Saturday, October 17, 2009

Davalor Mold Corporation

Davalor Mold Corporation
Davalor is an Industry Leader in Production and Prototype Plastic Injection Mold Construction and High Volume Production Injection Molding.

Davalor Mold Corporation
Davalor is an Industry Leader in Production and Prototype Plastic Injection Mold Construction and High Volume Production Injection Molding.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Mold Inspection Specialists, LLC

Mold Inspection Specialists, LLC

Indoor Air Quality Guide to Indoor Mold
SPECIAL NOTE: If you have a questions about licensure of mold assessors or mold remediators, please review this Florida law. The Florida Department of Business and

Mold-Kill.com - Ozone Generators
Kill Mold With Ozone Generator - Mold-Kill.com

Mold Inspection Specialists, LLC

Indoor Air Quality Guide to Indoor Mold
SPECIAL NOTE: If you have a questions about licensure of mold assessors or mold remediators, please review this Florida law. The Florida Department of Business and

Mold-Kill.com - Ozone Generators
Kill Mold With Ozone Generator - Mold-Kill.com

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Mold Cleanup-When is the Mold Cleanup Finished

How Do I Know When the Remediation or Mold Cleanup is Finished?

You must have completely fixed the water or moisture problem before the cleanup or remediation can be considered finished.

* You should have completed mold removal. Visible mold and moldy odors should not be present. Please note that mold may cause staining and cosmetic damage.

* You should have revisited the site(s) shortly after cleanup and it should show no signs of water damage or mold growth.

* People should have been able to occupy or re-occupy the area without health complaints or physical symptoms.

* Ultimately, is the Mold Cleanup Finished is a judgment call; there is no easy answer.

Mold: Mold Growth in Homes

Molds are part of the natural environment. Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees, but indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet. There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture.

Molds are organisms that may be found indoors and outdoors. They are part of the natural environment and play an important role in the environment by breaking down and digesting organic material, such as dead leaves. Also called fungi or mildew, molds are neither plants nor animals; they are part of the kingdom Fungi.

Molds can multiply by producing microscopic spores (2 - 100 microns [µm] in diameter), similar to the seeds produced by plants. Many spores are so small they easily float through the air and can be carried for great distances by even the gentlest breezes. The number of mold spores suspended in indoor and outdoor air fluctuates from season to season, day to day, and even hour to hour.

Mold spores are ubiquitous; they are found both indoors and outdoors. Mold spores cannot be eliminated from indoor environments. Some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in settled dust; however, they will not grow if moisture is not present.

Mold is not usually a problem indoors -- unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. As molds grow they digest whatever they are growing on. Unchecked mold growth can damage buildings and furnishings; molds can rot wood, damage drywall, and eventually cause structural damage to buildings. Mold can cause cosmetic damage, such as stains, to furnishings. The potential human health effects of mold are also a concern. It is important, therefore, to prevent mold from growing indoors.

Mold needs moisture and food. Moisture is the most important factor influencing mold growth indoors. Controlling indoor moisture helps limit mold growth.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Mold-Household Mold Effects

Household mold effects can not only be hazardous to your health but can be potentially dangerous. This article tells of these hazards and how to deal with mold...

Mold And It's Effects
by: Yvonne Volante

Perhaps you may have found the dreaded mold lurking in your dwelling recently. Perhaps you even had to recondition it up. To be sure, it's ugly, inconvenient, possibly destructive and possibly a hazard to good health.

Unfortunately, mold can form anywhere circumstances exist to foster its advance. It regularly evolves in cool damp places. Usually in locations where temperatures range between 40 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, with a relative humidity level of 70% or higher. Though it is possible for certain molds to grow in lower humidity levels, they are not a common occurrence and rarely a concern over the more common types of mold. Read more about your home and other home care issues at http://www.fhhome.com

Typical spaces in a domicile where mold tends to take hold are zones such as bathrooms, basements, ceiling tiles, paneling, refrigerators, air circumstanceers, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, trash cans, heating ducts, windowsills, carpeting and other enclosures where wetness may be captured.

Mold appears in different ways, each with varying levels of risk to health. In low levels mold is pretty much harmless, but in greater levels the person who comes in contact may suffer allergic symptoms from the spores, as well as more harmful effects.

There are two forms of mold called Stachybotrys and Memnoniella which are considered toxic and can have a no-nonsense effect on a persons health. Smaller symptoms of exposure to these toxic molds may include a rash, flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, respiratory difficulties, eye irritations, difficulty breathing, sinus inflammation, headaches, fatigue and sore throat.

