Dear George, We are sick and we have mold.

Dear George,

We recently discovered a lot of mold in our A/C unit by the A/C repair man. I had a heart transplant 3/24/03 and have been on immunosuppressants since then. My husband has severe fibromyalgia and allergies. What to do?

Signed,
At Risk

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Dear At Risk,

You should consider having a mold assessment (sometimes referred to as a mold inspection) of the mold levels in your house. If mold levels are higher inside than the outdoor control (mold air-sample that is the standard of comparison), you should look into remediation. You should also find a temporary residence with healthy air quality, because remediation is liable to stir up mold spores, and you don’t need that kind of exposure while you are so vulnerable.

Even if mold levels are not higher inside, you should have your A/C cleaned professionally, including the evaporator coil, plenum, and ducts. That would include mechanical removal of debris and dust–not just spraying with bleach (which may not correct the problem.)

After your A/C has been cleaned, you might consider investing in a UV sterilizer and an improved or upgraded filtration system.

If you are renting, or have excellent insurance coverage, your repairs and improvement costs might be offset. I say might, because that depends on your individual situation. While mold is an acknowledged issue, legal accountability can be a difficult proposition–but it is worth looking into, especially since you are actually in a vulnerable category.

To schedule an appointment or arrange to talk to one of our assessors, you can phone us at 1-800-686-1992 or e-mail us via our user-friendly contact form (the e-mail message is forwarded to the appropriate mold assessor immediately).