The Risks Of Mold Growth

4/1/2022 (Permalink)

Don't waste time, call and have the Professionals do the job right the first time.

Mold is a serious concern for your home. While you might have seen this occur in your home throughout your life growing up, namely in the dark and moisture ridden basement, mold is better understood today. With potential health effects linked to exposure, removing active colonies growing in your residence should be a priority upon discovery.

However, there are reasons why you should resolve to remove mold damage in your home quickly. The better that you can appreciate the harmful effects that this fungal colony has on the contents and the structural integrity of your home, the more prepared you are to combat it on sight.

Fortunately, this microbial growth is not one that you have to face alone. Our remediators at SERVPRO have the unique training to prepare them for all varieties of mold growth and the best approaches to remove the colonies. This experience and expertise prove invaluable in fully removing mold and its damages from your residence.

One of the initial things that you must realize is the simplicity with which mold can grow. The only necessary ingredients to this hazardous presence are moisture and warmth. Spores naturally exist in the environment inside of your home on a microscopic level but only have the opportunity to seat once the other conditions get met in the affected area.

This mold growth can occur in as little as 72 hours once the conditions get met. The colonization occurs on organic materials within this area such as drywall, flooring, the contents of the room, or other construction materials. Within a brief period, the thriving colony can degrade the material and weaken it to the point of ineffectiveness.

Once you can appreciate both the potential health effects and the structural concerns of mold growth in your home, you can appreciate the importance of resolving the issue quickly. Our SERVPRO of Lansdale, Warminster, Blue Bell, and Abington Jenkintown applied microbial remediation technicians can arrive quickly and remove this hazardous presence effectively. You can reach our team at SERVPRO 24/7 at 215.353.7100.

Springtime Preparation

4/1/2022 (Permalink)

Call us at 215.368.4110. We'd love to help!

Spring is on it's way! As the weather warms up and the seasons change, we should prepare for the spring time as best we can. Here are some tips on how to get your home ready for this spring season!

Check/Service your Lawn Care Equipment. Cleaning up your lawn mower and changing the oil helps you to start fresh once its time to put it to use again.

Clean Patio Furniture. Dust off your outdoor tables and wash your patio cushions. You are going to want them ready for relaxing once the weather is nice!

Clear Your Gutters. After the fall season and then the wintery weather, your gutters probably could use a little attention. Clear out anything in your gutters to prevent mold or weeds growing up there.

Change Filters. HVAC filters should be checked/changed seasonally in order to ensure proper air quality in your home.

Moisture in your basement could support mold growth

4/1/2021 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Lansdale, Warminster, Blue Bell, and Abington Jenkintown at 215.368.4110!

Freezing and thawing of masonry at the foundation of your home can put considerable strain and stress on this construction. Over many winters, the strain and flex of these materials can degrade mortar joints and allow external water to penetrate into the lower levels of your home. While you likely still have a considerable amount of time before you are at risk of situations like flooding, the added moisture and dampness could provide another kind of disaster to organic materials like wood and drywall in your basement: mold growth.

Mold damage in your home is something that any homeowner should address as soon as they can. With the possibility of mold causing health effects to you or your family who gets exposed, time is of the essence to get the job done correctly. Our SERVPRO remediation technicians can help you to overcome the mold growth and colonies that are present in this area of your house and to aid in preventing the moisture from persisting as a problem.

The initial inspection can often reveal the source of the moisture, namely, where water can penetrate the blockwork and enter the house. Our SERVPRO professionals can often apply hydraulic cement over these areas to seal them up and prevent further dampness at these places.

One of the seemingly persistent effects of mold colonization in any area of your house is the musty odor that comes along with it. While this might be helpful in identifying the initial problem, deodorization can eliminate this persistent scent. Often the equipment needed for this process is a thermal fogging machine, which releases a dense chemical that neutralizes musty odor molecules on contact and leaves no scent behind.

While deodorization might only be a small piece of the remediation process, it is one of the critical services to help homeowners move on from mold growth in their homes. When you find mold in your residence, give the SERVPRO of Lansdale, Warminster, Blue Bell, and Abington Jenkintown remediation technicians a call at 215.368.4110.

What to know about mold in your HVAC unit

4/1/2021 (Permalink)

Call us at 215.368.4110! We'd love to help you keep your employee's or family safe from mold damage!

As soon as black mold is noticed in a business, it’s important to begin the remediation process quickly. However, being unaware that mold can grow in the air ducts in a building can allow the mold to spread and cause extensive damage to your business.

How Does Mold Grow in Ducts?

When thinking of common places mold grows, ducts are commonly not considered. The following factors make mold likely to grow in ducts:

• Poor air circulation
• Organic material that mold needs to grow, such as dust and dirt, collects in ducts
• Problems such as water leaks can easily go unnoticed in ducts, making it easier for mold to grow and spread in these areas

What Are the Signs?

Though there are a variety of molds that can grow in ducts, black mold is particularly common. Signs that your building may have this type of mold growth in ducts can include:

• An unpleasant, musty odor
• Discoloration on walls or ceilings that are located near the ducts
• Visible signs of mold elsewhere in a property, which can indicate that there may be a widespread mold issue in areas that are less visible

How Is Mold Removed From Ducts?

