Finding And Eliminating Mould From Your Home
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Mould is a fungus whose spores are invisible to the naked eye. It gets into houses by the air currents, humans and pets. To grow, mould needs water and nutritive material, such as drywall or cardboard. When there is significant mould growth, it can lead to health problems. To learn more about these problems, read Health problems caused by mould.
Previous Water Damage Event
Have you previously had the misfortune of discovering a water damage event like flooding or burst pipes in your home? If the water was extracted efficiently and properly, there is likely resulting mold growth.
Because fungus feeds on moisture, water damage often leads to mold problems which can be costly and can potentially harm the structural integrity of your home. To learn about how to manage a water damage event, clickhere.
Fungus and mold need water to thrive. If you have previously had the misfortune of experiencing a water damage event in your home, it is important to ensure that there is no resulting mold problem. At the first sign of mold, call the experts at ProClean at 484-8500.
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According to the EPA, there is no simple way to eliminate all mold within a home, so it is important to stay diligent in detecting any possible problems.
If you notice any of the above warning signs, it is important to thoroughly and comprehensively remove mold colonies before they multiply even further.
Trust The Experts Trust Proclean
Our highly-trained, certifiedmold removalprofessionals follow a proven, step-by-step process to make your home or business safe again.
First, we visually inspect the area to find any potential mold, tracing it to the source if possible. Then, our team contains the affected area and removes moldy, non-salvageable, porous material and implements negative air pressure technology to keep harmful mold spores from traveling from the air to your lungs.
Next, we utilize advanced HEPA filtered vacuums to help eliminate mold on non-porous surfaces, then set up air scrubbers with HEPA filters.
Finally, we ULV fog with a powerful antimicrobial solution to ensure that we treat the deepest, darkest corners of your home then, we clean and sanitize the remaining salvageable contents as necessary.
The moment you notice mold, you must act. Even a small amount of mold in the home can multiply quickly, and its entirely possible that there is more existing mold than what meets the eye.
today to ensure the safety of your home and health of your loved ones within it.
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This Is How To Tell If There Is Mold In Your House
Biological indoor pollution, such as black mold, affects between thirty and fifty percent of American homes. As well as looking unpleasant, mold can cause significant damage to your home and to your respiratory health.
In fact, mold and other types of indoor air pollution contributed to 6.5 million deaths globally in 2012. Knowing how to tell if there is mold in your house is vital if you want to keep you and your loved ones safe.
Fortunately, there are some key signs that you can look out for to help identify mold in your house. Not familiar with signs of mold in your home? Then youre in the right place!
Read on to find out the key signs of mold in your home and what you should do if you find them.
How To Know If You Have Black Mold In Your House
Mold isnt always visible. If you can see mold, its only a sign of the real potential health risk, which is the harmful types of unhealthy levels of mold in the air of your home or workplace.
Airborne mold is all around us in both the outdoors and indoors. The types and amount of mold is what determines the potential health risk. Most of us are typically accustomed to the varieties and amounts of mold present in our outdoor environments.
Healthy indoor environments will have mold conditions similar to or better than those in the surrounding outdoors. Over time, because of moisture , many indoor spaces develop unhealthy types and/or unhealthy levels of airborne mold that can be harmful to you or your pets.
These signs will help you know if you possibly have unhealthy mold conditions in your house:
- Allergic symptoms
- A damp or musty odor in one or more places
- Frequent headaches
- The air in the home feels different
- Your house has been flooded or currently has leaks
- You previously tried removing mold yourself
Take note of how you feel in and out of the house. If the symptoms disappear or decrease when youre out and about, then you might have a mold problem, yes, even if you cant see mold.
Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Mold In Shower Ceiling
What Mold Looks Like
Molds are a type of fungus and can look like their fungal cousins, mushrooms and yeasts. Outdoors, molds can be seen gobbling up the dead organic matter on decomposing surfaces like fallen leaves and rotting logs indoors, house mold thrives in wet, humid environments like bathrooms and basements or anywhere that has recently flooded. There are thousands of types of mold, and their appearance can vary depending on the type of mold and where its growing.
The most common indoor molds are Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Alternaria, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Black mold, or Stachybotrys chartarum , is also sometimes found in homes and other buildings. This greenish-black growth can grow on fiberboard, paper, dust, and lint, particularly in areas that may have recently flooded or suffered other types of water damage. While black mold can certainly look scary, the CDC says that Stachybotrys chartarum isnt any more harmful than other types of mold.
RELATED: 11 Unexpected Places Mold May Be Hiding in Your Home
How Much Does A Los Angeles Mold Removal Company Charge To Remove Mold From Inside Walls Gene West Hollywood
This truly depends on the extent of the mold growth and what caused the mold in the first place, how wet are the walls, is it a large wall area, small wall area.
