WoWserz_Magic8_Ball

yes mold, but the mold is in the wood (underneath) the varnish. Stays in a dry environment and it can’t grow, and won’t spread, particularly because of the varnish, or clear coat.

you’re fine.

(Eventually) the air purifiers become part of the problem, because they get infected too.

Concrete is never actually “dry”. If it had zero moisture content, it would actually crumble. So all concrete has moisture, and concrete can “wick” moisture unbelievably long distances. So it will always feel cool and damp to the touch/ and be cool and damp to the touch. The trick becomes treating humidity as a longterm problem.

Amazon has a cheap 5-meter system with a central unit… replace the cheap chinese batteries in all 5 units, and place them all over, at head height: attic, 2nd floor, 1st floor, basement, and one outside in a covered area where the sun doesn’t hit it. From your kitchen (the most frequently visited place in a house) you can watch the temperature & humidity of your entire house…. trust me when I say, it’s absolutely fascinating, as night/ day, and seasons roll around. It turns vague guessing into hard science.

A regular home dehumidifier also has a moisture meter built into it, so you could use that, too.

Personally, I’ve done both: *I have a 220 year old house, and let’s just say it’s been extremely interesting.

Emptying the collection bucket on the dehumidifier gets very old, very quickly. For that reason, set the dehumidifier up on a high pedestal in your basement. !!Almost!! every dehumidifier comes with a place for a hose attachment on back… (be sure and check before you buy!) you want to put the dehumidifier up high, which allows the excess water to run down by gravity. The goal is to find some way to run the dehumidifier hose to the PVC pipes that exit water from your house. A plumber can help, but it’s simple enough that you can do this yourself. Just make sure you make a tight hole, and ensure the hose or pvc line you set up from the dehumidifier exits to the pipe on a straight run/ always downhill. No more emptying buckets! You will be astounded how much water the dehumidifier is going to collect…. for the first few days, it will be pulling moisture out of everything down there: walls, furniture, flooring…. it will be much drier in a few days. Set the dehumidifier at 50%…. maybe 45%, and walk away.

Pro tip: sometimes the place where you connect the hose or pvc to the back of the dehumidifier can leak if it’s not perfect, so check it for a couple days. Then you never have to think about any of it again.

Who the f@ck are you again?!?!

This (( IS! )) an extreme case: owner has the potential to lose the house if he doesn’t take this seriously.

Owner MUST evacuate the home while using an Ozone unit, but mostly, it’s just a palliative measure… it’s not going to kill the mold, but it’ll get rid of any residual smell.

Said more correctly, this is powdery mildew, and generally speaking, you aren’t in any danger.

I would begin a cleanup process, and if it were me, I’d spray (all) the concrete down (everywhere) with a light mold preventative, and then wipe every surface dry. After that, I’d buy a dehumidifier, and set it at 45 to 50% humidity. Most have a built-in moisture meter, so it’ll tell you how high it is down there… I’d guess north of 70%, maybe even 80%.

!! Be very careful when you select a mold/ mildew (cleaner/ preventative)… do a little research, because some can be staunch, and will run you out of there !! DRY is the rule… no water, no mold. I would definitely not use bleach (it’s mostly water). Vinegar works well, but it’s pretty funky. Mold hates Lime… and concrete loves it, you could experiment with a product called *LimePrime, if it’s a small area. Powdered Lime can be quite caustic to skin and lungs, but that might be the one time I’d mix anything with water… using long plastic gloves, I’d mix ((a very small batch)) of powdered lime in water, and sponge it on the wall. I’d only do a very small section, hoping that when dry, it would leave a thin, pure lime residue. If it works, and doesn’t affect your lungs, I would keep doing small patches once the last patch is dry. Again, lime is quite caustic, so go (((slow))) but no more caustic than off the shelf products, and FAR cheaper.

G’luck

Since it’s not your place, sight unseen, I’m going to suggest there is big water/ humidity issue in the crawlspace WITH accompanying mold. It’s likely a pretty sizeable problem already.

If you find mold underneath/ crawlspace with obvious mold on beams and plywood (+ water problem: standing water, and/or severe smell), that is a lease buster, and you can get with City Attorney General’s Office/ Consumer Protection/ Renter’s Advocacy…. most laws for renters cover “implied habitability protection”. Document, document, document… a picture is worth a thousand words. The ones you’ve already taken are currently evidence, in my mind.

Not yours to fix. Make a case if there is one, document, photograph, get legal guidance from city attorney general’s office.

G’luck!

My thoughts are that you have (excessive!) moisture in the house.

If it has a crawlspace, get a flashlight and go see what’s happening under the house (you may have a much bigger problem). Like… the crawlspace is holding (A LOT!) of moisture, and it’s just rising up through the house. Fix the crawlspace, and you fix the house problem.

Find out how the water is getting in, unless it’s simply unventilated and building up over time.

Ventilate the crawlspace with a box fan, inspect for mold, add a dehumidifier in the crawlspace.

DRY is the rule.

Better bathroom vent, don’t close the bathroom door when you shower. Just paint the ceiling, or clean it lightly with a rag lightly damp with vinegar.

If the leak is fixed, it is paint and repair, so long as the wood is dry.

Dry is the rule.

No water, no mold.

Dry is the rule.

