Hour Weatherization: Ten Things You Should Know About Mold

Always be aware of any and all mold spores inside your home. Insulation and air sealing will exacerbate these problems.

What should you know?

Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposures include allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory complaints.
There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.
If mold is a problem in your home, you must clean up the mold and eliminate sources of moisture.
Fix the source of the water problem or leak to prevent mold growth.
Reduce indoor humidity (to 30-60% ) to decrease mold growth by: venting bathrooms, dryers, and other moisture-generating sources to the outside; using air conditioners and de-humidifiers; increasing ventilation; and using exhaust fans whenever cooking, dishwashing, and cleaning.
Clean and dry any damp or wet building materials and furnishings within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and detergent, and dry completely. Absorbent materials such as ceiling tiles, that are moldy, may need to be replaced.
Prevent condensation: Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces (i.e., windows, piping, exterior walls, roof, or floors) by adding insulation.
In areas where there is a perpetual moisture problem, do not install carpeting (i.e., by drinking fountains, by classroom sinks, or on concrete floors with leaks or frequent condensation).
Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any substance, providing moisture is present. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods.

This homeowner had high moisture levels inside her home compounded with roof leaks. This combination caused severe mold issues in her ceiling.

You can see the water stains from the roof leaks and the mold spores next to them.


In another room, the homeowner had water running down her interior wall. Moisture was trapped inside the wall cavity creating an ideal situation for mold to grow.

10 Ways to Save Energy

1. Water Heater

Set your water tank thermostat to 122 degrees and add an insulation blanket. Insulate your hot water pipes as well. Save up to 7% on your water heating bill.

2. Lighting

Replace incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps. By replacing your home’s five most frequently used lighting fixtures you can save up to $65 each year.

3. Phantom Loads.

Eliminate phantom loads with power strips and timers. Many appliances are on when you think they are off. Save up to 14% in the other electrical category.

4. Programmable Thermostat.

With proper use. ENERGY STAR programmable thermostats can save about $150 every year in energy costs.

5. Air Seal Your House.

Air seal gaps and holes in your house. Start with your basement sills, then pipes, wires and lights through the attic floor. Next, seal your walls, windows, doors and electrical outlets. You can save up to 10% of your energy bill by air sealing.

6. Appliance Efficiency.

Look for the ENERGY STAR label on home appliances- from refrigerators, cold clothes washers, and dishwashers, to room air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and air cleaners. You can save up to $75 a year in energy costs while saving the environment.

7. Attic Insulation

For very cold Northeastern climates, 14 inches of blown cellulose insulation is recommended to achieve R-49. Don’t forget to insulate attic door. Savings vary depending upon how much insulation is already in place. An energy audit will tell you what you need.

8. Wall Insulation

Consider insulating your walls if you have not already done so. This is difficult in an existing home and requires a contractor. Savings may be significant, but vary widely.

9. Basement Walls

Insulate your exposed exterior basement walls. Think of this area as one giant single-pane window without the solar gain. This a major product and requires a professional. Save 5-20% on space heating.

10. Heating System

Heating and cooling costs amount to over half the home’s total energy bill. Depending on where you live, replacing your old heating and cooling equipment with ENERGY STAR qualified equipment and sealing your ducts can cut your energy bill by as much as 10-40%.

3 comments:

ElizabethJune 5, 2013 at 1:36 PM
Thanks for sharing these info about molds. Molds are the common residents in our home, especially on the attic roof because it is the part that is more exposed to moisture. So, in order to control its growth, regular checking of the roof and other part of the house is a must. Leaving the house infested with molds would result to some serious damages in the future.

Yours,

Elizabeth Hoffnung @
RoofProMemphis.com
UnknownJune 7, 2013 at 6:37 AM
The most commonly affected by these molds are the roofs. It's because the moist air from every corner of the house go up to the vent, which is located in the attic. So, if there was any leakage from the pipe, the tendency is that it can affect the whole installation.

Hugh @ RoofXperts.com
UnknownJuly 1, 2013 at 10:40 AM
The first thing you should check in case you're doing a regular inspection on your roof is the vent tube. As Hugh stated, if there was some leaks, it could lead to destruction of the whole system.

#Willene@RoofingAndMoreInc.com