More austere symptoms of exposure to toxic mold may include ear inflammation, nose bleeds, bleeding of the lungs, memory loss and arthralgia (joint pain).

Exposure to any type of mold can always have the possibility of bringing on negative health effects, so it is wise to remove mold when it is found and to foster contingencys, which can help minimize the chances of mold appearing again in the future.

First of all, if you find mold in your domicile, purify it right away. For mold advancing on solid material like metal, basic soap and detergent should do the trick. Be sure to dry them immediately afterward. For materials more porous, where mold has sunk in, such as mattresses or other furnishings, the material should be replaced, as it is impossible to remove mold completely from these materials.

To prevent mold from forming in the future, check for any and all sources of wetness. In bathrooms check for leaky faucets or pipes which are no-nonsense culprits for fostering the incidents for mold raiseth. Once you have finished, lower the humidity level of your dwelling to between 30 and 60%. Since most mold advances in circumstances of 70% relative humidity of higher, keeping humidity low in your home will greatly reduce the risk of mold forming again in the future.

The steps set forth above are very urgent to follow, especially for those who may suffer from allergies. An ounce of deterrence now could save you inconvenience, discomfort, as well as funds in the years ahead.

About The Author
Yvonne Volante, the author, has had extensive experience with http://www.moldcasr.com and writes for moldcasr.com, which is the premier mold resource on the internet. You can see all of the articles over at http://www.moldcasr.com.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Mold Allergy And Other Mold Related Health Issues

by: Daryl Watters

MOLD ALLERGY The leading cause of health problems associated with mold is the common mold allergy. Many who believe they are being poisoned by toxic molds are actually experiencing a mold allergy. Allergenic responses to molds as well as to other bio-allergens such as dust mite allergens, cat and dog allergens, and cock roach allergens can nevertheless be a serious concern and can result in mild to severe reactions that often get worse over time. Mold allergy symptoms include: runny nose, watery eyes, coughing, sneezing, itchy nose, itchy throat, and skin rashes. The institute of Medicine (1993) estimated that one in five Americans suffers from allergic rhinitis, the single most common chronic disease experienced by humans. Additionally, about 14% of the population suffers from allergy-related sinusitis, while 10 to 12% of Americans have allergically-related asthma. About 9% experience allergic dermatitis. (Institute of Medicine, 1993) and (Washington state Department of Health). We sometimes find that our clients are suffering from debilitating mold allergy reactions when living in moldy homes or working in moldy environments. People often realize after suffering for a few months or a few years, that it may be the mold causing their mysterious prolonged illness and that the situation is getting worse not better and that either they have to leave, or the mold has to go and the condition that caused the mold has to be revealed and corrected. Mold allergy is not the only problem.

MOLD INFECTIONS

Certain molds are known for causing infectious tissue diseases by invading and infecting human and animal tissues and mucous membranes. Mold-related sinus infections appear to be common in many persons living in mold contaminated homes. Eyes, ears, nose, throat, lungs, heart, brain and skin systems have documented infections due to molds. However, infections in these tissues typically only occurs in persons with a compromised immune system.

MOLD TOXICITY

Many molds also have been shown to produce very scary toxic substances known as mycotoxins; mycotoxins are located primarily in the mold spores.

These mycotoxins are produced by molds to help them compete with and kill other molds and microbes. It's a type of biological warfare between molds and their competitors. "Mycotoxins are believed to result in headaches, sore throats, hair loss, flu symptoms, diarrhea, fatigue, dermatitis, general malaise (tiredness) and psychological depression." (Croft et al, 1986, Jarvis, 1995).

"Other reported responses to mycotoxin exposure includes skin rashes, lesions of the skin and gastrointestinal tract, and interference with blood cell formation." (Sorenson 1993).

Many of the above are the results of lab animal and cell culture studies on toxic black mold also known as stachybotrys, and human and horse exposure to stachybotrys mold infested hay.

It is very important to not panic and keep in mind that to accomplish the above serious detrimental effects toxic molds like Stachybotrys and others may have to be either:

1. Consumed in mold contaminated foods.

2. Physically handled so that excessive physical contact is made between human skin and the mold.

3. Or the mycotoxins have to be exposed to living cells in the laboratory.

It may or may not be likely that toxic molds can cause the above detrimental effects when humans breathe in mold spores in the home. It is very difficult to gather scientifically reliable proof on the effects of breathing toxic mold spores in the home.

