Mold Prevention Checklist

Mold prevention in the indoor environment is a matter of being aware and pro-active to everyday events. Excess indoor mold can be much more that checking an area after a water or roof leak. Here is a detailed mold prevention checklist that will help you identify key areas of concern:

Moisture Control

  • Maintain levels of humidity below 60% (preferably between 30% and 50%).
  • Bathrooms, dryers and other moisture-producing area should be vented to the outdoors.
  • Avoid blockage of air conditioning return air vents and supply air diffusers.
  • Use air conditioners and de-humidifiers when needed to draw excess humidity from the indoor air.
  • Increase ventilation by installing additional crawlspace and attic vents, opening windows when necessary.
  • Use exhaust fans when cooking and washing dishes.
  • Avoid the use of un-vented heaters or high heat in confined areas.
  • Keep the air conditioning thermostat set to “auto” to prevent circulation of excessive humid air.
  • Make sure all central HVAC (heating,ventilation, air conditioning) duct work is thoroughly insulated with no exposed surfaces to attic or crawl spaces.

Performing Regular Inspections

  • Inspect your home monthly for sources of excessive indoor moisture.
  • Utilize a regular maintenance schedule to check for sources of water leaks at the following locations:
  1. Hot Water Heaters
  2. A/C Drain Lines
  3. Appliance Hoses
  4. Showers, Tubs, Sick and Toilets
  5. Visible Piping
  6. Waste/Garbage Disposal System
  7. Caulking around Windows and Doors
  8. Visual Attic Areas
  9. Sprinklers and Fire Suppression Systems
  10. Irrigation Systems

Mold needs organic matter along with a moisture source to actively colonize and grow. Controlling excessive moisture sources will help you prevent mold from establishing itself in your indoor environment.


Mold Prevention Checklist – Part 2

Checklist For Preventing Mold Indoors

Mold prevention in the indoor environment is a matter of being aware and pro-active to everyday events. Excess indoor mold can be much more that checking an area after a water or roof leak. Here is part 2 of the detailed mold prevention checklist that will help you identify key areas of concern:

Other Precautions

  • Main Water Valve – Make sure everyone in the household knows where the main valve is located and how to turn the water off.
  • Rain Gutters and Downspouts – Direct rainwater away from your home. Keep gutters clear and make sure downspouts are long enough to effectively carry water away from your foundation. Gutters that are filled with leaves and other debris allow water to back up on the roof, which can result in water damage to eaves and roofing material.
  • Insulate Pipes and Outside Faucets – Minimize the potential for water damage from frozen, broken pipes by insulating supply lines (in attic, crawlspaces and exterior walls), protecting exposed outdoor faucets, sealing gaps in exterior walls and maintaining adequate heat in your home.
  • Sump Pump – The sump pump is the first line of defense in preventing water seepage into basements. Periodically check the sump and remove any debris that could clog the pump. Consider installing a battery-powered backup to protect your basement during power outages.
  • Don’t block weep holes – Weep holes are openings at the foundation level of a brick wall that allow moisture to escape from behind the wall. Do not close or block these openings.
  • Monitor Utility Bills – An abnormally high water bill could signal a water leak.
  • Before You Travel – Turn the water off at the main valve or at major appliances. While you are away, consider leaving a house key and contact information with a neighbor or trusted friend and ask the person to check the inside and outside of your home periodically while you are away.

Other Prevention Ideas

  • Purchase paint with EPA-approved mold inhibitors.
  • Clean bathrooms often with mold killing products and keep surfaces dry.
  • Do not carpet bathrooms, basements, kitchens or other areas prone to collect moisture.
  • Repair damages that could lead to water intrusion promptly and properly.
  • Ensure that the home has adequate ventilation, including exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms.

Mold needs organic matter along with a moisture source to actively colonize and grow. Understanding the areas where excessive moisture can exist will help you prevent mold from establishing itself in your indoor environment.


Indoor Allergies Prevention

Indoor Allergies Can Be Controlled

There has been much written on the subject of allergies and the indoor environment, but I am going to share with you some truths about the issue you will not read anywhere else. Over the years, I have developed a method to control indoor pollutants with ‘knowledge combined with technologies’. It is possible to make your home ‘a haven’ in a few weeks by using just one of these technologies.

The Cause of Indoor Allergens?

There are a few causes such as chemical sensitivities and pollen but for the most part indoor allergies are caused by microscopic (sub-micron) dust particles that contain allergens. Sub-micron particles that are less than 5 microns in size are referred to in the industrial hygiene field as ‘respirable’ particulates. You may be asking, “What does industrial hygiene have to do with in-home allergies”? It applies to any and all indoor environments which have dust particles. Breathing respirable particles long-term can lead from mild to severe allergic reactions including various chronic respiratory disorders.

