It's a great day here in Orem, Utah! January has been really slow so far, yet every inspection has been an interesting can of worms. I have found myself spending more time on site and more time documenting the reportable conditions due to the condition of the houses. I had a great time with Jon Larsen earlier in the week as we attacked a log home located in Midway, Utah. We literally beat every log on the exterior of the home with my special log beater mallet. How in the world it took us 5 1/2 hours together to do one log home I will never know. Not a whole lot of money was made that day (relatively speaking) but we sure created a lot of inspection memories throughout the inspection process.
The surprise of the Midway log home was that both crawl spaces were covered with an interesting mold. If you take a look at the photo you will see what looks to be a brown and white mold growing all over the earth of the crawl space. Unhealthy mold???.... Who knows. Did we enter inside???... Yes, but were there strong recommendations on what should be done to correct this?.... Absolutely. Today's MMM revolves around the theme of mold once again. I hope that you enjoy it. Now back to completing a thought......
I have also been doing more second inspections for those clients that were dissatisfied with their first home choice. So the question arises as to why there have been more second home inspections recently? After observing this cycle for several years I have come to the conclusion that when the market slows down each sale is so important that many of the agents stop being as informatively forthright as they could be. Instead of continuing the search for the perfect fit between a buyer and a home, the search is rushed to get a sale closed to keep food on the agent's table. This leaves the burden of breaking the bad news about a home upon my shoulders. This theory may sound odd, but I believe that it is true.
The interesting part of my slow season theory is that there are tons of homes on the market and the buyer really has all the control in our Northern Utah market right now. This being the case I marvel that some of my buyers are placing offers on the homes that I am inspecting. The fact that it is a buyer's market could also explain their lack of desire to be railroaded into a home that has lots of issues. Afterall, there are a hundred more homes just like the one they placed the offer upon with "For Sale" signs posted in their front yards too.
The cycle plays out with the good Home Inspectors taking more flack than usual. When one deal goes south there is a listing agent, listing broker, and seller that are upset. The buyer's agent, and their broker also get testy, but if the buyer continues their home search they try to remain patient with the process. I don't know about the rest of you, but I get more calls regarding inspections in the winter than I do in the busy summer.
Your Name:City: State:
Please include your name or I don't know who it is from...
January 14th, 2001........... By Frank X. Mullen Jr............. Reno Gazette-Journal http://www.rgj.com/cgi-bin/printstory.cgi?publish_date=20010114&story=979531405
SPARKS FAMILY DRIVEN FROM HOME BY TOXIC MOLD
A toxic black mold slowly destroyed a Sparks familys health, drove them from their home and contaminated all their possessions.
Weve been wiped out by a microbe, said Donald Lyons, who with his wife, Kathy, and three daughters, is now living temporarily in the rectory at Holy Cross Catholic Church.
Our home has become our personal Love Canal, he said, recalling a famous site of toxic pollution due to chemicals.
But in the Lyons case the culprit was not a man-made chemical but rather a living organism that grew in dark, hidden spaces within the walls, ceilings and floors of their home. It took years and tens of thousands of dollars in unnecessary medical and repair bills for the hazard to be discovered. The Lyons aren't alone.
During the last few years, thousands of homes, businesses and public buildings in Nevada and throughout the U.S. have fallen prey to illnesses from indoor mold caused by water damage to building materials. Its a national problem, but most health professionals and agencies are unprepared to deal with it, local indoor air quality experts say.
There are thousands of cases out there, said Dr. James Craner of Verdi, a board-certified environmental medicine specialist. Building-related illnesses, especially those related to fungal contamination, are often an insidious problem which goes unrecognized or are misdiagnosed.
The black mold normally is found in low concentrations in soil and in the outdoor air. But when it finds its way indoors and on to saturated organic building materials it rapidly thrives.
Craner said mold can grow in the right environment in as little as 24 to 48 hours after water damage occurs. He said water damage, sometimes undetected as in the Lyons case or ignored, is commonplace in residences and commercial buildings during and after construction. What we are seeing when so-called sick buildings are properly investigated and complaints are thoroughly evaluated is that sick buildings are moldy buildings, Craner said. The occupants are sick, and so are the buildings.
