The leaves are starting to change in Toronto, and for those who suffer from mold allergies this is the time of year when symptoms worsen. Mold allergies can be seasonal and generally last from the spring to late fall, but the wet, decaying leaves can cause serious aggravation.

Mold allergies, like seasonal allergies, can develop at any time in someone’s life. There are some factors that can make a person more likely to develop them, such as poor indoor air quality, exposure to second-hand smoke and being around strong fumes, as this predisposes the body to releasing histamines to attack foreign particles like mold. When these factors are combined with a new mold exposure, the reaction can become more severe. Unfortunately for allergy sufferers, while the height of mold season is in the fall, mold grows all year and can be a serious problem if the mold is also found in a home: allergy sufferers will constantly be feeling ill with a variety of symptoms.

In the winter, mold in the home can grow even faster than in the summer because the home is completely sealed up: windows are closed, there’s less airflow through the home and humidity from showering and cooking is trapped, creating moisture for the mold to thrive in.   If allergy symptoms persist into the winter, it’s likely that the allergy is not only caused by the mold found in nature but in the home.

If possible, a referral to an allergist can determine if your symptoms are indeed an allergy to mold, and a mold inspection can determine where the mold is in the home.   It is important to undergo a professional mold inspection especially in this case, because if the homeowner is allergic they won’t be able to attempt to remove the mold themselves due to the possibility of a dangerous reaction. A mold inspection can also determine the type of mold once samples are sent to a lab, which can inform homeowners whether the mold is merely an allergen or toxic.

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An incident in December where hasty grow-op rewiring caused a massive fire in a rental property development has brought to light some important issues regarding landlord responsibility as the case trickles through the court system.

If a grow-op causes toxic black mold or a fire, or a meth lab explodes, the landlord will not receive help from the insurance company and will be likely footing the entire bill for cleanup and decontamination themselves if the cause was something illegal.

This particular case took place in Calgary where a $600,000 home was used as a grow-op. The home was amongst a row of rental houses and when it caught fire it took eight of the nearby houses with it.

In another case, the landlord did everything right: background and ID checks, obtained decent references on the tenants, made the tenants get mandatory renters insurance, let them know he’d be visiting them frequently to check up on the home as well as getting a damage deposit. The only sign of something iffy: the tenants kept avoiding him when he made appointments to visit.

It only took the tenants a couple of months to destroy the place and turn it into a fully-functioning grow-op as the landlord found when he finally showed up unannounced. Not accounting for lost rental income and declining property value, the landlord is out $60,000 in repairs.

According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, damage caused by illegal activity is not covered in most cases, and the homes and apartments used for grow-ops are often full of black mold.

Fire hazards and structural damage are common issues with former grow-ops, but the mold can be fatal because the type of mold that thrives in the hot, humid environment is toxic.

Should you suspect mould in your home or workplace, contact MoldInspections.ca today for a friendly and pressure-free phone or on-site consultation at 416.575.6111. We can help.

Workplace and Residential Mould Removal Contractors serving Toronto, Acton, Ajax, Barrie, Brampton, Brantford, Cambridge, Etobicoke, Georgetown, Halton Hills, Kitchener, Markham, Milton, Mississauga, North York, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Peel Region, Scarborough, Thornhill, Vaughan, Waterloo, Whitby, York Region Ontario.