Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everyone, We have a strange occurance in our house that we started to notice about 3 months ago in one of the bedrooms.  Along the base of the wall and one corner, there is a wierd ‘mold-like’ substance covering the walls.  I don’t know if mold is the correct word for it.  It looks black, and if I rub my finger over it, it collects onto my finger and looks like some sort of heavy dirt for lack of better explanation. The room is on the main level of our bungalo.  Now we just noticed that this stuff has appeared at the base of the walls along with some of the corners in 3 other rooms!?!  For more information … we have noticed that all the walls that this has appeared on are outside walls, and again for more information….we have noticed that upstairs during the cold weather, our windows all get VERY fogged up. Just giving you all the information that I think may be helpful to you to help give us some info on what this stuff is, if it’s dangerous, how we can get rid of it for good, how we can clean it, and what you think may be the cause. Thank you very much! Jay

You obviously have a moisture problem that needs attention. I’m guessing it’s condenstating on the colder outside walls.  Alleviate the moisture, and use bleach to kill the mold.  The mold the "chicken littles" are referring to is Stachybotrys.  A rare, but serious problem.  You can read more about it at the following link:  http://www.cal-iaq.org/LAYMEM97.html

Response:

For more information … we have noticed that all the walls that this has appeared on are outside walls, and again for more information….we have noticed that upstairs during the cold weather, our windows all get VERY fogged up.

If you use a humidifer turn it off,what you have is a bad humidity problem.You may need a dehumidifer to dry out the air . "We maybe broken, but are not down and never will be."

Response:

Jay- You seem to have the clasic symptoms of Household Mold, which can be toxic. Know the Symptoms of Mold-related illness: Chronic Sinus Infections and Asthma, Nosebleeds, Extreme Fatigue, Severe Headaches, Dizziness, Memory Loss, Flu-like symptoms that persist, Rashes and Central Nervous System Problems. I represent "Project Home," we treat indoor air pollution, which is MAJOR player in asthma, allergies, and chronic illness. I am not trying to sell you anything, Jay. But i think you should try Living Air. It treats problems simply by bringing nature’s outdoor solutions to these problems indoors. I call it a "thunderstorm in a box." Using negative ions, radio frequencies, and O3, we effectively purify indoor air. A little bit bigger than a toaster, this unit knocks down dust and dander, and then oxidizes them rendering them harmless. It is also effective against smoke, mold, moldew, and is lethal to germs and viruses. With your permission, Jay, I would be willing to send you a free information packet, which comes with a video about the product. If you wished to proceed, I can let you try the instrument risk-free for 30 days. The unit comes with a 3-year bumper to bumper warranty. let me know if you want me to mail you the free information. Thanks! Living Air & Water of Iowa J. "Jake" Numedahl 911 22nd AV #3 Coralville, IA 52241 – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, Not to alarm but I know an instance who had to burn down their house and contents with this mold problem. They got really sick as well almost killing their new born baby. If you own the house, see how much it’ll cost to remedy the problem vs. abandoning the house. You still have land. Tony Hi everyone, We have a strange occurance in our house that we started to notice about 3 months ago in one of the bedrooms.  Along the base of the wall and one corner, there is a wierd ‘mold-like’ substance covering the walls.  I don’t know if mold is the correct word for it.  It looks black, and if I rub my finger over it, it collects onto my finger and looks like some sort of heavy dirt for lack of better explanation. The room is on the main level of our bungalo.  Now we just noticed that this stuff has appeared at the base of the walls along with some of the corners in 3 other rooms!?!  For more information … we have noticed that all the walls that this has appeared on are outside walls, and again for more information….we have noticed that upstairs during the cold weather, our windows all get VERY fogged up. Just giving you all the information that I think may be helpful to you to help give us some info on what this stuff is, if it’s dangerous, how we can get rid of it for good, how we can clean it, and what you think may be the cause. Thank you very much! Jay hey Jay  I got good news and bad news.  The good news is you’re still alive. The bad news is you better start looking for another place to live, like yesterday. one of many remedies….. Step 1.  Remove all of the interior sheetrock and or wall coverings on all exterior walls, and all walls where you see mold. Step 2.  Pay a licensed, bonded, & insured  PROFESSIONAL  to remove the fungus or mold and kill all the microscopic spores.  Get something to that effect in writing. Step 3.  First completly dry the walls out then fill the wall cavity with insulation.  Replace all exterior windows with double pane low E windows, in vinyl or wood frames.  Re-hang and finish interior walls. Step 4.  Install bathroom exhaust fans, vented to the outside for all bathrooms. Rip out all the carpets & pads and install all new.  If you have any money left, put in a new forced air heating system. Be sure to disclose all of this when you sell the house.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hi everyone, We have a strange occurance in our house that we started to notice about 3 months ago in one of the bedrooms.  Along the base of the wall and one corner, there is a wierd ‘mold-like’ substance covering the walls.  I don’t know if mold is the correct word for it.  It looks black, and if I rub my finger over it, it collects onto my finger and looks like some sort of heavy dirt for lack of better explanation. The room is on the main level of our bungalo.  Now we just noticed that this stuff has appeared at the base of the walls along with some of the corners in 3 other rooms!?!  For more information … we have noticed that all the walls that this has appeared on are outside walls, and again for more information….we have noticed that upstairs during the cold weather, our windows all get VERY fogged up. Just giving you all the information that I think may be helpful to you to help give us some info on what this stuff is, if it’s dangerous, how we can get rid of it for good, how we can clean it, and what you think may be the cause.