A Storey County couple also were driven from their home by the black mold two years ago. Scores of other cases have been reported in northern Nevada.
Last year, the same mold that plagued the Lyons family was found in Katherine Dunn Elementary School. It was ripped out of a wall in the principals office and was found in a library room and in a former classroom now used as a custodians closet.
At least two faculty members became seriously ill before their complaints were correctly diagnosed, Craner said.
Craner said hes evaluated and/or treated more than 1,000 cases similar to the Lyons case throughout the United States. Hes investigated ill occupants and buildings ranging from trailer homes, condominiums and multi-million dollar homes to large government office buildings, such as the Grant Sawyer building in Las Vegas.
He said people who get sick from mold infestation are often misdiagnosed with respiratory ailments, sinus infections, rashes, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, attention deficit disorder, early-onset Alzheimers disease, or even depression.
Who is at risk?, he asked. If you have water damage, you may have the perfect environment for mold.
He said the mold grows in areas that have been saturated with water, such as from a flood or a broken pipe. It grows on wallboard, ceiling tile or carpeting. In many cases the water damage or the mold can be seen. In other cases such as the Lyons house the hazard stays hidden.
When mold growth spreads in a house, health effects usually follow. Its expensive to eradicate once it gains a foothold in a building.
The illnesses and their impacts are often devastating to a family, emotionally and financially, Craner said. Nobody has to tell that to the Lyons family.
FAMILY ALWAYS SICK
Their home at 1422 Alvin Court is now vacant. The family members dare not enter it again. Don and Kathy Lyons paid thousands of dollars for workers wearing respirators and protective clothing to empty the home of its contents.
Hard goods, such as wooden furniture and dishes will be cleaned with a biocide. Their soft goods such as couches and other furniture, mattresses, rugs, bedding, draperies, towels, books and dolls had to be buried at a hazardous materials landfill.
Because of the extensive contamination within the walls, the house will have to be gutted and rebuilt. The Lyons paid off their home a few years ago and insurance wont cover their losses. They are starting a new life from scratch.
I had lots of squishy (soft) things I cant keep. It looks weird inside there now, but I cant go in it, said Danielle Lyons, 10. Our home is a haunted house now.
The Lyons lived in the house for 15 years. They thought they had more illnesses than an average family, but it took a long time and thousands of dollars in medical bills for them to link illnesses with their environment.
Donald Lyons, 52, has had a chronic cough, scratchy throat and daytime fatigue since 1986. He has been diagnosed with infectious bronchitis, allergic asthma, but he did not get better with medical treatment.
Kathy Lyons, 40, has been taking antibiotics for sinusitis since 1991 and has received steroid injections for what a doctor thought were allergies that never went away.
Their daughter, Meghan, 16, had extreme fatigue, asthma, pleurisy and frequent sinus infections. Alicia, 14, suffered from rashes, bloody noses, almost daily headaches and frequent stomach aches. Danielle had sore throats, coughing and bloody noses.
The children were diagnosed with a host of infections and given antibiotics. When the treatment failed to work, doctors diagnosed psychiatric disorders, Craner said.
THE ILLNESSES JUST WOULDN'T LET GO
Around Easter of last year, shortly after they turned on their central air conditioning system, the whole family was terribly sick all at once.
It felt like we died and went to hell, Kathy Lyons said.
They noticed a strange, musty odor that they assumed had something to do with the air conditioning system. The system was checked and workers found a leak. The leak was repaired but their symptoms continued.
I had to go to the hospital and stay three days with what the doctors said was bronchitis and a rapid heartbeat, Kathy Lyons said. Donald was diagnosed with pneumonia. Hed wake up gagging. It was awful.
Donald stayed home from work for 60 days last year. His health got worse, not better, he said.
Kathy, a homemaker who spent most of her time inside the house, had heart and vision problems, incidents of memory loss and unexplained fatigue that doctors said might be neurological damage. In 1999, she spent five months in bed.
She went to the Mayo Clinic and to two University of California hospitals over the last six years. It makes me so mad, she said. We went searching for a diagnosis and when the doctors couldnt make one they sometimes suggested my problems were psychological.
You would think that some doctor along the way would have said lets take a look at your environment.
The Lyons had called the Environmental Protection Agency because they suspected something in the house was causing the illnesses. The subject of mold came up, Kathy Lyons said.
