A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home - Virginia ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

MOLDCLEANUPLeaky window – mold is beginning torot the wooden frame and windowsill.If you already have amold problem –ACT QUICKLY.Mold damages what itgrows on. The longerit grows, the moredamage it can cause.Who should do the cleanup? Who should do the cleanupdepends on a number of factors. One consideration is thesize of the mold problem. If the moldy area is less thanabout 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch),in most cases, you can handle the job yourself, following theguidelines below. However:■ If there has been a lot of water damage, and/or moldgrowth covers more than 10 square feet, consult the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guide: MoldRemediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings.Although focused on schools and commercial4
uildings, this document is applicable to otherbuilding types. It is available free by calling the EPAIndoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse at(800) 438-4318, or on the Internet at: www.epa.gov/mold.■ If you choose to hire a contractor (or other professionalservice provider) to do the cleanup, make sure thecontractor has experience cleaning up mold. Checkreferences and ask the contractor to follow therecommendations in EPA’s Mold Remediation in Schoolsand Commercial Buildings, the guidelines of the AmericanConference of Governmental Industrial Hygenists(ACGIH), or other guidelines from professional orgovernment organizations.■ If you suspect that the heating/ventilation/airconditioning (HVAC) system may be contaminated withmold (it is part of an identified moisture problem, forinstance, or there is mold near the intake to the system),consult EPA’s guide Should You Have the Air Ducts in YourHome Cleaned? before taking further action. Do not runthe HVAC system if you know or suspect that it iscontaminated with mold - it could spread moldthroughout the building. Visit www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airduct.html, or call (800) 438-4318 for a free copy.■ If the water and/or mold damage was caused by sewageor other contaminated water, then call ina professional who has experience cleaning and fixingbuildings damaged by contaminated water.■ If you have health concerns, consult a health professionalbefore starting cleanup.5
Page 1 and 2: A BRIEF GUIDE TOMOLD,MOISTURE,ANDYO
Page 3 and 4: A BRIEF GUIDE TO MOLD,MOISTURE, AND
Page 5: allergic and non-allergic people. S
Page 9 and 10: Mold growingon a piece ofceiling ti
Page 11 and 12: ■ Wear gloves. Long gloves that e
Page 13 and 14: Condensation on the inside of awind
Page 15 and 16: Renters: Report all plumbing leaks
Page 17 and 18: Cleanup and Biocides Biocides are s
Page 19: NOTESAcknowledgementsEPA would like

A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home - Virginia ...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?