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Where does it come from?

Mold travels through the air, both outdoors and inside, in the form of microscopic, airborne spores. This is completely normal, and an essential part of our ecosystem. When these spores land on an object or surface that is retaining moisture, they have found the food they need to survive and multiply. Soon, the mold is visible, and taking over that space rather quickly. Mold only needs a period of 24-48 hours to begin growing, and according to the World Health Organization, this stuff is everywhere we don’t want it to be. They estimate that around 25% of the world’s food is contaminated with mycotoxin, a toxin produced by fungi, especially mold.

So who’s the culprit? Moisture.

Moisture is necessary for mold to settle it, grow and destroy all kinds of things beyond repair. Think about how many items you’ve thrown out due to this very problem. It can get frustrating and feel wasteful. In your home, beside your food, mold can land and grow on nearly any material as long as some form of moisture is present. Popular materials to find mold on in a home are cloth, wood, wallboards, insulation and drywall. Attics, basements, kitchens and bathrooms are the most susceptible rooms because of their natural propensity to gather condensation or have poor ventilation.

Top 5 Reasons Mold Successfully Grows in Your Home

1. Inadequate Ventilation.

Poor ventilation in a home can cause some very hazardous conditions. Without an outlet, moisture will get trapped on ceilings and other surfaces allowing mold spores to feed and grow. In this environment, laundry laid out or hung to dry will do so more slowly, putting it at risk of mold growth, as well as adding to the condensation with the water that does evaporate during the drying process. When areas like the basement and attic, which are less frequented, are not provided with airflow, mold is often allowed to grow undiscovered until serious structural damage is done.

2. Water Leaks.

Pipes and roofing are susceptible to wear and tear, and when one or both of them begin leaking, the ideal conditions are present for mold growth that is often unnoticed until visible wall or ceiling damage shows up. This is because the pipe or roofing location is usually hidden behind walls or dropped ceilings.

3. Neglect.

Cleaning rags are left out, a mop is not dried well, or a refrigerator just isn’t cleaned on a regular basis. Neglecting the small things, in some cases, can cause big problems. That expensive fruit you just bought, your dirty fridge shelves may be what’s providing it with the little spores needed to ruin your blueberry pie before it’s even made. When was the last time you wiped down the inside of your shower curtain? This one hasn’t been touched in years.

4. Flooding.

Unfortunately, flooding is sometimes unavoidable. Nature’s overwhelming power can take down the strongest of preventative measures if it wants to. There are precautions that can be taken to help keep water out of the home, but not much is truly foolproof. Water will soak into walls and other materials and stay there. As discussed, water only needs to sit for 24-48 hours to create the right conditions for mold to do some lasting damage. Flood insurance may be a good idea when living in areas that have a high risk.

5. Pooling or Gathering Water.

The foundation of your home can gather and pool water. Rainwater runoff, melted snow and ground water will run toward a home in the case that its surrounding landscape slopes inward, allowing gravity to work in an unfortunate way. Many landscapers and homeowners purposefully prevent water from sitting against and penetrating their foundations by sloping landscape away from the house and installing a french drain to divert the water to a safe distance. Water can even pool in inconspicuous place inside your home. A bucket left unattended, or a poorly installed sink or bath will gather pooling water creating a mold friendly situation.

No matter what measures you chose to prevent mold growth, be conscious of it’s possibilities. The more humid the area you live in, the more vigilant you must be. No only is it destructive, it is also a health hazard that can irritate asthma, cause sinus infections and lead to more serious chronic illnesses. So keep things dry, and check traditionally damp places often to catch any chance of growth before it gets out of hand.

Urban myth or fact, can a body really explode?

Feedlot operators and farmers alike, know that exploded bodies are regular occurrence.They see it all the time when livestock dies and is left out too long. What happens is that the natural bacteria and enzymes within a recently deceased being, begin to break down their host. Spreading from organ to organ, the bacteria digests and liquefies the tissue. This decomposition process results in gas (methane and hydrogen sulfide) that expands, swelling the body until it bursts. The fact that most of these bodies are outside in the heat can quicken the process. So unless a deceased animal is moved quickly, all of its pieces will have to be located and moved later on.

However, this isn’t just a bovine phenomenon. Without intervention, any animal has the potential of bursting under the right circumstances. Incase you forgot, humans are technically animals too.