The EPA said that if we had enough mold to make us sick wed see it, she said. We found out thats not true. Its not visible in my home anywhere. Its hidden in the walls.
VACATION CURES ILLS
Last summer, David Rinaldi, a certified industrial hygienist based in Reno, tested the air and crawlspaces in the Lyons home. He found two types of mold aspergillus and pennicillium in the crawl space.
Those molds can have toxic effects, but their presence may have been due to the soil in the crawl space rather than contamination throughout the home. He could find no visible mold growth.
Rinaldi recommended the Lyons see Craner to determine what further environmental investigation was needed. In the meantime, they had parts of the homes venting replaced and repaired. The vents were sprayed with a biocide. On the advice of the EPA, they sprayed the underside of the house with a 10 percent bleach solution.
We thought we were done, Kathy said. We were wrong. In August, with their home scrubbed, deep cleaned and sprayed, the family went on vacation.
Everyone suddenly got healthy. Even Olivia, the familys usually listless 7-year-old toy poodle, became frisky.
We were like different people, healthy people, Kathy said.
Then as soon as we got back we got sick again.
The Lyons called Craner. Based in Verdi, Craner is residency-trained and board certified in both occupational and environmental medicine and internal medicine.
Craner made a house call. He took a medical and environmental history of the family members. He examined all of them and inspected the house.
He suspected a building-related illness due to indoor fungal (mold) exposure. Although the Lyons couldnt initially recall any water damage to the house, they eventually remembered that there had been a leak from the master bathroom during construction.
The builder had assured them that the leak had been repaired, Kathy Lyons said.
As a test, Craner urged the family to again leave the house for two weeks. They stayed at a motel for 10 days. Nearly all their symptoms of illness vanished.
We moved back home on a Saturday and by Monday we were all sick again, Kathy Lyons said. We talked to Dr. Craner again. He recommended a company from Sacramento that has experience in mold investigation.
They came with a biochemist to check the house.
The workers drilled holes in walls. The biochemist took samples and analyzed them.
The tests revealed a toxic black mold called stachybotrys chartarum was everywhere in the walls, ceiling, floors and vents.
Indoors, this sort of mold only grows on heavily water-damaged organic materials such as cellulose materials that are low in nitrogen such as sheet rock, suspended ceiling tiles, carpet tacking strips and sometimes carpet backing, Craner said.
When the water source dries out, the mold spores go airborne and disburse.
He said the mold needs a water source that soaks the area. Sometimes its a roof leak, a cracked water or sewer pipe, or a broken drain. Sometimes there are defects in building construction that allow water to enter when it rains.
The mold found in the crawl space turned out to be a red herring, Craner said. The real culprit is stachybotrys.
The Lyons havent yet identified the source of the water leak that caused the black mold to grow. They expect to find the source when the house is gutted. Somewhere, there is a big, black ball of this stuff, Kathy Lyons said.
Craner said the only correct medical treatment is an accurate diagnosis and removal of the patients from the environment. Thats how the Lyons family got better.
FAMILY STARTS OVER
In September, the Lyons washed what clothing they needed, threw it in plastic bags and fled their house. People in protective clothing, nicknamed moon suits, came in to remove the familys possessions. Some of Meghans classmates, members of the Reed High School student government, volunteered to stand outside the house and pack boxes.
The Lyons parish, Holy Cross, put the family up in its rectory.
Were so grateful, Kathy said. This has brought out so much kindness in people.
But the Lyons insurance company wont cover the loss. I had theft, fire, earthquake and flood insurance, everything I could get, Donald Lyons said. I thought I was being responsible.
Lyons said his insurance company wouldnt come out to look at the house.
Craner explained that many homeowner insurance policies have a mold exclusion clause.
The mold exclusion clause is intended to prevent mold contamination due to neglect, not due to water damage, he said.
Most of the familys illnesses have cleared up, but Kathy still has some memory loss. She still has trouble doing simple things, like making change or following recipes.
She fears for her children who grew up in the house while a silent poison grew within the walls.
My family has been exposed to lethal mold for years and years, she said. Who knows what the future holds.
Craner said that while the long-term effects of mold exposure are unknown, its been his experience that people usually recover from most of their building-related symptoms within days after being removed from exposure.
