[boomop1]

This will be traced back to some government regulation mandating insulation requirements.

[liberateUS]

That and air-tight energy efficient buildings. Mold has been a big problem in the schools here. Funny how buildings with windows that open do not seem to have a mold problem

[Restorer]

This will be traced back to some government regulation mandating insulation requirements.

Bingo!

Most of the changes made to buildings since the 70's have made them much more likely to develop serious mold problems. A colleague of mine refers to them as "self-composting buildings." And, unfortunately, he has a point.

[tubebender]

I wonder how many of these homes are the super air tight Models. Here on the North West Coast of Calif we have always had a problem with mildew on north facing inside walls due to the cool climate and high humidity. We have controlled it running by a dehumdifier 2 or 3 days a week.

[snopercod]

People spend less time researching the largest investment in their lives than they would buying a refrigerator or microwave.

Being a home designer/builder, this kind of crap is one of my pet peeves.

I'll be there isn't one FReeper on this thread who has a clue what kind of HVAC sysem he/she has in the house. Metal ducts? Rigid fiberglass? Round flexible ducts? What is the total/sensible ratio of your AC unit? Where your air-handler is located, can you clean out the evaporator coils? How many air-changes per hour do you get in each room of the house?

Don't know about any of this? Then you deserve what you get.

[Calvin Locke]

Nah, this stuff is from Mir. D@mn stuff was even damaging titanium.

I think mercury does a number on mold too. Vaguely recall that it was added as a preservative to [latex?] paints until about 15 years ago or so.

[finnman69]

This will be traced back to some government regulation mandating insulation requirements.

You dont have a clue what you are talking about,

Lack of proper insulation is one of the chief reasons mold grows. Without insulation, condensation happens in exterior walls and roofs/ceilings. Moisture=mold.p> The ideal temperatrure for mold to grpw is 33F to 120F and 65 to 95% humidity.

With better insulation,proper vapor barriers, and adequate ventilation none of these homes would have mold problems.

[ninonitti]

government regulation mandating insulation requirements.

My bet is that it is the air infiltration requirements on windows coupled with the use of vapor that is causing the moisture buildup. It's like living in a big white trash bag. Rx from Dr. Nitti: expensive fresh air exchangers or in warmer climes open the windows and turn off the AC.