Managing Mold

3/1/2022 (Permalink)

Molds are found in every environment, and mold spores reproduce rapidly when moisture is present. An institute of Medicine study found excessive dampness indoors encourages the growth of molds and other organisms potentially causing a public health problem. The EPA advised that the potential health concerns from molds are important reason to prevent moisture problems leading to mold growth. 

SERVPRO of Boyd, Carter, Greenup, and Lewis Counties professionals handle water damages every day and know prompt action is required to prevent mold growth, if there is an ongoing moisture problem in the building, be alert for:

• The presence of visible mold
• Strong, musty odors, which may indicate mold is present
• Any evidence of past moisture problems that might have caused undetected mold growth
• Excessive humidity.

These conditions may require the expertise of a qualified Indoor Air Quality/Environmental Professional to inspect the building for mold growth and water damage problems.

SERVPRO of Boyd, Carter, Greenup, and Lewis Counties cares about proper restoration of your structure and, in most water damage situations, can safely restore your building to preloss condition.

Does Your Home Have A Mold Problem?

8/15/2019 (Permalink)

Microscopic mold spores naturally occur almost everywhere, both outdoors and indoors. This makes it impossible to remove all mold from a home or business. Therefore, mold remediation reduces the mold spore count back to its natural or baseline level.

If your home or business has a mold problem, we can inspect and assess your property and use our specialized training, equipment, and expertise to remediate your mold infestation.

Professional Mold Remediation

12/10/2018 (Permalink)

As a small business owner, keeping on top of property maintenance can be time-consuming. In some of the city's older buildings maintenance can often be taken out of your hands by the appearance of mold. For businesses that sell food or drinks, the odor of mold can be a health hazard and put off your customers. In these instances, it is essential to bring in a professional who not only removes the visible signs of mold growth but also tackles it at the source.

In our experience moisture residing inside walls or behind fittings causes commercial mold damage. SERVPRO is a specialist in dealing with mold growth and uses advanced equipment to not only remove visible damage but also the damage you cannot see. Without taking this two-pronged approach, fungi can return again and again.

We use IICRC certified technicians in mold assessment and remediation. Laboratory testing can be expensive, so the visible signs of fungi or unpleasant odors are enough to begin the remediation process. As a local service with access to national resources we use state-of-the-art equipment to help get your business back to its best; making the damage "Like it never even happened."

Injectidry systems are one of the most effective ways of tackling mold at the source. This equipment requires some drilling into drywall to allow access for each injector. Injectors are then hooked up to a generator that blasts heated dry air inside the wall, evaporating moisture pockets and limiting the conditions for mold growth. As a business owner, using an approach like this can help to save money in the long run by dealing with the issue comprehensively.

Your SERVPRO technician can use a moisture meter to detect where moisture could reside as well as measuring indoor humidity levels and returning it to its natural state by deploying dehumidifiers in the affected area. As the service takes place you, the property manager, has direct access to a SERVPRO project manager who can guide you through each step as well as discuss the expected outcomes. 

New Construction Mold

12/3/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Boyd, Carter, Greenup & Lewis Counties are experts at the remediation and restoration of mold damage.

Take Precautions: SERVPRO professionals handle water damages every day and know prompt action is required to prevent mold growth.  If there is an ongoing moisture problem in the building, be alert for:

- The presence of visible mold.

- Strong musty odors, which may indicate mold in present.

- Any evidence of past moisture problems that might have caused undetected mold growth.

- Excessive humidity.

In this case the builder was unable to control the environment during construction.  It was a very wet spring and the roof took longer than expected to install.  Mold grew on these new construction materials requiring remediation to kill the mold  and remove .  SERVPRO is expert at the removal and remediation of mold.

Hidden mold

12/3/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Boyd, Carter, Greenup & Lewis Counties are the professionals in the removal and remediation of mold impacted facilities.  Many times there are impacted areas that aren't visible.

Finding water in your basement or storage areas is never a good thing. Trying to remove the water yourself can be cost efficient. But... Just because you got all of the water that you could see, doesn't mean that you got all of the water. Water can get just about anywhere.  Not properly drying your structure can be a cause for "Hidden Mold".  Growing on the back side of your drywall.

That's where SERVPRO of Boyd, Carter, Greenup & Lewis Counties can make it "Like it never even happened."

Ordinary Mold

11/1/2018 (Permalink)

If you discover mold in your home there are many questions that arise.  Here's a little bit of information about ordinary mold that can help your understanding of the issue.

Fungi and mold naturally occur in our environment.  In fact, over 100,000 kinds of fungi have been identified.  Fungi produce some very useful results.  Yeast is a type of fungi used in preparing breads, baked goods and other food products, including some alcoholic beverages.  The unique flavor of blue cheese is a result of mold.  An edible mushroom is simply a type of fungi, and lifesaving penicillin is a product of mold (Penicillin chrysogenum).

