Importance And Purpose Of Mold Remediation
Mold removal is a cleanup of the mold that is present in the indoor environments. It is quite important to tackle your mold problem head on before it begins to cause serious damage to your health and home.
What are the causes of mold?
A lot of buildings are designed to sustain the growth of mold. This is because it is caused by the presence of water indoors or moisture and grows on the organic materials. You should note that organic matter consists of things, which are living. Mold growth is found on wooden studs or wood floors. It is encouraged by the lack of building materials such as concrete, flooding, leaky roofs that are associated with building maintenance and plumbing.
The first step is to solve mold problems, which are a source of moisture within your office or home. This is then followed by mold removal. The following are some of the solutions for small levels of mold:mold
- Sunlight
- Ventilation
- Dehumidifiers
- Wall insulation
- Household cleansers
- Non-porous building materials
If mold growth is quite significant, it is necessary to choose a professional Mold Removal company to eliminate mold from your premises. The purpose of remediation is to remove or clean all contaminated materials. Also, there is a need to stop mold from spreading.
Different methods
Some of the ways, which hinder mold growth include air conditioning, dry fog, and improved insulation. The current technology allows mold remediation companies to use a dry fog, which exterminates mold and thwarts its growth. The fog contains a chemical that is approved by EPA and does not harm or damage the health of individuals or animals. It is necessary to attack mold that is harmful to homeowners and their pets. The method used should not exacerbate the situation.
Nowadays, some companies are using mold remediation methods that expose mold to high levels of sunlight, ozone, heat, dry air, and UV light. Although such methods can make mold non-viable, it may still produce harmful effects. The appropriate mold remediation tactic is to employ detergent solutions to eliminate physically.
Some of the mold removal means include:
- Vacuum: this removes all accumulated water from floors and carpets
- Damp wipe: this involves wiping or scrubbing of non-porous surfaces with detergent and water
- Dry ice blasting: this helps get rid of the mold that is on cement surfaces or wood
- HVPA vacuum: Vacuum cleaners are equipped with HVPA filters that carry out final cleanup of the affected areas
Get to Know Your Enemy
Hidden Mold in House
The process is usually underway long before you have a visual clue of the problem. Mold growth often begins inside ducts and crawl spaces or behind tiles, wallpaper, or paneling – in places where you cannot see it and remove it immediately to avoid further damage. If you notice warping walls, crumbling plaster or blistering paint, new cracks in your tiles that get deeper, or gaps in the grouts, you may have an imminent mold issue. If the walls or the floor feel wet and softer to the touch, or have inexplicable stains, the alarm should be raised and you need to arrange for immediate mold testing. Persistent musty smell in a well-maintained home, however, is the number one signal for hidden mold growth that cannot be mistaken and should never be ignored. Remember that early detection can prevent great troubles.
Dormant Mold
If you manage to discover the source of the moisture and fix the problem, the area may dry out completely and the mold may seem to disappear. However, if you fail to remove all the mold spores, they will not just die with time – they will become dormant and will be able to reactivate whenever favorable conditions occur. Even dormant mold produces a musty smell and can be dangerous to people’s health. Regardless of your efforts, the problem may persist.
Mold in Newly-Built Homes
Mold issues can be found even in newly-built properties. If the building materials were stored in humid surroundings or were not properly protected from rain during the construction, the internal moisture of the materials will enable mold growth. Having in mind the possible lack of quality control upon completion of the building and the fact that many modern building materials, such as plasterboard and plywood, are conducive to mold growth, it is no surprise that your new living space may have a mold infestation problem.
But don’t panic!
While the problems we describe here are frightening, they describe only what can happen in the advanced stages of a mold infestation — that is, without a mold removal effort to arrest its progress. If the mold problem is a small one, and it’s confined to a flat, nonporous surface such as a tile floor, you may even be able to remove it yourself with a sturdy sponge and a strong cleanser. But if you’ve called in a certified mold inspector and discovered the problem is a severe one, a team of mold removal experts can handle the problem for you, in just a few easy steps:
- Identify the problem
First, the mold removal team will find out where the mold is, and what caused the conditions that allow it to survive. This may be a leaky pipe, condensation on walls or windows, or pooling water issuing from a foundation crack.
- Cordon off the area
Next, the team will seal off the affected area. This will ensure that the mold removal process won’t release mold spores to other areas of the building, where they can take root and cause an entirely new set of problems.
3 .Mold removal
Finally, the team will use high-pressure hoses to clear the entire area of mold.
How to Remove Mold – DIY or not?
Do-it-yourself mold removal methods have proven to be efficient only when you recognize the first signs of mold growth and manage to prevent its development. Use only EPA-registered fungicide to kill mold and be sure to eliminate the source of the moisture that allowed its appearance in the first place. However, remember that DIY mold removal is often incomplete and provides only a temporary solution to the problem.
- Bleach is inefficient. The once most commonly used mold removal product is actually too weak to kill the mold spores – it only hinders their development for a short time;
- Household cleaners and paints only hide the problem. Any disinfectants and cleaning agents are just not strong enough to deal with mold spores, just like bleach. Besides, they cannot clean inside the contaminated materials, so it’s only a matter of time for mold to reappear again. Lysol or paint, on the other hand, will only cover the damage, not repair it;
- Fungicide sprays work. However, you can hope to put a final end to your problems only if no hidden mold remains. Spraying only the visible patches will not prevent mold from reappearing soon – all the hidden and dormant spores must be eliminated, too. Also, remember to fix any leaks and/or remove moist materials in your home.