Black Mold Removal And Cleaning
Mold remediation in stores, offices, or schools is best left to professionals. This also applies to household mold exceeding 10 square feet.
The contractors you choose should have insurance and licenses from organizations like the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification .
Homeowners can handle cleaning about 10 square feet of black mold on their own.3 If the patch is small enough, a combination of bleach, water, scrubbing, and ventilation should do the trick.
Before treating mold on your own, prioritize ventilation and protective gear.
Removing black mold is a tough and dirty job. If you or anyone in your family is sensitive to mold allergies, has respiratory or immune issues, trust the professionals.
Find a contractor in your area to get started.
Is Black Mold Dangerous
Toxic black mold is dangerous and should be remediated by an expert. Call us at for a free consultation with a licensed mold removal contractor available 24/7 near you.
Toxigenic, or toxic mold, has developed a bad reputation over the course of over two decades. In the 1990s, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a study on several young infants who had developed a serious lung disease one of the children sadly passed away, while the others went on to recover with treatment. This study noted that all of the children were living in homes with significant amounts of S.chartarum, though the CDC was unable to find a direct link between the mold and the lung disease outbreak.
Nevertheless, the general public concluded that prolonged toxic mold exposure was the cause of the childrens condition. This incident heavily influenced the overall view on mold, inspiring fear in households across the country.
However, the CDC has yet to find a plausible correlation between toxic mold and serious health conditions like lung disease. In fact, a similar incident had occurred and been studied a few years prior to the aforementioned another group of children in a different state contracted major lung disease, with one of the children passing away while the others made a full recovery. Yet in this group, mold exposure wasnt even a possible contributing factor in their homes.
Facts About Stachybotrys Chartarum
What is Stachybotrys chartarum?
Stachybotrys chartarum is a greenish-black mold. It can grow on material with a high cellulose content, such as fiberboard, gypsum board, and paper. Growth occurs when there is moisture from water damage, water leaks, condensation, water infiltration, or flooding. Constant moisture is required for its growth.
Does Stachybotrys chartarum cause acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage among infants?
To date, a possible association between acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage among infants and Stachybotrys chartarum has not been proven. Further studies are needed to determine what causes acute idiopathic hemorrhage.
What if my child has acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage?
Parents should ensure that their children get proper medical treatment.
Is there a test for Stachybotrys chartarum?
At present, no test exists that proves an association between Stachybotrys chartarum and particular health symptoms. Individuals with persistent symptoms should see their physician. However, if Stachybotrys chartarum or other molds are found in a building they should be removed.
Stachybotrys chartarum and other molds may cause health symptoms that are nonspecific. It is not necessary to determine what type of mold you may have growing in your home or other building. All molds should be treated the same with respect to potential health risks and removal.
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Can Mold Trigger Illness
Mold and mildews are generally not a trouble inside or unless mold spores land on a wet or damp area as well as start expanding with touching or breathing in mold or mold spores could induce sensitive responses in delicate people of mold and mildews could likewise create bronchial asthma assaults in individuals with bronchial asthma that are sensitive to mold How Do You Know If You Have Black Mold.
Mold and mildews slowly damage the many things they expand on. You could avoid harm to your home as well as home furnishings and conserve cash that as well as stay clear of possible illness by regulating wetness as well as removing mold development how do you know if you have black mold poisoning.
For even more in-depth details get in touch with a health expert. You could additionally desire to consult your state or neighborhood health division.
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What Is Black Mold
Like other types of mold, black mold is commonly found in dark, humid areas of homes. It releases spores into the air that you can absorb through your skin or breathe in. These spores can also catch a ride from you to other areas, spreading it throughout your home.
Where black mold differs from other common household molds, however, is its reputation for being toxic. Many people refer to black mold simply as toxic mold. When left alone, black mold can cause serious health issues, especially for high-risk individuals.
The most common health issues from black mold are respiratory. You might experience coughing, sneezing or an itchy throat after prolonged exposure to black mold spores. People who are at higher risk, like infants or someone with existing respiratory issues, could experience long-term health consequences.
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How To Identify Black Mold On Wood
You can positively identify this toxic fungus on wood in your home by knowing its most common signs. Rot, for example, is one of its most tell tale signs. If the wood in your floors, ceilings, walls and other fixtures appear to be rotted, you may suspect that this fungus is present in them.
Likewise, if the wood appears discolored or looks like it has water stains on it, you also may inspect them further for it. It can make wood bow out or warp after spores have taken root and spread. You may want to hire a professional inspector or remediation company to confirm its presence in your homes wood.
