Does your Union County home have a mold problem?

1/22/2021 (Permalink)

Microscopic mold spores naturally occur almost everywhere, both outdoors and indoors. This makes it impossible to remove all mold from a home or business. Therefore, mold remediation reduces the mold spore count back to its natural or baseline level. Some restoration businesses advertise “mold removal” and even guarantee to remove all mold, which is a fallacy. Consider the following mold facts:

• Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors.
• Mold spores are microscopic and float along in the air and may enter your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems or even hitch a ride indoors on your clothing or a pet.
• Mold spores thrive on moisture. Mold spores can quickly grow into colonies when exposed to water. These colonies may produce allergens and irritants.
• Before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed. Otherwise, the mold may return.
• Mold often produces a strong, musty odor and can lead you to possible mold problem areas.
• Even higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth. Keep indoor humidity below 45 percent.

If your home or business has a mold problem, we can inspect and assess your property and use our specialized training, equipment, and expertise to remediate your mold infestation.

If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today –704-764-3216

The Life of Mold

2/12/2020 (Permalink)

Close your eyes and picture a seed. It’s small, simple and ready to be carried away to find a home. Before mold forms, it starts off as a small spore, bearing the likeness of a seed. Spores can be smaller than a pinhead and undetectable to the eye. But inside of this spore are thousands of more spores. Once that spore is broken, these internal spores are released into the air. Airflow then carries these spores away until they find a place to land. When these spores find a surface to settle on, they may lie dormant or immediately begin to spread. Spores wait for the right environment to grow in, which are determined by temperature, food and moisture.  Mold typically grows best in temperatures between approximately sixty and eighty degrees. However, some forms of mold can withstand freezing temperatures or survive in one hundred degrees temperatures. It also feeds on organic materials in surfaces, like wood, drywall and natural fibers and is attracted to high moisture and humidity levels. 

Wherever these conditions are present, mold may not be far behind. The combination of these conditions depends on the speed of which the mold grows. If you suspect mold in your home or place of business, do not hesitate to contact SERVPRO for all of your mold remediation needs. We can restore your property to it’s fullest potential and make it “Like it never even happened.”

How Mold Affects You and Your Home

1/22/2020 (Permalink)

Did You Know? Exposure to humid and moldy environments can result in a variety of issues. We come in contact with areas that are likely to have mold every day. Such areas include ventilation ducts, carpets and crawl spaces. Outside of your home, mold can grow in wooded areas, in cut grass and even compost piles. 

Mold aids in breaking down dead organic matter, like dead trees, leaves and plants. But inside your home, mold can be extremely dangerous. Mold reproduces through spores, which are carried through the air. And when these spores land on a moist or wet surface, they begin to grow rapidly. Exposure to mold can cause a number of  issues that could affect your daily routines, your home or your place of business. When we are able to control moisture, we can control mold. If you’ve noticed signs of mold in your home, it is best to clean it up promptly and asses the water issue as mold and water can quickly cause damage to your home. 

As a trusted leader in the restoration industry, SERVPRO of Union County provides 24-hour residential and commercial services. As a locally owned and operated business, we’re dedicated to being faster to any size disaster, with the training, equipment, and expertise to handle your restoration and cleaning needs.

6 Steps to Preventing Mold Growth

6/19/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has released a report on the six steps to help prevent the growth of mold after water damage has occurred 

14,000 people daily are affected by water damage. It is important to know how to eliminate conditions in which may cause mold to grow and spread. 

All homeowners who have recently experienced water damage should be concerned about mold, as it can grow rapidly. The sooner an infestation is taken care of, the better.

Here are six tips to help reduce the likelihood of mold growth:

Remove the water as quickly as possible.

Use a wet or dry vacuum to soak up as much water as possible. This limits the possibility for the mold to grow.

Use fans to dry the floors and carpets faster.

It may take several days for fans to completely dry water damage. Leave them on constantly for at least a few weeks to help circulate cool and fresh air as well as speed up the drying process.

Dehumidify the affected room.

Mold grows in moist, warm and dark areas. Dehumidifying the room helps cool the air and limit mold and mildew growth. Any equipment you can use to dry the air and ground will be useful in mold prevention. Don't have proper equipment? Easy- call SERVPRO to help dry out your home.

Steam-clean your carpet.

Steam-clean any and all carpets to properly sanitize and wipe out any spores which may have started growing. Any water-damaged carpet padding may need to be replaced, but is still much cheaper than having to entirely re-carpet the house.

Sanitize walls and baseboards.

Anything that has been touched by storm water should immediately be sanitized. Clean any hardwood floors, walls, or other surfaces with soap, water, chlorine, and bleach to minimize mold growth.

