by Eric Brown | Jan 12, 2016 | Air Conditioning, Basement Mold, Beware Of Mold When Buying A Home, Bleach and Mold, Can Black Mold Poison You?, Can Mold Kill?, Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), Flood Clean Up, Health, Indoor Air Quality, Killing Mold, Mold and Asthma, Mold and Depression, Mold and Multiple Sclerosis, Mold and Parkinson's Disease, Mold and Sinusitis, Mold Facts, Mold Information, Mold Inspection, Mold Remediation, Mold Removal, Mold Removal Cost, Mold Risk During Renovation, Questions and Answers, Stachybotrys Black Mold, Toxic Mold, Water Damage Restoration
Top 20 Most Shared Mold Health and Prevention Articles In Georgia
Top 20 Most Shared Mold Health and Prevention Articles In Georgia
August, 2015, marked a historic month for Mold B Gone.
We launched this website, www.moldbgonega.com, dedicated to creating mold awareness for residents of Georgia.
Listed below are the top 20 articles, listed in the order of most viewed.
If you have questions or need help, the Mold B Gone Team looks forward to serving you. Call 678-697-6267 or send us an e-mail!
We have been serving Georgia since 2009 and have built a solid reputation in the state because of our expertise and knowledge, 1 year up to 25 year guarantee, and peace of mind we offer our customers.
Twenty Most Shared Mold Health and Prevention Articles In Georgia
- Are You Sick From Mold Because Of Your Genes?
- Top 10 Facts About Mold
- 7 Places Mold Hides In Your Home!
- Is Mold Sickness A Hidden Epidemic?
- Why Is Black Mold A Health Concern?
- Are Sinus Infections Caused By Mold?
- Can Toxic Black Mold Poison You?
- How Do I Know If Mold Is Making Me Sick?
- Are Dead Mold Spores Harmful?
- How Does Mold Cause Depression?
- Does Mold Cause Multiple Sclerosis?
- What Is The Link Between Mold and Parkinson’s Disease?
- Is Your Air Conditioner Making You Sick?
- 10 Tips To Prevent Basement Mold!
- Top 10 Reasons Mold Is Scary!
- The #1 Mistake Home Buyers Make!
- How Is Mold Removal Cost Determined?
- 8 Steps To Mold Remediation Success!
- What Is The Link Between Mold and Asthma?
- Top 3 Facts About Water Damage Restoration
by Eric Brown | Dec 31, 2015 | Uncategorized
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
From all your friends at Mold B Gone, we want to thank you for your patronage during 2015 and wish you all the best in 2016. May you achieve your dreams and make the best of the new year. We look forward to serving you in 2016. Cheers!
Make New Year’s goals. Dig within, and discover what you would like to have happen in your life this year. This helps you do your part. It is an affirmation that you’re interested in fully living life in the year to come. (Melody Beattie)
I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something. (Rainer Maria Rilke)
Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties. (Helen Keller)
Let our New Year’s resolution be this: we will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word. (Goran Persson)
by Eric Brown | Dec 20, 2015 | Can Black Mold Poison You?, Can Mold Kill?, Christmas Tree Mold, Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), Health, Indoor Air Quality, Killing Mold, Mold and Asthma, Mold and Sinusitis, Mold Facts, Mold Information, Mold Removal, Questions and Answers, Toxic Mold
What Is Christmas Tree Syndrome?
What Is Christmas Tree Syndrome?
Recently, a newspaper article was published to explain the potential health concerns caused by your Christmas tree: “How CHRISTMAS TREES can cause hay fever hell: Pollen grains, dust and mould can trigger sneezing, coughing and a runny nose”
The article dubbed the illness, Christmas Tree Syndrome, because 1 in 3 (approximately 35 percent) people get sick, suffering from hay fever like symptoms, soon after the Christmas tree is set up in the home.
This article explains what causes Christmas Tree Syndrome and provides recommendations on how you can minimize the potential health issues caused by this indoor air quality issue.
What Are The Health Symptoms of Christmas Tree Syndrome?
Typical signs that your tree is making you ill include the following:
- Asthma attacks, usually triggered by cladosporium mold
- Rhinitis
- Runny nose
- Sinus pain
- Sneezing
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Cold like symptoms, that subside when away from the home or the room with the tree in it.
