Basement Mold in Ohio
More than ever before, basement and crawl space mold is becoming a serious concern for homeowners. Other than damaged personal property and a musty smell that can seep upward through the home, there have been many very serious mold-related issues in Ohio in recent years.
With the sharply rising costs of mold remediation in recent years (having almost doubled due to rising insurance costs), Ohio Basement Systems recommends preventing mold as the best, most clear solution. Sealing off the crawl space or basement and lowering the humidity level below 55% can help prevent serious damage to the home and to the health of its inhabitants. For a free dry basement or crawl space inspection and quote, call or e-mail Ohio Basement Systems today. We serve Barberton, Sandusky, Lakewood, Cleveland, Akron, Warren, Niles, Canton, Youngstown, Massillon, Wooster, Cuyahoga Falls, Ashtabula, Ashland, Mentor, Euclid, Lorain and nearby areas of Ohio.
Cleveland, OH Mold Allergens
"If you are reacting to a problem because somebody's been sick, you've waited way too long to address indoor air quality"
- Glenn Fellman, Executive Director of the Indoor Air Quality Association
If you experience headaches, a stuffy nose, or any other allergic reactions in a building that are relieved soon after leaving, it's possible that the symptoms have been caused or worsened by indoor air pollutants and allergens such as mold spores.
Human Ecology Magazine [PDF] has reported that dead mold and spores can still trigger allergic reactions, and microscopic mold spores that were not removed can lay dormant for years while they wait for the opportunity to grow.
Mold spores in OH can damage someone through skin contact, inhalation, and ingestion. Mold can lead to symptoms of allergic rhinitis, including a runny nose, watery eyes, a scratchy throat, fatigue, and mild allergic reactions. In extreme cases, mold is even toxic.
To date, The American Lung Association reports that 88 million people in the United States suffer from some sort of respiratory distress, and 50% of homes have at least one person living inside that has allergies, asthma, or another respiratory ailment.
Time Magazine reports hundreds of thousands of mold spores in a single cubic meter of air indoors; a single person inhales 10 or 12 cubic meters daily.
Mold Damage in a Basement or Crawl Space
The Journal of Property Management warns that ignoring mold in the home can lead to extensive property damage. Repairs can be lengthy and in the most extreme situations can require the home's inhabitants to be relocated while the work is being done.
Mold can grow anywhere there's moisture, including near plumbing leaks, leaking roofs, and especially in wet and damp crawl spaces and basements. If there is a water problem within the home, it's extremely important to fix the problem and dry the area within 48 hours. Mold growth is common on drywall, cardboard, photos, memorabilia, wood, furniture, leather, cloth, fiberglass resins and paper backings, and anything else organic in the space. In a crawl space, structural damage is common as mold eats away at wood, and especially when termites, attracted to the rotting lumber, inhabit the space.
Mold, Insurance, and Lawsuits
Mold, mildew, and dust mites in Ohio is a problem that homeowners, landlords, and building mangers are becoming increasingly concerned with. According to the Journal of Property Management, lawsuits have been filed by the tens of thousands against landlords, developers, and insurance companies in Ohio over mold-related issues.
In response to this, many general liability and property insurance companies have begun to exclude mold from their protection policies. There are few regulations for acceptable levels set by the EPA for the results of mold testing. Ultimately, it's become a legal battleground, where homeowners and building managers have become the casualties.
Eliminating Mold in Akron, OH
Trying
to clean and remove mold in a structure with biocides is a
temporary solution at best. NEVER USE BLEACH to try to kill mold on
porous surfaces, such as wood and drywall! Bleach itself is 99% water,
so you are essentially watering the
roots of the mold. While this will change the color of the mold, it
will not kill off the mold and can actually make the mold spread even
more. (Bleach is best used to sanitize hard surfaces in the kitchen & bath.) Using other mold removal products may remove mold in the short
term, but this work can only be safely and accurately done by a trained professional.
One of the primary methods recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency, is to reduce indoor humidity within the home to below 60%. They also recommend removing all sources of water leakage within the home, sealing penetrations in walls and floors especially in below-ground areas, checking for moldy odors, and removing all sources of freestanding water.
To lower the humidity level, you're going to need a strong basement dehumidifier, like the SaniDry Basement Air System, available in Barberton, Sandusky, Lakewood, Cleveland, Akron, Warren, Niles, Canton, Youngstown, Massillon, Wooster, Cuyahoga Falls, Ashtabula, Ashland, Mentor, Euclid, Lorain and the surrounding areas from Ohio Basement Systems.
SaniDry is a self-draining, Energy-Star rated dehumidifier that's just what you need to prevent mold in your basement. With a powerful blower, large cold coil, and an air filter that can remove particles as small as 2 microns, it can help prevent allergens such as mold spores, dust mite waste, pet dander, and pollen. If you have a finished basement, the SaniDry can easily be located in an unfinished area and ducted into a finished area. Smaller SaniDry CSB dehumidifiers are available just for the crawl space environment. For your FREE estimate and written quote on a basement or crawl space dehumidifier, phone or e-mail us today!