From the monthly archives:

May 2009

How To Get Rid of Mold

by Green Homes


Mold is a common problem, especially in older homes. There are many different types of molds which may take up in a home for a variety of different reasons. There’s no completely avoiding it – mold is everywhere.

However, in order to grow, mild needs a dark, moist place to live. Check your home for anywhere that is a good environment for mold to grow – but if you find mold, how should you get rid of mild in your home?

The first thing to do in your effort to rid of mold in your house is to find the area where mold is growing and have it tested. This will let you know if the mold is only on the surface or has penetrated deeper.

Mold can easily grow inside of your walls and under floors, since water can easily get into these places. Once the mold is located, you need to remove it completely or it will just grow back and cause problems again.

If you have a serious mold problem where the mold is growing deeper than the surface, then you may find that your only viable option is to hire a professional to take care of the problem. The conditions which are ideal for mold (moisture) can also cause structural damage to your home, so you may also need a contractor to perform any necessary repairs. It is important to make sure that the area where there has been mold growth is dry and will stay that way afterwards to prevent future growth.

In many cases, the moisture which is encouraging the growth of mold is leaking through from a different part of the home entirely. Any leaks will need to be repaired to prevent future mold problems.

For mold which has not penetrated deeper than the surface, bleach or even vinegar can take care of surface mold. There are also a number of different mold removal products on the market which can help. If you have woodwork in your home which has become moldy, you will need to have this wood removed and replaced. If the mold is only on the surface of the wood, then drying and treating the area can get rid of the mold in your house and prevent it from growing back.

Prevention is the best way to get rid of mold in your home, however. Always repair leaks as soon as possible and check anywhere which has had leaks in the past regularly. These preventative measures can save you thousands of dollars in repair costs later on.

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Identify Energy Leaks With A Home Energy Audit

May 30, 2009

When people hear the word “audit”, the connotation is almost always of a negative nature. It conjures images of men in grey suits with the unenviable task of sifting through every scrap of paper and invoice from years gone by, resurrecting the ghosts of bad recordkeeping and missing receipts, making you wish you took [...]

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Who would have known back in 1992 that Energy Star, a joint initiative of the US Department of Energy and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) would have become such a major heavy hitter in the world of energy efficiency for the 21st century?, in fact so ingrained in our culture are they that 70% of [...]

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Sustainable Decking Solutions

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Decks are a popular way to enjoy the great outdoors from the comfort of your home. Building a green deck, however, can be a challenge. That’s because deck materials are called upon to last a long time without maintenance, and do other things that resist the natural behavior of the materials. Many [...]

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Plug Your Financial Leak – Test Your Home For Energy Efficiency

May 28, 2009

One of the best ways to go green and save money at the same time is to test your home for energy efficiency.
An energy efficient home will use less power, saving you money while at the same time helping the environment. There are a few simple things that you can do right now that [...]

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Do It Yourself Solar Panels – The Way Of The Future

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Eco Homes – How You Can Turn Your House into One

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The pace of new construction is slowing to a crawl as the recession continues. However, remodeling has not taken a hit, since many people are looking to remodel the homes they have rather than to buy another home or have a new home built. Since there is an increasing level of concern with making homes [...]

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What Every Parent Needs To Know About Asthma

May 25, 2009

There are around seven million children in the US alone who have asthma. Shockingly, over one million of these children are less than five years old! Asthma can cause children to miss school and have a serious negative impact on health. The symptoms of asthma include shortness of breath, wheezing and a sensation of tightness [...]

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Energy Saving Window Choices

May 22, 2009

Our homes use a lot of energy and nonrenewable resources when it comes to heating and cooling. In fact, home heat and air conditioning are some of every American’s biggest contributors to their carbon footprint. One way to cut down your costs and improve your efficiency is by installing energy saving windows. [...]

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