BBB

Happy Students!

Just a note to tell you that Don thought yesterday’s class was great. — Sandy Hartman

Building Type: Residential Home
Primary Complaint: Kitchen Mold
Project Number: 103014

Relevant Project Info:

Weather

  • Sunny and cool

GeneralKitchen Mold1

  • Temperature:
    • Outside: 53 degrees F
    • Main Floor: 68 degrees F

  • Relative Humidity (RH):
    • Outside: 58%
    • Main Floor: 39%
    • Mold growth can occur when the relative humidity levels range 65% to 99% in a given environment. If you keep the humidity low enough, you can prevent mold growth. Maintaining relative humidity below 50% inhibits mold and mildew growth, dust mite infestations, and bacteria. This lower relative humidity also reduces the out-gassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

  • Carbon Monoxide (CO):
    • Outside: 0 ppm
    • Main Floor: 0 ppm
  • Ideally, CO concentrations indoors are expected to be the same as CO concentrations outdoors. CO concentrations are typically around one to two parts per million parts of air (ppm) or less. Concentrations are usually lower in rural areas. Finding CO concentration higher indoors than outdoors indicates an indoor source of CO, or a source very close to your home.
  • Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas often formed in the process of incomplete combustion of organic substances, including fuels. CO can cause serious health problems.
  • Carbon Dioxide (CO2):
    • Outside: 221 ppm
    • Main Floor: 223 ppm
  • The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends a concentration of CO2 no more than 700 ppm above the ambient air (outside) concentration in order to minimize human odors and maintain comfort.
  • Carbon dioxide is a colorless, odorless gas. It is produced when any carbon-based material used for fuel (coal, oil, wood, etc.) is burned. When fuel burning is not a factor, the main sources are tobacco smoke, human and animal respiration. Carbon dioxide is given off whenever we exhale. Cars, trucks, industrial equipment, and burning fuel for power are some of the major contributors to CO2 in the air.

General Notes:Kitchen Mold2

  • Home recently had hardwood floors removed in kitchen due to a major leak from under the kitchen sink.  Dry-out work had been conducted and client requested an inspection to ensure no further areas of moisture and/or mold growth existed.

Kitchen

  • Hardwood floors had been removed throughout much of the kitchen.
  • Cabinets had not been removed to conduct the dry-out.
  • Moisture content readings were made of subfloor, drywall and cabinets in the location of the dishwasher and refrigerator.
  • No areas with elevated moisture levels were noted in the kitchen during the inspection.
  • Bottom of cabinets revealed some minor water staining but no elevated moisture levels or visible mold growth was noted.
  • Inspection behind the cabinets was conducted by using an Extech Video Borescope.  No areas of water damage, visible mold growth or water staining were noted in the spaces behind the cabinets on either the cabinet back or drywall surfaces.
  • The underside of each cabinet was visually inspected using the borescope with no areas of visible mold growth or water staining/damage being noted.
  • In the location where the refrigerator was found, the exposed subfloor was stained by mold growth a location measuring approximately 8 sq/ft.
  • No elevated moisture levels were noted in this area indicating that the mold growth has likely gone into a dormant state.
  • No elevated moisture levels were noted in the drywall surrounding the refrigerator location.

Dinning Room

  • Carpet inside dining room was rolled back by client just prior to air sample being taken.
  • Backside of carpet revealed major water stains.
  • Carpeting was in poor condition and should be replaced.
  • Dark lines around perimeter of carpeting indicates poor air sealing from the crawlspace.
  • No elevated moisture levels were noted in dining room at the time of inspection.

CrawlspaceKitchen Mold3

  • Significant amount of debris and damaged stored contents were present in crawlspace.
  • Vapor barrier is heavily damaged due to standing water and age.
  • Numerous locations of exposed earth were noted.
  • Standing water was present throughout crawlspace.
  • Rodent droppings were noted in many locations along with old bait stations.
  • One rat carcass was present on a pier block.
  • No areas of visible mold growth were noted on subfloor or joists under kitchen.
  • Insulation was present but was damaged due to rodents in many locations.
  • Good ventilation was present in crawlspace.