Mould How to Deal With | Affordable Canadian Home Inspections | Hamilton Inspector Newsletter The Affordable Advantage: In This Issue: Mould - How To Deal With It Next Issue: Child Safety Tips Volume 2 Issue 3 http://www.affordablehomeinspections.ca | Al Wright | Affordable Canadian Home Inspections Inc. Al Wright Hamilton, Ontario 905-730-9300 Not your average Home Inspector: Home Inspections since 1997 - Residential and Commercial 30 years plus experience in general contracting and renovations 15 plus years as a real estate investor 70 page highly detailed user friendly reports in a PDF file emailed directly to client within 24 hours W.E.T.T. Certified Carson Dunlop Graduate We carry Errors and Omissions/liability insurance Technical teacher/mentor to new home inspectors Member of the International Association of Home Inspectors [email protected] Mould - How To Deal With It Keep it dry and mould will not grow Mould needs three things to grow: water, heat and a food source. The most important of these is water/moisture as it is the easiest of the three to control. Controlling the moisture and keeping your home dry prevents the growth of mould. Check your home for signs of moisture and mould. Explore the cause of any moisture leaks or high humidity. Fix any water leaks promptly. Think of the different ways moisture and humidity is produced inside your home (cooking, bathing, plant jungle, etc.). Remove moisture by using exhaust fans. In the absence of fans, open windows for a short time, but note that the wind can push the moisture to other parts of the home. Controlling moisture is the key to preventing indoor mould Page 1 Mould How to Deal With | Affordable Canadian Home Inspections | Hamilton Inspector Newsletter Southern Ontario's Home Inspector Choice - Home Controlling moisture is the key to preventing indoor mould growth. The relative humidity of indoor environments should be maintained at 35% - 55% and no more than 60%. Above 60% relative humidity mould could grow. If moisture problems develop, rapid and appropriate responses are important to prevent mould spores from germinating. If wetness or spills are dried within 24-48 hours, mould growth is less likely to occur. Use a hydrometer to measure the relative humidity (how much moisture is in the air). Hydrometers are available at hardware and electronic stores for a cost of $5 to $20 each. Inspections in: Hamilton, Ancaster, Binbrook, Brantford, Burlington, Caledonia, Cambridge, Cayuga, Dundas, Dunnville, Flamborough, Guelph, Kitchener, Milton, Oakville, Stoney Creek, Waterdown, Room by room Winona and surrounding areas Basement or crawl space Real Estate Marketing Tools FREE DOWNLOADABLE FILES These files are absolutely free to download, print and distribute to all your friends, family and clients. Discard badly damaged materials. Eliminate clutter to improve air circulation. Use a dehumidifier during warmer months. Avoid carpets on below grade floors. These and more can be found by visiting: http://www.affordablehomeinspections.ca Cost Estimates - Home repairs Sell Your Home for More 450 Ideas to Sell Your Home 3 Critical Mistakes Know Your Inspector 10 Tips to Speed up Your Home Inspection 223 Page – Home Closing Checklist Home Care Guide Home Closing Costs Periodically clean the basement floor drain. Avoid standing water. Keep sump pits covered. Regularly clean and replace furnace filters. If you have a heat recovery ventilator (HRV), clean the filter inside often. Page 2 Mould How to Deal With | Affordable Canadian Home Inspections | Hamilton Inspector Newsletter Laundry areas Helpful Hint: Helping your clients save a few dollar by referring low priced home inspectors or inspectors who offer discounts can end up costing your clients thousands in the long run. These inspectors usually work part time or are inexperienced and new to the field. By spending a few extra dollars on a more professional, experienced inspector you are not only helping protect your client, but they will be in a better state mind they are in a better position to refer or use you again. Please feel free share this newsletter with friends. To subscribe, simply send me an email with your name to [email protected]. BNI - RBG Professionals Roster - More info on how to join call Denise Gervais at 905-864-1110 Members Denise Gervais (President) Internet marketing/website design-WSI Sandy Stevenson (Vice Promotional products-The Corporate President) Clothier Wayne Massey (Secretary/Treasurer) Accounting/Tax servicesComprehensive Business Services Exhaust clothes dryer to the outside. Empty the lint basket every time you use the dryer. Don't hang-dry laundry indoors. Dry your laundry tub and washing machine after use. Bathrooms