Dr Jackson Kung'u- Mold Specialist

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Dr. Jackson Kung’u (PhD)- Mold Specialist.
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mold growth

Mold In The Crawlspace: Is It The Source of Strong Mold Smell?

Question: Could we be having mold in the crawlspace? I just moved into my apartment in June and I am surrounded by trees and I have a crawlspace. Well, I smell a strong mold smell in my Kitchen, bath and bedroom and they are along the same wall. I suspect the smell could be due to mold in the crawlspace. I have had several people tell me that they smell mold and I need to get it checked. My elderly mother lives with me and if I have a problem then I want to know how to deal with it. I am a renter and I did contact my landlord and he said that he would send someone out, but that’s been two weeks ago. And the first time that I complained, he told me that the vents were closed and the smell should go away but it’s still there.. I need some advice, please.

Mold in the crawlspace

Mold growing on wood in the crawlspace

Answer: Mold in the crawlspace or basement often relates to improper drainage that leaves standing moisture under a property. Checking for and removing mold in the crawlspaces of your home is a good preventative measure. Mold is believed to play a part in numerous health problems, including allergy symptoms like watery eyes and skin rashes, disorientation, dizziness, respiratory conditions and headaches. Though the living spaces are isolated from the crawlspace, mold in the crawlspace produce small spores that could be carried in air currents, rising up into the living area. The strong moldy smell that you’re experiencing is highly likely being caused by microbial growth and it’s an indication of moisture problems. You may have to continue talking to your landlord so that they could bring in a professional to determine where the mold is located and the source of moisture and give recommendations on how to correct the problem. The extent of mold growth, if any, should also be determined and an appropriate level of mold remediation recommended.

Mold Growth On Garments

Question: What can we do to rid our factories of mold or to prevent mold from forming? Some of our garments are coming in from Bangladesh with visible mold that seems to be forming/growing while in-transit? 
   
Answer: The best way to control mold growth on garments is to keep the garments dry. You may have to ask your suppliers in Bangladesh to use packaging that would minimize chances of the garments becoming damp during transit. Also ensure that your storage conditions are not favourable for microbial growth.

Mold and tenant’s rights

Question: What rights do I have as a renter when mold is present in my apartment? Who pays for the cost of the appraisal?
 
Answer: This is more of a legal question which we may not adequately answer. However, if the mold growth is due to the landlords neglect, then you have the right to ask them to clean it up and if they don’t you may be able to seek legal help. However, if mold growth is due to the occupants’ lifestyles or activities that generate too much moisture such as steam being generated through cooking, washing, bathing, showering and drying of clothes inside the house, then the landlord can even sue the tenant.

The landlord is responsible for mold growth from straightforward building defects, water leaks from windows, roof, downspouts, guttering, and internal plumbing or anything else that has nothing to do with the tenant.

Black mold on walls

Question: I had a lot of black mold or at least I thought that’s what it was so I took a blow torch and burned it off. It hasn’t come back but now I found a growth of some kind almost like a very fine hair, some of which is about an inch long and a gray color. I put the torch to it as well but this growth turned into a liquid and some would drop on the floor and some would stay on the walls and looked like a clear lacquer. I torched it about 4 days ago and now it has dried completely and the cement wall is a very light color and seems very dry as if it was dusted with powder. At one part I rubbed some grease on it and instantly fell to the floor and nothing seems to be growing back.
Any ideas what we may have here? It is quite damp in that area at times.

Answer:  From your description, it’s difficult for me to guess what type of black mold is on the walls in your home. I am also not sure if, when burned, mold would turn into a liquid that would drip. Obviously if the place is always damp, it’s liable to mold growth.