Mold Remediation Chicago 773-885-8528

HOW TO PREVENT MOLD

Mold is a common occurrence in homes, but it can potentially cause health problems as well as damage to structures if it is not controlled.  Mold begins growing indoors when spores come in contact with wet surfaces or substances.  Once established, mold can be very difficult to remove successfully – so prevention is the key.

Mold Prevention

Mold needs moisture to grow.  Moisture can take the form of leaks, spills, condensation, and humidity, so controlling sources of moisture is the most important step in mold prevention.  Here are some ways homeowners can avoid creating conditions in which mold damage can and will thrive:

1.     Be alert for signs of leaks in supply and waste lines for bathrooms, kitchens, utility sinks, and laundry areas.  Have any leaks fixed and dry the area thoroughly.

2.     Check the condition of grout and tile on shower walls, floors, and around bathtubs.  Repair damaged grout, and seal it to prevent mold from being absorbed.  Caulking around tubs, showers, and sinks should be kept in good repair.  If it isn’t replace it with silicone caulk that contains a mildew-cide.

3.     Increase ventilation to the outside by using exhaust fans, and be sure the attic is properly ventilated.

4.     Regularly empty and clean drain pans and hoses for air conditioning units and dehumidifiers.

5.     Check roof leaks that allow water to enter attic spaces or build up under roof shingles.  Even a small amount of moisture can cause big problems down the road.

6.     If possible, lower the overall humidity in the home to decrease condensation and create a less mold-friendly environment.

Places that tend to stay damp, such as showers, may be more difficult to keep entirely free of mold but it can be minimized.  Diligent cleaning, opening a window and regularly using a ventilation fan are often enough to keep mold at bay.

Mold Removal

Once mold has become established in the home it can be difficult to eradicate.  Depending on the location and severity of the mold problem, a homeowner may need to engage a professional certified in mold remediation to remove it.  A qualified professional who handle mold removal will also take preventive measures to lessen the likelihood of recurrences.

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5 Tips to Prevent Mold When Water Damage Occurs

The Chicagoland area and suburbs get a lot of rain this time of year and it’s important to make sure that any water or flood damage is properly cleaned up. Even if your home did not flood, if you are in an area that saw flooding, your home could still be exposed to excess moisture that may lead to mold. Even just an inch of water in your basement could lead to mold buildup. Mold can lead to health problems for you, your family and even your pets.

Here are 5 tips to prevent mold after water damage. The effectiveness of these tips will be determined, in part, by how long the water was in your home.

1. This may seem obvious, but it doesn’t always happen. After water damage to your home, you want to immediately disconnect electronics in the affected area and move them to dry ground. Also, any pieces of furniture that can be moved out of the area should be moved immediately to a clean, dry place.
2. Remove all carpeting including the padding. There is a possibility that your carpet can be saved with a good cleaning and heavy disinfecting, but that is not a definite.
3. Now that heavy items and carpeting are gone, remove all of the water, down to the last drop.   If you have power, a heavy-duty shop vac is a great way to soak up floodwater. If you don’t have power or are worried about using electrical items, buckets, towels and mops will have to suffice. If the flooding is overwhelming, consider renting a sump pump from a local hardware store.
4. Dry out the affected area thoroughly. This is so important. You don’t want to leave an ounce of moisture anywhere, if possible. Use fans (commercial fans are great) and a dehumidifier to speed the process.
5. Disinfect, disinfect, disinfect! After the area has completely dried out (including wood beams, insulation, etc.), use a heavy disinfectant in all areas. You also want to disinfect the furniture that was removed.

If you are able to successfully clean up your home after flood damage, you should schedule a mold inspection or mold test within 30 days. Mold can start to grow after just a day or two so it’s important to act as quickly as possible and determine its presence.  A certified mold removal specialist can always help to remediate the problem in your home.

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Why Do I Need a Mold Inspection?

If you are in the process of purchasing a home, then you are probably aware of the many steps that you must go through before reaching the day you close. Your broker or realtor may have already informed you of the necessity for a pre-inspection. The purpose of a pre-inspection is to identify any potential serious defects in the home. The possible defects could range from water damage, plumbing issues, or even mold damage. At this point in the home purchasing process, you could still choose another home in the unlikely event that a major problem with your original choice was detected during inspection. One issue that you will definitely want to have your inspector perform is a mold inspection.

