Mold Issues

[cjp4627]

All,

Not sure what to do here, I got myself in a bit of a bad situation. I ran natural gas out to my garage this summer and never went ahead and did much beyond that. Once it started to get cold, I began to insulate but ran out of time and needed heat in the garage. At this point I have 1 wall insulated and a 20k btu ventless fireplace running 24/7.

This is far from ideal and has created the perfect storm for the uninsulated walls to grow mold. The humidity inside the garage is around 70% right now and the walls that aren't uninsulated are very cold (Upstate, NY). These two factors turn the plywood sheeting into a giant condenser. The walls are constantly wet and within 4-5 weeks of heating the space, the mold started.

I do feel that the walls we pre-disposed to the mold because it looks like this has happened in the past. There was significant "old" black mold stains on the walls before this all happened and I think that is were these colonies got their strong start.

Moving forward, I am not really sure what to do. I have the time and resources to get the rest of the walls insulated right now but am afraid to move forward with that and just mask a larger problem. I could also try to use another portable heater and try to get the moldly walls above the dew point temperature on the space and let them dry naturally. Do anyone have any suggestions? I am very frustrated right now and don't know what to do.

 

[n8n]

Proper remediation would involve washing the walls with bleach solution, letting dry, then coating with a mold/mildew resistant paint before closing them up. I'd wear at least a dust mask before going at it with a scrub brush because you definitely don't want to be inhaling mold spores - some of them are relatively innocuous but some can be nasty.

 

[Showkey]

What N8N said ....

But......
The ventless heater is the first problem. Until the moisure is controlled your are fighting a loosing battle. Given the condtions you created any organic surface would support mold growth. The plywood is not the issue it is the environment that caused the problem.

Stop using the unvented heater NOW.

Most likely waiting for warmer weather to do the clean up. Bleach wash is the home cure but has it own hazards and again likely needs warmer conditions.
Professionals would use CO2 blasting but it would be costly.

If you are going to add more heat, the combustion gases must be vented outside. In an Uninsulated garage electric heated might not add much and could be very costly to run.

Maybe adding a permanent vented heater might be the first step, get it dried out, get it cleaned up, then sealed, then insulated.

Just be very careful on the clean up........

 

[rburke65]

Yes the heater is causing the moister, so it has to be shut down. Why is it that you ow need the heated space?

 

[why worry]

Agreed with Showkey, get a vented heater, natural gas/propane has a lot of moisture in it and that is making your situation worse.
Why Worry

 

[cjp4627]

I didn't have intentions to leave the garage in this state but life got in the way. I should have the funds to get a vented heater in the near future. In had been keeping the garage heated because I had a vehicle I was worried wasn't winterized. Turns out my antifreeze tester doesn't work. Heater was shut down tonight and it is might cold in there now.

I still feel the previously mold had to be a player in this, any plywood without the black stains didnt grow any mold. At the very worst I hit 70% humidity in the space and while I realize that isn't ideal, a few weeks shouldn't have done what it does.

I am hoping to have a modine hd45a heater installed in the next few weeks. Hoping I can get it warm and dry in there to dry out the wet spots and treat them.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[charlie v]

I would not use a bleach solution. Suggest getting a proper mold washing solution from the local building supply store. Wear proper personal protective gear. Good luck with the clean up.

 

[rlitman]

Proper remediation would involve washing the walls with bleach solution, letting dry, then coating with a mold/mildew resistant paint before closing them up. I'd wear at least a dust mask before going at it with a scrub brush because you definitely don't want to be inhaling mold spores - some of them are relatively innocuous but some can be nasty.

I'd use something like Concrobium and not bleach. Bleach kills mold on the surface, but the chlorine evaporates off much more quickly than the moisture it adds, and this can lead to a rebound. Better products leave behind a mold killing residue.

I would also add an algicide to whatever paint you choose to use to go over the mold (have it mixed in at the store). Just some added insurance.

 

[egdede]

^^^Yes, this^^^

The literature seems to suggests that any effective algicides are pretty nasty, so don't drink any!

 

[James-W]

Stop using the unvented heater NOW.

I would say that is sound advice. Continuing to use it will just add to the problem.

 

[Hephaestus29]

I had the same problem in my garage,
I had no idea thats where my problem
might be coming from. I still have a
hanging furnace but the motor went out
so i decided to try the infrared heater
Since I got it on clearance for 86.00
but it's probably cost me 20 times
that in damage or more.