MUCOUS MEMBRANE AND TRIGEMINAL NERVE IRRITATION

Molds produce waste products made up of volatile organic compounds (VOC) such as alcohols aldehydes and acidic molecules after breaking down and absorbing food materials in our homes such as moist dust, and water damaged drywall paper, and wood. Exposure to volatile organic compounds may result in irritation to the eyes and the respiratory system. Volatile organic compounds and moldy pungent odors can also initiate avoidance reactions from the trigeminal nerve such as breath holding and discomfort. Odd sensations may also be noted including itching, burning, and skin crawling. Changes in sensation, swelling of mucous membranes, constriction of respiratory smooth muscle, or dilation of surface blood vessels may be triggered in response to trigeminal nerve stimulation. Decreased attention, disorientation, diminished reflex time, dizziness and other effects can also result from such exposures( Otto et al., 1989)

This web site is designed for informational purposes only. It is not intended for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you suspect you have a health problem, contact your doctor.

The presence of a small amount of even very toxic mold in your home is not necessarily need for immediate or irrational fear. It seems that most homes from my experience have some potentially toxic mold spores as do most outdoor environments. If unwarranted fear takes over, people become vulnerable to be taken advantage of by dishonest mold inspectors and dishonest mold remediators. It is wise to have your property tested and inspected by a non-biased professional mold allergy inspector to determine if concern is warranted and if and what corrective measures are needed.

About The Author
Daryl Watters is president of A Accredited Mold Inspection Service, Inc. He provides home, mold, and indoor air quality investigations in South Florida. He is also the creator of MIR forms designed to aid inspectors in the production of computer generated indoor air quality and mold inspection reports. For more information visit http://www.floridamoldinspectors.us http://www.florida-mold-inspection.com

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

How to Get Rid of Stubborn Bathroom Mold

by Howard Mouldar

Not only is bathroom mold ugly, it's also bad for you! That's why it should not be ignored no matter how common it may seem. If you notice mold in your bathroom, you must take action right away as mold can multiply rapidly and can quickly get out of hand.

If you do have mold, don't despair because are lots of bathrooms that have mold, in fact it is actually rather common. That's because mold loves a moist and warm environment, so what better place to grow than in your bathroom? While a little bit of mold can easily be wiped off, letting mold build up can be problematic as the more mold that you have, the harder it may become to get rid of it.

If your house is like so many others and has some bathroom mold, here are a few things you can do to battle it:

The first thing you should do is to check if your drains are draining properly. If your water is not draining properly, then this leaves your bathroom moist for long periods of time thus creating an environment for mold to thrive in. Also, check for leaks under the sink - a drippy pipe can create an inviting environment for mold to take hold inside your vanity where you may not even notice it.

Another thing you can do is to minimize the number of items that you have in your bathroom. This means your toiletries such as shampoos which are almost empty, facial scrubs as well as soap cradles and toothbrush cups. All these items are potential breeding grounds for mold. Plus with more items cluttering up the room, you are less likely to be able to spot mold on any surface.

Of course, cleaning the bathroom is a must. Remember to clear out all the items inside your bathroom when you clean it. Use store bought cleaning products that are proven to work and use it on all the soiled, moldy and damp areas within your bathroom. Use a sponge when doing so for brushes tend to leave scratch marks and make bathroom fixtures look aged. You can use vinegar or tea tree oil to get rid of mold if you are opposed to harsh store bought cleaners. Also, if you do have mold, be sure to dispose of any cleaning materials used to eradicate it as the mold can be on your sponge or brush and then could be transferred to another area of your bathroom.

You might also want to start doing small repairs and remodeling jobs inside the bathroom. Replacing old fixtures such as the faucets, old tubs and the shower itself would help prevent mold and remove the mold that has accumulated on these surfaces as well.

Taking the time to inspect your bathroom periodically will help you be able to notice mold when it first starts and make your job of getting rid of it that much easier. Unless your mold problem is excessive, battling bathroom mold is not that difficult - it just takes a little bit of time and elbow grease!

About the Author

You probably have bathroom mold in your home and don't even realize it! If you're ready to learn how to get rid of it then visit http://www.householdmoldguide.com today!

Monday, January 26, 2009

How to Save Money through Proper Home Maintenance

by Gen Wright

Maintaining a house can be more painstaking than owning one. At times we don't even realize the importance of maintain our homes. Not only does it makes the lifestyle healthier but proper and timely maintenance can reduce the costs also significantly.

