mold in morganville nj

The Impact Mold in Morganville NJ Can Have On Your Health

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

Mold in Morganville NJ Can Affect Your Health

Mold is a term used to describe fungi. Mold and its spores are widely distributed. They are a common component in dust occurring in homes and workplaces. They generally do not pose a health risk when in small quantities. They can however, be a serious health hazard to humans when in large quantities.

Mold in Morganville NJ is closely associated with damp and dark parts of the home. This is because moisture is required for active mold growth. Mold growth can be identified by fuzzy patches or growths of black, yellow, pink, green or brown that give off unpleasant musty odors.

Conditions Associated to Mold in Morganville NJ

Various health problems are associated with high levels of airborne mold spores. These include:

Allergies and Asthma

If you have allergies or asthma, mold spores can make your condition worse. Some people react to mold spores by developing an itchy skin rash, runny nose, cough, congestion in the chest, eye irritation or an aggravation of pre-existing asthma symptoms. These symptoms are classic allergic reactions. They can get worse if a person does not address the high levels of mold spores in the air of the home.

Respiratory Infections

People who spend extended time in damp and moldy buildings are likely to develop respiratory infections and bronchitis. Mold spores inhaled in the indoor environment are thought to attach themselves to the cells that line the respiratory tract. They can cause various problems in the respiratory tract as a result.

Fungal Infections

Inhaled mold spores can cause many problems especially in those who already have a suppressed immune system. Mold spores can grow in living tissues and result in various infections throughout the body.

When a person with a suppressed immune system gets exposed to high mold levels, he is likely to develop chronic conditions. Many develop infections of the sinuses, digestive tract, skin and lungs. Further problems may result depending on the type of mycotoxins produced by the molds affecting the person.

Mycotoxin Toxicity

Molds excrete compounds that are toxic. These toxins are known as mycotoxins. There are certain mycotoxins that are harmful and even lethal to humans as well as animals. Prolonged exposure to high quantities of mold producing harmful toxins can pose a significant threat to people in your household.

Clearly, mold in Morganville NJ has a serious impact on human health. It is therefore important to ensure that your home is free of mold by fixing any damp problems in your foundation. Contact us today for a FREE Estimate on mold remediation and removal.

crawl space mold removal

The Importance of Crawl Space Mold Removal

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

Crawl Space Mold Removal

Many homeowners don’t treat the crawl space as part of the home.  They ignore it and don’t worry about water problems until they start affecting the rest of the house.  What they don’t understand is the environment in the crawl space is affecting the house already.

One of the biggest problems with the crawl space environment is when mold is present. If you have mold in the crawl space you need to remove it. The dangerous part of mold is two-fold: one breathing in mold spores can cause respiratory problems and two letting mold grow uncontrollably can actually cause rot if it gets into the wood framing and destroys the structure of the house.

If mold is contaminating the air in the crawl space, that air can and will travel upstairs to the air you and your family breathe every day. The EPA says 50% of the air found in the upper levels of the house actually comes from the basement or crawl space. The air moves up through chimney effect or stack effect. As the warmer air rises and escapes through the roof new air has to replace that air. The natural occurrence is pulling the air from outside and from under the house.

Structural damage caused by mold

Mold that is ignored can cause serious structural damage. Mold alone can destroy natural materials like wood studs; however, it is also a sign of moisture problems in the crawl space. Any water problems and high levels of moisture anything above 50% relative humidity need to be corrected.

The best option is to remove the mold and completely waterproof the crawl space with a preventative system to keep water from getting in as well as a water diversion system with a French drain system to allow for the water to get out. The crawl space should be lined and encapsulated to prevent future problems. Remember, never use fiberglass bat insulation in the crawl space or basement. It does not work well if there was a moisture problem.

Basement waterproofing contractors can help

The process of crawl space mold removal can be dangerous. If you are doing it yourself, protect your skin and wear a respirator. Don’t ever breathe in mold spores or work around mold without a respirator. It is best to call a professional contractor to help you remove the mold. Basement waterproofing contractors, crawl space contractors or mold remediation contractors can help.

If you have a mold problem in the crawl space or anywhere in your house, don’t put it off. You will regret it. Contact us for a FREE Estimate!

mold in the basement

How to Beat Mold in the Basement This Spring

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

Get Rid of Any Mold in the Basement

The key to mold control is simply moisture control. In other words, the best way to beat mold in the basement is to prevent it in the first place. 

If you are spring cleaning and find mold, you need to remove it and fix the water issue. Whether it is a leaky faucet or high humidity levels in your home, you won’t have mold without a moisture issue. If you clean up the mold and fail to fix the water issue, then you haven’t really fixed the problem. The mold will come back!

Moisture is the perfect breeding ground for mold

Mold comes in many colors, as well as white and black. There are hundreds of types of mold however they all have one thing in common: they all need moisture and oxygen to grow. Mold is an important part of the natural environment. Outside in nature, mold breaks down dead organic material like dead tree and fallen leaves and aids in the decomposition process. Mold produces tiny spores when it grows and reproduces. These mold spores float through the air. Mold can begin to grow inside when these spores make it indoors. A mold colony can start to grow in your home if there is water, oxygen and an organic food source. Organic food sources are easy to come by in your home. Mold uses wood like the framing in your house, carpet, and sheetrock. 

