the water supply today. Some major U.S. cities still have lead piping bringing water to homes and businesses. The pipes are coated with copper, zinc, or lead, which forms a coating that prevents the lead from leaching into the water.
Nearly all homes built prior to the 1980s still have lead solder connecting copper pipes. However, most studies show that exposure to lead-contaminated water alone would not be likely to elevate blood lead levels in most adults. Risks will vary, however, depending on the individual, the circumstances, and the amount of water consumed. For example, infants who drink formula prepared with lead-contaminated water may be at a higher risk because of the large volume of water they consume relative to their body size.
What you can do about it – Short of replacing your plumbing (even then, the source of lead may be in the pipes coming to your house), you can invest in a water purifying unit for your drinking water. Or before using any tap water for drinking or cooking, flush your water system by running the kitchen tap (or any other tap you take drinking or cooking water from) on COLD for 1–2 minutes before using it for drinking or cooking.
Carbon Monoxide
Colorless and odorless, carbon monoxide (CO) is truly a hidden danger. According to the CDC, more than 400 people in the United States die every year from accidental non-fire related CO poisoning. Products that can produce deadly CO levels include generators and faulty, improperly-used or incorrectly-vented fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces, stoves, water heaters, and fireplaces.
What you can do about it – The easiest precaution to take to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning is to install CO detectors on every level of a home. Additionally, have your furnace inspected annually by a licensed HVAC professional.
Dryer Lint
Dryer lint – it doesn’t sound dangerous at all, does it? But it can be, if it collects in your dryer vent. More than 15,000 fires are sparked every year by clothes dryers. Lint and other debris can build up in your dryer vent, reducing air flow to the dryer, backing up dryer exhaust gases, and creating a fire hazard.
Here are some of the signs that it’s time to clean your vent:
- Clothing does not dry completely after a normal drying cycle.
- It takes longer than 35 to 40 minutes to dry your clothes.
- You smell a musty odor when you use the drying cycle.
- Clothing seems unusually hot to the touch after they’ve been dried.
- The dryer vent hood flap does not properly.
- You notice debris on the outside dryer vent opening.
- Your laundry area seems excessively hot.
- Large amounts of lint accumulate in the lint trap for the dryer during operation.
- Lint collects around the edge of the lint filter.
What you can do about it – You can clean the dryer vent out yourself (an annual cleaning is recommended). Check your local hardware store or online for tools to make the job easier. Our you can hire a professional to do it for you; a cleaning done by a professional usually runs $100-$150.
Faulty Electrical Outlets or Switches
Light switches and electrical outlets can wear out over time, creating an unseen fire hazard within the walls of a home. Your first clue might be a crackling sound or an unusual odor when you use the outlet or switch. Another clue would be an outlet or switch that suddenly seems loose.
What you can do about it – If you notice any unusual sound or smell coming from the switch or outlet– or if you can wiggle it – it’s time to replace it. Putting in a new switch or outlet is a relatively easy task (you can find instructions online), but always remember to turn of the circuit breaker! If you’re unsure, hire an electrician.
Mold
Mold is everywhere – in the air you breathe, in the food you eat, and in the home you love. Most of the time, mold doesn’t pose much of a health threat, unless you’re allergic to it. When you breathe in mold spores your immune systems responds by creating allergic reactions. Quite often, the more exposure you have to mold, the more sensitive to it you’ll become. Symptoms of a mold allergy are similar to other allergy symptoms and include coughing, sneezing, sore throat, itching, wheezing, or even hives.
That being said, there is a type of mold known as Stachybotrys chartarum – or (toxic) black mold – which can pose serious threat to your health. Symptoms of exposure to black mold are serious, and include:
- Confusion
- Brain fog
- Shortened attention span
- Difficulty concentrating and paying attention
- Slowed reflexes
- Disorientation
- Dizziness
- Memory loss and memory problems
- Impaired learning ability
- Hallucinations
- Shock
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Aggression and other personality changes
- Tingling
- Trembling
- Shaking
- Seizure
- Numbness
What you can do about it – Left unchecked, mold can damage your belongings, your home, and even your health. The best way to prevent mold in the home is to control the indoor humidity. Make sure plumbing leaks are promptly repaired. If there is water damage in the home, it should be cleaned and dried within 24-48 hours. Use an air conditioner and/or a dehumidifier during humid weather to reduce moisture buildup.
