by Nick Gromicko and Ethan Ward ![]() Mold in the Home Health concerns related to the growth of mold in the home have been featured heavily in the news. Problems ranging from itchy eyes, coughing and sneezing to serious allergic reactions, asthma attacks, and even the possibility of permanent lung damage can all be caused by mold, which can be found growing in the home, given the right conditions. All that is needed for mold to grow is moisture, oxygen, a food source, and a surface to grow on. Mold spores are commonly found naturally in the air. If spores land on a wet or damp spot indoors and begin growing, they will lead to problems. Molds produce allergens, irritants and, in some cases, potentially toxic substances called mycotoxins. Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also trigger asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. As more is understood about the health issues related to mold growth in interior environments, new methods for mold assessment and remediation are being put into practice. Mold assessment and mold remediation are techniques used in occupational health. Mold assessment is the process of identifying the location and extent of the mold hazard in a structure. Mold remediation is the process of cleanup and/or removal of mold from an indoor environment. Mold remediation is usually conducted by a company with experience in construction, demolition, cleaning, airborne-particle containment-control, and the use of special equipment to protect workers and building occupants from contaminated or irritating dust and organic debris. A new method that is gaining traction in this area is abrasive blasting. Abrasive Blasting The first step in combating mold growth is not to allow for an environment that is conducive to its growth in the first place. Controlling moisture and assuring that standing water from leaks or floods is eliminated are the most important places to start. If mold growth has already begun, the mold must be removed completely, and any affected surfaces must be cleaned or repaired. Traditional methods for remediation have been slow and tedious, often involving copious amounts of hand-scrubbing and sanding. Abrasive blasting is a new technique that is proving to be less tedious and time-consuming, while maintaining a high level of effectiveness. Abrasive blasting is a process for cleaning or finishing objects by using an air-blast or centrifugal wheel that throws abrasive particles against the surface of the work pieces. Sand, dry ice and corncobs are just some of the different types of media used in blasting. For the purposes of mold remediation, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and dry ice are the media commonly used. Benefits of Abrasive Blasting Abrasive (or “media”) blasting provides some distinct advantages over traditional techniques of mold remediation. In addition to eliminating much of the tedious labor involved in scrubbing and sanding by hand, abrasive blasting is extremely useful for cleaning irregular and hard-to-reach surfaces. Surfaces that have cross-bracing or bridging can be cleaned more easily, as well as areas such as the bottom of a deck, where nails may be protruding. Areas that are difficult to access, such as attics and crawlspaces, can also be cleaned more easily with abrasive blasting than by traditional methods. The time saved is also an advantage, and the typical timeframe for completion of a mold remediation project can often be greatly reduced by utilizing abrasive blasting. Soda-Blasting Soda-blasting is a type of abrasive blasting that utilizes sodium bicarbonate as the medium propelled by compressed air. One of the earliest and most widely publicized uses of soda-blasting was on the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. In May of 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Lee Iacocca to head up a private-sector effort for the project. Fundraising began for the $87 million restoration under a public-private partnership between the National Park Service and The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. After extensive work that included the use of soda-blasting, the restored monument re-opened to the public on July 5, 1986, during Liberty Weekend, which celebrated the statue's centennial. The baking soda used in soda-blasting is soft but angular, appearing knife-like under a microscope. The crystals are manufactured in state-of-the-art facilities to ensure that the right size and shape are consistently produced. Baking soda is water-soluble, with a pH near neutral. Baking-soda abrasive blasting effectively removes mold while minimizing damage to the underlying surface (i.e., wood, PVC, modern wiring, ductwork, etc.). When using the proper equipment setup (correct nozzles, media regulators, hoses, etc.) and technique (proper air flow, pressure, angle of attack, etc.), the process allows for fast and efficient removal of mold, with a minimum of damage, waste and cleanup. By using a soda blaster with the correct-size nozzle, the amount of baking soda used is minimized. Minimal baking soda means better visibility while working, and less cleanup afterward. Dry-Ice Blasting Dry ice is solidified carbon dioxide that, at -78.5° C and ambient pressure, changes directly into a gas as it absorbs heat. Dry ice pellets are made by taking liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) from a pressurized storage tank and expanding it at ambient pressure to produce snow. The snow is then compressed through a die to make hard pellets. The pellets are readily available from most dry ice suppliers nationwide. For dry-ice blasting, the standard size used is 1/8-inch, high-density dry ice pellets. The dry-ice blasting process includes three phases, the first of which is energy transfer. Energy transfer works when dry ice pellets are propelled out of the blasting gun at supersonic speed and impact the surface. The energy transfer helps to knock mold off the surface being cleaned, with little or no damage. The freezing effect of the dry ice pellets hitting the mold creates the second phase, which is micro-thermal shock, caused by the dry ice’s temperature of -79º C, between the mold and the contaminated surface. This phase isn’t as much a factor in the removal of mold as it is for removing resins, oils, waxes, food particles, and other contaminants and debris. For these types of substances, the thermal shock causes cracking and delaminating of the contaminant, furthering the elimination process. The final phase is gas pressure, which happens when the dry ice pellets explode on impact. As the pellets warm, they convert to CO2 gas, generating a volume expansion of 400 to 800 times. The rapid gas expansion underneath the mold forces it off the surface. HEPA Vacuuming A HEPA vacuum is a vacuum cleaner with a high-efficiency particulate air (or HEPA) filter through which the contaminated air flows. HEPA filters, as defined by the U.S. Department of Energy’s standard adopted by most American industries, remove at least 99.97% of airborne particles that are as small as 0.3 micrometers (µm) in diameter. HEPA vacuuming is necessary in conjunction with blasting for complete mold removal. While abrasive blasting with either baking soda or dry ice is an effective technique, remediation will not be complete until HEPA filtering or vacuuming has been done. Abrasive blasting removes mold from contaminated surfaces, but it also causes the mold spores to become airborne again. The spores can cover the ground and the surfaces that have already been cleaned. So, the mold spores need to be removed by HEPA filters. Additionally, while some remediation companies claim that there will be no blasting media to remove after cleaning, especially with the dry-ice method, there will be at least a small amount of visible debris left by the blasting that must be removed before HEPA vacuuming can occur. HEPA vacuuming removes all invisible contaminants from surfaces and the surrounding air. When HEPA vacuuming is completed, samples at the previously contaminated areas should be re-tested to ensure that no mold or mold spores remain. Abrasive blasting using dry ice or baking soda, combined with HEPA-filter vacuuming, is an effective method for mold remediation. InterNACHI inspectors who offer ancillary mold inspection services should be aware of the benefits and applications of this technique adapted for remediating mold in homes. Craftsman Home Inspections llc is a home inspection company proudly serving the Aurora CO and Denver CO Metro Areas. If you are looking for a Home Inspector in Aurora or Denver, please give us a call at 720-593-0383 or check us out online at CraftsmanColorado.com or simply schedule your home inspection below.