Is this an old "loose" house?  Do you notice a larger amount of this black stuff around wall outlets and windows on outside walls?  Burning candles in a house will cause a black film from the paraffin to collect around loose areas on outside walls. Do you have a humidifier on your furnace?  If it’s set too high you’ll get fogged up windows and sweating exterior walls. Clothes dryer venting normally? A gas furnace or boiler with a major flue problem is another possibility but if it got to the point your windows are fogging up, you probably would have typed that message from the grave. A guy I know buys houses, remodles them and then sells them.  Last year he bought a real winner…roof was bad for many years and along with ice damming, quite a bit of water made it in-between all the walls.  Very disgusting problem and I’d bet money he painted over it with KILZ and sold the house.  Hopefully this isn’t your problem. George SMWIA Local 20

Response:

clorox

Response:

Hi everyone, We have a strange occurance in our house that we started to notice about 3 months ago in one of the bedrooms.  Along the base of the wall and one corner, there is a wierd ‘mold-like’ substance covering the walls.  I don’t

I think, but don’t KNOW, that you can determine whether this is mold or soot by wiping with a 10% bleach solution.  Bleach should remove the black stuff if it is mold, and probably slow down reappearance.  If it is soot, then it should not bleach.  Someone recently posted on this newsgroup how soot appears as stains on walls from burning candles; very interesting but I didn’t keep the links.  A good heating/AC contractor could probably give you suggestions, and for safety’s sake I’d make sure it isn’t a furnace problem leaking CO into the house.

Response:

Hi, Not to alarm but I know an instance who had to burn down their house and contents with this mold problem. They got really sick as well almost killing their new born baby. If you own the house, see how much it’ll cost to remedy the problem vs. abandoning the house. You still have land. Tony – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everyone, We have a strange occurance in our house that we started to notice about 3 months ago in one of the bedrooms.  Along the base of the wall and one corner, there is a wierd ‘mold-like’ substance covering the walls.  I don’t know if mold is the correct word for it.  It looks black, and if I rub my finger over it, it collects onto my finger and looks like some sort of heavy dirt for lack of better explanation. The room is on the main level of our bungalo.  Now we just noticed that this stuff has appeared at the base of the walls along with some of the corners in 3 other rooms!?!  For more information … we have noticed that all the walls that this has appeared on are outside walls, and again for more information….we have noticed that upstairs during the cold weather, our windows all get VERY fogged up. Just giving you all the information that I think may be helpful to you to help give us some info on what this stuff is, if it’s dangerous, how we can get rid of it for good, how we can clean it, and what you think may be the cause. Thank you very much! Jay hey Jay  I got good news and bad news.  The good news is you’re still alive. The bad news is you better start looking for another place to live, like yesterday. one of many remedies….. Step 1.  Remove all of the interior sheetrock and or wall coverings on all exterior walls, and all walls where you see mold. Step 2.  Pay a licensed, bonded, & insured  PROFESSIONAL  to remove the fungus or mold and kill all the microscopic spores.  Get something to that effect in writing. Step 3.  First completly dry the walls out then fill the wall cavity with insulation.  Replace all exterior windows with double pane low E windows, in vinyl or wood frames.  Re-hang and finish interior walls. Step 4.  Install bathroom exhaust fans, vented to the outside for all bathrooms. Rip out all the carpets & pads and install all new.  If you have any money left, put in a new forced air heating system. Be sure to disclose all of this when you sell the house.

