the key to controlling the growth mold spores ( which causes health issues) is to i.d and fix any moisture and ventilation issues in the house. Small spaces (less then 10 square feet) can be cleaned and managed my the home owner however ppe is required as well as following the proper steps. Any thing bigger should be addressed by a licensed and trained professional before any further damage an occur to the building or its occupants.
This is the written response to the inspection and writing assignment for the “How to Perform Mold Inspections Course”. Pictured is a is a worker wearing proper PPE to work with suspected mold. The PPE the worker is wearing protects their eyes, lungs and skin from contaminants.
This is the written response to the research and writing assignment for the “How to Perform Mold Inspections Course”. I read the article “Attached Garage Fire Containment” by Nick Gromicko and Kenton Shepard. I learned that if a garage has a attic access, the access door must be made of approved fire resistant materials.
This is an image of dryer exhaust in washer/dryer closet. This system also have a dryer exhaust booster, it is necessary if duct is longer than 25’. It is important to have dryer vented to the outside, if vented incorrectly moist and warm air can case mold growth inside the house and can decrease indoor air quality.
This is a picture of what is suspected to be mold located in the lower corner of a block basement wall. The primary cause of mold is the presence of moisture, which combined with the right temperatures and something for the mold to feed on creates the potential for structural damage as well as health problems for the occupants of the home.
Moisture Intrusion
Moisture intrusion can be the cause of building defects, as well as health ailments for the building’s occupants. Inspectors should have at least a basic understanding of how moisture may enter a building, and where problem areas commonly occur.
Some common moisture-related problems include:
structural wood decay;
high indoor humidity and resulting condensation;
expansive soil, which may crack the foundation through changes in volume, or softened soil, which may lose its ability to support an overlying structure;
undermined foundations;
metal corrosion;
ice dams; and
mold growth. Mold can only grow in the presence of high levels of moisture. People who suffer from the following conditions can be seriously (even fatally) harmed if exposed to elevated levels of airborne mold spores:
asthma;
allergies;
lung disease; and/or
compromised immune systems.
Note: People who do not suffer from these ailments may still be harmed by elevated levels of airborne mold spores.
Mold, Moisture and Your Home,
Mold is everywhere, Mold is outdoors as well as indoors. Mold can be introduced into a home by entering through open windows, open doors as well as being carried in on a persons clothes. Mold is not usually a problem indoors unless it lands on a wet or damp spot. best way to control mold indoors is to insure the house is dry. If you can limit the moisture in a home mold will have no way to grow.
I chose to use a picture of the exterior of a home because this is where mold prevention begins. Controlling the moisture levels inside the home through the prevention of water intrusion is the only true factor in a home owners control.
I chose the article on water intrusion because it is the controllable factor of mold growth. In the article I learned about different ways that water can intrude into a house including; the roof, foundation, windows etc. and ways to prevent it.
This photo is of a water stained ceiling panel. This tile is in the basement of a 2,000 sq ft home. Since I inspected the home in the winter, and the home did not have a humidifier, the relative humidity was low. The ceiling tile was not damp at that moment. After moving the tile, I determined that the cool air duct was not insulated, and was positioned about an inch above tiles. When the duct collects condensation under the right conditions, it was causing the ceiling tile to become damp. I recommend that the homeowner insulate the ducts and/or remove the hanging ceiling to avoid the tiles from becoming damp.
I read the article about carbon monoxide (CO) and the dangers it can pose. CO is colorless, odorless, and forms from incomplete combustion of our modern, common fuels such as natural gas, fuel oil, or propane.
There are close to 500 deaths from CO poisoning per year. These occur mainly in the winter, and 90% are in homes. Many experts think this number may be under reported since the symptoms mimic many other illnesses. CO poisons you by displacing oxygen in your blood hemoglobin.
The best prevention is proper maintenance and installation of all fuel burning devices in your home. Always be sure to have fully functioning CO detectors in your home, and place them properly for your protection.
I have chosen to write about surface mold found on drywall. Upon first sight I would want to know what bears on the opposite of the wall, meaning a bathroom, exterior wall, pipe, etc. Testing this mold will determine its activeness.
I have chosen to write about Mold Inspecting. When performing a mold inspection I would want to form a hypothesis to create an idea of where or what could be causing the problem for the client. After a careful inspection of the home I would then check with my hypothesis to see how far off I was.
The exterior inspection of this house showed a less than desirable slope away from the structure. After a period of rain, after serveral hours, significant ponding was still visibly evident. This excessive moisture retention needs to be remedied as it may be the cause of the apparent mold-like growth on the exterior walls.
With regards to branch wiring in a home. Stranded aluminum wiring is acceptable, but single-strand is not. Aluminum has a hire resistance to current, which generates more heat. It is also less ductile and more vulnerable to corrosion and loosening connections.
Hi, my name is asif and i am doing Mold course , today i want to talk about Mold which are not animal or niter a plant,Molds are organisms that are found indoors and outdoors. They are part of the natural environment and play an important role in our ecological system by breaking down and digesting organic material. Molds are neither plants nor animals. They are part of the kingdom Fungi.
Hi, my name is asif and i am doing Mold inspection course with InterNachi, Mold is presents almost every home in USA, Mold is Fungi,The diagram demonstrates the role of fungi in relation to other living organisms. Fungi are not plants or animals. Fungi belong to a taxonomic classification, or kingdom, of their own. Plants convert carbon dioxide directly into carbohydrates for food. Animals and fungi must find complex carbon in the environment for food. While animals ingest the food and degrade it internally, fungi excrete chemicals (enzymes) into the environment that degrade the complex carbon into soluble form.
There is moisture intrusion in this photo. While looking outside it is clear to see that there are also roof issues. When talking to the client I suggested that she get the home tested for mold. There are multiple water stains throughout the home.
Crawlspace Duct Leaks: I have seen sagging in the crawlspace before. I never realized that this could be caused by moisture from ductwork. I will be paying a lot more attention to the crawlspace in the future. Not sure what I have actually missed on inspections like this.
Cleaning the fan on our furnaces is something that has likely never been done or we’ve paid significant amounts of money to have someone do for us. Neither has to be the case any longer.
Removing a blower assembly is not an overly complicated task and performing this maintenance has a nice set of benefits.
Improves fan performance
Increases fan motor efficiency
Removes large amounts of dust from your system
Lowers the chances of motor failure
All of these equal less money
It’s important to understand that all electrically operated devices work better when clean. When these devices work better, they also work more efficiently. The added insulation of dust on electrical components causes an increase in operating temperature and there is little that is harder on electrical components than high operating temperatures. Of course in this case, if the fan blades are caked with dust, you now have added resistance on the fan which causes the motor to work harder not to mention less space between the blades thus causing a lower output of air. The list goes on.
