I want to use one of my rooms as bedroom but a while ago there was some very small amount mold/mildew stains from a leak in the wall of the closet(during winter snow storm and water was squrting in) . Since it was bleached and dried back then and there's no leak right now, my landlord doesn't want to rip it open to see what caused the leak and mildew. I am concerned that when we have some snow in a month or two, the leak will come back and not only my clothes will be ruined but the mold will cause some more serious health problems for me, too.
2006-10-26 16:46:17 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
As far as any health concerns, it depends on what color the mold/mildew was and what direction the wall faces (e.g. North, South, East, or West). From your description the mold/mildew was "very small." This indicates that the leak was likely minor. If the leak was fixed and the stain is no longer there due to the bleach then it is likely not a problem.
The only concern that you should have is if the wall faces the south or east and/or the mold was black. A south or eastward facing wall is exposed to less sun and tends to retain more moisture (a contributing factor to the development of mold spores) than a north or west facing wall. Also, black mold is toxic and dangerous to ones health. It can be successfully treated with bleach but if it becomes airborne (from being disturbed - being poked, prodded) then it can spread to other porous (e.g. wood, clothes, sponges) items in your home.
Take a look at the link below. This site has a lot of information regarding mold and mildew in homes.
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/moldguide.html
2006-10-26 17:13:42 · answer #1 · answered by steinmancloud9 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tell your landlord, that he is playing with fire to wait to see if it leaks again. Meantime, mold is in the house and could make you all sick. For his own sake, he should check it now before more problems arise and he gets slapped with a lawsuit.
2006-10-26 23:50:22 · answer #2 · answered by butrcupps 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your concern is definitely warranted. I would bypass the landlord and call the Health Department and ask their advice. You're correct in assuming this winter it'll do it again...But ofcourse your landlord doesn't want to fork out the cash...
Just go over his head...
Good luck ! ! !
(You definitely don't want to mess around with mold and the health problems it could cause. You have rights ! ! ! )
2006-10-27 00:08:52 · answer #3 · answered by Sweetea 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
clean it up up with bleach and water. kill that mold, it can be a serious health risk.. then stop the the leak
2006-10-27 06:09:49 · answer #4 · answered by rick o 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