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Black Mold Something Of A Misnomer
All molds have the potential to cause irritation and allergy symptoms. However, some molds can also cause much more dangerous health problems. Some molds, but not all, produce toxins . Toxic molds can cause health problems ranging from poisoning to cancer. Not all molds are toxic, but many are. The thing is dangerous and toxic mold is not just black, it can be many different colors. Toxic molds can appear to be green, yellow, brown, and black.
So, where is the line between an allergic mold and a toxic mold? That line is defined by something called a mycotoxin, and is NOT defined by color.
Mycotoxins, literally fungus poison in Latin, are secondary metabolites that can be produced by molds, and are not living organisms. Mycotoxins are a byproduct of mold. Not all mold spores produce mycotoxins, but some do. So the molds that produce mycotoxins are the ones that could be categorized as toxic or poisonous, no matter what color they are.
Mycotoxins are chemical substances that can cause many health problems ranging from mild to severe. Even if you are not allergic to mold, you can be affected by mycotoxins.
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Mold And Mildew Health Concerns
The health of both humans and pets may be affected by the presence of mold and mildew in the home. While some people may not be affected at all, others who are especially sensitive may experience symptoms such as itchy eyes, wheezing, or a runny nose. People with asthma or allergies will feel the most severe reactions to mold and mildew.
It Is A Black Stain That Covers An Area That Has Been Flooded Or Damaged By Water
Black mold typically presents as a black stain covering a high-moisture area, most often one that has been flooded or damaged by water. It is most commonly found in bathrooms with frequently used tubs and showers, as this is an area that is most likely to suffer from flooding, water damage, or inadequate ventilation systems.
However, it can also affect any area with damp conditions, poor ventilation, and high temperatures damp basements, kitchens, and laundry rooms can all serve as a breeding ground for black mold. Even stagnant leaks and floods can contribute to mold growth.
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What Are Black Mold Health Symptoms
We all know mold isnt welcomed in the home, but did you know too that breathing in the presence of mold can harm your health? There are over 2,000 different species of mold and the most dangerous of all is called Stachybotrys Chartarum, also known as black mold or the invisible killer.
Why is black mold so dangerous? Black mold releases toxic spores that linger in the air and attack your respiratory health. The potency of these toxic spores has proved to be the most detrimental to human health.
Black mold often appears as slimy and greenish-black. If its water source runs out, it can also appear as dry and powdery. Black mold is also dangerous because its sometimes difficult to distinguish from other species of mold.
The following are health symptoms associated with black mold exposure:
In severe cases, symptoms caused by inhaling black mold can lead to the following health troubles:
- Respiratory complications
Sometimes mold invades spaces that are hard to see and reach. It spreads fast, burrowing into walls and ceilings and hiding in cupboards and under carpets. Quite often, people are exposed to black mold without even knowing it. If you or anyone in your home is experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms without knowing why, you may be exposed to mold.
Black mold should be approached with extreme caution. Tackling it without proper knowledge and equipment is unsafe. The suspected contamination should always be examined and removed by professionals.
How Do I Know If The Mold Has Been Fully Removed Once It Is Been Remediated
Bill W. Santa Clarita CA.
You can always hire a third party mold inspector to verify. Always make sure you hire a Los Angeles black mold removal expert, youll see their work and they will provide you spectacular results giving you peace of mind.
They should also provide you a great warranty as well.
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Why Choose Hrs Restoration Services
HRS Restoration Services employs the best technicians in the industry. Our trained and certified team is able to assist you, the homeowner, in bringing your home back to its pre-damaged condition in the quickest and safest fashion.
Using the latest technology, we are able to provide water and mold damage restoration in Denver. Our technicians stop water from coming in and identify hidden mold colonies, limiting the chance that mold would return to your home.
Protecting the health and safety of your loved ones is our highest priority and our team is ready to help as soon as you suspect mold is growing in your home.
Testing For Black Mold
You can have your mold tested to find out exactly what kind it is. Cost varies, but you can expect to pay hundreds of dollars to determine the type of mold.
There are also black mold testing kits, available at the hardware store or on , that you can purchase for around $35-50. With this DIY route, you take samples from a suspected affected surface, then send off to be tested in a lab.
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When To Call An Expert
If the moldy area is smallit’s growing in an area smaller than 3 feet by 3 feetyou can probably do a DIY cleanup. The CDC recommends wearing an N-95 respirator and protective eyewear and gloves while handling mold. After you’ve fixed any plumbing leaks and cleaned up the water, you can scrub off the mold with a bleach solution made from no more than 1 cup of laundry bleach in 1 gallon of water.
