Inadequate Ventilation Can
Cause Mold
Growth
Q.
We have a detached garage that was
probably never properly vented and as a result has some black mold forming on the
ceilings and walls. My husband plans to just bleach it - but I am curious to know if it is
toxic. Any suggestions? [Jan. 26, 2003]
A.
Improper or inadequate ventilation of the garage may have caused the humidity to get into
the dangerous 60 percent or higher humidity level that enables mold to grow. You
should be checking the humidity level with a digital hygrometer [buy from Lowe's, Home Depot
or hardware thermostat department]. But you should also check the roof and siding carefully
for any water leaks that have facilitated mold growth. Even though you are not living in the
garage, it is possible that dangerous mold spores may have traveled via air currents from
the detached garage into your home. For this reason, it would be advisable to
mold test your
garage
plus the rooms inside your home to determine if there are elevated levels of
mold spores.
If any wood has mold growing inside the wood, the wood should be replaced with mold-free
lumber.
Don't use bleach to kill mold because it doesn't. Visit
Bleach Mold Myth.
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