Helpful tips to help you prevent mold from growing in your home.

4/9/2021 (Permalink)

Mold can lead to health issues for you and your family. Here are a few ways in which you can help prevent mold from growing in your home.

Leaks: Checking for leaks around your doors and windows. If you notice any water entering your home from around your windows and/or doors it is recommended that you get them repaired as quickly as possible. Be sure that the area has been thoroughly dried prior to repair.Roof leaks are best detected during a rain storm. By checking your attic space to look for any leakage, you can quickly correct the issue before the problems becomes a huge headache.

Ventilation: Bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms should be properly vented. Bathroom ventilation is one of the areas that mold likes to grow. Without a ventilation system in place this becomes molds best friend. Be sure to check the ventilation system every three months to ensure that the pipe leading to the outside is securely fastened to both ends. Dryers should also be checked to make sure the venting pipe is attached at both ends of the pipe. Kitchen venting should be cleaned every month to prevent grease build up. Be sure to check your filter if you have a microwave with an exhaust to see if they need to be replaced.

Humidity: Maintain a low humidity level in your home by running a dehumidifier or air conditioner.

SERVPRO is certified to properly handle your mold remediation if the need arises.

Things Everyone Should Know About Mold And Their Basement

12/31/2019 (Permalink)

Everyone knows mold is bad but everyone does not know the health risks of mold in your basement and what the effects can be.

Whether it’s your home, a commercial building or any other property, mold needs to be controlled. Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposures include allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory complaints.

Protect your family, your property and your investment by removing mold from your home and taking preventative steps to make sure mold doesn’t have an environment to grow. Waterproofing your basement is one way to make sure mold has a very unlikely chance to grow.

Here are some things you should know about mold:

• There is no practical way to eliminate 100% of the mold and mold spores in your home or properties basement. The only way to control basement mold growth is to control moisture.
• If mold is a problem in your home or properties basement, you must clean up the mold and eliminate sources of moisture, typically by basement waterproofing.
• Fix the source of the water problem or leak to prevent mold growth.
• Reducing the indoor humidity of your home will decrease mold growth by: venting bathrooms, dryers, and other moisture-generating sources to the outside, using air conditioners and de-humidifiers, increasing ventilation and using a sump pump to pump out excess water from your basement.
• Clean and dry any damp or wet building materials and furnishings within 24-48 hours of them getting wet to prevent mold growth.
• Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and detergent, and dry completely. Absorbent materials such as ceiling tiles, that are moldy, may need to be replaced.
• Prevent condensation: Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces (i.e., windows, piping, foundation walls, or basement floors) by basement waterproofing.
• In areas where there is a perpetual moisture problem, do not install carpeting, remodel or refinish a basement. You must be sure the mold problem is taken care of before investing a large amount of money into a basement remodeling project.
• Molds can be found almost anywhere in your basement. Mold can be under the carpet, in the drywall, on furniture, etc. Mold can also grow on virtually any substance, providing moisture is present.

Invasive V. Non-Invasive Mold Remediation

11/7/2019 (Permalink)

Maintaining your Springfield home and protecting your family from avoidable health issues  are two good reasons to evaluate the potential impact of mold on your home. Many families wait until the spread of mold contamination is widespread before acting to correct this issue. In many cases a small amount of prevention can go a long way in avoiding high damage and expenses caused by mold in the future.

After finding mold in your home, there are two general paths a remediation company can take. This can be invasive or non-invasive in nature depending on the level of contamination in your home.

Non-Invasive Remediation

This remediation process consists of HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) vacuuming, sanding, surface wiping and using an HEPA air scrubber. Most building materials contaminated with surface mold such as wood, glass, metal, and ceramic can be efficiently decontaminated with these processes and pass certified third party IEP testing such as air sampling and surface testing. Surface mold is often caused by a high relative humidity (Rh) inside your home. 

Invasive Remediation

This remediation process consists of removing and discarding porous building materials that cannot be decontaminated through non-invasive means. Moisture infiltration often causes moisture to penetrate walls and generate mold inside wall cavities. Generally, this is caused by moisture entering your home’s exterior envelope through compromised roofing, siding or an interior water source, such as piping or faucets. Seepage, flooding and leaks create a tremendous mess for the homeowner. These problems result in severe building material damage that requires some level of invasive remediation. From a cost perspective, the labor of invasive remediation is somewhat more expensive, but the cost of reconstruction and repair that is necessary following the removal of mold damaged building materials presents a marked difference.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST MOLD REMEDIATION COMPANY

7/29/2019 (Permalink)

Once mold appears in your home, knowing which mold remediation company to choose can be overwhelming. To begin with, it is not a DIY job and you shouldn’t necessarily choose the company that is closest to you either. The company you hire should be one that stands behind their work. Here are some tips on how to determine the best mold remediation company for the job.