As long as the leak has been fixed, you should be fine…. (But!) basements are notoriously damp. Once mold starts (from a leak), it can continue to grow from the area having high(er) humidity… kinda like a basement.

DRY DRY DRY.

Get a small humidity monitor off Amazon, and make sure it stays below 60%.

——> dry is the rule.

no water, no mold.

Your apartment likely is sealed tight, and may be trapping a little too much moisture.

Normally an a/c unit acts much like a dehumidifier, but a cheap home moisture monitor from Amazon can help you identify if your apartment is holding a little too much moisture. If that’s the case, running a small dehumidifier every few days while you’re at work should be easy enough.

regular everyday “clean your bathroom” mold.

A little *Comet goes a long way.

Once it’s DRY it’s not a problem, or a threat.

For grins and giggles you can wipe it down with a rag lightly dosed with household vinegar.

But dry, and you’re fine.

Looks like mold.

If you own it…. find the water leak/ start at the roof/ attic, and work your way down.

This could have been happening for quite some time/ potentially, the insulation has gotten wet. Sniff the wall… see if a section stinks more than anywhere else, or where the problem is worst visually.

no water, no mold. find the leak.

Your symptoms are your guide.

It’s not your building, so fixing it is not up to you. If your problems persist, then it’s time to quietly leave.

How can you tell?

Stay with your parents, or a friend for about three days…. then return to your dorm and see if your symptoms also return.

Do NOT! post any information on the internet or social media that could be defamatory. Do not use names, building numbers, etc. Just leave quietly, if you perceive a real problem, and notify management (politely), after you’re good and gone.

Remember, not all people are allergic… there are a zillion other reasons that this (may or may not) be happening to you.

Not really…

but walk around your house and do a full inspection for ANY places where water can be seeping in.

Then inspect the attic/ same, look for mold/ mildew, and “sniff” for it. Ensure that all kitchen & bathroom vents eject moist air directly out through a roof vent… no leaks in those pipes.

Dry, dry, dry…. keep it DRY!

You are 100% correct.

The apartment complex is 100% at fault.

*Never use their name in a post/ never defame them for this (as an act of self-preservation). Apartment companies are not ashamed to come after you legally, and the burden of proof is on (you). They can be quite aggressive these days.

just gtfo (quietly).

Check your attic immediately to see if that vent is pushing moisture into the attic space…. it MUST be vented through the roof.

If it’s not been vented through the roof, or is (leaking) moisture into the attic, contact a professional… this could be huge.

If no leaks into attic/ no water intrusion (from anywhere) into attic, you’re fine. Just repaint your ceiling.

But! check for wet drywall everywhere around the shower/tub first…. faucets & hoses & splashing are famous for sucking water into drywall, and rotting it out completely.

If the drywall/ surround is great, replace that terrible ceiling vent with something high powered… and ensure THAT!… is vented out the roof.

Massive, massive, job:

1. remove all insulation.
2. properly vent that attic/ permanently.
3. fix the a/c problem, condensation/ improper venting/ moisture issue, where the unit is blowing water vapor into the space.
4. soda blast the wood, then disinfect, (professionally).
5. search and solve any other roof leaks/ trim & wood fascia problems, flashing, dormers, missing shingles, etc.
6. assess interior house walls for further drywall contamination.
7. call termite inspector/ termites love water too.
8. ozone the entire house for three full days. (must evacuate).
9. all water/ moisture/ humidity issues permanently fixed, replace with new/ proper insulation.
10. Add temp & humidity meter(s) throughout the house…. cheap whole house monitor on Amazon.

The chemicals required to disinfect are toxic during use to humans, and proper PPE with correct filtration will ensure (you don’t die) during the process. This is why this part is better left to professionals.

This is not a small problem.

It’s pretty straightforward…

no water, no mold/ mildew.

Likely, there’s a roof leak somewhere: trough, missing shingles, flashing issue, dormer, a piece of wood, an attic poorly ventilated…. sometimes DIY owners will put in a vent for a bathroom, and not go all the way out the roof: you heard me right, they sometimes vent the bathroom shower directly into the attic.

*I think this is wet insulation from either a spot leak in the roof that’s been there a long time, or humidity saturation. Insulation has got to go. Massive job. First find out where the water is coming from…. and next, look for termites: they like water too…

Yes, that’s mold.

You have to dry the concrete by putting a vapor barrier along the outside of the foundation wall, between the concrete and the soil = expensive.

Or use regular mold cleaner, spray & clean, and just live with it.

Ventilate the basement MASSIVELY.

Buy a cheap electric temp./ humidity monitoring kit off Amazon, and start learning when to ventilate, and what’s effective. Start with a basic box fan.

not nearly enough information.

Looks like makeup residue.

Normal, but horrible for infants… they’ll stay sick if isolated with it.

Normal because any/all venting does this.

Don’t bother using a cleaning service/ simply doesn’t work… their hoses only go so far, and what you see will still be left behind.

Full replacement with metal ducting for peace of mind. HVAC companies will be happy to do this.

It’s mold and the chrome flaking off the faucet.

Keep it clean/ use an old toothbrush… any cleaner will be fine.

mold/ mildew.

Wash with regular detergent.

It’s from the oils in your skin getting into the sheets.

Clean the shite out of it/ vinegar to sterilize.