Help! We have mold under our house!?
Question:We have just purchased an old house and we had to replace the floor in the bathroom. When we got into it, we realized there were rusted/rotted pipes and the bathtub has been draining completely under the house instead of through a drain pipe. There is a lot of mold from the moisture under the entire house and we need to know how to quickly get rid of it. I am too chlostraphobic to go under there and my husband is getting really tired from working so much on it. How can we cover a large territory without getting to every single spot and without spending a fortune? We are on a short time and expense budget. Please only experienced answerers.
Answers:
Ok, you 'have' to get the mold out, or "kill it" if you dont...
Now, since your in a "hurry", get some bleach and spray it on the mold... This will kill the mold.
HAVE PLENTY OF VENTILATION --FANS BLOWING-- AS THIS CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR LUNGS OVER A SHORT TIME! If you feel any "difficulty" breathing, GET OUT OF THERE!
I personally would use an air compressor with a paint sprayer, so that you can atomize the chlorox into every nook and cranny that the mold is hiding in! (Now remember, this is an "emergency situation" your claiming,and these are just 'emergency ways' I am telling you, as Normally, I would scrub the mold out with 1/2 chlorox and water, with 20 mule team borax mixed in 1/2+1/2+1/2 cup each to a pail No rinsing.
Plus, after you do that, get some boron, ( Boric acid crystals and dissolve in water and spray over that, and it will keep the mold from coming back, as boron is a mold inhibitor)-->You can find boric acid crystals in your local pharmacy, its also used in roach control, as it kills them too!
Vent the place! You need a lot of ventilation so that you dont get mold back there...And, if its a crawlspace, put some plastic sheathing down to cover the earth, as the moisture will tend to "feed" the mold as it rains and wants to "wick" out of the earth to your favorite breeding spot!
I wish you well...
Jesse
Bleach kills mold, but I wouldn't go under there myself. There could be serious health risks from breathing that contaminated air. Call a professional. It's possible that your homeowners insurance might cover the cost - talk to them.
Yes, I agree!
get a pro or move again.
Before doing all this work FIRST TEST THE MOLD to see if it is of a dangerous kind. Some people will tell you that all mold is the dangerous kind (untrue) so find someone who can give you an accurate test.
Then there are two ways to handle the problem. The first is removal. The second is encapsulation. So long as it is encapsulated, who cares? That is how many such problems are taken care of in large buildings. So long as the source of the water has been removed (and it sounds like it has) it shouldn't grow back. I would encapsulate with the oil based version of killz paint but be sure to wear a resperator. You should anyway if you are breating in lots of mold.
before you bought the house you should of had it inspected,the inspector would have gone under the crawl space and the Sellers would of paid for the repairs or giving you a discount on the sale of house,if you hire a plumber you are going to pay,the other thing is to buy throw away plastic uniforms, wear a mask and rubber gloves and fix the leak,take a sprayer from home depot and mix it with bleach,spray for a couple of days,when you have the problem under control insulate the floor then put on new floor,make sure that you don"t have rot damage or termites or carpenter ants,they will eat your house in months.
Aren't old houses fun!?!
First for those that would have you call the fire brigade to have the house burned down. There is mold in every single home and certainly everywhere in nature. You may not be able to see it, but it is there. In your plumbing traps, central air, probably under your house too. It looks gross, but 99% of it is no more harmful than drinking a soda or eating a Twinkie. Some of it is very harmful, but symptoms are usually fairly pronounced even if not readily associated with mold. If you have mold and are feeling ill, tell your doctor but don't go running to the doctor for a full physical just because you find mold.
Now that we have that out of the way . . .
Your real problem is the residual moisture. If there is standing water, get it out. If there is a lot a small sump pump may be in order, a little you can take out with a good shop vac. Once the standing water is gone (if there is any), you can begin the process of drying. Get some air moving in the area. You may also use some kitty litter to speed things along, but is should be taken back out and could get messy. If your foundation is not ventilated, now would be a good time to add some vents.
You will never get your crawlspace completely dry unless you are in a very dry climate. Once most of the moisture is gone, sock some bleach to it. Good bleach (Clorox), dilute to 50% with water. Cheap bleach, use full strength. A garden sprayer is about the best thing to use, soak the area good. Keep the stream fairly thick, avoid adjusting the spray to a mist -- you want the bleach on the ground not vaporized in the air. Be sure to maintain ventilation while spraying to keep the nasty fumes away and afterward to let the area dry out again. You should not have any further problems so long as the area stays dry.
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