Lastly, check affected furniture for any signs of mold growth that may have begun

Check all furniture for water damage, and remove the furniture from wet flooring. Water damage may hide itself under carpets or rugs, so be sure to thoroughly inspect the home.

Even following the above steps, it is likely that a mold infestation may still be present in the home. If any visible signs of mold are noticed, then an infestation/colonization has occurred. For any extensive mold damage situations, it is best to call SERVPRO!

Importance of Mold Remediation

3/13/2017 (Permalink)

Exposure to mold and repairs after damage related to mold can be quite costly both to the health of you and your family, plus your home itself. If you know the warning signs and what kind of damage to look for, however, it is possible to catch a mold problem before it causes property damage that is widespread, or even serious adverse health effects.

Warning Signs of Mold Damage

Mold needs the right conditions to start growing and creating mold damage to your structure. The growth of mold will begin when a spore reaches an area which has enough moisture, the right temperature range, and a food source. Paper sheathing, insulation, wood moldings, carpeting or ceiling tiles all can act as sources of food for mold.

If you believe you have a mold problem, the earlier you contact a professional remediation company such as SERVPRO, the better chance you have at preventing or reducing widespread damage. There are several physical warning signs that can lead you to have your home checked for a possible mold infestation. These can include:

• Visible growth of mold
• Water stains or discoloration on internally facing ceilings or walls
• Water stains or discoloration on externally facing walls
• Musty odor
• Areas of condensation or standing water on walls, floors or window sales

Damages from Mold Exposure

If mold is left untreated, it will grow and spread, creating a variety of problems including physical damage to the structure itself, plus the contents of your home.

Structural components and building materials: Mold can cause major structural damage to your home since it feeds on and breaks down matter of organic origin. When mold infests insulation, walls, carpeting, or paper backing, these materials, therefore, need to be removed. Clean up, and removal can be a big inconvenience, but our staff at SERVPRO will work thoroughly and quickly so your home is back to normal as soon as possible.

Personal property: Besides causing structural damage, mold could destroy property inside your home. When mold adheres to personal property, it can be quite difficult or even impossible to clean. Many times, the item must be disposed of since the spores cannot be totally removed.

Ventilation and heating systems: Mold might also enter ventilation and heating systems. A lot of sections of the system could be inaccessible for a visible cleaning or inspection, so that is again where our technicians at SERVPRO can help. It is very important that ventilation and heating systems be thoroughly cleaned since spores can use the systems as ways to get to other areas of your home. If it cannot be cleaned or a moisture problem cannot be fixed, the entire system might have to be removed and replaced.

Where Does Mold Hide?

3/13/2017 (Permalink)

Think your home is pristine? There is no way mold can be infesting your sanctuary, right? You may need to reevaluate your thinking. Mold may be hiding within your residence. Mold problems can occur anywhere if conditions are ideal for growth, and some portions of your home may be home to mold, as well. You may try to maintain a clean environment, constantly dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, organizing, and doing a thorough cleaning of your property, but you may have missed a spot…or a few. There may be some parts of your home you do not consider, and you are not alone in making this mistake.

Kitchen

The kitchen is a location that may have moisture issues which can contribute to mold growth.

• Check under your sink. A small pipe leak may go unnoticed, letting the moisture and water damage sit untreated. Leaks combined with dark spaces are the perfect environment for mold.


• The sponge dish may have a mold problem. You use your sponge to wash dishes every day, but when you put it back in its dish, moisture may begin to collect and mold begin to form.


• Under your fridge isn’t safe either. Yes, even your refrigerator may have moisture issues. The refrigerator can leak without you knowing. There is a drip pan under your refrigerator that can collect excess water, but if left untreated, mold can form.

Laundry Room

Your washing machine may be a hot spot for mold. Check the door of the washing machine, inside the gasket. Dark, warm, moist areas are ideal for mold growth. Make sure to wipe under the door gasket after each wash to prevent mold growth. Also leave the door open to air-out the washing machine.

Bathroom

Your shower or tub may be hiding mold without your knowledge.

• Check under lids and bottoms of shower products. You may forget to pick these products up and clean underneath. Moisture can become trapped under the lids or under the products and mold can form.


• Bath toys may be fun for kids, but they may also be housing mold. Water may get inside the toys and be unable to get out. This is a difficult location to discover mold. You may need to open up one of the toys to see if mold is growing inside, and if there is mold, replace all of the toys, as there most-likely will be mold within them as well.

Mold does not discriminate and may develop in any property as long as ideal conditions are met. Mold can cause health issues with excess exposure, so it is important to remove any mold you discover. If you suspect mold may be in your property, contact a professional home inspector. A home inspector will be able to conduct mold tests which will be able to identify moldy areas within your home. Once mold is officially discovered, contact a qualified mold remediation company, such as SERVPRO of Union County, to remediate the mold and restore your home to the haven you work so hard to maintain.