Let’s Talk About Mold
______it’s dirty.
__________it’s stinky.______________It’s toxic.
It’s everywhere.
AGH! It’s scary! ARG! It’s annoying!
Sometimes it’s obvious. Sometimes you smell it. And
sometimes you just have an intuition that it’s there.
So what do you do?
Well, I sat down this week with Mold Inspector, Mr. Fuzzy
Green-Professional Mold Inspector of Lenexa, and got the low-down for all our
Homeowners out there.
Homeowner: Hey Mr. Green!
Thanks for chatting with us today. Mold has become an increasingly bigger and
bigger issue for Homeowners across the globe. We get a lot of them asking us
what they can do if they suspect mold. Can you explain briefly exactly what you
do?
Fuzzy: As a mold inspector
our job is to inspect a property for mold contamination, identify the type of
mold and its toxins, and determine the source of the mold growth and a scope of
work for proper remediation. On top of this, in our inspection we report areas
that could be susceptible to future mold contamination and give recommendations
on how to fix and prevent mold from growing.
Homeowner: When a
homeowner is previewing a property, what signs would they see that indicate the
presence of mold?
Fuzzy: If there are no
signs of visible mold, indications would include a musty odor, water stains on
the ceilings and walls, cracked tiles and deteriorated grout in the kitchens
and bathrooms, any water stains/damage below sinks and/or soft spots near or
around any sinks, tubs, toilets or drains.
Homeowner: What are common
causes of mold growth?
Fuzzy: There are two main
causes of mold growth, Poor ventilation and moisture.
Homeowner: How can a
homeowner prevent mold from growing?
Fuzzy: First defense
against mold growth is to alert the landlord of any water leaks. Other
prevention steps would be to be sure to use the bathroom fan when showering,
don’t leave wet rags or towels beneath the sink or in laundry room closets and
try to allow the unit to “breathe” by opening windows regularly.
Homeowner: Let’s say a one
suspect’s mold in their home. They call you to come inspect. What can they
expect? What happens during the inspection, how long does it take, etc.?
Fuzzy: It depends on the
situation. Inspections can last from 30 minutes for a partial inspection
(inspection of a specific area) to three hours for an inspection of the entire
property.
·
During the inspection I will be using a moisture
meter as well as sight and smell to find signs of moisture intrusion. If any
moisture intrusion is found I will then inspect deeper to determine if there is
any microbial growth.
Homeowner: Do you have
anything to add?
Fuzzy: Yes, it is
important for everybody to know that mold is everywhere; it’s in the air we
breathe. There are thousands of different types of mold; out of the thousands
there are approximately 100 that produce toxins. This is why it’s important to
determine the type of mold. While you do not want any type of mold to be
growing where you live or work, drastic action needs to be taken when toxic
molds are present.
Homeowner: Thanks Mr. Green! Keep up
the good work.
Written By: The Rental Girl
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