Improperly Installed Dryer Vent Causes Mold in Fair Haven, NJ

This homeowner in Fair Haven, NJ had a dryer vent that wasn't attached properly, and the warm dryer air meeting the cool basement air resulted in condensation inside the vent. It is common to find high levels of lint in the vent. Although we do not think of lint as organic material, lint is simply tiny bits of fabric fibers that are shed from the edges of our clothing. Fabrics made of natural fibers like cotton and wool generate more lint than synthetic fabrics, and this soft, clumpy material that we pull out of lint vent is a delectable food source for mold. Mold thrives in dark, humid locations, and with condensation inside the dryer vent forming from hot air colliding with cool, conditions were ripe for mold growth. 

With this home, mold growth started to form inside the wall. This dryer was not venting to the outside of the home, and, every time they did a load, they were pumping a tremendous amount of moist air into the wall void, creating conditions for mold to grow. This moist air can also cause structural damage to the drywall itself.

The homeowner had the dryer vent fixed, so the appliance is now properly exhausting the humid, moist air, but there was still the problem with mold. That’s where the Mold Solutions By Cowleys team comes in.

First, we applied our anti-microbial MAPS 1. This product immediately kills mold (and virtually any other virus or pathogen in its path) at the cellular level. Next, we applied MAPS 2, which is our patented sealant that encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders the mold non-allergenic and harmless. MAPS 2 is also moisture-sensitive and reactivates whenever it gets wet to prevent the return of mold.

With the mold destroyed and the underlying problem that caused the mold growth fixed, this homeowner permanently solved his mold problem — and did so expeditiously. By treating the mold directly right where it sits, the homeowner avoided dealing with an extensive and unnecessary tear out of building materials with mold growth, not to mention the headache of renovations that follow.