Even though some forms of mold can add value to our lives, other forms can be harmful.  Excessive amounts of mold, different types of mold, and/or exposure to molds may present health concerns for some people. 

Moisture and Mold Solutions

11/1/2018 (Permalink)

Indoor humidity levels between 30% and 50% are ideal.

Moisture problems in your home have a variety of causes and can lead to major property damage and encourage harmful mold and mildew growth.

Common causes of Moisture and Mold in your home can be:

• Water from a leaking water pipe, toilet, shower or bathtub, also weather related flooding in your home. Depending on the severity, conditions can lead to rot, structural damage, premature paint failure, and a variety of health problems.
  
  
• Excessive moisture from condensation and high humidity can have negative effects on your property and may indicate poor ventilation or that repairs are needed.
  
  
• Water can seep into your house from the outside through a leak in your roof, foundation, or small gaps around windows or doors.
  
  
• Normal activities such as cooking, bathing, clothes drying and dish washing also add moisture to the air.

All of these common problems contribute to overall high indoor humidity levels leading to mold and mildew growth. Mold can grow quickly and spread fast if moisture is left untreated, under ideal conditions (optimal temperature and level of humidity) it takes 24-48 hours for mold growth to occur. Typically you will start to see visible mold in 12-20 days, the more time passes the greater chance for mold to develop and spread through your property.

When SERVPRO of Boyd, Carter, Greenup & Lewis Counties arrives at your home, we can swiftly inspect the mold damage and then identify a remediation strategy. The first step to containing the problem is to set up plastic sheeting, block vents and doorways, so the spores cannot spread while the colony is being removed.

Certified professionals have the training and experience to:

• Identify moisture sources
• Evaluate mold growth (visible or suspected)
• Contain damage to the smallest area possible
• Physically remove contamination
• Dry materials to ensure that mold will not return
• Perform or recommend procedures for returning property to a preloss condition

It is a good idea to inspect your home or business regularly for any damage caused by moisture, if you notice any problems, take immediate action to fix them before they cause further damage or balloon into larger, more complicated issues. Here are some way you can reduce moisture and prevent damage in your home from water and mold.

• Install vent fans in kitchens and bathrooms.
• Run a dehumidifier.
• Cover dirt floors in crawl spaces with a plastic vapor barrier.
• Seal air and duct leaks.
• Houseplants can absorb moisture from the air
• Never let wet clothing or other fabrics lie around
• Avoid activities that add moisture to the air on humid days, such as taking hot showers and boiling water on the stove.

Indoor plants that help absorb moisture:

These are perfect plants to have in your home or business to help decrease moisture in the air, with the added bonus of purifying your air of certain contaminants at the same time.

Reed Palms, English Ivy, and Boston Ferns

These plants will reduce humidity levels by absorbing moisture from the air through their leaves.

What do you know about mold?

10/31/2018 (Permalink)

Microscopic mold spores

Visible signs of mold-growth include gray, green or black spots on surfaces such as floors, shower or wall tile and other surfaces like counter-tops or ceilings. A stale or musty odor can also be present in your home. If you notice that there is a presence of in your bathroom, kitchen or any other room inside your house, contact us right away. Mold spores can cause health effects, which makes it urgent for you to act as soon as possible.

Our SERVPRO mold damage services in Boyd, Carter, Greenup & Lewis Counties can restore your home to its pre-mold condition. We train our crews to utilize professional-grade disinfectants and to use industrial equipment to remove mold. We work fast to clean the affected areas inside the structure. Plus, our teams take the proper precautions to make sure the spores do not spread to any other rooms inside your residence. Crews first seal entryways such as windows, doors, vents, and ceiling exhaust fans to contain airborne spores.

Mold spores are microscopic, which means there may be thousands of airborne spores inside the affected areas. SERVPRO technicians can use commercial air scrubbers to trap and remove the spores and to scrub and purify the air inside the home environment. These top-grade machines can also remove stale odors by pulling in fresh air from the outside and pushing out musty air. We may also employ anti-fungal agents to sanitize the structure and to prevent future mold growth. We must note that it is impossible for us to eliminate every spore inside the structure, but we can reduce them to a safe level.

After the cleaning phase, techs can begin drying stage. Drying also helps stop mold from growing back inside your home. We may also use air movers, axial fans and dehumidifiers to reduce moisture levels and to speed up drying.

Does your home or business have a mold problem?

