Should I Remove Mold In My Crawl Space
If you suspect that you might have a mold problem in your crawl space, first of all, don’t panic. Give us a call and we’ll come out and give you a free assessment, let you know whether you have mold, and discuss what your next steps should be for mold remediation.
If it turns out you need crawl space mold removal, you can choose to have us handle it or you can research other professionals in the area. Mold is one of those things that tends to be over-stigmatized to an extent. There are a few types of mold that pose a greater threat to human and animal health, but it might not be as common as you are imagining. For sure it’s a bad thing — but it’s important to stay calm and get professional assistance.
If you do have a serious mold issue, it is very important to the to both the health of your crawl space and the rest of your home to get it removed and remediated so that it does not return.
White mold in the crawl space is very common in high humid areas. Wood rot fungus in the crawl space should not be ignored because every minute of every day it eats more and more of your joists and sub-floor.
Black mold can also be found in crawl spaces. Many believe mold in crawl spaces may be linked to health problems and should be addressed immediately.
How To Remove Mold From Crawl Spaces
Do you ever wonder about your crawl space? Chances are its out of sight, out of mind.
But thats a big mistake.
Did you realize your crawl space can dramatically affect the air quality of your home? If you have mold in your crawl space, it can eventually migrate throughout your house, causing devastating problems and even affecting the value of your home.
At First Call, were the experts at crawl space mold removal. When were called, we immediately begin working to ensure that mold is safely and completely removed without causing it to spread throughout the rest of your residence.
Well give you an inside look at mold remediation for your crawl space and why this is best left for the experts at First Call.
Reasons To Clean Up Crawl Space
Hiring a professional to clean the crawl space before any extensive repairs. Cleaning comes with many benefits, such as:
- Keep mold spores and allergens out of interior air. Since 40% to 60% of the air in the home circulates up from the crawl space, cleaning and disinfecting improves indoor air quality and the whole familys health.
- Prevent pest infestations. Regular cleaning stops insects and rodents from taking over and prevents animal remains or waste from occurring.
- Increase storage space. A dry, sanitary, sealed, and encapsulated crawl space enables extra storage space.
- Increase home resale value. A dry, dirt-free crawl space that’s been well maintained is attractive to buyers. Plus, home inspections will be easier and cheaper.
- Lower maintenance costs. Keeping the crawl space clean and fixing issues immediately prevents greater damage to the homes structure. Plus, catching damage early makes it easier and less expensive to repair.
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Disinfect On Your Way Out
After you finish your cleaning and mold removal, as you back out of the crawlspace, spray down the dirt with your vinegar or bleach. This spray down will ensure that youll kill any mold spores that fell to the ground during the job. You can also leave the fan running for about a day to continue to ventilate and dry out the area.
How Can You Identify Crawl Space Mold
When you see the telltale signs over your crawl space, you can detect the attendance of mold. You need to check your entire Crawl Space. If you find some patches or clusters consisting of dirt or powder looking things over on the floor joints, girders, posts, and corners of the basement, your Crawl Space is more likely contaminated by mold. The followings are some of the signs that can help you to detect the attendance of mold in your Crawl Space:
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Best Diy Crawl Space Mold Removal Products
Think of removing mold like removing dirt. You wouldnt just spray dirt with a cleaner and call it clean! You have to remove the dirt from the surface. When removing mold, be sure to wet the area with your preferred cleanser thoroughly. Dry mold spores will explode all over the room if you try to dry wipe it away! Be sure to wear the proper safety equipment , and ventilate the room to the outdoors when cleaning.
The best mold removal products are those that are non-toxic and safe to use around children and pets. There are 3 simple ingredients you can safely use to clean away mold in your home: white vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide. Remember NOT to mix these ingredients! Keep reading for maximum cleaning power and safety!
Hard Surface Cleaning
To clean a hard surface , simply add hydrogen peroxide OR white vinegar to a clean, empty spray bottle undiluted. Never mix these chemicals! Choose one or the other.
Hydrogen Peroxide
When using hydrogen peroxide, spray the area to clean thoroughly, and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Then, scrub the area, and rinse it clean with water. Repeat if needed.
