I want to talk to you today about 4 decisions you must make, if you have mold illness, and things to consider to make them.
I was born with mold illness as I was conceived in a moldy home. It took forever it seems to figure out that mold illness was what I had. So most of my life I have only moved not realizing that the place I lived in was moldy. And they were mostly rentals, so remediation on my part was not an option.
I know that moving seems daunting, especially if you are in an area that has a lot of moldy homes. Maybe you just love your home, it’s your dream home. Of course, this only applies if you have mold in your home.
How do you know if you have a mold problem in your home?
About 25% of the world’s population has the genetics to be sensitive to mold. But the rest of the population will be susceptible also if there is enough mold. I am one of the 25%. So mold in the home can be a really big problem for all depending on the amount present. And it is important to keep the molds down at a level that will not affect even the most sensitive person in the home.
Moisture is the pivotal factor for mold problems in buildings. Homes can have this moisture in many different ways. It only takes as little as 60 percent humidity to cause a mold growth problem. Ideally, humidity in the home should be kept around 40 percent.
People exhale about a quart of water a day. Then you put that together with the humidity from cooking, cleaning, and bathing, and you have about a gallon of water vapor for each person every day. So there needs to be a way for that to be dried so mold does not grow in the home, because it only takes a couple of days at the right humidity for mold to grow. And mold is not the only problem that comes from too much moisture in the building. Dust mites also love that moisture.
With visible mold growth, the source of the water must be fixed. If you see something you think may be mold you can take a sample using a piece of tape and have it tested. Or you can get one of those petri dish test kits from places like Home Depot.
If you don’t see visible mold, but do smell musty odors, that tells you that you have high enough moisture level that mold is actively growing somewhere you can’t see. That is a good time to have your home inspected.
How to decide to remediate or move?
There are some things to consider when you find you have a mold problem in your home. You can either remediate or move.
- Remediation
- You love your home, maybe it’s your dream home or a family home. Moldy homes can be fixed.
- You or your remediator must have the expertise to address the mold problems depending on the needs of the inhabitants.
- Move
- You may not have the time, money, energy, or expertise to fix your moldy home.
- It is necessary for a home to work for the most sensitive inhabitant.
These are things to consider when you have mold in your home. What would you do? Move or Remediate? Your health is worth it.
How to work with a professional mold remediation company
If you suspect that you have mold in your home, test it. This can be done with an ERMI test. It is also good to do a HERTSMI-2 test to see what level you are sensitive to. There are lots of places online now to get this done.
Then you can decide if you want to remediate or move. If you are going to have your home remediated make sure to find a reputable company in your area. A reputable company will test and make sure the cleaning is done to the point needed. Don’t settle for less as your families health is number one.
When looking for a mold remediation company, be sure to look into their certifications. If they don’t list them on their website, then they probably don’t have them. You should take the time to interview at least 3 mold removal professionals to ensure you choose a reputable one. Some questions you should ask would be (These need to be answered yes):
- Is the mold remediation company prepared to give you a written contract/change order?
- Is the mold remediation company prepared to provide you with a remediation plan?
- Is the mold remediation company prepared to provide you with a post-remediation report from retesting?
- Is the mold remediation company willing to provide you with referrals and their contact details?
- Does the mold remediation company carry insurance?
There are more questions to ask. I do provide these in my program “Mold Illness Mystery Solved”. Contact me if you want info on this program. If you just want to get it, the link is to the right.
How to prevent mold from coming back after remediation
The first things you need to do to prevent mold from coming back is to decide that you are going to do what it takes to make that happen. You must be faithful to do these things:
- Keep dry. To prevent mold growth you must keep the moisture level down. There will always be mold spores and fragments in your home, but unless they have enough moisture they will not grow. So provide ventilation, if you have a leak get it dry fast, and you can even dehumidify if necessary.
- Keep it simple. There is no need to go out and buy the latest and greatest chemical for keeping mold away. The best way is just to keep a good air purifier, make sure you have good ventilation, clean with a good HEPA vacuum, and good old soap and water to keep surfaces clean, then dry the area well.
Just make sure to keep things clean and dry to prevent mold. If you already have a mold problem, it needs to be assessed. Then you will have to make a decision what to do about it. Remember, this can be done. It won’t be easy, but make it simple.
If you have a mysterious illness and have seen mold in your home or workplace and want to regain your strength and energy so you can live a purposeful life again, click here to schedule a complimentary Breakthrough consultation with me today!
