From The "It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time" Dept.....

In Fairbanks, Alaska, the weatherproofing of homes is nothing new.  It is designed to protect structures from the fantastically cruel elements that go hand in hand with living in that particular state.  Unfortunately, this highly recommended procedure has recently come under fire for causing a whole new problem……mold.

We all know mold as the crazy first cousin to water damage, establishing within 48 hours following a water problem, spreading like a bad rash, and creating all manner of health problems, some of which can be, shall we say, undesirable.

Now, however, building experts in Fairbanks are saying the mold problems are the result of weatherproofing jobs being done too well.  People are sealing their homes against the elements, but neglecting to properly ventilate.  Lack of air circulation is another, less notorious cause of mold growth.

So water damage or lack of ventilation, you say “tomato” I say “to-mah-to”, the end result is the same.  There has to be some measure of give and take.  By all means, take steps to protect your home against the elements, but don’t go so overboard that you end up with an unwanted buildup of moisture and humidity.  Next thing you know, you have a growth that looks like a refugee from a Grade Z horror flick setting up residence in your basement.

The good news in any case is that you don’t have to spend a ton of money to test for mold in your home.  Mold is instantly recognizable due to its appearance and smell.  If you suspect you have mold, chances are you do.  There’ll be no mistaking it.

However it makes its appearance, don’t take chances with your health or the health of your family.  Wear a filtration mask, or better yet a respirator, to prevent inhalation of mold spores.   I don’t care how silly it looks, this is a health thing.   Pack up the family and get out of Dodge for a while, at least until you can contact a professional mold remediation specialist who can come to your home and get rid of it.