I'm having a rough month.

Tak

A long time ago…
MLPTP Supporter
Joined
Dec 26, 2015
Messages
10,483
Ok my pony family. I'm in need of some positive thoughts. This month is, for lack of a better word, whack. It's Murphy's law in our little twilight zone. Covid, fires, smoke pollution, online schooling (halp! I can't teach math that I don't understand!), the girl is sick of being stuck at home all the time, the doctor's keep pushing back my hand surgery, my pup is a trooper (though I know he's hurting), I just can't seem to manage the yard work, and then my eyesight. Last year we had to fix plumbing in my bedroom closet three times, I was chased out of the room by the moldy stench for months, now, there's water coming in under a baseboard in the spare room. My dad cut a hole in the wall, the plumbers looked at it, nothing. The water is there because invisible leprechauns brought it in. Now, I went in the hall closest (don't remember why) and there is mold everywhere. My girl's winter boots from last year are covered in what looks like white cotton candy, green moss, and the lovely black nasty. Thank goodness I found it and we got everything out of the closet. Luggage is spendy and I kept mine in there with her shoes, a folding table, all her jackets, her school bags, my backpack, and crutches. Luckily, only one pair of shoes are beyond hope. My backpack might kick the bucket, too... it's in the washer, then I'll soak, then wash again. One other pair of shoes only had a little on the toe, I'm hoping it'll wash off with detergent. Ugh, though. The closet looks like it's growing white cotton candy with black spots all across the back of the closet. So, the only working shower is on the other side of that wall. I'm not hopeful here. I was still sick from the smoke and I can still taste the mold two hours after removing everything from the closet and showering! My parents can't afford to fix this with covid hitting them so hard. I'm going to go cry myself to sleep so I can deal with my princess and school tomorrow. I honestly don't fathom how people can handle all this stuff so calmly, because I know many on here have it much worse. How do you handle it? I'm in awe of the strength of so many on here.

Send us some positive vibes/thoughts/prayers please. Moving would mean a studio apartment for us at this point. :cauldron: (out of the fires, into the moldy pan :skull: )
 
Aw I’m so sorry you’re having so many troubles right now Tak :sadpony:
It’s always really annoying when the professionals can’t even find what the problem is let alone fix it, I hope you’re able to find where the water’s coming from (or chase those naughty leprechauns out!)
 
I'm so sorry that's a lot to deal with I hope things get better for you @Tak
 
I am so sorry @Tak if there is anything I can do just pm me. It will get better.
 
Black mold can be very harmful to you guys. I would find another plumber for a second opinion if you can afford it. There has to be something going on... you could try going through a restoration group and get your insurance company involved. They will need to dry it all out with big fans or the mold will just grow and grow. That stuff is sneaky like the mean old Smooze. I have worked with many restoration businesses in my work and some are better than others but if you are seeing the mold that means it's a serious problem and needs to be fixed. It will not just go away. If you have special stuff (like photos or hey maybe ponies, you may want to put them in airtight containers to keep them safe). I am here if you need me, stay healthy and safe.
 
Black mold can be very harmful to you guys. I would find another plumber for a second opinion if you can afford it. There has to be something going on... you could try going through a restoration group and get your insurance company involved. They will need to dry it all out with big fans or the mold will just grow and grow. That stuff is sneaky like the mean old Smooze. I have worked with many restoration businesses in my work and some are better than others but if you are seeing the mold that means it's a serious problem and needs to be fixed. It will not just go away. If you have special stuff (like photos or hey maybe ponies, you may want to put them in airtight containers to keep them safe). I am here if you need me, stay healthy and safe.
I see there are a few companies that I have worked near you. Paul Davis or Servpro, surely your insurance company can help.
 
My parents own the house and I'm unable to do anything on my own, aside from cleaning it up. My parents will do something, maybe get someone under the house to check it out. My caregiver is so sweet, she's going to help me clean everything up. Sorry for my rant. Plumbing is so frustrating and that water damage can be dangerous in so many ways. My dad will decide what to do tomorrow. We either fix it, or move.

Thank you all. You really are like family to me. If my parents fix this house they won't be able to remodel their bathroom, so I'll never hear the end of it. Money issues suck. E and I will keep on trucking.
 
