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Mold Prevention: Bathroom and Kitchen Fans

May 17, 2012

We often talk about the importance of ventilation in the basement and crawl space of a house – naturally, since that’s a very common place for moisture and dampness to accumulate and it’s often a poorly ventilated area.  However, other areas of the house are vulnerable to moisture build up and therefore mold growth too. The most obvious are those where using water is part of the room’s function, like the kitchen and bathroom.

Multiple Benefits of Fans
Installation of a good fan in both of these rooms will bring you multiple benefits.

  • They will remove odours and improve indoor air quality overall.
  • They will also help to remove moisture and decrease humidity levels.

Moisture is virtually always present in kitchens and bathroom, so it’s essential to ventilate and avoid excessive moisture build up. The moisture alone can damage wood and other building materials along with leading to mold growth.

Time to Replace Your Fan?
Even if you already have a fan, you should consider whether it should be replaced. Older fans may not be moving much air around, and they probably aren’t energy efficient. A new generation of energy efficient models are available and they’re generally quieter than older fans too.

There are two basic types of fans:

  • Impeller fans –  they’ll look similar to airplane propellers
  • Blower fans – these look like hamster wheels – generally the preferred type

Exhaust Systems
A step up from a simple fan, an exhaust system draws the moisture and odours in and release them outdoors via a system of ducts and an exterior exhaust hood

  • They may or may not use a fan
  • A central exhaust system draws moisture and odours from several rooms to the outside via  a system of ductwork
  • An HRV or heat recovery ventilator fulfills the same function as a self-contained system with an intake and exhaust. It too can also be connected to several rooms

Here are many things to consider when buying. For More Information, including fact sheets and product ratings check the Home Ventilating Institute

Mold Detection
We can help pinpoint areas of your home that require better ventilation or other measures to deter or remediate mold growth. In our mold detection inspections we conduct temperature and humidity checks through your home or business. During removal and remediation we recommend the use of negative air pressure machines and HEPA filters – which safely permanently capture the microscopic mold spores.

Get Expert Help
Mold growth can begin to take hold within a short 48 hours of the moment when water enters into an area, so it can affect homes both new and older.  A mold inspection is your way of protecting yourself against nasty surprises.

If you notice a persistent, musty odour in your home, then you need help right away. Get help from the experts at MoldInspections.ca. Please call us for a hassle-free quote today.

MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CTV and recommended by contractors, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a free quote at (416) 575-6111.

 

Mold Inspections: Preventing Reno Nightmares

April 27, 2012

The courthouse in Sault Ste. Marie has been closed since August 30, when a fire swept the historic building in Northern Ontario. After extensive renovations, the building was set to re-open earlier this spring when indoor air quality testing showed the presence of mold.

Obviously it didn’t come from the fire, but it’s often in situations like that when mold is discovered. When walls have been compromised and those hidden areas where dampness and moisture like to hide and mold flourishes, hidden problems finally see the light of day.

Home Renovation “Surprises”
Like the officials in charge of the Sault Ste. Marie courthouse renewal, you may begin a home renovation project hoping for the best – and then find yourself saddled with an unexpected and unwelcome expense. The alternative is to prepare yourself ahead of time with a mold inspection.

Opening a wall or lifting up flooring to find mold infestation is more than unpleasant – it’s unhealthy. That kind of up-close exposure to mold can result in a range of respiratory and other health issues.

Including a mold inspection with your reno budget is a prudent way to protect your health and begin the work with a clearer idea of what lies in all those hidden spaces between the walls and floors. At Mold Inspections, we can offer a variety of services according to your particular situation, up to and including a household moisture assessment that will help you plan your renovations to avoid future mold growth.

Mold Testing & Inspection Services
Our team provides:

  • Toxic Mold Testing
  • Carpet Sampling
  • Wall Cavity Sampling
  • Construction Mold Problems
  • Pre-Purchase Inspection
  • Preventative Mold Treatments
  • Household Moisture Assessment
  • Moisture intrusion detection (Leak Detection)
  • Mold Remediation

Get Expert Help
Mold growth can begin to take hold within a short 48 hours of the moment when water enters into an area, so it can affect homes both new and older.  If you’re planning on renovating your living space, a mold inspection is a way of protecting yourself against nasty surprises.

If you notice a persistent, musty odour in your home, then you need help right away.

Get help from the experts at MoldInspections.ca. Please call us for a hassle-free quote today.

MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CTV and recommended by contractors, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a free quote at (416) 575-6111.

 

Basement Apartment Bylaws Put the Spotlight on Mold Inspections

April 11, 2012

The Province of Ontario has passed legislation that requires municipalities to enact bylaws dealing with basement apartments. Naturally, such apartments already exists in the tens of thousands – including about 35,000 in the City of Mississauga alone – but as illegal and unregulated rental units or “second suites” as they’ve been designated.

