Carpet Mold.

If there was a sewage back-up, the carpet should've been replaced. Even if the carpet was cleaned, the padding and the floor underneath weren't. depending on how high, maybe even part of the drywall!
You're landlord needs to get a thorough mold inspection done for you w/paperwork for proof of results. If he won't, i very highly recommend that you do. If there is mold, the landlord should know he could have a serious lawsuit on his hands!! I suggest you do this immediately!

I'm a real estate broker, so I know a little too much about mold.

First of all, if you're in an apartment, you need to request that your landlord pay for a mold inspection, and if necessary, replace your carpet and whatever tile or area in the bathroom is smelling like mildew. If your landlord refuses to do these things, you can either pay for your own mold inspection (just look in the phone book or call your local home inspector for a referral), or contact the health department for your area. If mold is found by an inspector or the health department representative, you can sue your landlord for all charges incurred, and your landlord will be required then to make the necessary replacements and repairs.

I urge you to take action immediately, particularly with children.

Mold is an airborne contagion that causes severe health problems, including death. Mold is probably the cause of your respiratory problems, however mold can also cause fevers and flu-like symptoms that can be deadly.

Sorry if I am scaring you, but mold is much more serious than people think. Please act immediately.

T.-

Please do something about this right away. I had a friend that almost died because of this same issue. Your children are in danger and are especially suspectible do to this more sensitive and smaller systems.

Don't wait for your landlord if something isn't being done. Fix it yourself (while documenting the situation) and deduct the cost out of your rent. Alert the authorities as well! Find somewhere else to stay temporarily!

M. (interior designer)

We had this same problem in our condo...our neighbors water heater busted and leaked into our house. We live in military housing...they had a carpet company come clean the carpets. But, we could smell a musty odor that would not go away....after a few days I demanded that they replace the carpets (as I have 2 young daughters...at the time 2 yrs. & 5 months old) and the started showing signs of distress (respiratory & skin issues). The housing manager came out and inspected (just by getting down and smelling the carpet)and agreed there was a mold problem. Within a few days the same carpet company came back and pulled up the carpet and the entire padding was MOLDY..the carpet itself was fine, just the padding. So, they just cut out all the moldy/mildew padding and replaced it with new and since then...no problems. If the company that came to your place did not pull back the carpet and padding to see....then they did NOT check. In order for them to see what's really going on, they HAVE to pull up the carpet and inspect it...not just look on the top surface of the carpet...as most of the time that shows nothing because most of the damage is usually seeps down through the carpet to the padding and that's where the water harbors and creates mold/mildew problems. Hope this helps....Good Luck!

I would guess there probably is mold. We had a sewage backup in our house a couple months ago...the carpet was soaked...but just a very small area of the carpet. We had two of those water removal companies come out and check it out and both said when there is sewage involved, it molds easily and just isn't safe for children (we have 2 that are in that room all the time). So we had to replace the carpet in the whole room.

Now, I guess if it didn't get into the carpet, then it might not be as bad?? And I'm really not sure what the signs are, but if you are all having respiratory problems, it may be.

After the flood did a company come out to dry out the carpet? We had a flood at our old house, and they had to come out and check the padding and carpet. They had to use a dehumidifier to dry the carpet. If the carpet was left to dry by itself, there is probably mold somewhere. You need a company that actually performs flood services to check it out.

Please don't take this the wrong way, BUT you've posted two requests in a row regarding the unsanitary conditions of your apartment. Is there a possibility that you could move to a place that would be healthier for your family? I completely understand that you absolutely, definitely have a right to hold your landlord responsible for providing you a habitable and clean home but these two major problems seem like unending trouble to me. I know it's tough when you're in a lease, you like your neighbors/neighborhood, etc. Is it possible to find something more suitable?

Good luck to you and I'm very sorry that you're having to deal with all of this - it's probably the last thing you need while balancing a career and family.

If you are in an apartment call your landlord and demand that he replace the carpet and any flooring that might be affected under the carpet.

Can this be affecting your respiratory system? Absolutely.

You want to make sure that you are using a good SAFE cleaner in there too once the mold is cleaned out.

I hope you get it fixed soon!
B.

Sorry but REPLACE IT!

we torn up all the carpet in our house and it was alove the bottom of the carpet. the bathroom had to have it all scraped away and everything rechalked. believe me so worth it. we to kept getting sick and not breathing right in the house but we now have lam. wood floor so worth it! i don't thin any of us have really gotten sick since. except of of course of the lil one because they get it from everywhere.

J.

If they didn't pull up the carpet, they didn't really check. They only way to check to see if there is mold/mildew in the carpet is by ripping up the old carpet and padding. Keeping in mind that after a sewage backup, that should have been done, anyways...especially if it affected the whole carpet. There are a lot of other health hazards caused by sewage backups that have nothing to do with mold.

Now, that being said...make your final request to your landlord, in writing, about the problems in your apartment. Don't "threaten" to do anything...just put the situation in writing, and ask for a satisfactory resolution. Make sure you tell the landlord that you feel that your health is being affected by this situation. Send that letter to your landlord via Delivery Confirmation with Signature Confirmation on it--make sure you keep a copy of it. I believe he/she has 14-30 days remedy the problems (local laws vary). If he/she does nothing, then you contact the local Health Department. They will send someone out to assess your unit and write up a formal complaint. If there is something that needs to be done, they will put it in a demand to the landlord. They will give the landlord x amount of days to complete what they tell him/her to, after that they are taken to court and assessed fines for every day they do not do the job.

It is important that you not let this "slip" by. It is important that once you start this ball rolling, you see it through. That means calling the Health Department if these things are not completed. That means keeping $$ totals of all money you've spent in regards to the health issues of the condition of your apartment.

At this point in the game, you really need to get a mold remediation specialist...not just a "good" carpet cleaner. A carpet cleaner cleans carpets. But, a mold remediation specialist can tell you if/where the mold is...how bad it is...and tell you what you can do to remedy it (well, your landlord). You may have to get all new furniture, new carpet, new everything...you'll most definitely need to have the air intake/output ducts in your unit professionally cleaned, as well.

Good luck!!

T.:

call unique carpet cleaners.. they are fabulous. ###-###-####

P., RLC, IBCLC
Pres. Lactation Support Group, Inc
www.lactationsupportgroup.com

I am not sure where you can get mold testers but they exist. You probably know about raidon gas detectors well there are mold detectors as well. Try the state environmental agency. I know they have lead kits etc. Do not call the city it will cost you to much. ACE Hardware has strong mold chemicals to wash down the walls etc in the bathroom. Get toxic gear to do the job. Ask a water/fire damage company what to do with the carpet. You may just need a new pad.