Mold Remediation is Not a DIY Project

If water damage happens and a mold situation arises, many may view it as a small outbreak, something treatable with store-bought products. In some cases, it may be possible to clean or treat minor outbreaks of mold, but generally cleaning a surface area of mold does not necessarily mean you have remediated the mold beneath the surface. It is one thing if you have been flooded or if a pipe bursts, but in some cases water damage to a structure may have gone on over an extended period of time, undetected behind a wall or under a floorboard, causing mold to gradually grow from the inside out, and spread before it surfaces. Cleaning mold is not a DIY project.

The “behind the walls” damage to residential properties after water intrusion occurs and the ventilation system has been contaminated, can pose many dangers and problems. Once that occurs, the mold issue can become “toxic,” with mold spores blown throughout the building, landing on every surface, through the wall and attic insulation, through the ductwork, your HVAC system, and even into your lungs. To prevent the structural spread of mold requires the help of a professional mold removal company to assess the damage, and then treat the mold problem.

Having a professional mold remediation company make an assessment of your property after water intrusion results in a mold outbreak is the best decision for you, your family, and your property. How to choose that company is just as important of a decision. Here are several tips to consider when choosing the best mold remediation company for your needs:

Do Your Research

Finding the best mold remediation company begins by doing research. Start with getting referrals from people you trust. Then, read through some of the testimonials on the company’s website. Contact some of those people if possible. Sites such as Yelp or Google share reviews, good and bad included.

Do not expect the first company that comes up on a Google search to be the “best.” Those types of searches can be easily manipulated. Do not expect the closest company to you to be any better than the company in the next town over. In each case, it is unlikely you will “chance” upon the best. The company you want is the one that stands behind its work. It will take some research to find them.

Asking the Right Questions

The first thing to look for in a mold remediation company is whether or not they stand behind their work.

Next, ask if the company if it is insured and licensed. Look for a company that is fully licensed and has the proper certifications to perform the job as required. The staff should be trained and highly experienced. Mold remediation requires a high degree of expertise. The person actually overseeing the work on your property should be able to communicate with you through the entire mold remediation and removal process each step of the way.

Finally, a company’s certification is just as important as its reputation. SERVPRO of South Springfield/Agawam is an IICRC certified Firm. The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC), is the institution that sets the standards and certifications for the restoration industries. More importantly, these are the standards that most insurance companies adhere to.

Mold Remediation Companies near You

If water damage happens to your residential or commercial property, and a mold situation follows, SERVPRO of South Springfield/Agawam is the company to choose for the best and most complete mold remediation services.

Tips To Prevent Mold Growth In Your Laundry Room

9/21/2016 (Permalink)

Mold Can Grow in Many Parts of the Home

Many homeowners realize that there is more than one way to protect their home. Often, a home is the largest investment a person will make in their life, and protecting it should be a priority. However, one culprit that many homeowners neglect to keep under control lives in both the outdoors and inside almost every home in the United States. That culprit is mold. Mold Can Live Anywhere There Is Moisture.

In Hampden County, mold damage can result rather quickly if mold colonies are present. Mold often hides where it is not easily detected. This is because sunlight is a natural enemy of mold. Mold thrives best in damp or moist environments that receive little or no sunlight, and where natural substances it can consume are present.

Common Area for Mold Growth One area that is often found to harbor mold is the laundry area. Damp clothing, either still soiled and waiting to be washed, or clothing that has been removed from the dryer too soon, or left wet in the washing machine can cause mold to grow. These small amounts of mold can rapidly spread to other areas of the home as well. If there is a ventilation intake in the laundry area, mold can quickly enter when the ventilation system is turned on, and be whisked to all different areas of your home. One area that should be looked at when searching for mold growth in the laundry area of any home is the washer and dryer. Dryer ducts need to be vented outdoors. Lots of moisture is released into the air during the drying process. If there is a humidity problem in the laundry area, a dehumidifier might be an excellent option to help control how much humidity is present on an ongoing basis. Families who have front loading washing machines should note that many of these have been found to harbor large colonies of mold. These should be inspected, particularly if a musty odor is present, especially in freshly washed clothing.

Call Our Professional and Certified Team. If you feel mold is a problem in your home, you should call our professional and certified teams to help you have mold damage checked. Repairs are less costly when found earlier, and can help protect your investment in your home, as well as your family's health. We can perform remediation services any mold damage. Call us at SERVPRO of South Springfield/Agawam, 24/7, at (413) 372-4115. We will schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience to inspect and detect mold growths that may cause mold damage in your home.

Does Your Hampden County Home Have A Mold Problem?

9/13/2016 (Permalink)

In Hampden County, mold can spread through a home in as little as 48 hours.

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.

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 Signs of Mold, Call Us Today – (413) 372-4115