The provincial legislation lets municipalities draft their own bylaws, recognizing that each will have specific needs and issues to address. The move has been seen as a plus for municipalities and tenants alike.

It provides an immediate response to the crisis in affordable housing, with a 21-year waiting list for subsidized housing (!) and not much else that’s affordable in Mississauga, in common with most of the GTA and Southern Ontario as a whole.

Tenant Protection & Safety
On the tenant’s side, the move provides for improved access to affordable housing as well as an assurance of safer housing, including from an environmental perspective. The City of Mississauga anticipates hiring hundreds of employees to inspect for mold, smoke detectors and other standards.

It’s certainly encouraging that there has been immediate recognition that mold poses potential dangers to renters, and those living in basements in particular. Whether you’re a basement apartment tenant or a home or building owner, the basement is a prime location for mold growth and infestation for a number of reasons.

  • Dampness can be chronic from occasional flooding, sewer backups and other sources
  • Inadequate ventilation, often in crawl spaces, means that any moisture lingers and creates the ideal conditions for mold to flourish
  • Water can leak in from cracks in the foundation or flooring

Get Expert Help
Do you notice a persistent, musty odour in your home? Have you experienced respiratory systems or headaches that just won’t go away? Then you should call in the experts right away for an inspection.

Get help from the experts at MoldInspections.ca. Please call us for a hassle-free quote today.

MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CTV and recommended by contractors, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a free quote at (416) 575-6111.

 

Water is the New Fire – Mold on the Rise

March 29, 2012

Allstate Insurance recently reported that water damage has become the leading cause of property damage in Canada. Citing the growing number of torrential rainstorms combined with aging infrastructure in many Canadian cities, it adds up to a recipe for water damage – along with mold growth and infestation.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada estimates that losses to water damage amount to a whopping $1.7 billion a year, and Allstate says that 39% of those claims are related to sewer backups in the wake of flooding.

“Water seems to be the new fire as it is now the leading cause of property damage in Canada,” says Karen Benner, spokesperson for Allstate Canada. “Even if your neighbourhood has never experienced problems with basement flooding or sewer backup, your home can still be at risk. Overloaded sewers can back up through household sewer lines and flow into basements or ground level apartments,” says Benner.

Some helpful suggestions:

  • A backwater valve – prevents sewage form getting into the home – also a sump pump in the basement for emergencies
  • Disconnect your downspout from the sewer system
  • Don’t use washing machine or dishwasher in rainstorm to avoid overloading the sewer system

A case in point:
Students at London’s Wilfrid Laurier University have been deprived of their beloved Wilf’s Pub since October after a sewer backup caused extensive damage to the building. After it underwent extensive rehabilitation, there was an attempt to reopen the pub in January, however mold issues resurfaced and caused it to be closed all over again.

The example illustrates the importance of getting good help, a seasoned mold removal expert like Mold Inspections who will do the job right. Do you notice a persistent, musty odour in your home? Have you experienced respiratory systems or headaches that just won’t go away. Then you should call in the experts right away for an inspection.

Get help from the experts at MoldInspections.ca. Please call us for a hassle-free quote today.

MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CTV, CP24, Global TV and recommended by contractors, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a free quote at (416) 575-6111.

 

The Bunker: Fallout Proof, but not Mold Proof

March 15, 2012

The basement of a Toronto area home has a secret that goes back to the dark days of the Cold War – and some issues any homeowner will relate to.

The home is located in Aurora, north of Toronto. Built in 1875 by one of the town’s early residents, outside it’s a lovely restored Victorian home. Inside and downstairs in the basement, you’ll find “The Bunker”.

Its official name is The Preparedness Centre, meant to serve as the hub for local government operations in the event of a nuclear attack. The Bunks is equipped with a 35 x 60 foot concrete and steel operations area complete with maps on Plexiglas boards, including one where people would list casualties and radiation data.

High Tech Communications…and Mold

Along with intriguing surprises like 100 telephone lines and storage tanks for drinking water, the current owners, who keep it functional for posterity, are fighting a constant battle many other homeowners will identify with – a battle against mold.

Concrete Basement?

Water seepage into the concrete structure has led to rotting drywall and ongoing mold growth. Concrete is a common material used in basements, both in walls and flooring, and any cracks or leaks, or frequent condensation especially where there’s inadequate ventilation, can lead to mold growth.

Do you notice a persistent, musty odour in your basement or crawl space? Is it prone to leaks or condensation? Then you should call in the experts right away for an inspection.

Get help from the experts at MoldInspections.ca. Please call us for a hassle-free quote today.

MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CP24, CTV, Global TV and recommended by contractors, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a free quote at (416) 575-6111.