skip to main content

Mold? What?

17 years ago

Whenever my grown children come home for the holidays, they get sniffy noses, stuffed up sinuses, and sometimes headaches and scratchy throats. We think it must be allergies to the house. But what?

Who do I have come check out the house? Could it be mold? How do I know without ripping the house apart? What agency would I call?

And, maybe since we live near a lake, could it be inevitable and un-fixable? And is this going to cost more than the house is worth. I'm already hyperventelating!

Help!!

Thanks

Comments (5)

bittersweetjourney
17 years ago
Dear Brer,

I called the Health Department and they checked the house for mold. I have been told that their method of inspection is not thorough and that there are services out there who can do a more detailed investigation. The Health Dept. may be a place to start and possibly research the internet.

We moved to an older home and I began to have rashes on my neck and itching eyes. The doctor immediately thought, "mold". My symptoms have lessened, but we live in an area that is notorious for moisture.

Good luck to you.
catherinet
17 years ago
Is it possible that they have that "let down" effect some people get with time off, and their immune systems just allow them to get sick? Plus, in their travels to your house, they probably come in contact with lots of new germs. I wouldn't just assume its from your house.
Were they ever like this on vacations when they were younger? How do they get to your house.......car? airplane?
Related Discussions
Does this look like mold issues, what can be done?
Q
Comments (3)
Thanks for the quick replies. -that's what Im afraid of is just trapping issues with foam or whatever. But I haven't been able to get them to do anything drastic about it (and probably wouldn't be worth it IMO short of demolish - I would have done that awhile ago but they just wanted to fix [dump money] it). They've come up with these ideas of covering the floor with rubber mats, foaming the walls, etc to keep moisture out but Im not sure I like that. And getting a 'commercial' dehumidifier. They did try an exhaust fan but didn't seem to do good, was bringing in warmer/moister air from outside into a cooler basement and was more damp. Some days better than others depending on outside conditions. The air exchanger is drawing out of the basement though. Ive tried telling them about drainage but got shot down...'we're not digging up the basement'. Im afraid of it affecting our health, the smell is upstairs (not as strong). I added the pictures to the link URL, hopefully that helps, let me know. I don't do much pictures. Here is a link that might be useful: basement pictures
...See More
Pretty sure we have mold, what to do and who to call?
Q
Comments (5)
How much moisture is in the house? It sounds like your humidity is way too high. Do you run a de-humidifier anywhere ? the moisture on the hardwood is most likely caused by the window condensation running off the windows. If you have this much condensation on your windows you need to remove moisture from you house. This will also help with the must smell. Before you get too upset I would look into this first. If you have fixed the leak and reduce the moisture in your house this should get rid of the mold. Mold needs moisture to live. Also, this may sound stupid but make sure that the smell isn't coming from your clothes washer basin. If you keep the lid closed after doing laundry this can make the washer stink because it never dries out. This happened to us and it STINKS really bad. I ran a hot water cycle with bleach to kill the bacteria and mold in the washer and now we leave the lid open all the time and haven't had a problem since. -renee
...See More
Reporting Dracana: mold problem: what soil??
Q
Comments (7)
Honestly, while that soil may be slightly better, it's still going to hold onto water for a long time. Perlite doesn't help much with drainage unless you were using like 90% perlite to 10% peat. If you're up for the challenge of making your own mix, I'd recommend the 5:1:1 mix. 5 parts pine bark fines, 1 part peat, 1 part perlite and some dolomite lime.
...See More
making leaf mold - what did I do wrong?
Q
Comments (4)
Turning does seem to help the process. Mine take 2 years here in MO. I don't water them but after the first year I combine several bins into one (since they shrink anyway). That turning helps the undigested stuff on the outside get mixed in, and redistributes dry and wet parts.
...See More
agnespuffin
17 years ago
Do you have things like scented candles around? Or do you use any kind of deodorising sprays? Carpet cleaners? There are a lot of things that could be in your home that upset people that aren't used to them.

And yes, it could be mold. Check out all the other things too. It could even be something simple like old feather cushions on the sofa.
mikie_gw
17 years ago
Maybe try replacing your air filters on your a/c-furnace with one of the premium $15 3M Filtrete pleated filters for allergies/dust/mold.

If that helps maybe then you might look into adding some portable hepa filters for each room too.

I take care of my elderly dad whom has some breathing difficulties. Adding a dehumidifier keeping humidity at 50% and then added air filtering. Both helped him with his breathing instantly. And I've noticed I sleep sounder and get the sniffles temporally now a few minutes after I walk out the door.
scarlett2001
17 years ago
It could be so many things, such as dust mites in pillows. Guest room pillows tend to get old and should be replaced with hypoallergenic ones. I would start there. Do they get symptoms as soon as they come into the house or after they wake up the next morning??

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

REMODELING GUIDES Crown Molding: Is It Right for Your Home?

By Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR

See how to find the right trim for the height of your ceilings and style of your room

KITCHEN DESIGN 9 Molding Types to Raise the Bar on Your Kitchen Cabinetry

By The Inman Company

Customize your kitchen cabinets the affordable way with crown, edge or other kinds of molding

DISASTER PREP & RECOVERY How to Combat Mold in a Flooded House

Before you rebuild or restore your water-damaged home, take these steps to keep mold at bay

REMODELING GUIDES Frame Your Views With Great Moldings and Casings

By Scheer & Co. Interior Design

How to Work With Trim to Give Your Space Depth and Interest

REMODELING GUIDES Design Details: Moldings — or Not?

By Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR

16 new and unusual ways to trim your doors, floors and ceilings

TRIM Molding: Add Texture by Detailing Your Detail

By Shawn Gauthier

Take the Architectural Accent to the Next Level with These Extra Elements

FURNITURE Modern Icons: Eames Molded Plywood Chairs

By Becky Harris

DESIGN DICTIONARY Dentil Molding

Notched rectangular wood blocks carved into molding give it a toothy appearance

DINING ROOMS Ways with Moulding in the Dining Room

By Love Your Room LLC

The Design Detail Adds Drama to These Dining Areas

STORAGE Bookcases and Floating Shelves That Break the Mold

By Laura Gaskill

Linear horizontal shelves have their place, but you can also get creative. Here are some ideas to spark inspiration

Sponsored

More Discussions

Question regarding Basmati rice calories

19