HELP - lab report

B

Byakuya

New member
I swab tested the intake grill for bacteria and mold on my dehumidifier which is on a carpeted area down from the kitchen (multilevel house) ---- reason being I had mold remediation done and was told not to shampoo the rug. I can't afford to put in linoleium because there is asbestos tiles and just asbestos mastic in large areas on the cement floor the carpet is on. The carpet is 3 years old and I keep getting black in the bucket only where the water runs down. I bleach the bucket every day and clean the filter (which really keeps nothing out). I wanted to see what we were breathing in upstairs. --- The front door is on that floor also.

The mold counts were rare BUT the bacteria has me worried. I have to get a new rug.
Raw Count CFUs/Sq. In.
Bacillus species 6 3,429
Enterobacter amnigenus 45 25,714
Staphylococcus species 15 8,571

Meanwhile the dehumidifier has been and still is blowing all this around and I know is has to be upstairs too because of the dehumidifier. Inspector said humidity runs high in the house and the front door is level with the driveway and level with the street and we had to have a dehumidifier running (and an air purifier.

OK I admit I am scared as I am sickly and so is my husband who has asthma.

Please if anyone knows if the Enterobacter amnigenus amount is bad for our health please advise. I am immune comprimised, had a mastectomy, Crohn's disease, etc.

I guess it is time for a new carpet.....just waiting for the contractor to call me back. I have waited all day. Meanwhile - are we going to die?

Thanks - I am 70 years old and the money is dwindling fast. I could never afford to take up the asbestos and put down tile......and vacuuming apparently is not enough.
 
Wow, it doesn't sound good. Can you all move somewhere else? I know I became very ill living in a rental home with mold in the walls and basement for 3 years. I developed hypothyroidism. With your immune systems being compromised I would hate to see you all get sick. Mold and bacteria are very serious as you know. Unless you can get it all cleaned up and replaced I would consider living somewhere else simply for your health's sake. Good luck!:angel:
 
TEdwards - Thanks for the suggestion. Wish I could get out but I can't -- no place to go. Cleaned the dehumidifier out with an enzyme disenfectant and hope that works but who knows. Still have to find out where it is coming from as I can't turn off the dehumidifiers -- it is still too humid and then I will have mold problems again. You can't win.
 
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