That seems to be the case for the Lyons family, he said.
Donald Lyons just wants to walk away from the house, start over, and never think of the mold again. But that wont be easy.
Weve become experts in something we never heard of until just recently, Kathy Lyons said. People dont understand. They say, oh yeah, mold is everywhere, its on bread, big deal.
But this isnt ordinary mold. This is the kind of stuff scientists found on ancient Egyptian mummies. This is the stuff that nearly destroyed my family.
Your Name: Please include your name or else I don't know who it is from.
As we enter 2001, I am stepping into some very LARGE shoes. Scott Merritt, our President in 2000 , and the entire leadership of A.I.I. has made some very important pre-planned moves to transition A.I.I. into the future. I believe these moves have allowed A.I.I. to grow, and become one of the finest Home Inspection Trade organizations in the nation.
Following are some of the committees, and people that volunteered to lead these committees :
By-Laws - Jon Gudnuson and Brent Foster - The by -laws are a very important, to insure that our organization meets a minimum standard for operation, and is flexible to allow our organization to make changes into the future.
Mobile Home Certification - Michael Leavitt and Chuck Fair - The objective is to update and reform our current program, so that the Training is informative and and follows a set standard of practice. This information will then be forwarded to the Executive Board for approval.
Following are some of the Committees that have not been recently active. These committees again give our organization direction and involve the membership. If you are interested in serving on these committees , please contact myself or Betty Buckley.
Membership Committee - to increase the membership, and inform other home inspectors of our organization, and review new member applications.
Ethics and Professional Practice - This committee reviews our Code of Ethics, and responds grievances against our members.
Education Committee - Scott Merritt has expressed interest in this committee. Ron Cloyd resigned from this committee, upon becoming Chairman of the Board. We can use another person to assist Scott.
Finance Committee - This committee would work with our Executive Director to review, study and plan budgets and proposed expenditures, and present them to the board.
Standards Committee - Jim Corbin has been working on proposed changes. I'm sure Jim could use assistance in this area.
I encourage you to volunteer to serve on one of the above committees. Providing insight and direction in any of the above areas, will assist in moving our organization into the future. Become involved in your organization . This organization does not succeed by the leadership alone, the members allow our organization to succeed and move into the future.
A committee can't succeed if everbody's on board but nobody's at the wheel. Good Inspecting---
Bill Schwahn -- AII President 2001
The following is an informational sheet from the State of California. The State of California has a special website set up for mold and the following sheet can be found at http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/deodc/ehib/EHIB2/topics/Moldhome%20Eng.html
This mold information is critical because we as Home Inspectors have to become united in our handling and reporting of future mold issues. I believe that our answers need to mirror the information being provided by the EPA and the State Health Departments. If we reference these agencies and the guidelines they espouse we will be on safer ground when we get called upon the carpet. I also believe that simply disclaiming that mold is beyond the scope of our evaluations will not keep us out of court. I am striving to become as informed about molds as possible while still disclaiming them. I have found that I have become much more alert to their presence and have been "Johnny On The Spot" in my recommending further evaluation by a mold specialist before closing on the home.
Indoor Air Quality Info Sheet
Mold in My Home: What Do I Do?
March 1998
This fact sheet provides information to people who have experienced water damage to their home and presents the health concerns related to mold exposure. It also provides general guidelines on mold detection, cleanup & removal of mold contaminated materials.
ABOUT MOLD
What is it? Molds are simple, microscopic organisms, found virtually everywhere, indoors and outdoors. Molds can be found on plants, foods, dry leaves, and other organic material. Molds are needed for breaking down dead material. Mold spores are very tiny and lightweight, and this allows them to travel through the air. Mold growths can often be seen in the form of discoloration, ranging from white to orange and from green to brown and black. When molds are present in large quantities, they can cause allergic symptoms similar to those caused by plant pollen.
Should I be concerned about mold in my home? Yes, if the contamination is extensive. When airborne mold spores are present in large numbers, they can cause allergic reactions, asthma episodes, infections, and other respiratory problems for people. Exposure to high spore levels can cause the development of an allergy to the mold. Mold can also cause structural damage to your home. Similarly, when wood goes through a period of wetting, then drying, it can eventually warp and cause walls to crack or become structurally weak.
