Waukesha County Home

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Installed Tax Included K i t c h e n s | B a t h s | D e n s | C a b i n s | O f f i c e s | R e c R o o m s Work With Experienced Design Professionals "We Specialize in Cabinetry" 1005 Richards Road, Hartland | 262.367.9439 www.kitchencreators.com Cabinetry For every Room, Every Budget! STOP IN NOW AND SEE OUR NEW GREEN BAY GREEN AND GOLD DISPLAY. WE CAN DO ANY TEAM COLORS! MANY OTHER NEW DISPLAYS 239977001 HUGE SHOWROOM CLOSEOUT SALE Displays must go to make room for new displays *Call Kitchen Creators today for details while supplies last! We Beat All Big Box Stores and all Competitors | Visit Our Showroom By Appointment FULL SERVICE • Fall Clean-Up • Fertilization • Lawn Reseeding Free Estimates Competitive Pricing 262-337-2600 238703002 LAWN SERVICE SPECIAL TO HOMES PLUS WAUKESHA — Mold is a fungus that comes in various colors (black, white, green or gray) and shapes. While some molds are visible and even odorous, mold also can grow between walls, under floors and ceilings, or in less accessible spots, such as basements and attics. With September as National Mold Aware- ness Month, members of the Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Coun- cil Inc. provide some insight into the issue. "If you can see or smell mold, a health risk may be present," said John Jacobs, president of Waukesha-based Puroclean First Respon- ders. "A runny nose, watery eyes, headaches and scratchy throat are some of the physical signs that your body is telling you there is mold in the air. That is often the reason we get called out to a home — residents feel it as opposed to seeing it." While some people may experience mild allergic-type symptoms, some may not be bothered at all. However, those with asthma and other respiratory conditions may be seriously affected. "Mold can be airborne easily, especially this time of year; the mold counts outside are incredibly high," said Dave Schultz, head of Kelmann Restoration's environmental division in Wauwatosa. "It's really impor- tant to note that people who have health con- cerns in regard to mold should always see a physician." How mold grows "What people have to be concerned about is not mold in general, because mold is not a problem. Mold is a symptom of a problem and the issue is always moisture," Schultz said. "If you have inordinate levels of mois- ture, whether it is bulk water, humidity, or dew point condensation on any organic material for a period of time, you are going to have mold. "Mold cannot survive if it doesn't have something to feed on. Molds live in the soil, on plants and on dead or decaying matter, and on indoor organic materials such as dust, wood, ceiling tiles, gypsum board, and fabrics. When mold spores land on a damp spot, they begin growing and digesting what- ever they are growing on in order to sur- vive," Schultz said. While some mold is visible, it can also be lurking unseen. The heating and cooling sys- tem and the attic are the two main areas where hidden mold is found and both of those are caused by humidity. "Most molds reproduce by forming spores that disperse into the air," Jacobs said. "You might not see it, but mold can be behind walls and in the HVAC system, which circu- lates it throughout the house. Once a mold spore has become embedded in dust or dirt, all it needs is moisture to grow and that is easily found in an air-conditioning coil and its fiberglass lining, and the cabinet that houses the blower." Moisture that promotes mold growth infil- trates ducts through a constant flow of humid air, and by condensation forming on the air conditioner evaporator coil as part of the humidity extraction process. Food for mold growth is provided by microscopic air- borne particles of organic matter that origi- nate in living spaces and are drawn into the ductwork. In the winter, mold can occur when the attic is too warm and there is no ventilation. Warm, moist air from the house rises to the attic and gets trapped and becomes a perfect environment for mold to grow. Mold also is commonly found in attics when bathroom or kitchen vents are not routed to the building's exterior. If you have wallpaper in your bathroom, it is very possible mold is hiding behind it. Combined with the warm steam from the shower, mold can feed off the paper and glue from the wallpaper. Mold can also hide under shower mats or rugs if they are not moved and dried regularly. Preventing mold "It's important to condition air in the base- ment," Schultz said. "Heat it in the winter and cool it in the summer, especially if you are storing things or using it as a living space. You need to treat it as such and keep humidity down by using a dehumidifier and/or using air conditioning. Open up your vents and let the air conditioner run into What you should know about mold in the home See MOLD/Page 7

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