Dealing With Mold In Your Water Damaged Home

Water Damage (Photo credit: thirteenthbat)

No matter how much we prepare, at some stage in our lifetime it is possible that your home will become water damaged and subsequently have a mold problem. This might come about after an extended period of heavy rain, because of a burst water line or maybe even from run off water following a nearby fire fighting effort. Whatever the reason, the outcome is the same : loss or damage to property including both furnishing and structural fittings. So what can you do about it?

The most important thing to remember about dealing with water damage, is that time is of the essence. It takes just 24 hours for mold to grow when the conditions are right, so it is imperative that any restoration work is carried out as quickly as possible in order to minimize damage. Calling in a professional for mold remediation will help you to stop the growth of dangerous mold spores and will ensure they do not reoccur.

Remediation should include cleaning up any existing mold quickly and safely and also fixing the original cause of the problem so that it doesn't keep on happening. The most common causes of mold in the home are:

• A hidden leak inside walls
• An undiscovered roof leak
• Any kind of water intrusion (e.g. burst pipe, leaky dishwasher)
• Structural moisture not properly dried from previous flooding
• Excessive humidity

Mold is not something you should try to take care of by yourself. It is very dangerous and must be treated as such. When mold is cleaned up it can become airborne and this is when it poses the most threat. Professional mold remediation experts will seal off a room in which they are working to contain the spores and stop the mold from spreading into other rooms.

For the majority of people, airborne spores result in irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. However, in young children, the elderly or those with health concerns it can be much more serious resulting is respiratory illness and even death. Why take any chances? Call in a professional mold remediation service to take care of your problem.

A Healthy Home Is A Happy Home

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The presence of mold in your residence may cause a variety of health concerns, from common allergic reactions to asthma attack, insomnia as well as other health problems. Small children, senior citizens and women that are pregnant are specifically susceptible to the possible unwanted effects of mold.

The discovery of mold in your property isn't always easy. Molds are tiny and may grow on or within your walls, all around door and window frames, beneath carpets and rugs as well as in the roof of your property. It is usually extremely hard to identify mold using the naked eye; nevertheless, mold usually gives off a definite odor inside area affected. If you think there is the presence of mold in your home, you shouldn't hold back until health issues arise; it is best to carry out a mold test.

What does mold smell of?

There are numerous varieties of mold located in the property but not all are hazardous, but practically all give off a specific smell that may force the respiratory system to react with sneezing and/or a nasal area discomfort. Occasionally, a strange taste in the mouth area is experienced just before your perception of smell registers the aroma.

The scent of mold is normally musty, heavy and unpleasant. Some identify it as being a smell much like sweaty socks, although some say it smells like decaying foodstuff or damp foliage. It truly is, without a doubt, distinctive, continuous and hard to overcome. It generally spreads throughout the area affected.

Those who live inside a mold contaminated property can sooner or later become accustomed to its scent, therefore exposing themselves to possible severe medical issues. If you imagine the existence of mold in your own home, try this straightforward check. Step outdoors and inhale the clean fresh air, then move inside the property and inhale the air in the house. When there is mold, its moldy fragrance ought to be fairly apparent.

Advantages of Getting in touch with a Mold Remediation Specialist

Homeowner mold tests are a good way of determining whether renovations and repairs are necessary to get rid of mold, specifically when it comes to obvious water damage and mold. When the existence of mold isn't noticeable, the guidance of a mold remediation specialist is usually recommended for an entire evaluation of your property. They are skilled in their industry and can be trusted to resolve your mold dilemma. Eradicating mold in order to make a normal home environment is really a worthwhile enterprise.

Related articles

• Georgia Residents Must Be Vigilant of Mold
• Is Your Home Healthy?
• Black mold remediation
• Getting Rid Of Mold Growth At Home
• Dealing With Household Mold

Dealing With Household Mold

Mold grows in a room or place where there is a lot of moisture or dampness. It can grow anywhere including outside the house. mold has different types and colors too. It can grow in bathrooms, basements, carpets, cupboards, refrigerators and many other places where there is a lot of humidity. mold is dangerous and can lead to different health issues if an individual is exposed to it. The effects of mold can range from mild to very severe consequences. That is why it is very important for all home owners to at least have several tips on how to deal with mold in their houses.

In case of mold in your bathroom; you can opt to properly ventilate it to control its growth. Proper ventilation will make sure that the room does not have excess moisture. Ventilation may be done by opening the windows and door.

Generally, it can grow anywhere especially in places where there are problems like leaking roofs, broken pipes or drainage problems. You can easily deal with mold problems in your house. However, when it comes to the dangerous mold known as black mold, it is best to call moldremediation experts.This is because black mold is really be toxic and there are procedures to be followed too when dealing with it.

