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I don't know who is responsible, but I have a good cheap solution. See if you can get your super to install a thermostatic radiator valve. Some will allow you to set the temperature of the radiator. I think they are about $90.

Dan -

You can indeed call 311, and I suggest you do so today. But beforehand, sit down and write out a history of this issue. Try to be as specific as possible about when you first noticed it, first contacted your landlord, etc. Try to remember dates and names if possible.

Then, when you call 311, tell them you're a tenant calling to report a housing violation. They'll take it from there.

Also, Dan, here's a link to The City's Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) page. It's got a lot of info for you about getting help with repair issues in rental housing:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/tenants/tenants.shtml

Yikes...that does look toxic.

I learned a little trick from a building inspector that may be worth a shot in the short term.

Paint the moldy area with Dial Antibacterial soap and let it dry, then wash it off and see if it has any affect.

I doubt, given the weather right now, the buildings department is going to take a complaint of too much heat seriously. Why don't you turn the radiator off? Clean the mold with bleach and a scrub brush.

The bubbling of the plaster and mold is not from the radiator, but water infiltration within the wall itself. There is water inside the wall from a leak, and it is leaching out through the plaster. The mold is the result of the water on the surface combined with the warm moist environment created by the radiator.

Your landlord should be concerned because of the water leakage, and the damage going on inside the wall... sorry you have to deal with this.

That bubbling of paint/plaster and the black mould spores are due to mositure in the wall - nothing to do with the radiator - the heat from the radiator is drawing the moisutre out from the wall and generating a perfect environment for the mould to grow - an anti-bacterial spray will easily remove the black marks but will not solve the problem - the damp proofing in this wall needs to be checked out by a professional

I had a mold problem, black mold that shot out three inches in lenght from a faulty drain upstairs. It came through the drywall three times before the landlord stopped replacing the drywall and actually fixed the drain and then only after getting a violation for leaving a gaping hole in the wall for three weeks while water dripped constantly. After awhile your throat will feel sore. Mold spores are toxic and it's not good to breathe for extended periods. Make sure it's all removed and surounding areas are cleaned because it will come back if not done properly. Document all contacts with your landlord, call 311 and if they ask is there is a child or children in the house say YES. They will respond faster.

Dan, your landlord is responsible for curing the situation. Follow Moira's advice. My landlord ignored a mold situation in my bathroom for over a year (just painting over the spots with regular paint) but, after I called 311 and made a formal complaint, he finally took care of it within a week.

I developed this in an apartment. It was the kitchen wall which was external, brick and tended to be cold to the touch. Bleach will take the mold off, but they need to let the wall dry, scrape off the paint and recover with mildew-resistant paint. That's what the super told me at the time.

Don't let this go. Mold will make you incredibly sick. I once worked in a college office in the basement of a derelict dorm. A mold problem developed in the vents that forced the staff to leave regularly. I came in for an hour at the end of the day, then locked the office up. Once I came in as everyone was leaving with headaches. I sat reading a contract for about 30 minutes before someone from maintenance called to ask about symptoms. If she hadn't called I likely would have passed out. I'd become incredibly lethargic, drowsy and a steady headache had developed. Closed that place early.

What Devyn said is correct -- this is not a problem with the radiator inside your apartment, it's a problem with a pipe leaking inside the wall. This is very serious, and your landlord is absolutely responsible for taking care of the problem. The solution may require the walls being opened up -- don't settle for a cover-up that involves cleaning the visible mold.

I had some mold in my bedroom which I think was due to poor insulation on the exterior wall which caused condensation to form. My landlord, I think, painted it over, and it came back. I moved my dressers away from the wall (they were preventing air from flowing to the wall). This seems to have stemmed the problem. But, I also read up on the situation and one thing you can do is apply a solution of borax and warm water to the area...in case you have to take matters into your own hands. I also used "damp rid" to help absorb any excess moisture--the stuff really works.

Agreed on all points -- it's a landlord /311 issue. That said, I had some pesky mold/mildew on the walls in my bathroom and was constantly cleaning it with bleach. I found a product at Home Depot called Concrobium "Mold Control" and it worked great. No fumes. Mold has not come back. It's not sold everywhere, and I was only able to find it at the HD on the Upper East Side in the tool rental area. I think it's like $10 or so for the bottle. Clean the area with bleach first, then spray this stuff on.

Thank god I'm moving in a few weeks, all these mold comments are scaring me! We have a bad mold problem in our shower (which has a full-sized window in it) and on the ceiling. Though I have been really stressed lately, I have a headache that hasn't been going away, maybe it's due to the mold. I only found out about calling 311 like a month ago so it's not worth it anymore, but next time I'll know. Definately call 311 because landlords do nothing.

ok, that yellow stuff that drips down the walls... is that mold? b/c i had that in the bathroom. it came right off w/ method & rarely comes back. my friend had it too & they said it was something about not properly sealing the wall. it was on the ceiling & would run down the wall. it didn't look THIS bad, but i noticed.

The bottom line is you need someone in there who can not only remove it but can identify the cause...

Mold is not something to take care of yourself. It needs to be remediated and disposed of by a restoration pro or an environmental company.

Whether you call 311 would depend on your relationship with the building owner, but regardless of who is responsible to pay for it, dont go near it and get it cleaned up yesterday, it could make you really sick and is even worse for children to be breathing in.

here are some cityhammer.com environmental companies in New York

TERS Total Environmental Restoration Solutions
http://www.cityhammer.com/users/profile/?id=455&category_id=40

Habitat Safe Solutions
http://www.cityhammer.com/users/profile/?id=522&category_id=40

DRT Services
http://www.cityhammer.com/users/profile/?id=442&category_id=40

good luck!

You cannot tell if 311 is the right option until you spray/scrub with bleach first. It's possible it's not from a leak at all, but from condensation from a cold exterior wall vs. the heat of the radiator. You also seem to have a rag wrapped around the bottom of the radiator, presumably to catch drips from the steam trap - that could be the cause of the moisture as well. Remove the rag - if there's mold on the rag, that's the cause of the problem. Put a coffee cup or something under the steam valve instead, and bleach the wall. You could also try putting a piece of cardboard wrapped in aluminum foil behind the radiator to reflect the heat off the wall, and check to see if that helps (after you have bleached the wall). I don't think 311 should be involved unless you KNOW there is a leak behind the wall.

The yellow stuff dripping out of the paint is probably the alkyd binder in the paint that is leeching out. Often times latex or similar paints are painted over oil-based paints, which should really never happen, and when the top layer gets saturated with humidity, it can't permeate the layer beneath (the oil paint) so it leeches outward instead. Nothing dangerous, just paint over it.

It doesn't matter what it is.

First call the landlord to have it looked at. If nothing happens, call 311. That's why the number was created. Poor landlords will never take action unless pushed.

You are not obligated to clean anything because the cause is structural. If it's not the wall, it's the radiator. And if you don't own either, why should you fix it? Same as a co-op. What if you damage the radiator? The onus may fall to you. A landlord can then claim that you should be responsible for damages - could be a stretch, but is the wait worth the risk?

311 is the way the city documents issues which can be used later in court. Housing law always favors the tenant. Landlords know this. Most tenants don't. This is why you typically will see action after 311 is used. Sometimes mentioning 311 alone will get the job done.

Sadly every older building in NYC has mold. The question is, which one is worse? In this case, if you don't see it, it ain't broke. Buy obviously something is there.

Call the landlord. Then call 311.

To add to my previous comment:

After calling 311, I'd seriously consider finding another place to live... It's not safe.

LLAMA- thanks. that's what i thought it was. & yeah, the paint guys aren't so great & have used oil.