Exhaust bathroom fans outside. Turn bathroom fans on during showers and keep running for a minimum of one hour after-wards. Keep surfaces clean and dry. Remove carpeting in your bathroom as it is an ideal place to harbor microbials. Check for water leaks around fixtures. Keep drains in good condition. Al Wright (Visitor Host) Ashley Milne Aubrey Boothman Barb Podger David Bradley Elaine SaundersBoothman Home InspectionsAffordable Canadian Home Inspections Computer Consultant - Synack Handyman-Aub Jobs Mortgage Broker - Verico Investment Brokerage-Edward Jones Life/Group Insurance plusTripemco Financial Services To clean a drain: Pour a handful of baking soda into drain. Add a cup of vinegar. Plug the drain and let stand for 20 minutes. Page 3 Mould How to Deal With | Affordable Canadian Home Inspections | Hamilton Inspector Newsletter Boothman Gavin Rouble Jane Wanamaker Michael Ricottone Thomas Forde Walter Wellenreiter Tripemco Financial Services Business Coach - Focal Point Anti-aging solutions-Nuskin Distribution Realtor-Sellect J. Michael Real Estate Ltd. Home ImprovementsCutt Above Home Improvements Lawyer-Wellenreiter & Wellenreiter Area Networking Organizations >Hamilton Chamber of Commerce http://hamiltonchamber.on.ca (Member) >BNI - Business Network International - RBG Professionals http://www.bnicanada.ca (Member) >Burlington Like Minded Business Networkers >Hamilton Business Strategies and Networking Group >Networking Edge http://www.linkedin.com (Member) >Linked In Remove plug and run fresh water into the drain. Kitchen If the fan over your stove exhausts outside, use it when you cook. Dry walls and under cabinets after cooking. Keep your drains in good condition. Clean the refrigerator drip pan and vacuum dust from the coils at the back of the refrigerator. Check for leaks under the sink. Other parts of the home Other Networking Solutions: -Blogging / Discussion Forms - Activerain (Member) -Online Business and Social Networks - Linked in (Member) -Instant Messaging - MSN / Skype (Member) To Unsubscribe, send an email to the above address with the words Remove in the subject line. Reduce moisture by using dehumidifiers. Take off your shoes when entering the house. Vacuum often. Consider buying a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. Do not bring items stored in a mouldy place in-to your home unless they have been cleaned. Cut down the number of potted plants in the house – soil is a good place for mould to grow. Exterior Page 4 Mould How to Deal With | Affordable Canadian Home Inspections | Hamilton Inspector Newsletter Exterior Regularly check the condition of the roof and exterior finish for any places where water might enter. Make sure that eavestroughs and downspouts are connected, working properly and free of debris. Install downspout extensions to lead water away from the building. Deal promptly with any problems that you find. Prevent leakage around windows, doors. Waterproof foundations. Mouldoff can help with all your mould concerns. Remember mould will not grow in a dry building Sources: Indoor Air Quality Association National Association for Moisture Management Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Fungal Contamination: A Comprehensive Guide for Remediation; Michael Pinto, Ph.D. Written by: James A Thomas, C.I.E.; Lisa Carter Page 5 Mould How to Deal With | Affordable Canadian Home Inspections | Hamilton Inspector Newsletter This information was provided as a courtesy by Mouldoff Inc. Courtesy of: Affordable Home Inspections 905-730-9300 www.affordablehomeinspections.ca The Affordable Advantage is solely owned and distributed by Affordable Home Inspections. This eNewsletter is absolutely free to be distributed to all. The information contained in this newsletter is provided solely for informational and/or educational purposes. Most information is from my own experiences and research. There are at times, some third party sources which have been freely allowed to be copied to the public and distributed. Affordable Home Inspections disclaim any and all liability associated with the use and/or provision of this information. Reliance upon the information or advice is at the risk of the relying party. The information contained herein may be changed from time to time without notification and there may be occasions when referenced Internet sites are no longer present or current. Southern Ontario's Home Inspection Choice - Home Inspections in: Hamilton, Ancaster, Binbrook, Brantford, Burlington, Caledonia, Cayuga, Dundas, Dunnville, Flamborough, Simcoe, Stoney Creek, Waterdown, Winona and all the surrounding area Copyright 2010 Affordable Home Inspections. 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