A Safe School for Liam

Carla, a dedicated mother homeschooled her son Liam for five years. Everything was going great until she noticed a change in Liam. Carla’s once bright, witty, and enthusiastic son hadn't been acting like himself. 

Liam was tired and when reading he would get shortness of breath. Doctors weren't able to figure out a diagnosis, and for years Carla was desperate for help. Until one day Carla's friend suggested that she call Healthy Air USA, to test and see if a mold allergy could be causing Liam's change. 

After a brief phone assessment, we sent out one of our inspectors to test Carla's home for mold. During the visual inspection there were no signs of mold, but after taking air sample tests elevated levels of Curvularia mold was discovered. Carla took the information to her son’s doctor which he agreed the mold could possibly be causing the illness. 

Carla immediately started mold remediation, the first step to end mold poisoning symptoms. Finding the mold source was tough but our experts know just where mold is susceptible to growing. Her Atlanta home was built on top of a monolithic concrete slab, which had been acting like a sponge since the home was built, absorbing water in the ground and then transferring it to the plywood laid directly over the concrete slab. The plywood under the floors was covered in mold throughout the house. 

The process used to remediate the home was extensive. All carpet, hardwood and plywood had to be removed and replaced, but in the end Liam was finally showing improvement!  Removing the source was the first step to Liam's recovery a year later Carla says that her son is finally acting like Liam again and calling Healthy Air USA was the best thing she has done.

Taking Back Your Life From Mold

A customer came to Healthy Air USA because she suspected that her home was making her sick. She spoke of chronic fatigue, chronic sinus infections, headaches and that she no longer had the energy for her beloved daily jogs around her neighborhood. She also claimed she felt much better while away from home on a recent vacation in Florida.

Our initial Healthy Home Assessment determined that there was a high potential that mold was present in her home and causing her health symptoms so we recommended a mold inspection. When we entered the house a faint musty smell hit me, an almost certain indication of mold growth, and we proceeded with our comprehensive inspection of the home. 

We began with an exterior inspection for drainage issues and areas where moisture may collect. Our interior inspection addresses areas of common concern such as air conditioning, air ducts, water sources, attics, basements and crawl spaces. Upon inspection, we did not find the presence of mold in these areas, but we continued to test the humidity levels of the hardwoods, walls, and ceilings. We finally found a thick, black, furry layer of mold lining the air supply of the air plenums which connect the air ducts to the furnace and air conditioner. 

We safely encapsulated the mold so that it would not further spread throughout the home and then replaced the air plenums with sheet metal which would prevent mold from growing in the future. 

Our customer reports that after our services she no longer suffers from sinus infections, chronic fatigue, and other symptoms. She is back to enjoying her daily runs around the neighborhood and no longer feels unsafe living in her home.

Mold In Your Dream Home 

Judy’s story is one of physical, emotional, and financial tragedy. What began as a sound investment soon turned into a nightmare as Judy and her family began to suffer from the consequences of poor building practices. She told me that she believed her new home that was only two years old was making her family sick. 

Over the last year, she and both her sons had been extremely ill. Her oldest son, Jason, had frequent nose bleeds and had passed out in their home. At one point, his tongue even turned black. Her youngest son was sick all the time. Judy said she had chronic headaches, joint pain, and pain in her internal organs, fatigue, and had passed out in their home on two occasions. She could not concentrate, and her memory was so bad she had to quit working.

After hearing Judy’s story, we agreed that we would conduct an air-quality assessment. Judy’s house was only two years old. We couldn’t imagine how the environment inside a home could become so bad in such a short period of time. 

When we first stepped inside, it appeared to be dry and no visible mold was immediately apparent on the main floor. We set up my equipment in the dining room to begin taking air samples, but within minutes my chest began to tighten, and my head began to hurt. We told Judy that we could not stay inside without wearing my respirator. 

In Jason’s bedroom, there was black mold growing on the surface of the perimeter wall. Stachybotrys chartarum is the official name for what most people refer to as toxic black mold. Judy’s home had the highest level of Stachybotrys of any home we have ever tested.

As soon as we received the results we recommended to Judy that she move her family out of the house. This was not a recommendation that we take lightly, but our inspection showed that the building structure was so flawed that no level of mold remediation would stop future growth.

Twelve months after our initial visit. Judy told us her family was not living in the house. The family’s health has slowly improved since moving out of their home, but their recovery emotionally, financially and physically has been difficult. It is Judy’s hope that sharing her story will raise awareness of both the physical risks of living with mold and the financial risks of purchasing a home that has not been properly built or inspected.

The best advice we can give anyone purchasing a home, new or old, is to hire a competent building inspector who understands how buildings can become excessively hydrated and promote mold growth. Taking the time to research and vet a prospective inspector may save thousands and more importantly your family’s quality of life.