I believe I have mold in my house and it's spreading. The reason I
believe I have mold issue it's because I've noticing some brown spots
on carpet randomly through out the house. There is some major area with
brown spots on carpet just outside one bathroom. The very same bathroom
has some brown spots on walls and tiles. I also see some heavy mold
area on cabinet wood floor under the sink in the same bathroom.

I bought the of-the-shelf mold kit and test was positive for mold. I've
sent the sample to the lab for more detail analysis. Now I am not sure
what to do. I have mold coverage from my insurance company but they
will pay for it if it's caused by a water leakage. My dilemma is..

1) How can I determine if I have a leak in draining? I checked the
water meter and it doesn't seem like water coming in the house is
leaking but I don't know about the drain leak and how to determine that
2) I called the mold inspector and he said that he would charge $500
for test and then charge @ $125 for mold mitigation plan. Is it worth
spending this money?
3) All I care about it to get rid of mold and the source of the mold.
Do you think I need to replace the carpet? I am planning to do that in
future anyway. But I just don't want to replace it, I want to make sure
it's not underneath the carpet and it is easy to find that out? Same
thing with the tile and sheet rock...do I need to replace them or just
clean it with some bleach or chemicals??

Please let me know if you have any suggestions.

Thanks in advance,

Steve

wrote:
I believe I have mold in my house and it's spreading. The reason I
believe I have mold issue it's because I've noticing some brown spots
on carpet randomly through out the house. There is some major area
with brown spots on carpet just outside one bathroom. The very same
bathroom has some brown spots on walls and tiles. I also see some
heavy mold area on cabinet wood floor under the sink in the same
bathroom.

I bought the of-the-shelf mold kit and test was positive for mold.
I've sent the sample to the lab for more detail analysis. Now I am
not sure what to do. I have mold coverage from my insurance company
but they will pay for it if it's caused by a water leakage. My
dilemma is..

1) How can I determine if I have a leak in draining? I checked the
water meter and it doesn't seem like water coming in the house is
leaking but I don't know about the drain leak and how to determine
that 2) I called the mold inspector and he said that he would charge
$500 for test and then charge @ $125 for mold mitigation plan. Is it
worth spending this money?
3) All I care about it to get rid of mold and the source of the mold.
Do you think I need to replace the carpet? I am planning to do that in
future anyway. But I just don't want to replace it, I want to make
sure it's not underneath the carpet and it is easy to find that out?
Same thing with the tile and sheet rock...do I need to replace them
or just clean it with some bleach or chemicals??

Please let me know if you have any suggestions.

If you do file a claim against your insurance company, you can depend on:
1. Rates rising next year, or
2. Insurance company declines to renew, or
3. Both.

wrote:
I believe I have mold in my house and it's spreading. The reason I
believe I have mold issue it's because I've noticing some brown spots
on carpet randomly through out the house. There is some major area with
brown spots on carpet just outside one bathroom. The very same bathroom
has some brown spots on walls and tiles. I also see some heavy mold
area on cabinet wood floor under the sink in the same bathroom.

I bought the of-the-shelf mold kit and test was positive for mold. I've
sent the sample to the lab for more detail analysis. Now I am not sure
what to do. I have mold coverage from my insurance company but they
will pay for it if it's caused by a water leakage. My dilemma is..

1) How can I determine if I have a leak in draining? I checked the
water meter and it doesn't seem like water coming in the house is
leaking but I don't know about the drain leak and how to determine that
2) I called the mold inspector and he said that he would charge $500
for test and then charge @ $125 for mold mitigation plan. Is it worth
spending this money?
3) All I care about it to get rid of mold and the source of the mold.
Do you think I need to replace the carpet? I am planning to do that in
future anyway. But I just don't want to replace it, I want to make sure
it's not underneath the carpet and it is easy to find that out? Same
thing with the tile and sheet rock...do I need to replace them or just
clean it with some bleach or chemicals??

Please let me know if you have any suggestions.

Thanks in advance,

Steve

the first thing I would do would be to get a humidity gauge and check
it . Perhaps run a dehumidifier for a while if its very high . Mold
will grow in wet areas.

Use a cleanser that will inhibit mold for cleaning up walls in the
bathroom . A dilute bleach will work if nothing better is available.
Spray the mold , wait for it to die and clean up whats left.

Rent a rug doctor and give the entire carpet a cleaning.

If you have mold in the wall cavities its a very expensive business to
get rid of it .

wrote:
I believe I have mold in my house and it's spreading. The reason I
believe I have mold issue it's because I've noticing some brown spots
on carpet randomly through out the house. There is some major area with
brown spots on carpet just outside one bathroom. The very same bathroom
has some brown spots on walls and tiles. I also see some heavy mold
area on cabinet wood floor under the sink in the same bathroom.

I bought the of-the-shelf mold kit and test was positive for mold. I've
sent the sample to the lab for more detail analysis. Now I am not sure
what to do. I have mold coverage from my insurance company but they
will pay for it if it's caused by a water leakage. My dilemma is..