All these play an important factor in cost.
The range we have charged here at the Twin Home Experts over our 37 years performing mold cleaning is a high of $12,300.00 for some extreme cases and a low of $950.00 for very light and small cases.
Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Black Mold In Basement
Signs Your House Has A Mold Problem
One of the biggest nightmares for homeowners is discovering that their home has a mold problem. Because mold is a major issue, new homeowners should have their potential home tested for mold and current homeowners should always be on the lookout for signs of mold at any time.
Although mold can sometimes be tricky and stay hidden for quite some time, there are a few ways to tell that its lurking in the walls. If youre a homeowner, and youre not sure how to tell if you have mold in your home, then youll want to continue reading below.
Below are several key signs that should signal to any homeowner that there could be a mold problem. Grab your notepad and get ready to jot down some notes because you wont want to forget these mold signs!
Allergy Or Asthma Flare
Certain species of mold release a harmful substance calledmycotoxin, which can trigger respiratory issues for those with allergies and asthma . Have you found yourself sneezing, coughing, feeling fatigued or blowing your nose no matter the time of year? It may be time to give the home a thorough inspection.
Have you been experiencing an increase in your allergy and asthma symptoms? Mold in your home may be the culprit. If you suspect that your home has a mold problem, it’s critical that you act fast. Trust the Experts. Trust ProClean. #MoldRemediation#MoldAssessment#MoldRemoval
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Air Conditioning And Heating Vents
You probably prefer your bedroom to be at the optimal temperature for you to get a good nights rest. While using the AC and heating unit are fine , its possible for mold to grow in the vents.
To prevent mold from contaminating your bedroom, you should:
- Use a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air
- Dry up any condensation you find on the walls and windows
- Invest in a mold-resistant mattress or, at the very least, a waterproof mattress cover
Sign 4 Of Mold In House: Water Leaks And Condensation
Leaking sinks, ceilings and pipes are common causes of mold growth if left untreated. This often causes mold to grow in inconspicuous places around your home. Whether theyre behind a wall or another surface, water leaks need to be taken seriously and mandate further investigation for mold growth in the surrounding area.
If your glass windows and pipes are showing signs of condensation or if you notice increasingly rusting metal pipes, there could be excess moisture in your home, leading to a potential mold problem. Higher humidity levels that cause these levels of condensation feed mold spores and are warning signs of future mold growth.
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Youre Coughing But Dont Have A Cold
The mycotoxin spores can find their way into your lungs and lead to a chronic, lingering cough. Your next step should be a call to an allergist. Testing by a board-certified allergist is most helpful, advises Dr. Parikh. There is a lot of mold testing out there that is not evidence-based. If you get a positive test for mold, the next step is to hire a mold eradication expert and address the problem.
Spotting And Fur On Your Walls
There are so many varieties of mold that you can’t really identify the type based on specific shape, size or color. It can appear as a furry, dark growth, as a black stain, or as black, white, orange, green or brown specks. Rather than look for out-of-the-ordinary, multi-colored flakes in every inch of your home, identify areas that are moist and then look for possible signs of mold. The fungus thrives in cool, damp areas, and it will be much easier to find it by limiting your search to areas that are affected by excess moisture. Yes, paint and wallpaper gets stained and marked from every day living, but if you see a pattern to the stains, or they appear in the corners of a room, this is usually a good indicator that mold is present.
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How Does Mold Get Into Houses
Microscopic mold spores exist almost everywhere indoors and outdoors. While there isnt much you can do about mold outdoors, when it comes to mold in your home you have options. If you have a mold problem in your home, odds are you will smell it first. If you have an earthy or musty odor in your home, theres a good chance you have mold. Occasionally you may see discolored smudges and/or blotches that look like mold and sometimes youll even see mold.
Mold spores can remain dormant for 50 years or more. They become active when they come into contact with moisture and food. Where there is mold there is always water. Once mold becomes active it develops into mold colonies which in turn release more spores into the air.
How To Get Rid Of Mold
There are plenty of DIY mold removal options for you on the web some more effective than others. These may suffice if the problem is minor. After DIY treatment, it may be good to have an air quality test taken to determine the effectiveness of your work.
If the problem is more than minor, DIY methods will likely only remove the appearance of mold for a short time. If the problem is more serious, the best approach is to hire a certified and reputable local mold remediation company.
Most mold remediation companies will recommend demolition of the infected part of your home to get rid of mold, so keep in mind that you might have additional expenses to restore a portion of your house. Besides that, the process might take several days.
If you are looking into demolition-free mold removal, then look into the companies that use a dry fog technique. When properly done, this method not only kills mold without demolition to your home, but it also takes less than a day to complete.
