CATSKILL, NY – A festering mold problem in a rural Catskill home has left one couple feeling helpless, and they are reaching out for help wherever they can.

Does your basement smell musty? Do your eyes water and breathing become tight when you go downstairs into the dark, moist cellar? You don’t need an air quality test to tell you that there is mold growing in your basement.

If you live in the Northeast, you know that the summer of 2009 has been wet and rainy. Between May and June, Pennsylvania had over 10 inches of rain. In New York City, rain fell for 23 out of 30 days in the month of June.

When a home or building is infested with mold, the contamination can often be seen. It can exist along baseboards or on walls. At other times the mold may be hidden, such as within walls. In these cases, there may be musty smell or inhabitants may suffer from breathing or health problems. It is important to determine what type(s) of mold are present.

H&H Environmental Construction and Consulting announces a large-scale viral protective treatment process designed to treat both porous and non-porous surfaces for large buildings and institutions.

Black Mold, also known as Stachybotrys Chartarum, is a greenish-black fungus that grows well in materials with a high cellulose content. In homes, that includes drywall, carpet, wallpaper, ceiling tiles, flooring and more. Water damage, flooding and a dark, moist environment can create the conditions that allow mold and fungus to grow.

The New York Times has a great article on causes and prevention of mold growth in your bathroom.

Spring cleaning is a great time to get your house in order. While you clean and vacuum, take time to improve your home’s indoor air quality. Get rid of the hidden dirt, allergens and mold in areas that are often neglected during the winter. Common symptoms from mold or dust exposure include allergies or allergic reactions, asthma, bronchitis, sinus congestion, headaches or, in the case of severe mold exposure, even immune system disorders.

Here are some useful tips for springtime mold checks:

Homeowner property insurance policies range in specific coverage from insurer to insurer. It’s important to read your policy carefully. The language of your property policy and the cause(s) of the mold infestation determine whether the damage is covered. “Specified peril” policies may only cover mold removal if you can prove to the insurer that the damage was caused by a specifically listed cause or “peril”. Other policies are “all risk” policies, which may by default cover mold contamination unless the insurance company can prove that the cause(s) of the mold contamination was actually an excluded cause in the policy.

According to new research from Lund University in Sweden, mold toxins in buildings damaged by moisture are much more dangerous than previously thought. This research has implications for home sellers and buyers, contractors and insurance companies.