Mold Removal Victoria BC
Mold questions are a frequent source of calls to the Hazpro office, and we’ve found there is a lot of misinformation out there about mold and what it means when it’s found inside your home.
With this in mind, we’ve come up with what we feel every home owner should know about mold and what they can do to prevent it and deal with it if it does occur.
A little bit about mold
Molds are a type of fungi, of which there are thousands of known species. As with all fungi, molds reproduce via spores, which are microscopic and are constantly present in the air we breathe every day. Molds, like other fungi, contribute to the breakdown of organic matter, and as such are a vital part of the environment we live in. When mold spores come into an indoor space, most of them float harmlessly by and die, as they need to find a wet surface on which to grow. However, if they encounter a wet surface, or a very humid space, they can find a place to grow.
Is mold harming me?
Mold is always present in the air, and most people are unaffected by it. You may have heard stories about “toxic black mold”. However this term is not very accurate: colour does not indicate a mold’s toxicity. There are some molds that produce more mycotoxins (toxic substances produced by fungi as a result of their metabolic processes) than others, but most molds, including those that may be black, white, green, etc. only cause problems in people who have a specific sensitivity to them. These problems can include: allergies, asthma, opportunistic infections (such as aspergillosis), skin or mucus membrane irritation, and more. It is also worth noting that repeated and long term exposure to molds (whether the molds are dead or alive) can cause sensitivities to develop over time in people who may not have previously had a sensitivity.
Regardless of the potential health effects from mold, when it’s present in a home, it is indicative of a moisture issue, which left untreated can cause rot and compromise your home’s structural integrity.
Mold should always be treated with care, and as a sign of a moisture issue that needs rectification.
What should I do if I think I have mold in my home?
If you have mold in your home and don’t know what’s causing it, or if you suspect you have mold but can’t see it (e.g. you smell mold), give us a call and we can line you up with one of our expert partners who can assess your space and determine if the mold is there, where it is, and what’s causing it.
If you know you have mold and need a price for the remediation, we’ll be happy to schedule a free site visit where one of our staff will come out and assess your issue and come up with a no-obligation quote.
What are some of the common causes of mold issues in a home?
In order to prevent mold growth, the air inside a home should be under 60% relative humidity. In homes where the humidity level exceeds this, we often find the culprit is inadequate air circulation. Ovens and bathrooms that are improperly vented, or not vented at all, can leave warm moist air in the home. Using bathroom and kitchen fans often, and leaving windows and doors open whenever possible, will help to increase air circulation.
Air can hold more moisture the warmer it is, meaning the relative humidity (the percentage of moisture in the air) will decrease the warmer it is. As a result, making sure the home is adequately heated can go a long way towards alleviating humidity problems.
Another common culprit is insufficient or improperly installed perimeter drains, which can mean the foundation of your home is not sitting above the water table, causing moisture to seep into the basement.
Lastly, leaks and floods are a common problem that can result in mold growth. Mold can grow within 48 hours of a leak occurring, so it’s important that leaks and floods are cleaned up as soon as possible and the affected area inspected after clean up to ensure no mold has taken hold.
Want to schedule a site visit for removal? Call us at 250-891-4977 or visit us at www.hazpro.org
Want to learn more? The below quiz is a fantastic resource on mold facts and fiction.
http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldcourse/knowledgetest.html