Eliminate moisture in your home

Because mold is a natural occurrence mold spores are in our environment. It is impossible to keep mold spores out of the air in your home completely. That is why the best way to control mold is to control the moisture. We obviously can’t eliminate air or the presence of mold spores, therefore the only element we can control and eliminate is moisture. Control the water problem and keep your relative humidity level at 50% and you will be able to control your mold issues.

Call a contractor or professional mold remediation specialist

It is important to understand if you have a mold problem: DO NOT WAIT. Remember, mold is decomposing agent in nature. It will eat away whatever it starts growing on and the longer you wait the more damage it will cause. According to the EPA, the rule of thumb is if the moldy area is less than 3 feet by 3 feet than you can handle the clean up yourself. However, if there is a lot of water damage or the mold growth covers a larger area, you need to consider the health risks of removing such a large area of mold. You may want to consider hiring a contractor or professional mold remediation specialist to do the cleanup for you. They will have the right respiratory gear and mold removal products to safety remove the mold. If you suspect the HVAC system is contaminated with mold it could spread throughout the whole building. It is important to consult a specialist to have the mold removed.

Ultimately, when you have a mold problem, deal with the mold issue and the source of the water issue. Remember, if you have a mold problem, you will always have a moisture problem as its partner. Don’t forget to find the moisture problem and fix it. If your mold issue is in the basement, a basement waterproofing contractor can help.

crawl space seepage

Crawl Space Seepage and Encapsulation

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

gddiagram1 214x300 Crawl Space Seepage and Encapsulation

Is Crawl Space Seepage Making Its Way Into Your Living Room?

For those of us with crawl spaces, it’s easy to forget they’re there. Half of the time, they’re closed away behind a trapped door in our closets or pantries, used for holiday storage and forgotten most of the year. Therefore, we may not notice any crawl space seepage until it’s too late.

Make sure your home is healthy

However, not taking care of your crawl space can yield damaging results; both to the health of your home, as well as the health of your family.

You may be surprised to learn that up to 40% of the air you breathe upstairs comes from your basement or crawl space! According the US Environmental Protection Agency, the average human breathes about 3,000 gallons of air per day, and air pollution can take up to 1-2 years off of the average person’s life span.

I don’t know about you, but those numbers are pretty scary! Now think about all the years you’ve let water seep into and sit in your crawl space––allowing toxic mold to spawn and reproduce (Oh, which only takes about 24 hours by the way).

Addressing your crawl space seepage through waterproofing and total encapsulation can be a GREAT way to improve the air quality in the rest of your home.

To learn more about how crawl space encapsulation can help make your home dry, comfortable and healthy, call us for a FREE ESTIMATE!

mold

Is Mold Growth Affecting the Air You Breathe?

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

Mold Growth Can Cause Problems in Your Home

You may not of heard of the Stack Effect, but I’d be willing to bet you’ve more than likely experienced it in your home. Stack effect occurs when the air begins to warm inside of your home, and negative pressure causes the air in the lower parts of the home to rise into the upper floors of your home. This can eventually cause mold to grow in your home with all the moisture in the air.

Today, our homes are more energy efficient, creating a tighter seal between the inside of your home and the elements outside. This tighter seal means greater negative pressure, which means more basement or crawl space air rising into your living room. As you can imagine, a neglected wet and moldy basement makes all the difference in this situation!

Mold can form faster than you think

It only takes 24-48 hours for toxic mold to begin to infest a wet basement, so you can image what a few years can do. Don’t wait any longer! Prevent those mold spores from entering other parts of your home by identifying and repairing the source of water intrusion. Need help locating the source of the water? Contact us for a free inspection and evaluation, and we’d be happy to come out!

mold remediation

Don’t Mess Around with Basement Mold

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

The Importance of Basement Mold Detection and Removal

Whether or not you’ve got a finished basement, a soon-to-be-finished basement, or just a musty old storage space you don’t really live in, it is important that you pay attention to potential basement mold growth.

Believe it or not, mold is a living organism, and it can be very harmful to the health of you and your family. Mold doesn’t need much to start developing a colony; only 60% relative humidity and as little as 24 hours. Scary, huh? Fortunately, the risk of health-related issues due to toxic black mold can be greatly reduced by taking immediate action, or avoided altogether by taking preventative action.

If you hadn’t had a chance to take preventative action, and mold has already taken up residence in your home, here’s a quick tip for killing it:

  • (Wearing a dust mask) Spray a 10/1 water to bleach mixture on the affected areas. Take a firm sponge and scrub the entire area for 2-3 minutes, spraying more solution if necessary. Repeat this process 3 times over the next 2 weeks, and you will have effectively killed your mold colonies. Alternatively, you may use hydrogen peroxide in your solution.

Got another tip? Let us know in the comments below!

It is important to recognize, however, that spot treatment may not be the long-term solution to your basement mold epidemic. If moisture is still infiltrating your home, mold will just find somewhere else to grow. In this case, you may want to consider having a basement waterproofing professional inspect your home for water penetration, foundation cracking, and other potential sources of excess moisture. Contact us for more information.

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