What does mold need to grow? For mold to grow, it needs:
Can mold become a problem in my home? Yes, if there is moisture available to allow mold to thrive and multiply. The following are sources of indoor moisture that may cause problems:
CAUTION: If you see moisture condensation on the windows or walls, it is also possible that you have a combustion problem in your home. It is important to have sufficient fresh air available for fuel burning appliances, such as the furnace, water heater, stove/range, clothes dryer, as well as a fireplace. A shortage of air for these appliances can result in back drafting of dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide into the home. To prevent back drafting of air, you need either open vents or a ventilation system that brings fresh air into the home to replace air that is exhausted out. Have your local utility company or a professional heating contractor inspect your fuel-burning appliances annually.
HEALTH EFFECTS
How am I exposed to indoor molds? Mold is found everywhere, indoors and outdoors. It is common to find mold spores in the air of homes and growing on damp surfaces. Much of the mold found indoors comes from outdoor sources. Therefore, everyone is exposed to some mold on a daily basis without evident harm. Mold spores primarily cause health problems when they enter the air and are inhaled in large number. People can also be exposed to mold through skin contact and eating.
How much mold can make me sick? It depends. For some people, a relatively small number of mold spores can cause health problems. For other people, it may take many more. The basic rule is, if you can see or smell it, take steps to eliminate the excess moisture, and to cleanup and remove the mold.
Who is at greater risk when exposed to mold? Exposure to mold is not healthy for anyone inside buildings. It is important to quickly identify and correct any moisture sources before health problems develop. The following individuals appear to be at higher risk for adverse health effects of molds:
People with these special concerns should consult a physician if they are having health problems.
What symptoms are common? Allergic reactions may be the most common health problem of mold exposure. Typical symptoms reported (alone or in combination) include:
Are some molds more hazardous than others? Allergic persons vary in their sensitivities to mold, both as to amount and type needed to cause reactions. In addition, certain types of molds can produce toxins, called mycotoxins, that the mold uses to inhibit or prevent the growth of other organisms. Mycotoxins are found in both living and dead mold spores. Materials permeated with mold need to be removed, even after they are disinfected with cleaning solutions. Allergic and toxic effects can remain in dead spores. Exposure to mycotoxins may present a greater hazard than that of allergenic or irritative molds. Mycotoxins have been found in homes, agricultural settings, food, and office buildings.
DETECTION OF MOLD
How can I tell if I have mold in my house? If you can see mold, or if there is an earthy or musty odor, you can assume you have a mold problem. Allergic individuals may experience the symptoms listed above. Look for previous water damage. Visible mold growth is found underneath materials where water has damaged surfaces, or behind walls. Look for discoloration and leaching from plaster.
Should I test my home for mold? The California Department of Health Services does not recommend testing as the first step to determine if you have a mold problem. Reliable sampling for mold can be expensive, and requires equipment not available to the general public. Residents of individual private homes must pay a contractor to carry out such sampling, as it is not usually done by public health agencies. Mold cleanup is usually considered one of the housekeeping tasks of the private citizen, along with roof and plumbing repairs, sweeping and house cleaning.
Another problem is that there are few available standards for judging what is an acceptable quantity of mold. In all locations, there is some outdoor levels of molds. If sampling is carried out, an outdoor air sample needs to be taken at the same time as the sample indoors, to provide a baseline measurement. Since the susceptibility of individuals varies so greatly, sampling is at best a general guide.
The simplest approach is: if you can see or smell mold, you have a problem. Once you know the problem exists, follow the procedure given next.
Unless the source of moisture is removed and the contaminated area is cleaned and disinfected, mold growth is likely to reoccur.
GENERAL CLEAN-UP PROCEDURES
What can I save? What should I toss? Substances that are porous and can trap molds, such as paper, rags, wallboard, and rotten wood should be decontaminated and thrown out. Harder materials such as glass, plastic, or metal can be kept after they are cleaned and disinfected.
Ultimately, it is critical to remove the source of moisture first, before beginning remedial action, since mold growth will return shortly if an effected area becomes re-wetted.
Removal of Moldy Materials After fixing the moisture source and removing excess moisture, the cleanup can begin:
CAUTION: Spores are easily released when moldy material is dried out.