Mold loves damp, dark places, which is why your basement needs to be checked for water seepage, cracked foundation, and visible damage regularly.
If you suspect that mold may be invading your home, Team EverDry is here to help! Contact us online or give us a call at (419) 469-5833 to schedule
a free 20-point basement inspection
The Long-Term Cost of Water Damage in Your Home
By: | Published April 28, 2016
Cleaning up after a basement flood is never easy. You can spend hours or days pumping, mopping, bleaching, and filling your trash cans. Even when you think it’s over, water can still be causing damage. After a flood, your basement needs to be checked for water seepage, cracked foundation, and visible damage. If your basement is not properly cleaned and repaired after a flood, the money you save now is inconsequential compared to these three long-term costs you could face in the months and years to come.
The Long-Term Cost to Your Possessions
If there is a good side to basement flooding, it may be that it gives you the jumpstart you need to finally clean the basement. Unfortunately, you’re probably in for a lot more cleaning and purging than you anticipated. Besides the items which are an obvious loss, even items which you thought were untouched by the flood may be damaged. Let’s say you used plastic storage containers to organize your basement; in most circumstances, they provide excellent protection for your possessions. But if there were even a hairline crack in the container, it would be enough to let water get in and damage the contents.
Not only that, it takes a while for basement humidity levels to normalize after a flood. During that time, paper and fabric items stored in the containers can soak up moisture from the air and become a breeding ground for mold. Your best course of action is to remove everything from these containers and let them completely air dry. Drying the contents outdoors can speed the process, but keep the items out of the sun to prevent fading.
The Long-Term Cost to Your House
Cleaning the walls and floors of your basement are critical, and having them cleaned by professionals could mean the difference between a small cleaning fee and the cost of major structural repairs down the road.
On rare occasions, basement carpeting can be saved if it’s immediately cleaned by professionals and thoroughly dried. But this is only the case if the damage has been caused by “sanitary flooding” or flooding caused by clean water, for example, a leaky water pipe. Even then, the cleanup should be done within 12 hours of the flood and followed immediately with a drying process that includes multiple fans and humidifiers. Unsanitary flooding (from rainwater, for instance) or black-water flooding from raw sewage contaminates carpeting making it unsalvageable. Wood floors (solid or those with plywood backing) will often be unusable as well after floodwaters cause them to swell and buckle.
Basement drywall and paneling are easily damaged by basement flooding. If they’re not removed during cleanup, they MUST be disinfected (bleach is preferred) and completely dried to prevent mold growth.
If the basement area remains humid following a flood, it could lead to serious structural damage from dry rot. Dry rot is a term used to describe a particular kind of dry, cracking, rotting wood. It’s the product of a variety of fungus that thrives in semi-moist conditions. Dry rot doesn’t limit itself to wood, either; it can grow through damp mortar, concrete, masonry, and plaster.
Another area to consider is your electrical system. Once the house is pumped out and you begin recovery efforts, most – if not all – electrical equipment impacted by water is probably ruined. This can include:
- Cables and wires (even those sheathed in plastic)
- Circuit panels and circuit breakers
- Fuse boxes and fuses
- Switched disconnect boxes
- Switches
- Outlet receptacles
- Motors
- Circuit boards
- Non-submersible pumps
- Blowers and fans
- Lights
- Heaters
- Air conditioners
- Furnaces
- Boilers
You’ll need an experienced electrician and HVAC technician to assess the damage and perform repairs.
Finally, you may not realize the true long-term damage caused to your house until years later when you try to sell it. Real estate laws differ from state to state, but almost every state requires the seller to disclose damage caused by a flood. If your basement was damaged by flooding and you can’t document complete cleanup and repairs, that could be a big “red flag” for prospective home buyers.
The Long-Term Cost to Your Health
Beyond an unpleasant smell, a moldy basement can lead to very serious health issues. Prolonged exposure to indoor molds such as those found in a basement may lead to upper respiratory tract infections such as coughs, wheezing, and asthma symptoms, especially in people who have allergies. It can also cause fungal infections in people with compromised immune systems, including those recovering from cancer or those who have artificial joints or heart replacement valves. Some types of molds – most notably “black mold” – can cause serious bleeding inside your lungs, resulting in damage to other organs as well.
