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Vancouver Chimney Repair Professionals Warn about Mold in Your Chimney

The fireplace is probably the last part of your Vancouver home that you think will be susceptible to mold growth. After all, mold thrives in the cold, damp and dark, three things which the fireplace is definitely not. So how could mold possibly grow there, right?

Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth. The reality is that it’s not uncommon to find mold growing in fireplaces. The reason mold is able to grow in that part of your home is because rainwater has the uncanny ability to reach even the most unusual places, which includes brick crevices inside your fireplace. Furthermore, damaged flashing and chimney caps let in snow and rain, making the location even more conducive to mold growth.

That’s not the end of the bad news. Fireplaces often have duct systems that are spread throughout the home, which means that the health problems associated with mold, such as asthma attacks, sinusitis, allergic reactions and pneumonia, can be experienced throughout the home instead of being confined to just one location, as is the case with isolated mold growths. So if you have mold in your fireplace, you need to get rid of it quickly to prevent your health problems from worsening.

DIY mold removal

You can remove mold from bricks by scrubbing the surfaces inside your fireplace with a mixture of one quart water and one-half cup bleach to kill the mold. Keep brushing the brick surfaces with this mixture until the mold is removed completely. Use a flashlight and mirror to see every nook and cranny of your fireplace. Be sure to look inside your chimney, because mold could have also spread there.

For the place you can’t reach, hire a pro

Certain sections of your fireplace and chimney can be difficult to access, and as such, it can be difficult to completely inspect these areas for mold, much less clean them. Thus, for a total and thorough mold removal, it is recommended that you call a professional in chimney repairs such as Consumer's Choice Roofing and Drainage, who will be more than happy to give you a free consultation to talk about your mold issues and the solutions for them.

Source:

(6 Unexpected Places Mold Can Hide in Your Home, HouseLogic.com)
(How to Remove Mold, TheFamilyHandyman.com)