Home maintenance not only improves the aesthetics of your home but also help in keeping you and your family healthy. By maintaining gutters, preventing buildups which encourage the growth of mold, spores and numerous other allergens, you can reduce the chances of your family falling sick. Also, as the time passes by, these neglected factors take a toll on the complete build up of the house on a whole, with an increase of unhealthy odors and weakening of the structure. Neglecting home maintenance can be cheaper in the short run but in the longer run it becomes a very costly and also entails visits to the doctor and running around contractors for repairing pipes and gutters.

Most of these expenses can be done away with by timely home maintenance and on the top of it the standard of living can be increased. Just maintain a regular checklist and add home maintenance to your lifestyle.

First of all start with the outdoors; check for any material or debris choking the drains and gutters, this will help in free transport of water through the house. A gutter scoop or a trowel especially made for this purpose can be used. After the debris is removed then spray the gutter with a powerful garden hose and clean the gutters. Keeping the gutters clean will not only reduce the expenses on contractors but will also reduce the roofing and painting expenses.

Significant flooring costs can be saved by cleaning the debris and soil around downspouts and directing the water away from the foundation of the house. PVC or cement can be used as an apron to make sure that this, and thus will prevent water from settling around the foundation and damaging the basement of the house.

Wash regularly the walls of your house using a pressure washer; this will reduce the ills caused to the wall and the paint by Acid rain, air pollution and general dirt. They are harmful elements and can deteriorate the house's siding and the paint, which might lead to significant wall painting and wall cementing costs.

If you have a garden in the house then it also demands a lot of maintenance, all the plants should be kept at least 18 inches away from the foundation of the house. If they are kept closer than that then there is a risk of the plantations running into the foundation of the house. Even a visual inspection once a month would suffice and will spare a lot of hassles and foundation costs. If the quality of plantation is neglected then the garden itself might get damaged and will be full of weeds.

Check chimneys and skylights for water leakage too.

Performing regular checks will reduce lot of health risks, hassles and costs in the long run. If you can afford to live in a house then you can always afford to maintain it.

About the Author

If you think you need some home improvements done, visit LocalQuoter.net. Local Quoter provides quotes on an extensive range of home improvement tasks. This includes roofing, bathrooms, double glazing, kitchens and bedrooms.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Before You Call a Mold Remediation Service: Tips For Home Owners

by Ben Anton

The wet season can also be the mold season in many areas of the country. Mold is often found near sources of water where it can easily grow and reproduce. As it grows, mold can breakdown and compromise the integrity and strength of the source in which it lives. When large amounts of mold spores grow, they can also compromise the health of the people living near it. Mold can be killed, but if it is not removed properly, it can remain in the area just cleaned and the dry spores can be released into the air.

There are professional mold remediation services that can help get rid of the mold in your home as well as any molded personal affects like documents, photographs and book. However, prevention is the best way to help keep your lungs healthy and homes and buildings strong. Rapid Refile has put together a few easy to follow tips on how you can help thwart mold from infesting your home. Below is a sample of what they say are real-life preventive measures a home owner can follow to reduce the likelihood of mold damage.

Home Mold Prevention Tips:

• Make sure there is good air circulation in your home by using exhaust fans in the bathroom and kitchen.

• Turn off the water flow to broken appliances and pipes to reduce mold growth.

• Replace cracked or defective mortar in basements.

• If you find your basement is wet or has water leaking into it, inspect the outside drainage systems for problems.

• Spread moisture-barrier materials like heavy roofing paper or polyethylene film in crawl spaces over the soil.

• Make sure there is good ventilation in the crawl space and, if possible, do not enclose it.

• Get rid of humidity or dampness within a building by heating it for a short time. After heating, open up the doors and windows, or use an exhaust fan, to let out the air that is moist.

• If there are freezing temperatures, take precautions against burst water pipes by insulating them.

• Make sure all the seals on the windows and doors are in good-working condition.

• Clean and repair roof gutters regularly.

• Make sure the ground around your building slopes away from the foundation so water does not collect around or enter in to it.

• Act quickly if you see condensation on windows, pipes, or walls inside a building. Dry out the area and determine if the source of the condensation is from a leak or the result of high humidity.

If your home or parts of your home become flooded by broken pipes or heavy rains consider the following advice:

• Work fast. Call in a mold remediation service, which will help in the cleaning and disinfecting of your home from toxins and spores mold can release.

• Lower the humidity and temperature in the building by turning on an air conditioner and a dehumidifier to slow mold growth.

• Dispose of moldy items in a sealed bag.

