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Mold remediation cleanup final steps: here we explain other important steps to take after a mold cleanup project has been completed.
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After the Mold Cleanup
Addressing Other Leaky or Moldy Building Areas Can Prevent a New Mold Problem
This article is part MOLD CONTAMINATION ACTION GUIDE which provides an easy to understand step-by-step guide for
dealing with toxic or allergenic indoor mold and other indoor contaminants: what to do about mold "mildew," moisture, in
your house or office, building-related illness, involving your physician, treatment, sick building investigators, reduction of irritants, and special
products to help clean buildings and air.
Some building owners make the mistake of insisting that only limited areas of a moldy building be addressed, or
they do not repair other building leaks. This can be a serious and expensive mistake.
Our photo (left) show roof spillage leaking through a basement foundation wall. Unless this leak condition is corrected, the cost of a building mold cleanup project could be quickly wasted, or have to be repeated.
Inspect the building after the mold cleanup has been completed, and before the area is reoccupied (if it has been empty) to be sure that you do not see any evidence of leaks, water entry, or new mold growth.
When leak-damage, mold, or suspect areas remain in a building following a mold related remediation,
the insurance company, contractors, and inspector could express confidence only in the specific areas
treated and only at the single point in time of the final successful clearance inspection.
The building remains at risk of future discovery of a separate pre-existing or new mold or
water damage problem caused by new moisture or leak problems and potentially exacerbated by
mold inoculation from pre-existing un-remediated areas.
To avoid a future mold contamination problem in a building after toxic or allergenic
moldy materials have been removed, after the building has been successfully cleaned, and after a competent
mold inspector has verified that the cleanup was successful, review
the steps we discuss
MM • a year ago
Our house is undergoing mold remediation (mainly for cladosporium and aspergillus/penicillium found in the HVAC closet and potentially the unit and ducts themselves). My question is should our home/furnishings/belongings be tested post remediation or will the replacement of the HVAC unit and gut job of the HVAC closet suffice?
Moderator reply:
If the containment and cleanup are properly-conducted then other areas of the home - out of the work area - including furnishings ought not be contaminated by dust generated by the cleanup procedure itself.
Regrettably if you test other areas or furnishings (not included in the cleanup) only after the remediation, and if you find that more cleaning is needed, you'll have a fight with the mold remediator who will want to charge you for that. You could avoid that by testing out-of-containment-area furnishings and living area both before and after the remediation job.
If you are really replacing the entire HVAC system (sounds extreme) then provided the rest of the cleanup is done properly and the new HVAC system and duct work etc. are not operated until after a successful mold clearance inspection then you've avoided contaminating the new equipment.
In general we don't bring new furnishings or equipment into the remediation area until after the cleanup is certified as complete.
Question:
Robert Buenting · May 6, 2017
After my room was remediated and wallboard that was moldy removed as well as 24 inches from the last mold, the good wallboard seam between what was removed and the good was sealed with tape and plastic. Then an air clearance test was performed. Should this seam have been sealed?
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Citations & References
In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
[1] "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home",
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
[4] G. A. Payne, W. C. Nierman, J. R. Wortman, B. L. Pritchard, D. Brown, R. A. Dean,
D Bhatnagar, T. E. Cleveland, Masayuki Machida, & J. Yu, "Whole genome comparison of Aspergillus flavus and A. oryzae", Medical Mycology September 2006, 44, S9S11
[5] Robert A. Blanchette & C. Gardner Shaw, "Associations among Bacteria, Yeasts, and Basidiomycetes During Wood Decay", Phytopathology 68: 631-637, also appearing in Ecology and Epidemiology.
Atlas of Clinical Fungi, 2nd Ed., GS deHoog, J Guarro, J Gene, & MJ Figueras, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, 2000, ISBN 90-70351-43-9
A BRIEF GUIDE to MOLD, MOISTURE, and YOUR HOME, [PDF] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
"Management of Powdery Mildew, Leveillula taurica, in Greenhouse Peppers," Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, British Columbia - Original source: www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/peppermildew.htm
Fifth Kingdom, Bryce Kendrick, ISBN13: 9781585100224, - we recommend the CD-ROM version of this book. This 3rd/edition is a compact but comprehensive encyclopedia of all things mycological. Every aspect of the fungi, from aflatoxin to zppspores, with an accessible blend of verve and wit. The 24 chapters are filled with up-to-date information of classification, yeast, lichens, spore dispersal, allergies, ecology, genetics, plant pathology, predatory fungi, biological control, mutualistic symbioses with animals and plants, fungi as food, food spoilage and mycotoxins.
Fungi, Identifying Filamentous, A Clinical Laboratory Handbook, Guy St-Germain, Richard Summerbell, Star Publishing, 1996, ISBN 0-89863-177-7 (English)
Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
Adkins and Adkins Dictionary of Roman Religion discusses Robigus, the Roman god of crop protection and the legendary progenitor of wheat rust fungus.
Kansas State University, department of plant pathology, extension plant pathology web page on wheat rust fungus: see http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/path-ext/factSheets/Wheat/Wheat%20Leaf%20Rust.asp
A BRIEF GUIDE to MOLD, MOISTURE, and YOUR HOME, [PDF] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
Atlas of Clinical Fungi, 2nd Ed., GS deHoog, J Guarro, J Gene, & MJ Figueras, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, 2000, ISBN 90-70351-43-9
"Management of Powdery Mildew, Leveillula taurica, in Greenhouse Peppers," Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, British Columbia - Original source: www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/peppermildew.htm
Fifth Kingdom, Bryce Kendrick, ISBN13: 9781585100224, - we recommend the CD-ROM version of this book. This 3rd/edition is a compact but comprehensive encyclopedia of all things mycological. Every aspect of the fungi, from aflatoxin to zppspores, with an accessible blend of verve and wit. The 24 chapters are filled with up-to-date information of classification, yeast, lichens, spore dispersal, allergies, ecology, genetics, plant pathology, predatory fungi, biological control, mutualistic symbioses with animals and plants, fungi as food, food spoilage and mycotoxins.
Fungi, Identifying Filamentous, A Clinical Laboratory Handbook, Guy St-Germain, Richard Summerbell, Star Publishing, 1996, ISBN 0-89863-177-7 (English)
In addition to citations & references found in this article, see the research citations given at the end of the related articles found at our suggested
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