White Vinegar
For white vinegar, spray the area to clean thoroughly, and let it sit for at least 15 minutes or up to one hour. Then, scrub the area, and rinse it clean with water.
Baking Soda
Wear The Right Clothing
Make sure you are properly geared before you start with your DIY mold cleanup. Wear gloves, goggles, and loose clothing especially if youre using a chemical. After cleaning the mold, dispose of your clothing and gears or thoroughly wash them. Mold spores can easily spread within your house as they travel through the air.
When it comes to black mold removal, it is better to ask professionals to do it. Black mold is a dangerous type of mold and can have a hazardous effect on your health.
Read Also: What To Do When You Have Mold
How Much Mold In A Crawl Space Is Acceptable
No amount of mold in a crawl space is acceptable. Mold affects indoor air quality, causes allergic reactions, can be toxic to your health, and can feed on wooden structures causing decay. Mold is largely preventable through cleaning, sealing, and dehumidifying, but quickly spreads if left untreated.
Preventing Mold In Crawl Spaces
Whether you have dealt with mold in your crawl space before or not, implementing measures to prevent mold growth is essential. There are several things you can do to reduce moisture buildup under your home, which is the primary cause of mold.
First, you should seal or waterproof any cracks in your foundation. Sealing gaps will prevent water from seeping in after rainfall or from other runoff.
Another great way to reduce the amount of water that gets into your crawl space is to implement adequate drainage outside your home.
A sound drainage system includes gutters, downspouts, and gutter extensions to move problematic rainwater away from your foundation wall, as well as a French drain system that can move runoff to a safe area of your property.
Next, you should install a vapor barrier in your crawl space if you dont already have one. This kind of crawl space encapsulation gets installed on the walls and floor of your crawl space and helps keep moisture out.
If your crawl space is vented, you may want to consider having it sealed to prevent moisture from the outside from getting in.
The sealing process is best left to professionals, as crawl space vents and any openings need to be fully adequately sealed to be effective.
Lastly, a sump pump and dehumidifier can work to remove standing water and water vapor from your crawl space, respectively. These should be your last line of defense but can keep your crawl space air well-conditioned and dry to prevent mold from forming.
Also Check: Why Is Mold Growing On Everything In My House
Types Of Mold In Crawl Spaces
Mold and rot fungi can be classified in two ways: what grows on the surface, and what grows within the wood itself.
Surface mold fungi will cause cosmetic discoloration only, and it will not significantly damage the structural strength of the wood. This mold can simply be cleaned off the surface.
One other variety of wood-damaging fungi is dry rot, also known as brown rot and cubical rot. As displayed in the photo above, wood damage from this kind of rot is shown as deteriorating the wood into small squares or rectangles. Often mistaken for termite damage because of its appearance, this is an extremely damaging type of fungi.
One other unique feature of dry rot is its ability to pull water from far-away water sources through rhizomorphs. Rhizomorphs can extend for as much as thirty feet, stretching across brick, concrete, mortar, and similar materials. In the case of Serpula Lacrymans, water has been transported as much as three stories upwards!
Humidity Warning! Some major cases of crawl space humidity stem from where your dryer vents end. If your dryer is sending air into your crawl space, its also sending a ton of humidity with it! This humidity is exactly what mold, rot, and mildew need to start thriving in your home. If your dryer is sending air into your crawl space, fix the problem right away!
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How To Kill Mold In Crawl Space
Certain ways can help you eliminate mold from your crawl space. In addition to killing mold in Crawl Space, you should maintain the following steps:
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How To Kill Mold In Your Crawl Space Fast
- How to Kill Mold in Your Crawl Space Fast
Assuming you notice mold in crawl space within your home, what will be your first reaction? If youre like many people who dread mold and mildew, chances are that youll panic and get worried. Many homes are infested by mold more than homeowners know. Thankfully, you can learn how to kill dangerous mold in your crawl space fast and effectively.
Apply The Mold Removal Product Of Your Choice
Check the back of your product for instructions. Be sure to follow the instructions for the best results. Always reapply the product so that it can penetrate deeper into the wood.