• Recoverable objects that can be saved should be frozen (which deactivates mold) or dried out. Mold remediation services can assist with restoring many of your items, including documents, pictures, and books.

• Make sure there is good ventilation within the building affected. Use a fan, if necessary, to promote good air circulation.

• Remove as much standing water in a building as quickly and safely as possible after disconnecting all electronic equipment inside the building.

Many simple steps can be taken to prevent mold damage as well as water damage during the winter months. This New Years, assess your home for any potential trouble spots that may promote mold growth and take the necessary precautions to keep your home safe and protected from the damage that water and mold can cause.


About the Author

Ben Anton is a writer for Rapid Refile. Read the complete Rapid Refile article on winter mold damage prevention.Visit Rapid Refile for more information on water damage at home and restoration information.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

How To Clean Black Mold

Black Mold, also known as Stachybotrys Chartarum (atra) is a greenish-black fungus found worldwide, that colonizes particularly well in high-cellulose material, such as straw, hay, wet leaves, dry wall, carpet, wall paper, fiber-board, ceiling tiles, thermal insulation, etc. It can and does grow all around the house, and can cause major health problems. This is one reason why you should learn all you can about how to clean black mold. The other main reason to clean black mold is the health implications that black mold spores carry with them.

Black Mold can grow at different temperatures and populate, but having a higher humidity is a big problem, and you are more likely to have the toxic mold in humid places. Some of the most toxic molds grow in warm wet locations. Black mold also often grows in hidden places, and as stated, damp, dark places like basements or bathrooms.

This toxic black mold growth can become a huge problem as it will eat the drywall and then damage the underlying structure. It is important to not overlook black mold and mildew, and always have a method of prevention of more problems in the future. What black mold does when growing in your home or drywall or any other source of food it can find is, it will begin to eat the surface. In then begins to produce it's spores. These spores can be thought of as black mold excrement. This is the concept of what mold is doing, and why black mold makes people sick.

Toxic black mold is a big cause of concern among homeowners, and prospective buyers of homes. We have all heard horror stories about this slimy life-threatening invader, but how do we distinguish between run-of-the-mill mold and toxic black mold. One indicator of whether your mold is toxic black mold is the place in which it is growing. As stated above, if it is growing in a warm, damp, or dark space, it may well be toxic black mold.

It is absolutely imperative, that you clean black mold up as soon as you spot it. You definitely do not want to try cleaning a mold problem, and come to find out later that you have exposed the rest of your home to more black mold. Most good mold cleaning products function as a remover and mold growth inhibitor at the same time. Some think that cleaning up damp carpet will get rid of mold. Carpet cleaning is NOT going to kill the mold. It is highly recommended that any carpet that was soaked with water be ripped up and thrown away.

It is very wise to wear an N-95 respirator when cleaning mold. The cleaning process can liberate additional mold spores into the air, that can cause mold to spread and more importantly, create health risks to those people who are allergic to that particular mold. You should also turn off the HVAC system before and during the time you are cleaning mold. You should also maintain dust levels as low as possible during cleaning, to prevent spores from becoming airborne and spread to other areas. This will reduce the risk of exposure for those who are cleaning, while reducing the potential for the mold spores landing and germinating in other parts of the home or building. If the mold is too dry, then the mold spores will have a much better chance of becoming airborne while being disturbed during the cleaning process.

Black mold removal can be accomplished using strong cleaners and very thorough cleaning techniques. To kill mold, it is best to try to find a mold cleaning solution that will kill mold, but more importantly prevent it from coming back. Also, it is always recommended to use natural cleaning products.

So, to effectively kill mold, be sure to use a natural cleaning product that will remove the mold entirely, but also have those special ingredients to block and prevent it from growing back. Find a natural cleaning product that can encapsultate the mold, and you will never need to worry about black mold ever again. Natural mold cleaning products are safe for health and help to prevent molds coming back forever.

Even though you may spend hours cleaning and taking care of your home, be aware that danger lurks in unexpected places. When it comes to mold clean up, safely cleaning and removing building material is very important.

Did you find those tips on "How To Clean Black Mold" useful? You can learn a lot more about how "Black Mold Secrets" can help you clean black mold here: http://www.best4uinfo.com/mold.htm


About the Author

David Chenault is editor and publisher of "Living Well". David is the author of several books including the best selling "Healthier You - The Secrets To A Better Body".His web sales copy and articles have appeared on more than 2400 web sites.For information on this and other "Healthy Living" subjects visit...http://www.best4uinfo.com/livingwell.html