If your home was built on a crawlspace, one of your major concerns is the development of mold. Crawlspaces rarely receive a lot of attention. They are dark, moist environments that we seldom enter with any regularity, However, with the addition of a little excess moisture, they can become a breeding ground for mold. At Bio-One Raleigh, we have a team of certified Mold Technicians to remediate and remove mold.
Usually the mold isn’t discovered until some type of repair is needed; a leaky drain line, an issue with heating ducts, or a home inspection when selling a home. Because certain molds can cause serious health complications, if mold is discovered in your crawlspace you need to start remediation efforts as soon as possible.
There are three classifications of molds depending on how they affect people. The first is allergenic molds. These are molds that aggravate people with allergies and are considered the least dangerous types, unless of course you are one of the people who are susceptible to them. The second type is pathogenic molds. These molds are toxic and will affect people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and young children. The last classification is toxigenic molds. These molds produce mycotoxins that will cause severe health problems. Exposure can be by touch, inhalation, or ingestion. An example of this class of mold would be the infamous Stachybotrys chartarum, also known as black mold.
Why Crawlspace Mold May Be Present
Crawlspaces can be ideal places for mold to flourish. Many times conditions in crawlspaces contain the right ingredients; a lack of UV light, warm temperatures, organic food sources like paper on insulation or wood, and most importantly, moisture in the form of water leaks, rainwater, or high humidity. All of these “ingredients”, plus the fact that crawlspaces are seldom entered, can lead to the existence of crawlspace mold.
Sometimes unwanted visitors or residents under your home can be the cause of crawlspace mold. Mice, rats, or other animals may decide that your crawlspace would make an excellent home. They tunnel or chew their way in, and in doing so, create an entry point for moisture to also enter the crawlspace. Sometimes the problem is high humidity. HVAC leaks, moisture condensation on ducts and water lines, or puddles of water from leaking drain lines or misdirected downspouts can add unwanted humidity to your crawlspace. Remember, moisture plus warm temperatures plus an organic food supply will equal a crawlspace mold problem.
One of the best ways to detect a mold problem is with the human nose. Almost all molds emit a musty, earthy smell. You may not be able to see it, but you may be able to smell it. If you do detect a musty smell, don’t ignore it. It won’t go away or get better as time passes, in fact the problem will just get worse.
Mold Is a Fungal Organism, Not Dirt or Dust
- You can’t eliminate mold with ordinary cleaning chemicals or detergents.
- You should not attempt to just sweep it or brush it away.
- Chlorine bleach, which is 98% water, should not be used to attempt to remove mold from porous surfaces like joists or plywood. The water in the bleach will further supply the mold’s needs for water.
- In biblical times people were not instructed to clean mold, they were told to remove it. Times haven’t changed; mold needs to be physically removed.
- What kind of mold is it? It doesn’t matter, you don’t want to keep it, get it removed.
Crawlspace mold removal is not a task to be taken lightly. Unless there is very little mold in a very small area, crawlspace mold removal should be left to professional mold remediators.
Bio-One technicians are properly trained to remediate and remove mold from your crawl space and other areas of your home, business or even car. We serve the Triangle and surrounding areas. Contact us today for a free estimate.
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