Mold Is The Cause Of Christmas Tree Syndrome!
Prior to the studies documented below, it was thought that tree pollen or even weed killer applied to Christmas trees made people ill.
However, as the studies below conclude, the core cause of Christmas Tree Syndrome is mold, which releases spores and causes allergic reactions:
“Researchers at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, Connecticut, found that a room containing a fresh Christmas tree for two weeks had mold levels that were five times the normal level. Other studies have shown that levels this high can cause allergic rhinitis and asthma symptoms, says the study’s coauthor, allergist and immunologist Philip Hemmers.” (A fresh Christmas tree for two weeks had mold levels that were five times the normal level)
In another study Dr. John Santilli, compared the level of mold spores in the home before and after the tree was placed in the home. The normal level of mold spores is 800 per cubic meter, but within 14 days of the Christmas tree being in the home, the level of mold spores increased to 5,000 spores per cubic meter.
Another scientific study by allergy specialist, Dr. Lawrence Kurlandsky at Upstate Medical University in New York set out to determine why respiratory illnesses peak around Christmas. The study found 53 different kinds of mold, including, aspergillus, penicillium, cladosporium and alternaria, which can trigger asthma attacks, sneezing and a runny nose. One of the key conclusions made by this study was 70 percent of the molds found triggered allergies and asthma.
What Can I Do To Minimize Mold Exposure From My Christmas Tree?
Mold spores are found naturally on Christmas trees, which will flourish once they are in a centrally heated home.
With this in mind, if you can manage Christmas with an artificial tree, that is the best solution. Please note, artificial trees can accumulate a layer of dust and even mold if not stored properly. Be sure to store your artificial tree in a dry area and preferably in plastic tubs to minimize exposure to moisture and dust.
However, if you must use a live Christmas tree, here are some tips to minimize the health impact:
- Thoroughly hose down your tree and let it dry before bringing it into the house. If you bought your tree at a nursery, ask if they have tree washing services.
- Clean all ornaments and lights before putting on the tree; they can harbor dust and molds. Store all decorations in plastic containers that can be easily wiped down since cardboard can potentially attract dust and mold.
- Minimize exposure. If you’re sensitive to molds, keep a live Christmas tree no more than four to seven days.
- Run an air purifier in the same room as the Christmas tree. This may help alleviate symptoms.
- Allergy medication may also help alleviate some symptoms as well.
- Since mold spores may accumulate the longer your tree is in the house, consider getting rid of it first thing on the 26th.
Happy holidays from your friends at Mold B Gone. If you have questions, we are here to help! If you think you have mold, call us, 678-697-6267 or contact us via e-mail for further assistance.
by Eric Brown | Dec 19, 2015 | Uncategorized
Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays!
Christmas is a time to spend with family and friends. Mold B Gone is grateful to our staff, vendors, and customers. We wish them all the best during the holiday season!
Christmas is the perfect time to celebrate the love of God and family and to create memories that will last forever. Jesus is God’s perfect, indescribable gift. The amazing thing is that not only are we able to receive this gift, but we are able to share it with others on Christmas and every other day of the year. (Joel Osteen)
Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.(Norman Vincent Peale)
Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting. It is happiness because we see joy in people. It is forgetting self and finding time for others. It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values. (Thomas S. Monson)
He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. (Roy L. Smith)
by Eric Brown | Dec 13, 2015 | Flood Clean Up, Health, Indoor Air Quality, Mold Facts, Mold Information, Questions and Answers, Sewer Backup, Water Damage Restoration
Sewer Backup Causes and Prevention
Sewer Backup Causes and Prevention
A primary cause of a flooded basement is a sewer backup.
Sewer backups occur when sewage from sewer lines back up into your house or business.
Usually basements flood from sewer backups when the sewage water comes up from the drains.
This article will explain what causes sewer backups and how you can prevent them.
Causes of Sewer Backups
- Rainfall
- Tree Roots
- Sanitary Main
- Grease
- Toilet Paper and Foreign Objects
Rainfall
During heavy rainstorms, the excess water inundates public sewer systems with groundwater and stormwater flow entering the sewer lines. A sewer backup will occur because the sewer lines get too full and can not handle the overflow.