1) How can I determine if I have a leak in draining? I checked the
water meter and it doesn't seem like water coming in the house is
leaking but I don't know about the drain leak and how to determine that
2) I called the mold inspector and he said that he would charge $500
for test and then charge @ $125 for mold mitigation plan. Is it worth
spending this money?
3) All I care about it to get rid of mold and the source of the mold.
Do you think I need to replace the carpet? I am planning to do that in
future anyway. But I just don't want to replace it, I want to make sure
it's not underneath the carpet and it is easy to find that out? Same
thing with the tile and sheet rock...do I need to replace them or just
clean it with some bleach or chemicals??

Please let me know if you have any suggestions.

Thanks in advance,

Steve

I agree with hey bub....dont get your insurance company involved and be
way of mold inspectors and mold remediation companies...many are high
priced scam artists....not all...but many.

find the source of the mold..... mold is always around us.... it is
usually moisture that sets it to growing.... you more than likely have
a moisture problem....

got a humidifier ??? turn it off...... really tight house....get some
form of ventilation.....

do as bub says...get you a cheap humidity meter and check the humdity
in your home....I think anything over 40 percent is a problem...but you
better do some googling on ideal humidity or problem humidity.... just
do some research....

ok...clean up the mold with bleach....hope it dont ruin your carpet...
FIND THE SOURCE OF THE MOISTURE..... leaking plumbing....whole house
humdifier gone bad....

plenty of info on the net...use google and read up on mold......

wrote:
I believe I have mold in my house and it's spreading. The reason I
believe I have mold issue it's because I've noticing some brown spots
on carpet randomly through out the house. There is some major area with
brown spots on carpet just outside one bathroom. The very same bathroom
has some brown spots on walls and tiles. I also see some heavy mold
area on cabinet wood floor under the sink in the same bathroom.

I hope this is a serious post not a troll?

Also assuming there is no smoking in the house? It doesn't sound like
it.

It sounds like serious dampness/high humidity problem. However: A
pinhole leak in plumbing under the sink? Mouldy or 'rotten' smell??????

Mould (mold) can be toxic and cause long term breathing and toxicity
problems; particularly for children and seniors.

Even in our much cooler climate here we have had schools closed down
for long periods and ripped apart because of mould problems. In fact we
have 600 pupils temporarily moved out of one whole school right now!

If it is high humidity all sources of moisture should be considered and
controlled. Bathrooms are of course a high source. We run our small
bathroom fan for at least half an hour following each shower. Raising
the temperature can in some climates reduce moisture depositing on cool
surfaces, such as windows etc.

Perhaps there is a bare earth crawl space under the house with
moisture wicking up from the ground below? Spread plastic sheet?
Insufficient ventilation? Run bathroom and kitchen fans. Open windows;
get house ventilated at night if it host and humid during the day
(Although we don't know the OPs location or weather). Floors too cold?

Life style. Do not run humidifiers or boil kettles or pots on the stove
excessively. If there is a furnace disable the humidifier. Each human
body puts out humidity daily even during the seven-eight hours we are
asleep.

If contemplating spending $500 on tests and paying other costs (mainly
labour?) that will surely be higher than $125 IMHO, do the 'obvious'
things first. Ventilate regularly, examine life style, remove obvious
sources of moisture, look for rot or mould in structure or foundations
of house.

Consider and get good advice on health effects of possible mould. If
serious move out until solution! Be healthier living in a camper in the
yard than breathing possibly mouldy air daily. Without being alarmist;
poor health probably the highest cost?

wrote:
I believe I have mold in my house and it's spreading.
1) How can I determine if I have a leak in draining? I checked the
water meter and it doesn't seem like water coming in the house is
leaking but I don't know about the drain leak and how to determine that
2) I called the mold inspector and he said that he would charge $500
for test and then charge @ $125 for mold mitigation plan. Is it worth
spending this money?
3) All I care about it to get rid of mold and the source of the mold.
Do you think I need to replace the carpet? I am planning to do that in
future anyway. But I just don't want to replace it, I want to make sure
it's not underneath the carpet and it is easy to find that out? Same
thing with the tile and sheet rock...do I need to replace them or just
clean it with some bleach or chemicals??

You must find the source of the moisture before any repairs can be
made. Water can get into the house either from the roof, from the
ground, or from the plumbing. make sure your roof is sound and that
rainwater is being directed away from the house with gutters. If you
don't have gutters, get them. If you do have them, check them to see
they are draining properly. Check the grade around the base of the
house to make sure water drains away not toward the house. I don't
think your problem is the plumbing. If it were, then you would notice
the highest concentration of mold near some plumbing. Take a close
look at the plumbing. however, if you suspect it. A de-humidifier may
help.

Mold is bad. How much you do is ultimately up to you. Really bad
problems can be really bad. There have been cases where the cost of
mold repairs exceeds the value of the house. If it was me I would pull
up any suspect carpet immediatly. This will allow you to inspect the
floor underneath for mold and to get it fixed. Rather than carpet I
would install a solid surface flooring. Hopefully yu don't have to
replace or repair the walls but it does happen. Lots of bleach and a
strong fan can sometimes do the trick. If they are actively harboring
mold then you may have to bite the bullet.