Response:

Hmmmmm…  sounds like mildew to me. Furniture or other close/against the wall in these areas? You will need the scrub with a bleach solution to kill the mold, fans or other to dry the walls, and track down the source for excess humidity.  May have to prime with Kiz or equivalent and repaint. Sounds like you have an humidity problem, combined with possibly poor insulation and/or a lot of air infiltration.  Moisture is condensing on the cold walls.  This will be most severe in areas where furniture or other items restrict air movement. Excess moisture could be the result interior buildup from washer/dryer, cooling, shower, humidifiers, etc. If you are in a wet (rain/snow) there may be structural damage such as roof or siding that is allowing moisture to penetrate the walls, or even leaking pipes within the walls. It is NOT a healthy environment to be living in.  Dangerous is a word often associated with these conditions.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everyone, We have a strange occurance in our house that we started to notice about 3 months ago in one of the bedrooms.  Along the base of the wall and one corner, there is a wierd ‘mold-like’ substance covering the walls.  I don’t know if mold is the correct word for it.  It looks black, and if I rub my finger over it, it collects onto my finger and looks like some sort of heavy dirt for lack of better explanation. The room is on the main level of our bungalo.  Now we just noticed that this stuff has appeared at the base of the walls along with some of the corners in 3 other rooms!?!  For more information … we have noticed that all the walls that this has appeared on are outside walls, and again for more information….we have noticed that upstairs during the cold weather, our windows all get VERY fogged up. Just giving you all the information that I think may be helpful to you to help give us some info on what this stuff is, if it’s dangerous, how we can get rid of it for good, how we can clean it, and what you think may be the cause. Thank you very much! Jay

Response:

Hi everyone, We have a strange occurance in our house that we started to notice about 3 months ago in one of the bedrooms.  Along the base of the wall and one corner, there is a wierd ‘mold-like’ substance covering the walls.  I don’t know if mold is the correct word for it.  It looks black, and if I rub my finger over it, it collects onto my finger and looks like some sort of heavy dirt for lack of better explanation. The room is on the main level of our bungalo.  Now we just noticed that this stuff has appeared at the base of the walls along with some of the corners in 3 other rooms!?!  For more information … we have noticed that all the walls that this has appeared on are outside walls, and again for more information….we have noticed that upstairs during the cold weather, our windows all get VERY fogged up. Just giving you all the information that I think may be helpful to you to help give us some info on what this stuff is, if it’s dangerous, how we can get rid of it for good, how we can clean it, and what you think may be the cause. Thank you very much! Jay

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everyone, We have a strange occurance in our house that we started to notice about 3 months ago in one of the bedrooms.  Along the base of the wall and one corner, there is a wierd ‘mold-like’ substance covering the walls.  I don’t know if mold is the correct word for it.  It looks black, and if I rub my finger over it, it collects onto my finger and looks like some sort of heavy dirt for lack of better explanation. The room is on the main level of our bungalo.  Now we just noticed that this stuff has appeared at the base of the walls along with some of the corners in 3 other rooms!?!  For more information … we have noticed that all the walls that this has appeared on are outside walls, and again for more information….we have noticed that upstairs during the cold weather, our windows all get VERY fogged up. Just giving you all the information that I think may be helpful to you to help give us some info on what this stuff is, if it’s dangerous, how we can get rid of it for good, how we can clean it, and what you think may be the cause. Thank you very much! Jay

hey Jay  I got good news and bad news.  The good news is you’re still alive. The bad news is you better start looking for another place to live, like yesterday. one of many remedies….. Step 1.  Remove all of the interior sheetrock and or wall coverings on all exterior walls, and all walls where you see mold. Step 2.  Pay a licensed, bonded, & insured  PROFESSIONAL  to remove the fungus or mold and kill all the microscopic spores.  Get something to that effect in writing. Step 3.  First completly dry the walls out then fill the wall cavity with insulation.  Replace all exterior windows with double pane low E windows, in vinyl or wood frames.  Re-hang and finish interior walls. Step 4.  Install bathroom exhaust fans, vented to the outside for all bathrooms.   Rip out all the carpets & pads and install all new.  If you have any money left, put in a new forced air heating system. Be sure to disclose all of this when you sell the house.

Response:

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