Mold and mildew can cause more than simple cosmetic damage to your home or business. Inhaling or touching mold can cause allergic reactions and asthma attacks in sensitive individuals, and is a leading cause of rot in windowsills and other areas that are exposed to moisture.
Preventing Mold
Most types of mold cannot grow without moisture. If you have flood or water damage, cleaning and drying the area quickly is essential. In most cases, if you dry the area thoroughly within 24 hours, mold will not grow. HVAC systems are another common cause of indoor mold. The professionals at RestorationMasterFinder.com will check your system for leaks and condensation, and keep your HVAC system in good condition.
Mold and Mildew Removal
Your first concern during a mold and mildew removal project should be safety. The EPA recommends that you wear a respirator, non-ventilated goggles, and protective clothing during mold cleanup to avoid inhaling the mold. Contact with mold can cause eye irritation and skin rashes. The mold removal specialists at RestorationMasterFinder.com are experts at removing mold and mildew safely.
If the mold is visible, you will have to decide whether the moldy object can be cleaned or must be thrown away. Objects with porous surfaces such as ceiling tiles, curtains, and carpeting may contain hidden mold spores and should be thrown away. Mold spores can grow in the spaces between the fibers and are nearly impossible to clean completely.
Finding hidden mold can be difficult. Mold can grow in any space that is exposed to moisture. If the area smells like mold or mildew but you do not see any obvious source, you may have hidden mold inside the walls, behind the wallpaper, or in the ventilation ducts. Hidden mold cleanup is a large job that usually requires a professional mold removal team.
Mold Cleaning Services
If you have a widespread or hidden mold problem, a professional mold cleaning service is the solution. Before you hire a mold removal specialist, ask these questions:
- What guidelines do you follow? A mold cleaning service should follow the guidelines published by the EPA, American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, or industry organization.
- How much experience do you have with projects like this one? A mold cleaning service with experience cleaning surface mold may not be right for a mold removal that involves the HVAC system.
- Can you provide references? Speaking with past clients is the best way to find out how a mold cleaning service will treat your home or business. When you call the references provided, ask if the mold returned. This indicates that the service cleaned the mold but did not repair the underlying cause.
Mold cleanup is only the first step. Once the mold is removed, you must identify and eliminate source of moisture in the area or the mold will regrow.