What is a micron?

Each cubic foot of air in your home can contain up to millions of particles. Particles are commonly measured in microns, a metric unit of measure. There are 25,400 microns in one inch. Approximately 98-99% of all particles by count are in the size range of 10 microns or less and the majority of harmful particles are 3 microns or less in size. A human hair can range from 40 to 300 microns.

Why are Respiratory Particles Harmful?

The average person breathes in about 16,000 quarts of air per day. Each quart of air breathed in contains some 70,000 visible and invisible particles. That’s potentially a billion particles per day taken in by our respiratory system.

Respiratory particles typically remain in the lungs for the body to process. They will often lodge themselves in the mucous membranes and the linings of your lungs. Your body’s immune system can be seriously be impacted by certain particles in this size range when inhaled.

Respiratory Allergens?

Most all persons are allergic to the two allergens below; they just have different tolerances and symptomatic reactions. The two most common respirable allergens which are prevalent across the US are:

  • Dust mites and their fecal matter
  • Cockroach and similar insect parts

Even though these two allergens are generally considered the most prevalent, there are at least a hundred more which can cause allergic reactions in the indoor environment.

Controlling Respiratory Allergens?

Even though it is impossible to totally remove these sub-micron respirable particles, it is possible to control them to a level that you will have minimal allergic reactions from them. One concept you must first understand is that you are attempting to remove something from the indoor environment which you cannot see. A respirable particle is about 20 times smaller than a particle to which the human eye can see. In fact, I have measured respirable particles in home environment with a laser particle counter and have never seen any home with particle counts lower than 50,000 particles per cubic foot.

There is only one cleaning technology which will remove a respirable particle from your indoor environment. It is the High Efficient Particulate Air (HEPA) vacuum and HEPA air purifiers. Electronic or ion air purifiers will not remove them nor will any other Non-HEPA product claiming to do so. My warning to you if you plan on purchasing a HEPA vacuum or air purifier is that you do your homework and get a high-quality unit. There are many ‘HEPA Type’ models on the market that do clean particles from the air but do not trap the particles under 5 microns.

How do you Use the HEPA Equipment?

If you or others have allergies then I highly recommend the following cleaning schedules:

  • Daily use of a HEPA vacuum for the first week cleaning all surfaces throughout entire house
  • Weekly use of a HEPA vacuum thereafter
  • Daily use of a HEPA air purifier in commonly used rooms
  • Daily use of a HEPA air purifier in bedrooms of allergy sufferers
  • Use a high quality (the most pleats available) pleated filter in your air handling unit. This filter will not remove respirable particles but it will lesson the particle load your vacuum will pickup thus requiring less vacuum and purifier maintenance

To learn more about indoor pollutants and how to make your home a haven, please sign up for our Free Email Mini-Course Newsletter in the upper right-hand corner of this page or click here to read more.


Asbestos In The Home

Asbestos Containing Materials Found in Pre-1978 Homes

Many homes built prior to 1978 throughout the United States may have places which a homeowner or renter may become exposed to asbestos. It is important to understand these potential places of asbestos containing materials to prevent the exposure of yourself and loved ones.

Residential Building Materials Which May Include Asbestos

Significant rules and laws have regulated asbestos containing materials in the home since the mid 1970’s. However, older homes may still contain building materials which were manufactured with asbestos. These materials may be inhaled by the home occupants if disturbed in any way. This may include scraping, sawing, cutting or sanding of any material which may include asbestos fibers or dust.

These products which may release fibers or dust into the indoor environment, include but are not limited to:

