Mold Remediation and Restoration
When unwanted water is introduced to your home or business it can quickly become invaded with mold. Mold can spread throughout a residence or property in as little as 48-72 hours, producing allergens and irritants that can range from mildly hazardous to dangerous in humans.
If you suspect that your home or business has a mold problem, our team has the equipment, and expertise to handle the situation.
Mold Damage Emergency Tips
In as little as 48 hours, mold can become an issue in your home or business when there’s an invasive water problem. Whether from a roof leak or leaking water line, mold can cause health effects and can also cause serious damage to your home or business. The your local Water Damage Pros team have the training, protective gear, and specialized equipment necessary to handle your mold problem.
We also are Pros at working with insurance companies.
Have a Mold Problem?
If you have a mold problem in your home or business, your primary focus should be safety:
- A serious amount of mold growth can occur in 48-72 hours.
- A strong, musty odor may indicate hidden mold behind drywall or under carpeting. The nose often knows! Mold often produces a strong, musty odor, and can lead you to possible mold problem areas.
- Children, the elderly, and anyone with respiratory problems are more susceptible to mold. Such groups with a higher risk should be evacuated from the home or to an area that was not impacted by the event.
What to Do:
- Stay out of impacted areas.
- Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
- Contact your local Water Damage Pros member or other professional company for mold remediation services.
What NOT to Do:
- Don’t touch or disturb the mold.
- Don’t blow air across any surfaces with visible or suspected mold growth.
- Don’t attempt to dry the area yourself.
- Don’t spray bleach or other disinfectants on the mold.
The Mold Remediation Process
Every mold damage scenario is different and requires a unique solution, but in general the mold remediation process stays the same. The steps listed below illustrate the “typical” process:
Step 1 – Emergency Contact
One of our Pro’s, will guide you through the crisis to minimize your damage and improve the safety of your home or business. The team will ask several questions to help us better understand the equipment and resources needed.
Step 2 – Mold Damage Assessment and Inspection
Our Pros will carefully survey your property for noticeable signs of mold. Mold feeds on water and cellulose and often lurks hidden from sight. We use electronic moisture monitors and thermal imaging cameras to detect mold and hidden water sources.
Step 3 – Containing the Mold
To prevent spreading of the hazardous mold spores,all fans and heating and cooling systems will be deactivated. A variety of containment measures will be used to prevent the spread of mold. In many situations, advanced containment procedures like negative air chambers will be used to isolate the impacted area with physical barriers to eliminate the risk of mold spores escaping the containment area during the cleanup process.
Step 4 – Air Filtration
Our team, with their specialized filtration equipment will remove microscopic mold spores out of the air. We will employ some powerful “air scrubbers” and HEPA vacuums to avert the spread of these mold spores while the mold remediation is being completed.
Step 5 – Eradication of Mold and Mold-Infested Materials
The remediation of mold depends on the aggressive nature of the mold growth and the various types of surfaces on which the mold has presented itself. The Water Damage Pros team of water damage professionals use a regimen of anti-fungal and antimicrobial treatments to stamp out mold colonies and block new colonies from forming. Removing and properly disposing of mold-infested porous materials, like carpeting and drywall, may be a prudent course of action to remediate continued mold growth.
Step 6 – Cleaning of Household Items
Our Pros clean your furniture, decorative items, curtains, clothing, and other restorable items impacted by mold. We use an array of cleaning approaches to clean and sanitize your possessions. They’re also trained to remove odors and deodorization using fogging equipment. Fogging equipment may be utilized to further remove odors and deodorize.
Step 7: Restoration
In more extreme cases of mold damage, subfloors, ceilings, drywall and other building materials will need to be demoed. Our restoration process may involve minor repairs, such as changing out drywall, painting, and laying down new carpet; or it may require major repairs such as the reconstruction of various areas or rooms in a home or business.
Understanding Mold
Microscopic mold spores are common in our world, indoors and outdoors, so eliminating all mold from a home or business is impractical. Avoid a restoration business that advertises “mold removal” and even guarantee to remove all mold. Removing all mold is unattainable and business proclaiming such guarantees is proclaiming their ignorance on the very important industry subject of mold. Consider the following mold facts:
- Mold exists almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors.
- Mold spores are microscopic and float along in our atmosphere, and there is a wide variety of ways spores enter your home. Through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems or gaining access via your clothing or a beloved pet.
- Mold spore colonies quickly expand when they have access to water. Mold spores love moisture!
- All sources of water or moisture must be dealt with before mold remediation can commence.
- Mold will often produce a strong, musty odor, and can lead clues to mold problem areas. Your sense of smell can be your best tool.
- Humidity that exceeds normal levels can support mold growth. Try to main indoor humidity below 45 percent.
What Is Black Mold?
Stachybotrys chartarum is often referred to as “black mold” or “toxic mold”. News reports and rumors have swirled about the dangers of black mold and have created much concern in the public. This mold isn’t itself toxic but can produce more mycotoxins than most other types of mold. In the past, black mold was thought to cause pulmonary hemorrhage and death in infants, but this clam has since been disproven by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
Any mold in your home or business should be treated with care. Please stay out of impacted areas and don’t touch or disrupt the mold.
No matter the color or type of mold, contact a local Water Damage Pros member business or another mold remediation company. Since many types of mold can produce allergens and irritants, it is best to allow professionals handle the situation.
Let us help you with your battle of the mold!
Call or email us to get a free quote now!