If your product says to rinse it off, take care to make sure that you rinse it thoroughly. Otherwise, this can damage your wood. its also important to take care and not saturate your wood too much as to add too much moisture.
Most products will need to sit for about 5 minutes before you begin to scrub. When working with wood, its best to scrub with a brush as cloths and rags can snag or increase your risk of splinters.
Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Black Mold From Wood
What Is Mold How Does Mold Spread
Mold is a term used to refer to any fungus-like organism, including a number of types of bacteria. It can grow on organic matter and cause a variety of health problems. Many people are aware that mold is present in their homes, but are unaware that it can harm the quality of their indoor air quality.
As humans, our immune systems protect us from bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that cause illness. However, it is difficult to detect microscopic mold in our homes because they are so small. Mold spores are transmitted through air currents and cannot be seen with the naked eye. When mold is present in a home, its only going to keep causing issues until its completely removed.
Limit Your Exposure To Mold
Its important to limit your exposure to mold and mold spores. Keep them out of your eyes and try not to inhale any.
- Wear a mask or an N-95 respirator to avoid inhaling mold.
- Wear gloves that extend to the middle of your forearm. If youre just using water and a mild detergent, household rubber gloves work fine.
- Wear goggles that dont have ventilation holes to avoid getting mold or spores in your eyes.
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Crawl Space Mold Varieties
There is more than one type of mold that can be lurking along the floor joists or in the crawl space. Knowing what you are dealing with helps you decide on how to get rid of the mold and fix the problem.
It is likely that if mold is present in the crawl space, you will find clusters or patches of white dirt or powder on the girders, posts, or floor joists. These species have a fuzzy appearance and are more commonly found in the spring, summer, or fall months. Black mold varieties are not fuzzy or powdery, generally appearing as a flat, greenish or dark gray patch. Yellow mold can eat at the wooden structures of your home and cause serious decay. Here are the four most common types of mold found in a crawl space:
How To Get Rid Of And Prevent Mold In Your Crawlspace
by Crawlspaces and More | Jan 17, 2020 | Blog |
When was the last time you checked your crawlspace? It has probably been a while. Many people have no idea what a crawl space is and what the purpose of one is. The primary purpose of a crawl space is to promote air circulation through the home and allow easy access to plumbing, electrical, maintenance, repair, and installation needs. If a homeowner goes down to their crawl space and find traces of mold or a musty smell, panic sets in. If your crawl space has mold, you are dealing with two problems: the mold itself and the source which means you probably have a moisture problem.
If you have a major mold outbreak, you should call in a mold removal specialist. At this point, the problem is too big for you to handle on your own. For smaller traces of mold, you can probably handle clean up yourself. Before you even start, make sure you have the proper clothing on masks, gloves, and protective clothing. When going into an enclosed space, especially, you want to make sure you are not breathing in mold spores.
Concrobium
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Eliminating Mold Caused By Basement Condensation Issues Attention Diy
This type of mold is most often surface mold growth along painted concrete walls. Since theres usually no demo of drywall required, this mold elimination can usually be done by a handy homeowner.
We recommend buying two types of cleaning agents from the local hardware store:
These can be powerful chemicals, so wear a mask and gloves and keep the area ventilated. If youre not comfortable doing this, then please hire a mold professional. Not sure if you can do it yourself, read more about when you need to hire someone.
It Smells Good Its Cleanright
WRONG. Smelling good does not indicate that something is clean! In fact, fragrance can be anything in a product that gives it a smell from essential oils from plants to industrial petrochemicals. Cleaning and personal care product manufacturers are required to list their ingredients on the label of the products. However, because of a loophole in government regulations , they are not required to list any fragrance ingredients. This means that they can use any chemical they choose to add scent to a product, including dangerous, allergenic, and even toxic chemicals. To learn more about hidden fragrance chemicals in personal care products go to: Not So Sexy Hidden Chemicals in Perfume and Cologne.
Our government does not regulate cleaning products or personal care products in a way that allows consumers to have all the facts about a product before they use it. Because of this, we urge you to learn all you can before using a product in your home or on your skin.
Cleaning products affect air quality, especially if ventilation is not used during cleaning. Remember whether sanitizing or disinfecting, use good ventilation when using cleaning products.
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