Some Noteworthy Body Explosions:

1. In 2004 the decomposing body of a sperm whale, while being transferred to a location for necropsy (an autopsy performed on an animal), exploded in a crowded urban area of Taiwan, covering shop fronts and curious onlookers in blubber and other putrefied material.

2. In 2009 A woman in Jupiter, FL died of old age in her condo. She was not found by the condo association until two weeks later after her abdomen burst filling the surrounding units with an unbelievable odor, and for one lucky tennant, fluids seeping through her ceiling and damaging both ceiling and walls. She later sued for damages and repairs due to the apartment association’s neglect.

3. In 2012 a 6’4” 380 lb man exploded in his casket at a Texas funeral home. 30 year old Robert Cavazos Jr. made a lasting impression on his mourning family and friends when decomposition gases built up and caused him to explode, cracking his cement lined casket, and revealing that he was buried in just his underwear. The funeral home denies neglect and points out that they actually saved the family $450 not embalming him. Since embalming is not a legal requirement, but more of a religious preference, they were only held liable for the trauma that accompanies seeing a family member explode.

4. Currently, a problem exists in a Melbourne mausoleum, in which crypts that were not properly sealed, began leaking gas and fluids from exploded bodies within. Not unfamiliar with poor installation issues, the facility also boasts 6 large stained glass windows installed backwards and evidence of a previously flooded lower crypt. People shopping for a place to rest their loved ones were not impressed.

So yes, under the right circumstances, bodies can explode. It’s not exactly spontaneous, but actually comes as a natural side effect of decomposition and putrefaction. Other than the enzymes and bacteria playing their part, temperature, and environment will either slow down or speed up the process. Water will double the decomposition rate of a body compared to one on land. Burial will slow the process, cutting off most of the oxygen needed for the decomposition bacteria to survive. However, getting a protective casket with rubber gaskets that seal in the body isn’t a great idea for preservation. Sealing those gases in will only build more pressure, eventually exploding the coffin itself.

True preservation, the type you see when bodies are displayed for years and years, can only be achieved through mummification processes. Opting out for cremation doesn’t seem so bad now (unless you have a pacemaker, those explode in extreme heat).

For more information on odd occurrences and natural disasters, visit the Chicago Water Damage Co. website and learn all sorts of wonderous things.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR PROPERTY HAS SUSTAINED WATER DAMAGE:

1. Safety First.
Make sure you cover your bases to avoid an even greater disaster. Immediately turn off electricity in the area affected by flooding, following all the necessary precautions. If your basement is flooded, DO NOT step into the water until you are sure it is safe. Call an electrician if needed to make sure. Also if the water damage is in your basement and you smell natural gas in the air, immediately turn off your gas or contact your gas company, if you don’t know how to do it yourself. Also create plenty of ventilation and leave the property until help arrives.

2. Act Quickly.
The longer the water stays in your property the more damage it causes. Contact your insurance provider and call a water damage restoration company in your area immediately. Most of the reputable companies can arrive to your premises fairly quickly and start removing the water and salvaging your property.

3. Stop the Water.
This may be a difficult part, but try to determine how the water got there and stop is from filling in, if you can. Again, remember to turn off all the electricity before stepping into the water. Sometimes (when flooding is storm-related for example) it may be impossible to do, but trying will not hurt and may help you reduce the extent of the damage.

4. Save Your Valuables.
WARNING: for your safety do not step into the water until you are sure that all electricity to that area it turned off. Given that the electricity is off and it’s safe, start removing valuables from the affected area. Water affects some materials and objects faster than others, so here is how to prioritize what to remove:

- Paperwork and Family Relics: water ruins paper extremely quickly, so family pictures, financial/tax records, documents, etc. should be tended to first. One tip to follow is placing papers in the freezer until you can get to them. This will prevent further damage to them
- Electrical Items: this is usually what is ruined first when water strikes. However if your TV was mounted on the wall, for example, and water has not reached it, it is advisable to remove it to prevent damage by moisture in the air.
- Wood furniture: water penetrates and warps wood very quickly, but if the flood just happened, you may be able to save the wood furniture and not have to replace it.

5. Let Air Flow.
Air circulation helps force moisture out of the room, so turn on the air conditioner to low temperatures and open windows, doors, even closets to allow free air circulation.

We hope these steps will help you cope with the first part of your water damage restoration process. To get any other questions answered or to have water damage restoration company in Chicago area come out to your property, call us 24/7 at 773.326.4090.