3 Popular New Jersey Mold Myths Debunked

New Jersey has had its share of bad weather lately from Superstorm Sandy to unpredictable rainstorms that set records, causing flooding and water damage.  The storms will pass but the water damage and flooding could leave homes and businesses with a lasting effect in the form of mold growth.  Mold has been a hot topic in the news lately. 

Mold can grow in a water damaged area inside of a structure rather quickly, in fact, experts say it takes just 24 to 48 hours.  Mold can also grow in homes that have never sustained any water damage.  Homes that were built improperly or homes with high humidity and moisture are conducive to mold growth.  Mold can grow on wood, carpet, insulation, drywall, sub-flooring and more. 

Concerns over mold growth are top of mind for those homeowners who lived through water damage in their homes and there is a lot of misunderstanding when it comes to mold.  Here is a look at some of the common misconceptions about mold and the dangers surrounding it:

1. You should test mold before having it removed to determine if it is dangerous. In fact, the CDC does not recommend routine sampling for mold. Mold can cause a wide range of adverse health effects depending on the type of mold and the health of the person exposed to it.

While some people exposed to mold may suffer an allergic type of reaction, others can suffer with infections, asthma symptoms can be exacerbated and, in some individuals with compromised immune systems, exposure to mold can have serious health consequences like difficulty breathing.

2. My home is newly built therefore I don’t have to worry about mold issues. It is a common belief that mold grows on things that are old. But a house need not be old to have mold issues. If conditions are conducive to mold growth it can happen just as easily in a newly constructed home as it can in a century old home. According to CNN Money, 30% of brand new homes built have mold issues.

Some attribute this problem to modern building techniques, which, in an effort to reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool a home, increased insulation and tightened up homes thereby reducing airflow. This energy-efficient construction allowed high moisture content and pockets of dampness making an ideal breeding ground for mold. To prevent mold growth in new construction, some builders are doing whole house mold pre-treatments and installing a whole house dehumidifier.

3. You cannot live in your home while mold issues are being addressed. The old days of mold removal required a lot of demolition and reconstruction. During this process mold spores were released into the air making for poor air quality, poor living conditions during the construction and fear of an unhealthy environment until the problem was resolved.

In this age of mold bioremediation most building materials are saved and major construction is avoided. During the process, mold is treated on the surface in a two-part process similar to that in which a medically-implanted device which require long lasting antimicrobial activity would be treated. The treatment should be followed up with the installation of a whole house dehumidifier that will keep relative humidity in the home at a level that is not conducive to mold growth.

Click here for more facts about mold or to receive a free estimate about a mold problem in your home.