8/17/2018 (Permalink)

Microscopic mold spores naturally occur almost everywhere, both outdoors and indoors. This makes it impossible to remove all mold from a home or business. Therefore, mold remediation reduces the mold spore count back to its natural or baseline level. Some restoration businesses advertise “mold removal” and even guarantee to remove all mold, which is a fallacy. Consider the following mold facts:

• Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors.
• Mold spores are microscopic and float along in the air and may enter your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems or even hitch a ride indoors on your clothing or a pet.
• Mold spores thrive on moisture. Mold spores can quickly grow into colonies when exposed to water. These colonies may produce allergens and irritants.
• Before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed. Otherwise, the mold may return.
• Mold often produces a strong, musty odor and can lead you to possible mold problem areas.
• Even higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth. Keep indoor humidity below 45 percent to minimize the chances of mold growth.

If your home or business has a mold problem, we can inspect and assess your property and use our specialized training, equipment, and expertise to remediate your mold infestation.  If you see mold, call us today at 606-836-8000

Mold on our clothes?

12/7/2017 (Permalink)

Mold in the house is something every homeowner dreads and fears. Mold can be toxic and spread quickly and quietly without you even being aware of it. If you have mold in your home, you likely had water intrusion either from rain or flood water or a leaky pipe. Mold can ruin your belongings – from your flooring and walls to your furniture and even your clothing. Many times mold-damaged belongs must be discarded for your safety or because they have been permanently damaged.

If you have found mold on your clothing or there is a potential for mold growth because of a flood, you may be wondering if you can save your clothes or if you need to throw them away. The good news is that (depending on when you found the molded clothing), you may be able to save them. With a little bit of persistence and quick action, you can often rid your precious clothing of damaging mold and make them safe to wear again.

Do you have mold?

11/30/2017 (Permalink)

If you suspect you have mold in your home, you're probably right because it needs very little to survive. Cellulose is its favorite food, but it can also subsist on particles of dirt or dust brought into the home on shoes and clothing and needs only a small amount of moisture to begin growing.

When you start looking for mold, check anywhere dark and potentially moist. This includes top-floor ceilings because attics don't receive much light and even a slow roof leak can provide enough water. Also check around window frames that aren't properly sealed. Under the kitchen sink is another favorite place for mold, along with crawlspaces or between cracks in baseboards. Bathrooms are notorious for mold infestations behind leaky shower walls or under bathtubs, but colonies can grow anywhere pipes run behind the wall and moisture is present.

 If drywall anywhere in your house feels wet to the touch, has cracking paint, discoloration or is bulging, chances are you have a mold infection.

 SERVPRO of Boyd, Carter, Greenup & Lewis Counties has all of your mold remediation needs.

                     Call our office at: (606) 836-8000

See Mold? What should I do?

10/31/2017 (Permalink)

Dry wet areas immediately. Mold can't grow without moisture, so tackle wet areas right away. Seepage into the basement after a heavy rainfall, accumulation from a leaky pipe, even a spill on the carpet should be dried within 24 to 48 hours. If you've experienced a flood, remove water-damaged carpets, bedding, and furniture if they can't be completely dried. Even everyday occurrences need attention: don't leave wet items lying around the house, and make sure to dry the floor and walls after a shower. Don't leave wet clothes in the washing machine, where mold can spread quickly. Hang them to dry — preferably outside or in areas with good air circulation.

Your friendly techs at SERVPRO of Boyd, Carter, Greenup, and Lewis Counties are here to help.

Tips on Mold Control

10/31/2017 (Permalink)

Direct water away from your home. If the ground around your home isn't sufficiently sloped away from the foundation, water may collect there and seep into your crawlspace or basement.

Clean or repair roof gutters. A mold problem might be a simple matter of a roof that is leaking because of full or damaged gutters. Have your roof gutters cleaned regularly and inspected for damage. Repair them as necessary, and keep an eye out for water stains after storms that may indicate a leak.

Improve air flow in your home. According to the EPA, as temperatures drop, the air is able to hold less moisture. Without good air flow in your home, that excess moisture may appear on your walls, windows and floors. To increase circulation, open doors between rooms, move furniture away from walls, and open doors to closets that may be colder than the rooms they’re in. Let fresh air in to reduce moisture and keep mold at bay.

What is mold?

10/27/2017 (Permalink)

Mold can grow anywhere there is moisture.

Mold. The very word is enough to make a person cringe.

Yes, mold can be good — it's essential in making brie and penicillin, for example, and necessary for the decomposition of organic matter in nature — but it can also be very, very bad, especially when it grows undetected in your home.

Mold can grow anywhere: on carpet, clothing, food, paper, and even in places you can't see, such as the backside of drywall, areas inside walls around leaking or condensing pipes, and above ceiling tiles.

Not only is a mold problem difficult and costly to fix, but mold can also produce allergens and irritants (and, rarely, toxins) that may compromise your health.

So what can you do if you're concerned about mold growing in your home?

The best approach is preventing mold before it becomes a problem. The key to mold prevention is simple: moisture control.