What's Involved in Mold Remediation

8/13/2018 (Permalink)

There are several phases in the mold remediation process. The following list does not include mold testing, which is the precursor to mold cleanup. If testing reveals the presence of any type of mold in your home, including black mold, you should retain the services of a certified remediation company.

1. Containment: The first step to handling mold is to determine how much mold is present and containing the problem to avoid mold from spreading during cleanup. Mold should be removed by experts who adhere to industry best practices.

2. Personal Protection: The next step to handling a mold problem is determining whether the remediation process will pose a threat to any residents in the household with weak or compromised immune systems including very young children or elderly people.

3. Tear Out: Only experts trained in industry best practices are qualified to safely tear out mold infested building materials such as drywall or insulation. This is particularly the case when black mold is involved.

4. Cleaning and Disinfection: Once the worst of the mold has been removed, remediation experts will clean and disinfect the affected area of a home.

5. Drying and Restoration: The most critical phase in remediation is preventing a mold problem from returning. It is important to keep affected areas dry and even run a dehumidifier to prevent moisture from collecting. Once the moisture problem has been handled, the area is ready to be restored to pre-damage condition.

If you discover mold in your home or suspect that non-visible mold is present, you should contact remediation specialists based in Oklahoma City, OK to schedule mold testing. Once you determine whether you are dealing with black mold or another type of mold and the extent of the growth, you will be better prepared to make the best choices to eliminate the presence of mold in your home. Visit SERVPROOfAbilene.com for more information on mold. 

What do Professionals do to Stop Mold Growth?

8/6/2018 (Permalink)

If you’ve recently found a patch of mold in your Abilene home, you’re likely beside yourself with worry. Mold cleanup does not have to be stressful. In fact, the easiest and most reliable method of mold remediation relies on the knowledge and equipment of professionals. These experts can help get your home back to normal by taking the following five steps.

Find the moisture source. Because mold needs moisture to grow, it’s important to find the source of moisture. A roof leak or condensation buildup may be the culprit of your mold problem. However, if this source isn’t found, the fungus will continue to come back. Finding and fixing the issue helps contain your mold growth.

Wear personal protective equipment. While mold can cause structural damage to your home, it can also be a hazard. For this reason, professionals often put on masks, gloves and goggles before working with the mold in your home.

Remove the porous materials. Porous materials have to be discarded when affected by moisture and mold damage.  For this reason, any affected dry wall will have to be cut out of the home and discarded.

Carpets, mattresses and other objects may also have to be tossed out.

Clean and disinfect non-porous objects. Professionals may use a detergent-based disinfectant to clean the hard surfaces affected by black mold. This cleaning should remove all spores.

Dry out the area. After the cleaning, the entire area of your home affected by mold should be properly dried out. The remediation team may bring in fans and wet vacuums to help remove moisture from your home.

The growth of black mold can be stopped by the proper cleaning steps. The only true way to stop this growth is to remove the source of the moisture and git rid of as much of the spores as possible. It may be tempting to do the remediation yourself, but remediation experts in Abilene have the knowledge and equipment necessary to do this task well. Visit SERVPROOfAbilene.com for more information on mold.

Gaining Insight Into the Mold Remediation Process

8/3/2018 (Permalink)

Once the existence of mold has been unearthed in your Abilene home or office building, it’s difficult to know where exactly to turn next. However, one answer is never to try and take care of the situation yourself. Mold growth is dangerous to your health and should be avoided, at least until specialists can examine the problem and identify whether the fungus is black mold or another less harmful strain. So what does mold cleanup entail? Learn more about the various steps of the mold remediation process and how your home or office can safely become habitable again.

1. Contain the area and change into protective gear. When professional remediation experts appear on the scene, the first step they take is containing the area. This includes repairing any moisture problems that are customarily the source of mold growth and isolating the room by closing all windows and doors. The technicians then take extra precautions by suiting up in protective gear before handling or dislodging any mold colony development.

2. Remove wet or moldy materials and clean the affected area. Any damaged goods are removed or placed in thick plastic bags to be taken care of later, meaning they’ll be heavily cleaned or simply thrown away depending on the severity of the black mold contamination. Cleaning then ensues, with many items being wiped down or dipped in strong detergents or professional-grade cleaning solutions. If the level of contamination is severe, a HEPA vacuum is used to disinfect the entire room.