Soap Cleanup
Before disinfecting contaminated areas, clean the areas to remove as much of the mold (and food it is growing on) as possible.
Disinfect Surfaces
CAUTION: Bleach fumes can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, and damage clothing and shoes. Make sure the working area is ventilated well.
Can cleaning up mold be hazardous to my health? Yes. Exposure to mold can occur during the cleaning stage. Mold counts are typically 10 to 1000 times higher than background levels during the cleaning of mold damaged materials. Take steps to protect your health during cleanup:
CAUTION: Never use a gasoline engine indoors (e.g. pressure washer, generator) -- you could expose yourself and your family to carbon monoxide.
Can Air Duct Systems become Contaminated with Mold? Yes. Air duct systems can become contaminated with mold. Duct systems can be constructed of bare sheet metal, sheet metal with an exterior fibrous glass insulation, sheet metal with an internal fibrous glass liner, or made entirely of fibrous glass. If your home's air duct system has had water damage, first identify the type of air duct construction that you have. Bare sheet metal systems, or sheet metal with exterior fibrous glass insulation, can be cleaned and disinfected.
If your system has sheet metal with an internal fibrous glass liner, or are made entirely of fibrous glass, the ductwork normally will need to be removed and discarded. Ductwork in difficult locations may have to be abandoned. If you have other questions, contact an air duct cleaning professional, or licensed contractor.
After I've cleaned everything as thoroughly as possible, can I still have mold odors? Yes. It is possible that odors may persist. Continue to dry out the area and search for any hidden areas of mold. If the area continues to smell musty, you may have to re-clean the area again (follow the cleaning steps given in this sheet). Continue to dry and ventilate the area. Don't replace flooring or begin rebuilding until the area has dried completely.
How can further damage to my home be prevented? Check regularly for the following:
If you see any of the above, seek out and take steps to eliminate the source of water penetration, as quickly as possible.
Can Ozone air cleaners help remove indoor mold, or reduce odor or pollution levels? Some air cleaners are designed to produce ozone. Ozone is a strong oxidizing agent used as a disinfectant in water and sometimes to eliminate odors. However, ozone is a known lung irritant. Symptoms associated with exposure include cough, chest pain, and eye, nose, and throat irritation. Ozone generators have been shown to generate indoor levels above the safe limit. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that ozone is not effective in controlling molds and fungi, even at high concentrations far above safe health levels. Also, ozone may damage materials in the home. For these reasons, the California Department of Health Services strongly recommends that you do not use an ozone air cleaner in any occupied residential space. Refer to the CDHS IAQ Info Sheet: Health Hazards of Ozone-generating Air Cleaning Devices (January 1998).
Name, City & State: Please include your name or else I don't know who it is from.
About a nine footer (Black Snake)? Came at me in a 90 year old attic in Virginia one time and I JUMPED down to the floor through the extremely narrow hatch. The real anxiety attack for me came when I realized that I had to go back up the ladder and grab the cover. I almost wet myself when I was reaching my arm into the portal opening. That was the longest 15 seconds of my life. Chris Burkhart - UT
A few weeks back I was asked if I would pay special attention to the unusual odor in the home I was to inspect. It was a probate sale, so no information was available from the previous owner. The local gas supplier had been out twice and failed to find any gas leaks. The home did have a strong indoor odor that was reminiscent of propane. It was an older home that had been added to and remodeled many times. There was only one plumbing vent in the whole system. It came off the back of the toilet drain and terminated in the attic above the bathroom. The laundry drain, bathroom sink drain, and bathtub drain all no traps. The septic tank had been venting to the interior of the home and attic for who knows how many years. No wonder the place smelled odd. It makes one wonder what the previous owner died of. Jon Gudnason - Placerville, CA
TO ALL OREGON CERTIFIED HOME INSPECTORS - The CCB will be proposing several bills to the 2001 Oregon Legislature. One involves the general contractor home inspector exemption. The CCB is proposing a law that:
Will the law pass? It depends on home inspectors supporting this bill. For information contact me at my email address tb1937@aol.com We need to have this passed. Thank you. Tom Burnham, President Southern Oregon Certified Home Inspector Chapter
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