The Problem With Mold in Homes
Why Mold Remediation Should Be Taken Seriously?
We are surrounded by mold everywhere. We walk by it. We breathe it in. It’s part of our natural environment. It grows in our showers. But too often we forget the real dangerous that mold can pose. Or why mold remediation needs to be taken so seriously. Especially in wet areas like New Jersey.
Mold toxins were responsible for killing over 50,000 soviets in WWII through infestations in their rice feed. An mold outbreak in urban homes killed dozens of infants in Chicago. And similar cases have been reported in New Jersey, New York & other urban areas. Mold toxins have lead to lethal outcomes all across the word. Though people today don’t really seem to take mold seriously.
Maybe it’s because we’re use to viral outbreaks like Ebola or the Coronavirus. Or maybe we assume that molds are suppose to act like viruses.
Except we forget that molds have a completely different role in nature.
Molds evolved through a unique ability to destroy virtually all organic material in our environment. But only lately are we beginning to realize how dangerous certain strains of mold really are. And this is why insurance, real estate & home inspection industries are all being forced to react to this fact.
Mold remediation in New Jersey is becoming more common due to the heavy rains we experience.
If a homebuyer becomes sick or ill due to mold, it is the insurance company, the real estate agent, construction company & home inspector who all become potential targets of litigation.
If a home is known to be damaged by water or a leaky basement, and mold remediation isn’t done, there can be very costly consequences for the insurance company.
This is why it’s important to address water problems as early as possible. It only takes mold 7 days on average to germinate. With a relative humidity over 60%. Homes with poor ventilation, water leaks or condensation on the walls can cause germination in as little as 24–48 hrs. The faster a mold colony appears, the more dangerous it is to the homeowner.
This is important to understand. Water itself is mostly harmless. But the mold strains that feed off of water can convert that energy into highly toxic substances. So the amount of water coming into a home should be viewed in proportion to the amount of toxins it can produce.
After 30 yrs of working in this field I have seen it firsthand. The homeowners who are overexposed and get sick, it’s always due to how much water gets in their home.
More toxin mold colonies become extremely toxic with constant access to water. And the less toxic strains can also become dangerous. You will see the mold colony “ripen”. It will become thick on the walls as it protrudes a few inches from the surface. Black mold will become shiny & wet looking like oil. White mold will start to reflect light like diamonds. Immature mold will generally be dull in appearance. Mold with a constant water source always takes on a wet or oily luster. Once mold reaches this stage you are in danger. Though it can pose a danger early on, this is the stage where mold toxins become actively detrimental to organs. So please take this seriously. We’ve seen homes get totally flooded that didn’t develop mold problems. And then another home has a small leak from a pipe and the homeowners in a hospital.
So while more water tends to increase the danger of mold, you shouldn’t have any water leaks at all. A small pipe leaking onto insulation can create a great environment for mold. It depends on the substrate more than the water. Soft, porous materials like wood, sheetrock, wallpaper, insulation & rugs all make great substrates for mold to grow.
If your home contains more than 3X3 ft2 of mold, you should get it tested. Have a professional come out and collect air samples. They can run mold tests. And let you know if mold remediation needs to be done.
- Facts about mold remediation in New Jersey — https://www.mymoldremovalguys.com/
- How to perform mold clean up & remediation -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indoor_mold - Chronic illness associated with mold exposure-
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3920250/