How do you know you have mold in your house?

1. You will notice spots on the wall, floor or other places of your bathroom .The spots color could range from black, grey, or brown.
2. A stale stench.

2. Moisture on the floor.

4. Regular health problems are experienced by members of your family. They could suffer from itchy noses, sneezing, running noses or even mild head aches.

Finding a mold remediation company to deal with the problem is the best thing you can do.

You can deal with the problem of mold by:

-Proper ventilation

-Installation of exhaust fans or portable dehumidifiers

-Cleaning the place regularly using bleaches.

-Attending to wet floors immediately since mold grows very fast.

If you decide it is safer to clean mold from hard surfaces. Wear protective clothing to avoid exposing yourself to the dangers of mold. Consult mold remediation experts and have all the mold cleaned out permanently.

Handling Household Mold

Household fungus can expose your family members to serious health issues. Their colors range from black, brown, grey or brown. We have some like the mucor, penicilium and also the black mould which is very dangerous. One can easily detect the presence of mould in their house if it has a stale or musty smell. If the mould is not cleaned, your loved ones may suffer from some of the below listed symptoms which if ignored can result to dangerous health effects: 

• Sneezing
• Running nose
• Itchy eyes or nose
• Mild or severe headaches
• Asthma
• Respiratory problems etc

Individuals with a strong immune system will be able to survive comfortably in such areas unlike those with low immune systems like the old people, young children and the sick. It does not only cause danger to our health but also destroys the surface that they are growing on. Remember to always take protective measures when cleaning. You can use goggles, protective masks or even gloves when you are doing this. There are many different places in your house that you can find household fungus growing, if you make such a discovery then please seek professional mold remediation. Below are some of the places that mould grows and how one can take care of the problem.

a) Cupboards and refrigerators-All you need to do is to empty it from time to time.
b) Shower places and basements-You can remove the mould on your shower by using sprays that are specially designed to remove mould. However; you can do it by wiping. You can improve the ventilation of your bath room to enhance proper circulation of air.

BLACK MOLD

It can really affect the individuals living in the house and should be dealt with immediately it appears since it produces toxins. They grow in areas without light or circulating air. If you do not take care of the problem, they continue growing. However, when dealing with black mould, it is important to know what it really involves. This is because it is toxic. You won’t be able to solve the problem of black mould by just spraying chemicals on it. When cleaning areas with black mould, ensure that the area has been sealed to avoid spores from travelling to other rooms.
After the whole process of cleaning, it is important to now know the source of the problem. Mould growth is caused by moisture or water. You need to take care of the problem by making necessary repairs since mould cannot survive in an area without moisture. You can also settle on the idea of purchasing a dehumidifier or you can use other methods to make sure that the amount of moisture has been minimized in your house.

Some of the best home remedies to household fungus are chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide, borax powder, white vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, ammonia.

However, other people settle on the idea of calling professional mold remediation specialists to do the job for them at a fee.

Is Your Home Healthy?

We all want our home to be perfect. We work on the décor, on the furnishings and on the yard hoping to create that dream home for the family. We think about all of these things a great deal. How many of you have spent hours looking for just the right carpet for the smallest bedroom, the perfect shade of paint for your kitchen or just the right lamps for the lounge? These are the things that really matter to us. The things we really care about. However, in spending so much time on the trappings that come with dressing the home we might just be overlooking something much more important. Have you even considered whether or not your home is actually healthy?

I expect that the answer is no, and I also expect you are now asking yourself how can a home be unhealthy? Well the answer is simple! There are a number of different things which could be making your home unhealthy for you and the other inhabitants. Unseen dangers which could be affecting your home include lead based paint, asbestos, toxic mold and many others. If any of these are present within your home then it could be having a detrimental effect on the quality of the air you are breathing.

Mold in particular is highly dangerous. There are several different species each with their own risks.

Stachybotrys

The Stachybotrys species of mold thrives in water damaged building materials including wall insulation, sheet rock, wallpaper and ceiling tiles. It tends to go unnoticed for long periods. This particular mold is black and slimy in appearance and produces mycotoxins which are extremely toxic and have been linked to cancer. These are also known to suppress the human body's natural defenses against infections.

Aspergillus

Another common household mold is the Aspergillus species which can grow at an alarming rate on a huge number of surfaces. When this type of mold is inhaled it can grow inside the lungs causing various diseases.

Cladosporium

The Cladosporium variety of mold is usually found on fiberglass and appears dark green or black with a velour like or chalky texture This type of mold causes skin lesions, sinus infection, asthma and respiratory disease.

I would recommend that any home owner have a professional service come in and perform a mold detection sweep just to be on the safe side. A healthy home is a happy home!