SCHEDULE INSPECTION
18 Comments
3/9/2020 04:14:18 pm
I liked what you said about how getting rid of the environment that can create mold should be the first step in getting rid of mold growth. My mom has noticed that there are some dark spots on the wall of the basement underneath the washer. She would really like to get a professional to inspect her home and see if they can find any other mold.
Reply
2/18/2021 07:25:34 am
There's some mold in my home that I haven't been able to get rid of myself, and I'm not sure what to do about it. It's good to know that you can remove it with abrasive blasting! I'll make sure that I work with a professional to help me out with this.
Reply
8/4/2021 11:03:09 am
My cousin has been thinking about getting the right kind of blasting for their mold in order to be safer. She would really like to get some help from a professional in order to be more effective with the right blasting process. I liked what you said about how dry ice blasting can have more solidified carbon dioxide with three different phases.
Reply
8/6/2021 08:35:51 am
I like that you mentioned that you can greatly reduce the typical timeframe of a mold remediation project by using abrasive blasting. My wife and I are flipping a house and we found a bunch of mold in the basement, but we don't have enough time to spend days removing it. I think that dry ice blasting sounds like the solution to our problem!
Reply
9/2/2021 11:42:48 pm
Thanks for pointing out that mold can grow due to moisture and a surface to grow on. This is really helpful because my husband and I want to remove the mold in our bathroom. I guess we should look for abrasive blasting on Monday so we can get rid of the mold within one hour.
Reply
10/25/2021 04:05:12 am
Abrasive Blasting is a very effective way to clean and remove mold. Abrasive blasting removes mold from contaminated surfaces. Thanks for sharing useful post.
Reply
12/2/2021 10:27:57 am
You should prevent it by keeping places sufficiently dry, and you should effectively handle mold contamination promptly.
Reply
12/3/2021 01:44:35 pm
Remediation is defined as the action of remedying something, in particular the process of reversing or stopping environmental damage.
Reply
1/6/2022 02:38:03 pm
Molds can also trigger asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold.
Reply
1/13/2022 10:29:42 am
The snow is then compressed through a die to make hard pellets. The pellets are readily available from most dry ice suppliers nationwide. Thank you, amazing post!
Reply
2/10/2022 07:13:06 pm
Excellent blog! The spores can contaminate the ground and previously cleansed surfaces. As a result, HEPA filters are required to eliminate mold spores.
Reply
2/19/2022 09:29:20 am
Our professional mold remediation team knows how to identify and eliminate mold at its source. If you have a mold infestation in your floors, Thank you for sharing your great post!
Reply
3/11/2022 10:26:50 pm
Yes, mold can cause serious allergic reactions, asthma attacks, and even the possibility of permanent lung damage can all be caused by mold.So. It is important to contact mold removal company to get rid of mold. I'm grateful that I found your blog. Keep Sharing.
Reply
5/31/2022 11:08:38 am
Before mold remediation can begin, you need to find and repair the water source of the mold, otherwise, it could return.
Reply
8/17/2022 02:29:11 pm
Mold spores are commonly found naturally in the air. If spores land on a wet or damp spot indoors and begin growing, they will lead to problems. Thank you so much for sharing all this wonderful info with us! It is so appreciated!
Reply
8/29/2022 04:45:56 pm
Traditional methods for remediation have been slow and tedious, often involving copious amounts of hand-scrubbing and sanding. Abrasive blasting is a new technique that is proving to be less tedious and time-consuming, while maintaining a high level of effectiveness. Thank you so much for sharing all this wonderful info with us! It is so appreciated!
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorCraftsman Home Inspections. We are your Aurora and Denver Colorado Home Inspectors. Here you will find useful information about the Home Inspection industry as well as home maintenance tips. Archives
April 2020
Categories |
Our
|
Craftsman Home Inspections llcAt Craftsman Home Inspections we are professionals who promise to give you our best Home inspection every time.
|