<html> <body> Sorry if I'm missing something.  If money is, as they say, 'no object', then let him get another piano, or another house, whatever.  If money is 'an object', then the question is, what is the most efficacious way of determining if the piano is contributing to his problem?  Either remove the piano, temporarily (he could rent something if need be), or wrap it.  However, you say: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""> I suspect he's decided that the piano will either be treated in some tried and proven way, or be rebuilt or replaced</blockquote> So if he's already decided what he wants to do, it becomes an issue of little further interest.  It would be of interest to know how much it would cost to have a certified individual determine the piano's toxicity, and if any, how much it would cost to remediate (and how it would be done).  For that matter, it would of more than passing interest to contemplate the ethics of disposing of such an instrument.  Can you sell it without disclosing your reason?  If it is contaminated, can you donate it?  etc. It reminds me of my experience (which I've cited before) dealing with a piano that had been treated with (what turned out to be) Paris Green, a substance containing arsenic, which had been used, especially in the south, to control insects.  Once officially identified (by village fire department), the legitimate (legal) recourse asserted itself.  A company was brought in to inspect, and subsequently advised removing (and disposing of) the piano, a step which, frankly, had I continued to be involved in the process, I would have at the very least, challenged.  I retain some degree of skepticism. My last word:  whatever. David Skolnik At 02:26 PM 1/10/2013, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">David, You're correct, there was no mention of water damage.  The house is fine from that perspective, as far as anyone knows.  As I said to James in my response to him, the issue is probably the Humboldt climate well known for dampness, especially along the coast where we are.  He is a musician, records, gigs, and uses the piano frequently, though as he is more a wind player and guitarist, and associates are more likely to use the piano than he in actual rehearsals and so forth. All your suggestions are useful, but I suspect moving the piano to a different local in the house probably isn't going to fly, since I suspect he's decided that the piano will either be treated in some tried and proven way, or be rebuilt or replaced.   No one has any idea whether the piano is even infected; they just want to cover all the bases in the most direct way possible.  I'm getting the feeling--as others have suggested--that the simplest thing is to replace it, period.  I'm going to check in with this guy very soon about what I'm learning here.  I'm not familiar with the ozone tent Andrew speaks of.  Any idea what it is/does?  Andrew? Thanks very much for everyone's help! Greg On Thu, Jan 10, 2013 at 9:52 AM, David Skolnik <<a href="mailto:davidskolnik@optonline.net"> davidskolnik@optonline.net</a>> wrote: <dl> <dd>Greg, James - <dd>Without getting into technical details beyond my immediate knowledge, the data seems somewhat incomplete.  I may have missed something, but I don't understand the basis for James assumption that the piano suffered water damage.  It would be interesting to know the suspected cause of the mold, i.e. a water leak, flooding, Humbolt climate?  Does he use the piano?  Can the piano be moved to a part of the house that he doesn't frequent, to see if that makes a difference?  If his condition suddenly improves, that would narrow it down a bit.  I would be wary of going immediately the off-site 'expert evaluation' route, partly for the initial expense (it can't be cheap, unless the wife does it herself or knows someone), and then question of what to do, based upon the assessment results.  I suppose you could move it off-site to do a thorough cleaning (or take it out in the back on a sunny day - whenever that might be- and blow it out).  <dd>It would be interesting to see (photo) how the house has been cleansed without eliminating all elements of comfort. <dd>David Skolnik <dd>At 11:32 AM 1/10/2013, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""> <dd>Greg, <dd>   Of all the things that are be almost impossible to remove from a piano without rebuilding, mildew and mold are at the top of the list. It is more difficult then smoke and smoke odor  There simply is not a way to clean it out without removing and replacing parts. You have a living organism that is not just sitting there, is is growing  If I were in your place I wold first have the piano removed to a water damage restoration specialist and let is sit in an uncontaminated area for evaluation and then decide the next step from there.  Most of the time you can see it but not always.  Getting the input from some folks that deal with it on a regular basis is helpful. <dd>Yours <dd>James Schmitt <dd>On Jan 9, 2013, at 8:57 AM, Gregory J. Granoff wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""> <dd>David, <dd>I'm not sure what the story is on discovery there, but his wife is a long time professional allergist, and they have come quite a distance already in getting rid of all furniture and permeable surfaces in the house (carpeting, etc.), cleaning, painting, etc., with no turning back.  I'm not going to say anything about finding what you tend to look for, if you know what I mean; but he did develop some pretty unpleasant symptoms when he's in his house--difficulty regulating body temp, feelings of mild atrophy in extremities, and mental cloudiness, among others, according to him. <dd>The question really is now:  what do with the piano.  He's aware--assuming that all this other stuff is correct-- that the piano might need to be replaced entirely, so it isn't a question of that being do-able if necessary.  <dd>He just wants to know if that route is the only choice, and if it isn't, what are the realistic options for the existing piano? <dd>Thanks, <dd>Greg <dd>On Wed, Jan 9, 2013 at 5:08 AM, David Skolnik <<a href="mailto:davidskolnik@optonline.net"> davidskolnik@optonline.net</a>> wrote: <dl> <dd>Greg - <dd>How was the original mold assessment made?  How is the rest of his house being treated?  Did a reliable expert locate the primary source, and reason for its presence? <dd>David Skolnik <dd>At 12:26 PM 1/8/2013, you wrote:<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""> <dd>Hello list, <dd>I'm looking for info regarding a customer who has been diagnosed with a serious allergy to poisonous mold spores that have apparently infected his house.  He asked me whether there was any way to treat permeable surfaces such as felt, unfinished wood, etc. in pianos for the spores which can lodge there that didn't involve replacing everything.  I have no experience with this issue at all.  Anybody know? <dd>Thanks so much in advance for any advice and knowledge! <dd>Greg Granoff <dd>Humboldt State University <dd>No virus found in this message. <dd>Checked by AVG - <a href="http://www.avg.com/">www.avg.com</a> <dd>Version: 2013.0.2805 / Virus Database: 2637/6016 - Release Date: 01/07/13</blockquote></blockquote> </dl></blockquote> <dd>No virus found in this message. <dd>Checked by AVG - <a href="http://www.avg.com">www.avg.com</a> <dd>Version: 2013.0.2805 / Virus Database: 2637/6021 - Release Date: 01/09/13 </dl> No virus found in this message. 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