Mold Inspections

One main reason why you need a mold inspection is because if there is any presence of mold, then this could signify a leak. In addition, the mold could possibly exacerbate allergies and asthma in individuals with pre-existing problems, and it could even cause new allergies to form in those with weakened immune systems. No one wants to purchase a home with mold growing throughout it, whether due to a leaky roof or some other issue. There are rare cases where a home buyer is aware of the mold problem and is willing to accept a home requiring such a potentially troublesome problem. Of course it is totally different when a home buyer is purchasing a fix-upper and they are expecting there to be major repairs that need to be taken care of. If the home inspector that you hire identifies a problem with mold, then you can have him or her probe further in order to identify the source of the mold. This might require a mold remediation specialist who specializes in locating and identifying types and causes of mold.

Black Mold

Another reason for mold inspections is to determine if your perspective home contains any type of black mold. Black mold is a great deal more dangerous than your average, everyday mold, as it can lead to severe respiratory problems, allergies, pneumonia, chronic cough and more. In extreme cases, black mold can even cause bleeding into the nose and lungs, and it has been implicated in the possible death in a couple cases.

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So as you can see, house inspections are very important for people in the process of purchasing a new home. Most house inspections include mold detection on their checklist, since homes are so susceptible to developing mold due to water leaks or high humidity. Since mold can negatively affect your health, it is very important that the source of the problem be identified and corrected ahead of time. If mold has been identified in your dream home during the pre-inspection, there is no reason to fret and automatically think that you must choose another home. The mold problem can be investigated, and if it’s found to be an easy fix, then you might still be willing to purchase it. The seller might even be willing to have the mold problem taken care of, as part of a contingency offer, which would prevent you from having to contend with it after closing.  In either case a professional mold removal company can rid the home of mold for it never return, unless there is a leak issue, and then you will need a good plumber.

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How to Keep Mold Out of Shared Office Spaces

Mold is not something that you want to take lightly. If left unchecked, it can become a serious health hazard. Therefore, you need to know what you can do to prevent mold from forming or get rid of it if it does surface.

Keep the Areas Dry

Mold typically forms in moist environments. If you live in an area that routinely gets hot or humid weather, you should look into buying a dehumidifier or an air conditioner that will take the moisture out of the air and deposit it back outside. Make sure that you periodically check the unit itself to ensure that condensation is not forming within it and getting disbursed on or inside the walls of the building, nor that it is depositing mold spores from non-cleaning and/or maintenance.

Keep Shower Doors Open When Not in Use and Fans Operating

If you have a showering area in the office, you should make sure that it is cleaned and kept as dry as possible. Fans should be installed that will wick away moisture and circulate the air after someone takes a shower. Cleaning the shower walls and floors reduces the odds that mold or any other type of fungus is allowed to grow and spread, thus avoiding the need for mold remediation efforts.

Clean Out the Refrigerator

The refrigerator is one the easiest places within an office for mold infestation to form. This is because people are not always good about throwing out food or keeping the refrigerator clean. Over time, mold can form on the surfaces of the refrigerator and may seep out of the refrigerator as it defrosts and solids turn to liquids that can run down the fridge door and onto the floor.

How to Deal With Mold

It is never a certainty what type of mold in its various forms may be lurking there on your premises, especially if detected after festering for a while.  It’s always a good idea to get a professional mold removal company to come in and either remove it or take samples to find out what steps should be taken to eradicate the mold properly.  Don’t try to deal with it yourself.  Bleach can only irritate the situation and cause the mold contaminants to return more vicious than before.  A proper mold cleanup and the right products can do wonders for keeping it from returning.

Make Sure to Cover Your Face

If you are dealing with mold, make sure that your face is completely covered. This is because mold spores could get into your mouth and make their way to your lungs. Your breathing could become labored or you could start having an asthma attack. Continued exposure to mold could lead to other health problems that result in a trip to the emergency room or being put on an extended cycle of antibiotics.

In most cases, mold is nothing more than a mild annoyance. As long as it is taken care of swiftly, there is no reason why it should interfere with your ability to work. However, if you notice that you are having trouble breathing or have become otherwise ill, do not hesitate to seek medical attention and look into ways to get rid of the mold for good by a trained professional who is certified in mold remediation, mold removal and mold cleanup.