3. Conduct a visibility test and dry the newly washed areas. Any visible signs of mold should now be erased, and the drying of all belongings and other wet materials can be set into motion. The remediation team uses dehumidifiers and fans to speed up the process, ending with deodorizing solutions that eliminate any trace of the musty smell.

Demolish any signs of black mold in your office building by calling in a team of mold remediation specialists who can handle mold cleanup with ease. Now that the steps of the process are clear, you can be more informed once the operation takes place.

For more on mold visit us at SERVPROOfAbilene.com

The Process of Mold Remediation

7/11/2018 (Permalink)

Mold is a fungus, and it grows virtually everywhere on Earth. Lately, mold has become a hot topic because of increasing awareness about its potential health hazards. People aren’t exactly sure how many mold species there are, but estimates range anywhere between tens of thousands to over a few hundred thousand. Some of these different types aren’t dangerous to human health, while others lead to chronic and severe health conditions.

In as little as 48 hours, a minor mold issue can quickly spread through a home or business. Once you contact us, we’re dedicated to starting the remediation process quickly. This fast response lessens the mold damage, limits additional damage, and reduces the remediation cost.

Call SERVPRO of Abilene - 325-672-5661

Mold Can Be Tricky to Spot

7/6/2018 (Permalink)

Nobody wants to hear the word mold. Since our youth we have been taught mold is bad and harmful to your health. If you have mold on your food you throw it away. If mold is in the air you pray for rain and head to the drug store for sinuses medicine. If mold is involved there is a problem, especially if it is in your house. But, luckily for everyone mold can be remediated. People forget there are mold spores all around us outside all the time. The purpose of a house is to protect you from the outside elements like keeping mold spores in nature. Some individuals are more sensitive to allergies than others. Good thing mold remediation is a common practice and can be done in a timely manner with some simple steps.

First and foremost, the moisture source of the mold growth must be eliminated or fixed before cleaning can begin. If you notice a water leak, please contact a plumber immediately. 

Mold remediation can simplified into three steps:

1. Control Environment-Set up containment, air filtration equipment and negative air flow to control environment and prevent further contamination.
2. Remove and Clean- Remove and properly dispose of all porous materials contaminated with mold. Clean all nonporous materials contaminated with mold, HEPA vacuum, and apply anti-microbial agent.
3. Dry Structure- Dry structure to reduce moisture levels below that which enables growth. Obtain final clearance testing from Indoor Environmental Professional (IEP).

SERVPRO of Abilene specializes in mold remediation for both commercial and residential buildings. If you notice mold growing in your home or business, please give us a call today at (325)672-5661. 

Get Rid of Mold

5/9/2018 (Permalink)

Get Rid of Mold

Here are some healthy tips to follow when you are dealing with mold brought to you by SERVPRO of Abilene. Some people cringe at the sound of the word mold but it may be easier to take care of then you think. Hopefully these will help ease the stress along the way.

• Take things that were wet for 2 or more days outside. Things that stay wet 2 or more days can have mold on them. Mold is not always visible by looking.
• Take out stuff made of cloth, unless you can wash them in HOT water.
• Use bleach to clean mold of of hard things(like floors, counter tops, toys, tools, and plates.)
• Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners.
• wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, googles, and a mask.
• Open windows and doors to get fresh air when you use bleach.
• Mix no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water.
• Wash the item with the bleach and water mixture.
• Rinse the item with clean water.
• Dry the item or leave it out to dry.

Mold Remediation

8/3/2017 (Permalink)

Mold on walls and ceiling

Abilene and Big Country residents,

Is MOLD trying to take over your home or business?

 Everyone dreads when they look in their basement, under the kitchen sink, or around wet boxes in the garage and see that yellow, green, black, or orange substance. The sinking feeling hits – “I’ve got a mold problem.” While not all mold is bad, some mold can cause health concerns for many people. Any kind of water flooding in your home or business can cause mold to grow --anything from water leaks to varying humidity. The best way to get ahead of Mold is to take precautions. Here are some different signs that your home or business is being over-run by the Mold itself:

-You can visibly see the mold
-Musty odor –indicates mold is present
-Any type of moisture problems that may have -caused mold growth
-Excessive humidity

If you think you have a mold problem, and Mold has taken up residence in your home or business, please call SERVPRO® of Abilene, (325)672-5661.  We are always Here to Help!