Can I Get Help With Black Mold?
October 13, 2009 by Mistress Spank
Filed under Christmas
At Christmas last year the bank forclosed on my neighbor’s home (two houses down). We had an early thaw and because the pipes had froze they burst. This caused a TON of water damage and this spring mold. Mold everywhere!! It’s growing up and down (and all around I’m sure) the walls. Nothing visible outside yet.
My concern is that I’m pregnant and have a 14 month old son. I’m worried about our exposure. This mold is dangerous and can go airborn, just a matter of time.
The EPA is no help. I have contacted the Health Department but am getting no where. The realty company that bought the house is selling “as is” and has no plans to get rid of the mold.
With kids playing by the house (it’s a cul-de-sac) what recourse do I have? We have an active home owner’s board – do they have recourse also?
Thanks in advance!
First of all, you don’t know if it’s stachy bottrys. All you know is that it’s black. Second of all, I don’t think the house could be legally sold if it is dangerous. Thirdly, if it is stachybottrys, I think the Health Department would have condemned the house. I may be all wet on this, but it just makes sense to me.
Call your local Code Enforcment Department (or whatever department enforces municipal codes). The house can be considered an attractive nuisance if it is vacant, easily accessible to homeless, kids breaking in, etc. If there’s overgrown vegitation, all the better. Tell them you’ve seen people tresspassing into the vacant house. They may be able to board it up until the bank sells it. You have to be consistent and have other neighbors call (the squeaky wheel gets the oil).
I think your concerns are REAL and are of value.
To ease your pain and suffering.
I would like to think that mold is MORE dangerous if the person is living in CLOSED quarters of the mold. Mold spores regardless where they came from are in the air already. Psychologically, this ‘house’ is in fact a source where mold spores are coming from… but not necessarily the only source.
baby’s have been known to be affected by these spores, only and only if they are in an enclosed area with mold spores. Worry about your home.
Keep it dry, have a dehumidifier running in the basement all summer long, and when you detect small traces of mold, wash with warm/hot water and bleach.
good luck
relax a little
Please what ever you do don’t use water and bleach to clean the moldy area. Bleach is only an affective disinfect ate on solid surfaces, if you use it on porous surfaces it will just neutralize the bleach, and all you really be doing is adding water to the problem. Water is one of the things that mold needs in order to grow.
The term “black mold” get throne around a lot. Mold can be a number of color’s. The ONLY way to truely tell what kind of mold it is, is to have samples taken by a lab.