Recent Mold Remediation Posts

Mold Remediation

1/25/2023 (Permalink)

Mold grows in damp, warm conditions without much airflow. It is often caused by humid conditions and lack of ventilation. It can generally be characterized by black spots. These can spread over larger areas if left untreated.

Mold can look like spots. It can be many different colors, and it can smell musty. If you see or smell mold, you should remove it. You do not need to know the type of mold.

To Prevent Mold Growth in Your Home

 
  • Keep humidity levels in your home as low as you can—no higher than 50%–all day long. An air conditioner or dehumidifier will help you keep the level low. You can buy a meter to check your home’s humidity at a home improvement store. Humidity levels change over the course of a day so you will need to check the humidity levels more than once a day.
  • Be sure the air in your home flows freely. Use exhaust fans that vent outside your home in the kitchen and bathroom. Make sure your clothes dryer vents outside your home.
  • Fix any leaks in your home’s roof, walls, or plumbing so mold does not have moisture to grow.
  • Clean up and dry out your home fully and quickly (within 24–48 hours) after a flood.
  • Add mold inhibitors to paints before painting. You can buy mold inhibitors at paint and home improvement stores.
  • Clean bathrooms with mold-killing products.
  • Remove or replace carpets and upholstery that have been soaked and cannot be dried right away. Think about not using carpet in places like bathrooms or basements that may have a lot of moisture.

If the mold is widespread, leave it to professional experts. They have advanced training and techniques to completely eliminate the mold infestation and restore the property without risk of further growth or dispersal.

SERVPRO OF COLTON/LOMA LINDA/GRAND TERRACE IS ALWAYS READY TO HELP

24/7 JUST CALL:

(909) 514-1900

Mold Remediation

5/31/2022 (Permalink)

Mold:

Molds are part of the natural environment. Molds are fungi that can be found anywhere - inside or outside - throughout the year. About 1,000 species of mold can be found in the United States, with more than 100,000 known species worldwide.

Indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Problems may arise when mold starts eating away at materials, affecting the look, smell, and possibly, with the respect to wood-framed buildings, affecting the structural integrity of the buildings.

Molds can grow on virtually any substance, as long as moisture or water, oxygen, and an organic source are present. Molds reproduce by creating tiny spores (viable seeds) that usually cannot be seen without magnification.

Mold prevention tips include:

  • Repairing plumbing leaks and leaks in the building structure as soon as possible.
  • Looking for condensation and wet spots. Fix source(s) of moisture incursion problem(s) as soon as possible.
  • Preventing moisture from condensing by increasing surface temperature or reducing the moisture level in the air (humidity). To increase surface temperature, insulate or increase air circulation. To reduce the moisture level in the air, repair leaks, increase ventilation (if outside air is cold and dry), or dehumidify (if outdoor air is warm and humid).
  • Keeping HVAC drip pans clean, flowing properly, and unobstructed.
  • Performing regularly scheduled building/ HVAC inspections and maintenance, including filter changes.
  • Maintaining indoor relative humidity below 70% (25 - 60%, if possible).
  • Venting moisture-generating appliances, such as dryers, to the outside where possible.
  • Venting kitchens (cooking areas) and bathrooms according to local code requirements.
  • Cleaning and drying wet or damp spots as soon as possible, but no more than 48 hours after discovery.
  • Providing adequate drainage around buildings and sloping the ground away from building foundations. Follow all local building codes.
  • Pinpointing areas where leaks have occurred, identifying the causes, and taking preventive action to ensure that they do not reoccur.

When mold starts to invade your home, dealing with the problem quickly and safely should be a priority. It can take less than 72 hours for mold to spread throughout your home, which may result in health effects to your family, as well as damage to your property. SERVPRO OF COLTON/LOMA LINDA/GRAND TERRACE responds quickly to your call to assess your situation. SERVPRO professionals use advanced equipment and experience in mold mitigation to determine the water source of your mold problem. Then, we’ll work with you in the cleanup and restoration process with as little disruption to your family as possible.

We provide 24/7 Emergency Service

JUST CALL (909) 514-1900

SERVPRO OF COLTON/LOMA LINDA/GRAND TERRACE IS READY TO HELP!

Time is important when dealing with mold, and a quick response will help lessen damage, help avoid costly repairs and help result in less disruption to your family.

Mold Remediation

12/10/2021 (Permalink)

Mold will grow where there is moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been a flood. Mold grows on paper, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood. Mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.

There is always some mold around. Molds have been on the Earth for millions of years. Mold can get in your home through open doors, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems. Mold in the air outside can be brought indoors on clothing, shoes, bags, and even pets.

How common is mold in buildings?

  • Molds are very common in buildings and homes. Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been flooding. Mold grows well on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood products. Mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.
  • The most common indoor molds are Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus.  We do not have precise information about how often different molds are found in buildings and homes.

