New Homeowner Checklist: Mold Inspection

4/28/2021 (Permalink)

The home buying process can be stressful for potential new homeowners. There is plenty of paperwork to complete and long to-do lists.  On this to-do list, usually during the closing stages, there are home inspections that take place. These inspections are meant to take a detailed survey of your roof, plumbing, sewer lines and other major systems to look for any broken or damaged infrastructure. Among this checklist, should be inspecting for mold.

Mold has the tendency to quickly spread throughout a home. If left lingering, the damage can be costly. Home buying is already a huge financial endeavor for many people and adding to maintenance bills because of mold is not exactly a welcomed thought. Homeowners should make sure that mold assessment is conducted as one of their first steps. Due to its ambiguous physical state, mold damage is not always evident upon first glance; leaving this inspection to the professionals is best. A mold assessor is recommended as they have experiencing spotting tell-tale signs.

Mold can be found in homes and rooms especially, with poor ventilation that are constantly humid. Think of a bathroom constantly being exposed to moisture; mold growth is infamous in bathrooms. It is important to remember mold can also be found in brand new construction as well. A new tightly sealed building may have trapped moisture inside, that may not appear as an issue at first but can transform into a serious mold issue later.

Buying a home is a major investment. Just like with any financial endeavor, protecting your investment is important, making mold inspection a must-do before finalizing your purchase. In the case that mold is present you will need immediate mold remediation. SERVPRO of Anson, Stanly, & Richmond Counties has years of experience in helping homeowners with their mold damage. Call us today 704-474-7190!

The Many Types of Spores and Where They Live

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.” 

6 Steps to Preventing Mold Growth

6/5/2017 (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

2/23/2017 (Permalink)

Photo shows visible mold on walls.

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.