You could also call in a professional if the water-damaged or moldy area is larger than 3 feet by 3 feet. As there are no federal mold regulations, the CDC recommends finding a specialist who’s affiliated with or certified by the National Environmental Health Association, the American Industrial Hygiene Association, the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification, or the American Council for Accredited Certification. If you don’t see or smell mold but suspect it’s hiddenyou know there has been water damage behind a wall or beneath a floor, for examplean experienced professional can also help find the source.
Because it can have a negative effect on health, it’s important to address mold if you see it, smell it or sense it in your home. Fortunately, and often with the help of a professional, you can clean it up and create a mold-free, safe home.
What Does Black Mold Look Like
The appearance of black mold can vary depending on the species, but it is usually a black to dark brown or greenish-black slimy film that grows on organic matter. It is often found in damp and dark places such as basements, bathrooms, and crawlspaces. Its easy to confuse black mold with other types of mold that you might encounter in your home.
Here are some signs that indicate youve got black mold:
- Unpleasant odors coming from your walls or other surfaces
- Moldy patches on walls or ceilings
- Mold growth on woodwork or other building materials
- Musty smells in different rooms of your house
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What Does Black Mold In Your Home Look Like
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Having black mold, or Stachybotrys chartarum, in your home is a terrifying thought for many Americans.
Due to somewhat exaggerated reporting about black mold by the media, many people think black mold is more dangerous than it actually is.
Based on the level of current research on S. chartarum, black mold is no more dangerous than other types of indoor mold.
Nevertheless, its still a good idea to familiarize yourself with what black mold looks like in case you ever encounter it in your home after a leak or water damage.
What Is Stachybotrys Chartarum ?
Stachybotrys chartarum is a relatively uncommon, slow-growing, greenish-black species of mold that occasionally invades damp or water-damaged buildings.
For a mycologist looking under a microscope, this species can be identified by its characteristic phialides and conidia. But for the average person, S. chartarum is nearly impossible to differentiate from other species of black-colored mold.
Colloquially, Stachybotrys chartarum is often called black mold or toxic mold. The name black mold refers to its color, which many people believe is unique to S. chartarum. However, this is not the case there are many species of mold that can be black in appearance but are not S. chartarum.
But for simplicity, well refer to S. chartarum as black mold in the rest of this article.
What Does Black Mold Typically Look Like?
Pictures of Black Mold
How To Treat Black Mold Poisoning
Black mold, scientifically referred to as Stachybotrys atra or Stachybotrys chartarum, is typically black or dark green and often linked to serious health problems.
In fact, black mold exposure can lead to poisoning, or stachybotryotoxicosis a condition thats dangerous, particularly for young children and the elderly.
Even though black mold poisoning typically affects horses, cows, and pigs, humans can become infected if they inhale or ingest the spores.
Symptoms of stachybotryotoxicosis include skin rashes , throat and sinus irritation, burning eyes, and a decrease in the production of white blood cells.
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Is Black Mold Dangerous If Not Disturbed
Black mold can still be dangerous even if it is left untouched as it can cause respiratory issues. However, the wet coating that is often present on top can prevent the toxic spores from being released into the air.
However, disturbing black mold is far more dangerous in comparison as not only are there toxic spores present on the surface, but the disturbing of the mold can cause these toxic spores to be released into the air.
This is because you can remove the wet layer of the mold when you disturb it, thus rendering the spores more likely to become airborne. This can travel around the room or house faster than if the mold was left undisturbed.
Generally, if you do find black mold on your property, there is no need to panic.
However, if there are vulnerable people in your house who are more prone to illness or if you are unsure of how best to remove it, then it may be worth calling a professional.
You shouldnt try and remove toxic black mold yourself, so it is always best to get the opinion of a professional.
What Should I Do If I Find Black Mold
If a homeowner finds black mold in their home, the next steps will depend on how significant the spread is.
If black mold has moved into the walls, it is recommended to hire a mold-removal specialist to stop it from spreading further. Additionally, individuals with a medical condition or who are particularly sensitive to mold are advised not to handle a mold problem themselves.
However, if the mold is confined to an accessible hard surface, such as a wood trim or basement floor, healthy homeowners may be able to tackle the removal by themselves.
For those who want to try a DIY approach before calling in a professional, heres a step-by-step guide on how to remove black mold:
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