What to Do If Mold in the House Makes You Sick?

Exposure to mold and mold spores can make you seriously ill. Mold spores can cause allergic reactions whose symptoms may include labored breathing, sneezing, runny nose, coughing, congestion, itchy orifices and respiratory infections such as sinusitis. Keeping mold out of your home is important to maintaining good respiratory health. Have a course of action ready in the event that mold originating in your house ever makes you sick.

Consult Your Doctor

• Call your doctor immediately if you have detected mold in your home and suspect it is making you ill. Alert your doctor even if you have not found mold but are suffering from symptoms of allergy to mold for longer than two weeks. Your doctor may perform some tests, prescribe medications for your allergy symptoms or refer you to a specialist.

Identify Causes of Mold

• Mold thrives in damp areas of the home. After locating the mold, try to identify its source. You may have a leak, or your home may be too humid. Before attempting to rid your home of the mold, eliminate any source of water or humidity that may be contributing to the growth of mold in your home and making you sick.

  Lower the humidity by using an air conditioner or dehumidifier. Use these especially in trouble areas such as basements and attics. Check all water pipe valves, and make sure they are secure. You may need to check behind the wallpaper or drywall if it is infected by mold to find out if there is a hidden source of moisture of some kind.

Remediation

• You must remove the mold in your home. Always do so safely. Wear protective clothing, including gloves, protective eyewear and an N-95 respirator if your infected area is less than 10 square feet in area. Seal off your affected area with plastic or polyethylene sheets if possible. Scrub or damp-wipe the mold away with warm water. You may wish to use detergent as well. Remove mold and all affected materials in a sealable plastic bag, then ventilate your affected area. Contact the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or your local authority before attempting to remove mold in areas larger than 10 square feet.

  Consult the EPA Mold Remediation link in Resources about the protective clothing requirements and exact remediation procedure necessary to remove mold in your home.

Tips and Warnings

• Consult an environmental protection or cleaning expert before attempting mold remediation on your own. They may even suggest cleaning your home's air ducts as part of mold remediation.

  Schedule your mold remediation during a time when your home or affected area is as empty as possible.