The long-term costs of water damage in the home can easily increase to thousands of dollars. Not only that, it can damage something truly priceless – your health. If you’re concerned about the possibility of water damage in your basement, Team EverDry is here to help! Contact us online or give us a call at (419) 841-6055 to schedule
a free 20-point basement inspection
Basement Nightmares: Dark, Dank, & Moldy
By: | Published October 30, 2015
“I’ll see you tomorrow morning,” Sarah’s mother shouted from the driveway. This is the first time Sarah was invited to a slumber party and not just any slumber party, but one hosted by, Jennifer, the most popular girl in sixth grade. Sarah desperately wanted to fit in, after all, she was turning twelve next month. I’m practically an adult, she thought to herself.
Jennifer greets Sarah at the door and leads her down the stairs to the semi-finished basement of her two-story home. Four other girls in her class wait on an area rug tucked away in the corner. The basement was dark, dank, and kind of creepy.
As night descended upon them, the slumber party went from makeovers and chick flicks to something more adventurous. “Ever play Moldy Mary?” Jennifer asks Sarah with a devilish glint in her eyes. Sarah never played, in fact, she never even heard of the game.
Jennifer turns off all the lights in the basement with only a flashlight illuminating her face. She goes on to explain that about a year ago, a neighbor named Mary was left home alone, her husband was out-of-town, and her children were at a neighbor’s house for a sleepover – much like this one. No one knows exactly what happened, but Mary was found in a flooded basement surrounded by spiders. It was later reported that she suffered from shock and an undisclosed illness due to prolonged exposure to Black Mold.
Jennifer tells Sarah that she gets to play the game first. All the girls giggle with anticipation. Jennifer instructs Sarah to go into the small, pitch black bathroom on the opposite side of the basement. Once in the bathroom, she’s to chant “Moldy Mary” three times and wait to see what happens.
Sarah reluctantly makes her way to the bathroom and shuts the door behind her. The room is pitch black, and she can’t even find the mirror. Something doesn’t feel right to her, but she wants to impress Jennifer. Sarah feels along the wall until she finds a hard, cold surface – the mirror. She takes a deep breath and shouts three times:
Moldy Mary! Moldy Mary! Moldy Mary!
Suddenly, to Sarah’s horror, a woman appears in the mirror dripping wet. Her runny nose, skin rashes and obvious disorientation are so shocking, that Sarah flees from the bathroom, up the stairs, and out the front door!
What is Back Mold?
Sarah’s story is only fiction, but the effects that black mold has on the body are very real. Stachybotrys chartarum, or black mold, is a microscopic organism containing enzymes and spores that are in charge of digesting and decomposing organic materials, as well as, reproduction. Black mold is extremely toxic and causes serious symptoms and health issues. These symptoms include mental impairment, breathing problems, internal organ damage, and sometimes even death!
Mold needs to consume something to survive, and it’s perfectly happy eating your house if you let it. Some molds are found in the paper backing on drywall, insulation, and wallpaper. Others places you find mold include air-conditioning units, under carpeting, underneath kitchen and bathroom sinks, and around leaky windows. If left unchecked, mold eventually destroys any and every part of your home that it touches. (Check out our article: 5 Tips to Preventing Black Mold)
Dark, Dank & Moldy Basements
Believe it or not, your basement can be one of the most dangerous places in the home if not properly maintained. It’s not uncommon to find hundreds or even thousands of mold spores per cubic foot of indoor air. These spores are extremely small and can survive in even the harshest of environmental conditions. Black mold can live anywhere provided moisture and oxygen are present. (Is Mold Dangerous for Pets? Find out!)
Finished concrete basements that haven’t been thoroughly waterproofed are extremely problematic. When moisture migrates from the ground to non-waterproofed basement walls, mold can start to grow almost immediately. Foundation leaks, high interior humidity, overflowing washing machines, and sewage back-ups are common sources of moisture.
Mold loves damp, dark places, which is why your basement needs to be checked for
water seepage
