A moldy story

'Your Allergy Nurse' shares her own moldy story

May 22, 2002

Several years ago we noticed mold growing on the ceiling in the bathroom. We cleaned the area and used a commercial mildew resistant primer, then painted over it.

There was no exhaust fan, so we added one in the center of the ceiling. It helped, but we still noticed moisture collecting on the mirrors and the room was humid after running the shower.

The mold eventually returned and began to spread. It seemed hopeless to get rid of it without a major renovation. We could not afford that. No one in my family seemed to be affected by the mold, so we ignored it for awhile.

However I knew the mold was unhealthy. As more research is done, likely more will be uncovered about the toxic effects of mold.

Toward the end of last summer I discovered that mold was growing in the window air-conditioning units as well. I knew I had to do something.

You can see the steps I took by clicking the links below.

Initially, I contacted a local Indoor Air Specialist at:
McMahon's Air Cleaning Services.
It is very important to get an expert opinion before you tackle a major mold renovation.

I was very fortunate in that McMahon's not only offered free estimates, but also provided contact information for another local mold specialist who did a free assesment of the problem and worked directly with my insurance company. My insurance company reviewed the claim, but they said my policy would not cover a mold renovation.

McMahon's said they did not see any evidence of moisture or mold in the attic or insulation. Had there been a moisture or mildew problem in the attic, I would have had to have the ceiling and insulation replaced in the area. But now it seemed reasonable to just clean or replace the air-conditioning units and redo the bathroom walls and ceiling.

My first step was to try to determine the type and level of mold growth. Commercial mold testing can be expensive. Like many of you, I've had to do this on a budget. I found that mold testing kits are less expensive than using a commercial service.

Professionals test a swab from outside as well as inside, to validate if inside mold levels are higher than outside mold levels. But since I could see visible mold inside, I felt that was an unnecessary expense for me. For more about mold testing, see:
Mold and mildew testing for the home

I've compared two commercial do-it-yourself mold test kits here:
Comparison of two do-it-yourself mold tests

Once I determined what type of mold I had, I purchased a dehumidifier to try to combat it. I've been extremely pleased with the results. It provides comfort as well as an environment that helps eliminate mold growth. Read more here:
Dehumidifier provides comfort, combats mold

Now that the humidity was under control, and summer was fast approaching, it was time to tackle the moldy air-conditioners. One air-conditioning unit had to be replaced, and I had the other one professionally cleaned.

Before I could clean the mold from the bathroom, I had to get to it. That meant I had to strip the wallpaper which had become loose from the moisture, and see what was lurking behind. See:
Mold and loose wallpaper

Once I stripped the wallpaper, I applied a mold and mildew cleaner called NAS 12 to the walls and ceiling. NAS 12 cleans mildew without bleach or unpleasant odors. Then I used No More Mildew to seal these areas in order to prevent regrowth of the mold fungus. These products are available from
National Allergy Supply Inc.

The next step was to paint the walls and ceiling with a mildew-resistant paint. I'll be replacing the exhaust fan in the bathroom with a more efficient one. I've talked with a local electrician about this, and he also gave me a wonderful idea to eliminate humidity buildup in a single room. You can read more about these steps here:
Return air grille - a simple solution

I also turned again to the local company that had offered free consultation and advice earlier. I enlisted Mike with
McMahon's Air Cleaning Services
to clean my furnace and air ducts. Though no mold was found in my air duct system, I was amazed at the amount of dust and dirt that was retrieved. Mike explained the importance of getting a better quality furnace filter and changing it regularly. The air quality in my home has improved significantly since I've had the furnace and ductwork professionally cleaned and used a proper furnace filter.

You can see photos of some of the of the process of cleaning my furnace and air ducts, also some of the material found inside them in the gallery:
Cleaning my furnace and air ducts

The mold is gone. By doing it myself, I was able to complete a mold renovation with much less expense than a professional would have charged. My home environment is not only more healthy, but there are no longer unsightly walls and ceilings, and no musty odor.

However I did become ill during the weeks before, during, and after the mold project. I'm not sure what part, if any, the mold and the renovation had in the illness, but I've discussed this as well as health conditions commonly attributed to mold here:
Living with mold -- health problems

I have also learned some things I should have done differently. See:
Indoor mold remediation safety
Here I share mistakes to avoid, along with some pointers I've learned from my own experience and some advice from others in the field.