Myths About Mold

Toxic mold can have devastating and lasting effects on you and your family. But too often contaminated homes go untouched because of the negative stigma attached to mold. In a residential area, it can be difficult to do any sort of renovation without alerting most of the neighborhood. The proximity of the homes and the common awareness of neighbors leave little room for privacy with any overt renovation presence. So when it comes to mold remediation, most homeowners shy away from proper decontamination treatment in an attempt to avoid the inevitable negative labels.

Our experienced professionals have seen and heard it all. We've met families with contaminated homes who are stricken with illnesses ranging from upper-respiratory infections to diabetes, but the thought of living in the "mold house" deters them from seeking solutions. We've heard cases of children ostracized at school because they live in a "dirty house". But mold contamination can happen to anyone. Regardless of economics or ethnicity, class or climate, no one is exempt from the threat of toxic mold.

Here are three of the most common myths about mold we hear when we're out in the field and three common sense explanations:

MOLD MYTH ONE Only messy or filthy houses have mold problems. This is probably the single greatest contributor to the negative stigma attached to mold - and it is completely false. Mold is part of the fungus kingdom and is common in most outdoor air. Mold reproduce by producing microscopic particles called spores. Mold spores are so minuscule that more than 250,000 can fit on the head of a pin. Millions of these spores travel through the air everyday and can enter almost any environment in seconds. Mold spores tend to congregate in moisture-rich environments. For example, a homeowner affected by a flood or a hurricane may go to great lengths to alleviate all of the water damage cause by the storm. But ceilings, walls, carpets and other household staples dampened by the storm are already ripe for mold spore concentration. This means that even the cleanest house on the block can be a breeding ground for toxic mold. MOLD MYTH TWO Mold contamination is largely a product of socio-economic status. This is another common assumption about mold contamination that completely misses the mark. As explained above, no one is exempt from the possibility of mold contamination. While it may be true that older, less-expensive homes are more likely to have poorer Heating, Air Conditioning and Ventilation (HVAC) Systems, mold contamination can occur in the most expensive and prestigious homes in the country. The Texas Governor's Mansion sits at the heart of downtown Austin, Texas. Its rich, well-manicured exterior rivals any house anywhere. But during his stay at the mansion, then Gov. George W. Bush contracted a decontamination service to rid the building of its mold problem. Presumably moisture issues led to uncomfortable levels of mold growth, and the air quality in the mansion was restored. And this isn't an isolated case. A slew of recognizable personalities have been displaced my mold contamination in the last few years including: Basketball legend Michael Jordan Actors Brad Pitt and Jennifer Anniston Former Tonight Show sidekick Ed McMahon Ex-wife of the Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger, Bianca Jagger Television's Incredible Hulk Lou Ferrigno So whether you're struggling to make ends meet or president of the United States, mold can affect you. MOLD MYTH THREE Once a house has been treated for mold contamination, it is impossible to maintain its value. The difference between a home that loses value because of mold contamination and one that doesn't depends on the decontamination approach. Clean air is not a sectional science. Most unlicensed mold remediation services merely remove the visible signs of mold contamination in the remediation process. But, as discussed above, mold spores are airborne particles. While they may congregate on moist surfaces, the particles in the air remain there if they're not treated. Any remediation approach that fails to decontaminate an entire structure simply fails altogether. And likewise, any attempt to maintain the value of a contaminated home will fail. **The key to maintaining the value of your home is a total indoor air quality approach. Contact Air & EnviroSolutions Technologies Group , the NORMI Professional in your Area for complete Healthy Home Solutions!