My parents own the house and I'm unable to do anything on my own, aside from cleaning it up. My parents will do something, maybe get someone under the house to check it out. My caregiver is so sweet, she's going to help me clean everything up. Sorry for my rant. Plumbing is so frustrating and that water damage can be dangerous in so many ways. My dad will decide what to do tomorrow. We either fix it, or move.
:xmashug:either way I know it's frustrating especially with all of the other stuff going on these days. Good luck and get some rest if you can.
 
I'm so sorry @Tak ! We only had a light mould problem in our previous flat, bu as it was a rented flat, we could just leave it behind when we moved to our own house a few years ago. I do know from a former acquaintance that serious mould can cause health issues. They are a large family and their children began to develop symptoms from the mould in their old (rented) house, so they moved. I don't know what caused the mould though, if it was from a plumbing leakage, if the house was insufficiently isolated, or if the house was just situated in a very shady and damp area where mould is more or less inevitable. I hope you'll be able to sort things out soon! :xmashug:
 
First of all you my dear friend need this
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Secondly, your parents definitely need to have their home insurance take care of the leak(s) that are happening, especially because it's not, very much effecting you and Eevee's health. (Even if it's not yet noticeable, like me, your immune system is compromised and being exposed to it is very much not good for you in general and now that you are also under the weather. I worry. My good friends (that I just travelled with) just dealt with their home insurance company with a leaking coming from their bathroom into their kitchen, it was terrible. BUT the insurance paid for everything apart from the deductible. So, step one is for the insurance to be called, they send out a contractor they work with and they will provide the quotes all to the insurance company, you guys don't deal with it at all.

I understand the need/want to do it on your own and out of pocket but it sounds like there is mold issues and you and your parents shouldn't be subjected to that. If for any reason they have to really tear everything apart insurance will pay for accommodations (usually at a hotel) for you guys until the repairs are done and the home is once again safe for you guys.

As always, I am here for you and if there's any way I can help just say the words. We are all apart of the MLPTP family after all. <3
 
Thank you you all.
My dad's getting a plumber to go under the house to see what is going on. I'm hoping that they will put in an insurance claim at that point, but it's their choice. I know they choose to have a higher deductible and lower premium, so it really depends on what is going on and if it's covered. Here's a few pictures of my water damage issues. I'm not going near the mold, my caregiver is coming tomorrow to clean it up. That way we will be okay until my parents get it fixed.
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My ceilings for the last two years.
My bedroom closet that caused so much trouble last year, we didn't bother with drywall since it'll most likely bust again.
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The newest closet hole.
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And the best I can get of the closet... major gag just getting this close. The shelves go four feet high and the top shelf is fuzzy. This is the bottom shelf by the floor. I think it's gonna be nasty behind the plywood of the shelf.
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@Tak there is definitely an underlying problem to fix. Your caregiver can clean it but if its wet deep in the wood and subfloor it will come back and fast. Some really big fans and a dehumidifier may help dry it out too...I hope it can be fixed so you can feel at ease and safe again. My heart goes out to you ❤️.
 
Some silica cat litter would be useful, too. Not the gravel kind, the type that looks like clear crystals. It's based around the same stuff that's in those little "do not eat" packets that come in some things, like jerky or jewelry boxes. It just absorbs water from the air and surfaces in a way that makes it hard for bacteria or mold to get to it. Not a permanent solution by any means, but it should help in the closet for a week or two without blowing mold spores all over the house the way a fan can.
 
My dad is getting a quote for replacing all the piping, the old faucets, and repairing the walls. It will mean that my mom can't remodel their bathroom (both their bathrooms are in horrible shape, one is missing a wall in the basement. The spiders are aracnophobia size and jump). She said that hers isn't a health hazard (besides the spiders) or a possible structural instability, so she wants this fixed first.

She's a good mom and better grandma. I'm lucky.
 
Hey! Good news! There’s nothing wrong with my neck. The surgery there looks great, so I just need to speak to the hand surgeon that did my other hand. I want to crochet again so badly!
 
I've been so busy this week I have to get up to speed on the happenings! I'm so glad the mold situation is getting taken care of and your mom is right, their bathrooms aren't going to affect their health so it should take priority. That stuff can really mess you up!
At least you got some good news with your neck though hopefully you won't have to deal with any other setbacks!
 
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