Tomorrow, magicians will come to our home and perform a series of arcane rituals to cleanse it of its insalubrious humors. Which is to say: we’ve discovered why we’re sick so often; the answer is that our house has mold. And tomorrow, skilled technicians will remediate that mold.
I feel dumb for not figuring out what was going on earlier. My asthma should have tipped me off. Prior to moving into our house, I’d only ever needed a rescue inhaler—and then only if I visited someone who had cats or had a panic attack. (I’ve never had a panic attack near a cat, thank goodness. I assume I would have died.) Since we moved in four years ago, I’ve added a daily steroid inhaler, a pill that can cause or exacerbate anxiety or depression, and several courses of Prednisone.
I’d love to tell you that I solved the mystery on my own, but it took a new issue to bring the problem into focus. Recently, after a heavy rainstorm, I noticed that the brickwork near our fireplace was damp. Because my DIY skills fall far short of masonry, I called the company that did the French drains in the basement for the previous homeowners. In their investigations, these technicians discovered that our crawlspace, which was covered by a plate propped up against the opening and secured with a cider block, was admitting water into the area just beneath our bedroom. As a result, the beams and insulation were covered with a fine layer of white mold.
We’re lucky. The type of mold we have is the kind that makes asthmatics wheeze, not the kind that gives humans neurological problems. It could have been toxic mold and then we might have found out at the emergency room or worse. I’m also very relieved that there’s a solution to our problem, even if it’s one that will put a dent in our finances.
Also, I love our magicians/mold remediation pros. If you’re in Southern Maryland and you have issues with mold or water coming into your house, drop me a line and I’ll send you their way. They’ve been very kind and patient with us as we figured out how to navigate this situation. Plus, I never felt like they were pushing us into the most expensive option, which is refreshing, to say the least. I’ve tried to convince them that they should expand their services to include general plumbing, electrical work, landscaping, and kitchen remodeling, but so far, no luck.
In the meantime, if you could meditate on a rapid resolution to our problem, that would be great. I’m trying not to dwell on the possibility that they’ll come out and discover a new issue but that’s always a possibility with home repair. When we first bought a house, my sister told me that all houses are trying to revert to dust, and I think she’s right. They certainly don’t seem to want to stay house-shaped, that’s for sure.
Cross those fingers for us. Here’s to a healthier 2024, please.
Oh my goodness, I’m glad you discovered it and I hope you feel better soon! So scary!
I let out *such* a sigh of relief!