TO PREVENT MOLD FROM HAPPENING:

  • Keep the house dry -- don't let water build up anywhere, ventilate damp rooms, wipe shower walls and doors after use.
  • Don't leave wet clothes in the washing machine where mold can quickly grow.
  • Wash shower curtains and bathroom tiles regularly with mold-killing products.
  • Don't have too many indoor plants -- especially in the bedroom -- as mold can grow in plant soil.
  • Fix any leaks or seepage in the house, indoors and out.
  • Put plastic over dirt in crawlspaces and keep them well ventilated.
  • Use exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms.
  • Turn off humidifiers if you see condensation on windows.
  • Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners in basements and other areas of the house where mold tends to grow, especially in hot humid climates.
  • Clean dehumidifiers and humidifiers every week.
  • On concrete floors, remove carpet and use area rugs that can be lifted and washed, or install a vapor barrier over the concrete.

STEPS ON TREATING MOLD:

  • Step 1: Emergency Contact
  • Step 2: Inspection and Mold Damage Assessment
  • Step 3: Mold Containment
  • Step 4: Air Filtration
  • Step 5: Removing Mold and Mold-Infested Materials
  • Step 6: Cleaning Contents and Belongings
  • Step 7: Restoration

SERVPRO OF COLTON/LOMA LINDA/GRAND TERRACE IS ALWAYS READY TO HELP!

JUST CALL: 909-514-1900

We provide 24/7 Emergency Service

Time is important when dealing with mold, and a quick response will help lessen damage, help avoid costly repairs and help result in less disruption to your family.

#1 in the Cleanup and Restoration Industry*

We’ve earned the reputation as a trusted leader in the restoration industry and specialize in mold inspection and testing, mold cleanup, mold restoration and more.

Mold Remediation

7/28/2021 (Permalink)

Mold in homes causes numerous problems. House mold problemsgo beyond an unpleasant smell or unsightly stains on carpets, walls or ceilings. No one wants those things in their home. Mold also contributes to a number of health problems, some quite serious.

Health issues due to mold problems include:

  • Respiratory problems
  • Asthma attacks
  • Chronic sinus infections
  • Sore throats 
  • Runny noses
  • Watery eyes
  • Coughing

Mold can be absorbed by clothing in a few ways. Either the fabric becomes infected with mold, or it comes in contact with other moldy clothes. 

Cleaning up mold in homes poses many problems. If you don’t get it all, any health problems you’re experiencing will continue or even get worse. Cleaning mold from your shower tiles may be fairly easy, but cleaning mold from porous surfaces like wooden wall studs, insulation, carpeting and drywall is much more difficult. Some surfaces cannot be cleaned and must be removed and replaced instead.

Any home or business can quickly become infested with mold with the introduction of a water source, like a roof or plumbing leak. Mold can spread throughout a property in as little as 48-72 hours, and can produce allergens and irritants that have the potential to cause other health effects.  

If you suspect that your home or business has a mold problem, SERVPRO Franchise Professionals can inspect and assess your property. If mold is found, they have the training, equipment, and expertise to handle the situation.

Please refer to our Mold Damage Tips to learn more about mold and what to do until help arrives. 

SERVPRO Franchise Professionals

SERVPRO OF COLTON/LOMA LINDA/GRAND TERRACE 909-514-1900

Mold Remediation

12/30/2020 (Permalink)

Mold growth can cause issues from headaches and nasal congestions to rashes and respiratory problems.

The most common types of mold include aspergillus, cladosporium and stachybotrys atra (also known as black mold). Aspergillus is a fairly allergenic mold that is commonly found on foods and in home air conditioning systems. Mold around windows (or on them) is caused by the combination of moisture, poor ventilation, and residue.

Continuous rain creates wetness that lasts for days. Combine this with the poor ventilation system, and you get a recipe for ideal mold habitat. Poor ventilation also causes moisture to build up inside the window.

At the core of our mold remediation process is not only mold removal, but eliminating the source that is causing the mold. As part of our full assessment, we will put together a comprehensive plan for stopping mold growth, followed by a full cleanup and removal of the existing mold. Typical solutions to a mold problem include increased ventilation, exposure to sunlight, dehumidifiers and general cleanup. Depending on your individual situation, we will employ the method that is most applicable. After we have determined what is causing the mold and taken steps to fix it, we can then begin the cleanup process. In order for a mold remediation to be considered complete, all mold must be completely removed from the affected area. Due to its nature, mold spores can affect humans even when it is dead. Because of this, chemical treatments alone are not enough.

Our teams of professionals of SERVPRO of Colton/ Loma Linda/ Grand Terrace are standing by to help keep your family and staff safe, and your home or office secure.