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What Causes Mold Sickness
The toxins in your system from breathing in mold spores add to the total amount of toxicity in your body. We call this the Total Body Burden. When your burden is high, you start experiencing symptoms many which are seemingly unrelated.
For most people, toxins get flushed out from the body when eliminating waste.
For some, the toxic load is so high that its too much for the body to eliminate them all efficiently. For others, they may have poor detoxification processes or they may even recycle or reabsorb these mycotoxins back, as the body tries to eliminate them. Genetics plays a huge role in this difference from person to person
In short, multiple symptoms happen because, as we say in environmental medicine genetics points the gun, and then the environment pulls the trigger.
Signs That Imply You Have Mold In Your House
by Staff | Jul 8, 2019 | Mold Damage
A residential or commercial mold infestation is one of the worst things anyone can come across. Mold infestation can easily turn your dream house to a nightmarish dwelling.
Its not just the musty smell or unbearable indoor atmosphere, the fact that commercial or residential mold infestation can easily start affecting the health of the individuals involved is alarming.
This is one of the major reasons why we recommend leaving the task of mold repairs or cleanup to professionals.
What is mold?
Mold is typically a fungus constituting of small organisms. Their ubiquitous presence is a blessing for the outdoors as they play a crucial role in decomposing dead leaves and trees.
However, these fungi thrive indoors fast and alarmingly in damp conditions to release spores. Inhaling mold spores in large numbers can trigger health problems.
This post covers the top 5 hidden signs of mold that imply mold infestation in your house.
You are sick and never better
Even though you are exposed to mold spores on a daily basis, constant exposure, especially while being indoors can trigger some alarming health problems.
Prolonged mold exposure can second the infiltration of these spores to lungs which has been observed as one of the common triggers for asthma symptoms.
Bubbly walls
Musty smell
Water damage
Rust
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Why Is Black Mold So Dangerous
Black mold is commonly referred to as toxic mold, and for good reason. Aside from causing all kinds of respiratory reactions like coughing, sneezing, sore and itchy throats, and watery and itchy eyes, prolonged exposure can have serious health consequences.Black mold is toxic, and prolonged exposure can have serious health consequences.
One study found that exposure to mold during infancy led to asthma at 7 years of age, while others have linked exposure to brain inflammation, behavioral dysfunction, movement disorders, and neurological deterioration.
In short, black mold warrants its reputation as a toxin, and should be treated as soon as its discovered. Below are several signs it may be inhabiting your home.
A Qualified Environmental Lab Took Samples Of The Mold In My Home And Gave Me The Results Can Cdc Interpret These Results
Standards for judging what is an acceptable, tolerable or normal quantity of mold have not been established. Sampling for mold can be expensive, and standards for judging what is and what is not an acceptable quantity of mold have not been set. The best practice is to remove the mold and work to prevent future growth. If you do decide to pay for environmental sampling for molds, before the work starts, you should ask the consultants who will do the work to establish criteria for interpreting the test results. They should tell you in advance what they will do or what recommendations they will make based on the sampling results. The results of samples taken in your unique situation cannot be interpreted without physical inspection of the contaminated area or without considering the buildings characteristics and the factors that led to the present condition.
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Signs That You Have Mold In Your Water Pipes
Though mold is common in homes, its not as common for mold to grow in the interior of water pipes or filters. While its not likely, the bad news is that it is possible for your drinking water to contain mold. EcoWater Systems wants you to know how to watch for mold in your water and how to recognize the signs that you have mold in your drinking water.
Mold needs water, oxygen and food to live. Mold spreads through spores, which are usually airborne. These spores can move, land and grow on anything that provides them with the components they need to survive. Water pipes dont have adequate oxygen or food for mold to grow significantly, but they do have a moist, dark environment that allows mold to form. Certain circumstances will even allow mold to thrive in your drinking water.
You Can Start The Mold Removal Process Quickly
It is not fair to say that you should avoid buying a house with mold under all circumstances. In some cases, the presence of mold can be mild and easily fixable. But it is far easier to remove the mold before you move in so scheduling an inspection before the purchase is the best approach.
Non-toxic molds can be removed with a deep cleaning, especially on surfaces like tiles, sinks, or tubs. Bleach and heavy-duty cleaners can be used to scrub away mold. However, you may want to hire a professional cleaning service to take care of this issue.
If mold is growing in the carpets of the home, it is best to have it carefully removed and replaced. The floor beneath should be sprayed and cleaned out before a new carpet is installed to prevent this from growing again. Pieces of moldy drywall, insulation, or wallpaper will also need to be removed and replaced.
You may also want to consider renovating areas of the home where mold has grown to add in better ventilation.
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