  • FLOOR TILES (vinyl, asphalt or rubber). Could include backing on vinyl flooring, floor tile adhesives. Sanding or scraping such products could produce asbestos laden dust or fibers to become airborne.
  • PIPE INSULATION. Could include insulation around furnaces and woodburning stoves. Repairing or removing appliances could release asbestos fibers into the indoor environment. Cutting, ripping, drilling, sanding or sawing insulation should not be performed unless the material is known to be free of asbestos containing materials if installed prior to 1978.
  • ROOFING SHINGLES and SIDING (cement based).  These products should be removed without sawing, drilling or cutting to prevent asbestos fibers from releasing into the outdoor environment.
  • JOINT and PATCHING COMPOUNDS (for walls and ceilings).  Sanding, scraping or drilling in these surfaces should not be performed unless the material is known to be free of asbestos containing materials if installed prior to 1978.
  • ATTIC and WALL INSULATION. (batting and blown material). It was common for manufacturers to add asbestos fibers in some house insulation materials as filler or because of its heat insulation properties. This practice was most common during the 1930’s, 1940’s and 1950’s but was also believed to be prevalent in some manufacturing processes even into the early 1970’s. An asbestos test should be performed to determine if old insulation may contain asbestos. If the test is positive then the material may be replaced or the attic area should not be accessed unless proper personal protective (PPE) equipment is worn at all times. PPE would include coveralls, boot covers, gloves, head cover and a HEPA (high efficient particulate air) respirator which would be removed before accessing the indoor home environment.
  • TEXTURING COMPOUNDS (wall and ceiling). Many texturing products were manufactured with asbestos fibers until 1977. Sanding, scraping or drilling in these surfaces should not be performed unless the material is known to be free of asbestos containing materials if installed prior to 1978.
  • STEAM PIPES, BOILERS and FURNACE DUCTS.  Commonly insulated with an asbestos blanket or asbestos paper. Sanding, scraping, drilling or removal of these products should not be performed unless the material is known to be free of asbestos containing materials if installed prior to 1978

What To Do About Asbestos In The Home

If you have good reason to believe that there may be asbestos containing materials in your home, do not panic. The local health department is a resource which should be experienced in the asbestos containing building materials used in your area. Steps should be taken to identify potential sources of asbestos prior to making and renovations or major repairs to the home. If a fire or floor occurs in the home, it is paramount to also identify potential sources prior to repairs starting.

Just because it is present does not mean it must be removed. Asbestos containing materials may pose no long-term health issues if left undisturbed or in good condition. Steps of removal should be considered when it is going to be disturbed in any way.

If you believe that there may be asbestos fibers or dust in your indoor environment from a previous renovation or major repair, then it is important to thoroughly HEPA (high efficient particulate air) vacuum any and all surfaces throughout the home to include but not limited to; floors, walls, ceilings, baseboards, molding and air ventilation duct work. This process should be performed once per day for at least three days or consider having an environmental remediation contractor clean your home using proper methods.


Super Germs in the Home

Super Germs and and Your Health

Bacteria are able to constantly evolve and change so as to better survive in their environment. As a direct result of the over-use of antibiotics, we have created new resistant bacterial superbugs. We have also seen a dramatic increase in the use of antimicrobial products designed to limit harmful bacteria in the home. However, all of these actions may come at a cost and it is becoming evident that the overuses of such products are posing dangers unforeseen until recently.

super-germs

How Bacteria Changes

As bacteria replicates it can pass on antibiotic-resistant genes to other bacteria. The genes can get transferred when bacteria conjugate with other bacteria or when a virus carries the genes from one bacterium to another. The DNA of a bacteria cell has three ways it can resist antibiotics. It can cut it up, alter it or pump it out of the cell all before multiplying.

What is Antibiotic Resistance?

Simply put, it is the ability of a bacteria cell to protect themselves from compounds that attempt to kill them. In most cases – when people take antibiotics, they wipe out the bacteria that have no mutations, while leaving the resistant bacteria to thrive. It has become apparent in recent years that antibiotic resistance will emerge in virtually every instance of antibiotic use.

Avoiding Unnecessary Antibiotic Use

Many people go to the doctor with a cold or flu expecting the doctor to immediately write a prescription for an antibiotic. However, there is really no advantage for taking antibiotics for most upper respiratory infections. Furthermore, antibiotics may not do much for bronchitis or sinus infections either. People also consume antibiotics in the meat and dairy products they consume. Choose the antibiotic-free meat and dairy choices when available in your local supermarket. In contrast to the US, the European has market has virtually eliminated the use of antibiotics in their meat and diary products.

What about antimicrobial soaps?

Antimicrobial soap products can have a similar affect to antibiotics in increasing the resistance of bacteria. The fact of the matter is that our bodies are covered with good bacteria and it has been proven that these bacteria are one of our strongest defenses against infection. These good bacteria do not have resistant and virulence genes and are killed off by the use of antimicrobial products. Good bacteria whether inside or outside our body actually works hard to control the spread of bad bacteria. There is a growing call from consumers groups and researchers to ban the sale of antimicrobial products in the US.

It is important to be aware of the potential long-term dangers to the overuse of antibiotics and antimicrobial products. As more and more people reach that level of awareness we should see a dramatic shift in the overall use of antibiotics in hospitals, homes and agriculture. In the meantime, it is a good idea to phase out the use of all antimicrobial products which come into direct contact with humans. Non-antimicrobial soaps are widely available in liquid form to put into pump dispensers as well as good old bar soap.