Tree Root Blockages
As trees and shrubs grow, the roots expand to seek more moisture. As the roots grow, they can crack the sewer line and eventually cause a blockage.
Sanitary Main Blockage
In some cases, a blockage can occur in a city sanitary main causing a back up into homes and businesses.
Grease
Another major cause of sewer backups occurs when animal fat is dumped down the drain. When the grease cools, it will attach itself to the walls of the sewer pipe, causing other objects to stick to the grease eventually leading to a blockage.
Toilet Paper and Foreign Objects
When too much toilet paper, paper products (paper towels, disposable/cloth diapers, and feminine products) or foreign objects are flushed down the toilet, they can get stuck when they meet a bend in the sewer line causing sewer waste to to stick to the objects, resulting in a blockage and eventually a backup.
How To Prevent Sewer Backups?
Sewage Backup Prevention Infographic
Dispose of Grease Properly
Do not pour cooking oil into your sink, use a heat resistant container and dispose of it properly.
Dispose Paper Products Properly
Since paper towels, disposable/cloth diapers, feminine products, and other small objects down the toilet do not break down quickly, leading to clogs, do not try to flush these items down your toilet.
Replace Pipes
Older homes are particularly susceptible to sewer backups because there are usually older trees and shrubs that have roots seeking more moisture leading to the eventual crack in a sewer line and blockage. To prevent this, you should cut the roots periodically and may want to consider replacing the line and tap pipes with plastic.
Proper Drainage
One of the most effective methods to prevent flooding is to ensure that there is proper drainage around your property. You want to ensure that there is a slope away from the property so water flows away. In addition, ensure that the downspout drains away from your property and periodically clean your eaves-troughs to prevent them from getting blocked.
Install Backflow Prevention Valves / Sump Pump
Backflow valves block the sewer line and prevent the flow of sewage backflows.
If your property is in a low lying location or near a river or lake, we strongly recommend that you install a sump pump. In addition to the utility during a heavy rain fall, sump pumps perform an important function during normal weather because they drain groundwater from under and around your basement floor. Ground water removal reduces the risk of basement floors cracking and shifting from the water pressure.
We recommend that you consult with your plumber for such an installation as it depends on your type of plumbing.
How A Sump Pump Works
Two Reasons Sewer Backup Prevention Is So Important
There are two key reasons you want to prevent sewer backups.
First, preventing excess moisture from entering your home is the key to preventing mold growth.
Second, sewer backups are worrisome because sewer water is category 3 water and contains harmful bacteria that is hazardous to your health.
According to IICRC S500 Standard 3rd Edition, there are over 120 different viruses that can be excreted in human feces and urine and find their way into sewage:
These can include Rotavirus, causing severe and sometimes life-threatening diarrhea in children, Adenoviruses, causing respiratory and eye infections, and Norovirus, a significant cause of gastric flu or stomach flu. There are highly infectious parasitic agents like Giardia and Cryptosporidium that can cause chronic and severe intestinal diseases in both children and adults. Bacterial pathogens in sewage can include Salmonella, Shigella and Escherichia coli. These gram-negative organisms contain endotoxins that are released at the time of cell death and destruction. Endotoxins can cause respiratory inflammation, airway restriction, create the potential allergic and infectious disease responses and when inhaled they may adversely influence the central nervous system.
Steps To Take When Your Sewers Backup
If you experience a sewer backup, take the following actions:
- Call your city’s Sewer Maintenance Division and ask them to check the public lines to ensure that they are not blocked.
- Call a Professional Plumber to have the sewer line cleared.
- Clean up the area. Call a professional Disaster Recovery Service like Mold B Gone that specializes in water damage restoration, mold removal, and prevention. We have protective gear and equipment to clean up the area properly and most importantly understand that to prevent excessive mold growth we must remove all the water and begin drying out the area using air movers and dehumidifiers. All contaminated material must be either disinfected or removed permanently. If you begin the clean up process yourself, follow these safety steps and use rubber gloves, boots, protective clothing, and a respirator.
- Call your insurance provider within 24 hours of the sewer backup to begin the claim process.
The first 48 hours are crucial to preventing mold. Questions? Call Mold B Gone, 678-697-6267 or send us an e-mail.
