Topic:
Moisture ProblemsQuestion:
Good Morning George:
I am the realtor that sold D&D their town home. I am also their friend....yes! they said so! I am also in need of advice/help as to what to do about mold in my apartment. I have inspected myself, washed the window sills and surrounds with clorox and cannot find any evidence of this disgusting stuff. However, I am an allergic person in general, very sensitive to that mold "smell" and have experienced that smell in my bedroom...I wakeup wheezing and sneezing and am now being covered by an incredibly persistent, itchy rash! Am over-dosing on Claritan and do not wish to continue doing so... I do believe the problem lies under the carpeting...I don't with to alert the management (completely negative at all times) just yet...until I have some "hard" fact...or something. By the way, my dog is suffering as well....and is wearing away his fur and the skin under it......
Can you be of any help? Anything at all?
Thanks.....
- Roberta from Seattle
Answer:
Hello Roberta,
Mold and related organisms need 3 things in order to thrive: Oxygen, food (e.g. cellulose) and moisture. Since we must have the first, and are surrounded by the second that only leaves us to deal with the moisture. Unlike conditions in old drafty buildings, in modern homes, we tend to trap moisture. This is often worse in smaller apartments. See: Moisture Problems.
Without an inspection, I would not be able to tell you what factors (usually more than one) exist at your apartment that are causing these issues. But I do hope that the information herein helps. I can assure you that a lot of washing, with or without chlorine bleach is unlikely to be the solution and may be part of the problem. It is also very likely that the issues in your unit exits in other units in the same building and that all of these factors are inter-related.
George
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