Removing mold from ducts is often done by mold remediation experts who know how to ensure the spores don’t spread. In order to prevent the spores from spreading throughout the property, professionals will make sure the ducts and the areas surrounding the ducts are contained. Items that are covered in mold will be removed from the building to be either replaced or restored. The use of high-powered air filters will also help to remove the harmful spores.

Mold can grow in a variety of places in your business, and having a thorough understanding of mold can be helpful. Knowing how black mold grows in air ducts, the signs of growth and how it is removed can help you take steps toward having clean ducts.

Preventing Mold Growth in your Apartment buildings

4/1/2020 (Permalink)

Prevent Mold Growth in your Apartment.

Mold can take hold in 24-48 hours if the conditions are right. Once it begins a colony, it is impossible to remove completely, and the best you can hope for is remediation. As an apartment building owner, you are responsible for a lot of people and a lot of living spaces. A mold infestation is one of those things you really don’t ever want to see. Here are a few ways you can stay on top of it:

• Educate your tenants. When a new tenant signs their lease, provide them with literature about mold and how it starts. Make sure the information is written in such a way that anyone can understand it, and make sure all their questions are answered sufficiently. Post this information in all public spaces, especially laundry and pool areas. You can include this information again in monthly emails to all tenants, and post it on your website.
• Schedule inspections. Schedule mold inspections; they can correspond with pest control to make sure your tenants aren’t overly inconvenienced. Engage a professional to check the places where mold is most often found. A person or company with mold remediation experience will know what to look for and what information to provide you with when it comes to problem areas or tenants.
• Regular cleaning. Schedule regular deep cleaning of all laundry areas and pool-related spaces such as public bathrooms and showers. If you have a clubhouse, you will want to include it in this schedule as well. Any place where your property experiences a lot of foot traffic and involves water is a prime place for mold to take hold.
• Patio rules. Institute rules for patio, deck, and balcony areas. This is where people have a tendency to store things, and it isn’t going to help you keep an eye on mold if spots such as these are cluttered and inaccessible.

Being proactive will go a long way towards preventing the outbreak of mold in your apartment buildings. If a mold problem begins, don’t hesitate to call us here at SERVPRO of Lansdale, Warminster, and Blue Bell. We are mold remediation experts!

Mildew vs. Mold

4/2/2019 (Permalink)

Mold and mildew are an unpleasant pair that no homeowner wants to encounter. While they seem to go hand in hand, they have some important differences. Understanding the differences is key to preventing mildew or mold damage and keeping your home pristine. Here are some ways to recognize the distinction between these two.

One reason people confuse mold and mildew is their many similarities. Some obvious and less obvious include:

• Both like warm, moist areas
• Both can create unpleasant smells
• Both are fungi

And of course, both are a fungus that no homeowner wants to see. That’s where the similarities end, however.

What is Mildew?

Mildew is best described as a surface fungus. It often appears as a patch of gray on a moist surface. Mildew growth is particularly common in bathrooms, where it favors shower curtains. Fortunately, surface mildew is easily treated with cleaner, a scrubbing brush and some elbow grease.

What is Mold?

Mold damage is like mildew in that it is a fungus and is commonly found in areas that are often wet, such as near pipe condensation. Mold comes in many colors, however, ranging from black to green. It’s also usually a sign of a much larger infestation than a spot of mildew is. Mold is also occasionally slimy, unlike mildew. Mold can be a lot harder to truly eradicate because it tends to have deep roots and isn’t removed with common household cleaner. Mold can destroy furniture and even walls, so it’s important to take evidence of the fungus seriously.

What To Do?

Whichever of these you see, it’s a good idea to act quickly to minimize mildew or mold damage. Removing the source of moisture and cleaning surface fungus is a good start. For a permanent change, talk to a mold remediation company to get rid of the mold growth you see and the leftover spores you don’t see.  

If you find yourself dealing with a Mildew or Mold issue in your home or business please call the professionals at SERVPRO of Lansdale, Warminster, and Blue Bell at 215.368.4110

Mold Growth Prevention

4/4/2018 (Permalink)

We all know that a humidity level in your home that is too high can promote mold growth. Mold grows quickly in damp conditions, establishing a significant colony within 24-48 hours. Allergens and irritants are released as it spreads, and in some cases the situation can become toxic to those with respiratory problems. Children, older people, and pets can be especially susceptible to this danger.

Using a dehumidifier in your home can help to prevent this situation. Optimal humidity levels are between 30-50%, with 45% being the best level possible. A dehumidifier will help to maintain your indoor humidity at a comfortable level, which saves you money and helps to stunt or prevent any mold growth. Small units are available at reasonable prices, so you can put one in every room of the house that is devoted to water: the bath, laundry, and the kitchen!

Making sure your HVAC system is running at its most efficient will help to keep down your humidity levels, as well. Vents should be cleaned before the wetter months and replacing filters before every season is always a good idea.

Running fans when it’s humid outside helps to keep the damp down and cool you off at the same time. Circulating air keeps everything drier. If it’s more humid inside than out, crack a window.

Give your houseplants some outside time, as well; potting soil is wet, of course, since you must water your plants, so putting them out in the sunshine can be helpful. The leaves of a houseplant can also sustain mold growth, and you will want to keep an eye on that. There are natural solutions that can be applied to take care of this issue.

Call SERVPRO of Lansdale at (215) 368-4110 for all your larger cleanup projects after a fire or flood. We are also experts in mold remediation!

courtesy of LinkedIn