How to Deal with Dangerous Mold

Mold Removal - How to deal with Dangerous Mold

Mold Removal is at the forefront of everyones minds lately and so it should. There are numerous articles and news stories about mold in an indoor environment and the health hazards it can create. Sometimes questions arise, such as: What should I do when mold is growing in my home? Does it matter what kind of mold it is? How can I help ensure it will not come back?

Mold is the term used to describe a very large group of fungi. Molds are vital to the earth's ecosystem, aiding in the decomposition of dead organic materials. They grow wherever there is moisture - both indoors and out.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), microscopic mold spores are everywhere, in the air and on surfaces. The CDC states: "Mold growth, which often looks like spots, can be many different colors, and can smell musty. If you can see or smell mold, a health risk may be present. You do not need to know the type of mold growing in your home. The CDC does not recommend or perform routine sampling for molds. No matter what type of mold is present, you should remove it. Since the effect of mold on people can vary greatly, either because of the amount or type of mold, you cannot rely on sampling and culturing to know your health risk. Also, good sampling for mold can be expensive, and standards for judging what is and what is not an acceptable quantity of mold have not been set. The best practice is to remove the mold and work to prevent future growth… If mold is growing in your home, you need to clean up the mold and fix the moisture problem."

Based on the CDC recommendation, anytime you find mold in your home, you should locate and fix the source of the moisture (such as a leaky pipe or seepage around a window), otherwise mold will return after its removal. If the area of mold contamination is large (more than about ten square feet), or if you are concerned with the health risks dealing with mold, consult a trained professional, such as PuroClean®, to clean the mold and remove necessary materials or items.

PuroClean professionals have the training, expertise, and state-of-the-science metering and drying equipment to completely remove the mold from the indoor environment. They can also help with project assessment, providing guidance on the best course of action.

Mold removal professionals will set up a containment area around the mold and begin a negative-air, or an air-scrubbing operation, depending on the circumstance. This helps ensure that mold spores are not disturbed during removal, which might contaminate other areas of the structure. Technicians will have the necessary training and inoculations, and will use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to enhance safety.

PuroClean mold removal professionals will attempt to clean and dry mold-contaminated materials to help prevent recurrence. If materials cannot be satisfactorily cleaned, or if they need to be removed to access other moldy materials, a professional will take them down to structural lumber. All materials removed are placed in plastic bags and taken out of the structure. This ensures there is no cross-contamination with other areas during the process. Once the moldy material is outside in nature, it simply becomes trash and can go to a normal landfill. Often, the final step is to apply a sealant that will help prevent the return of mold to those surfaces. A professional will always perform an air-sample clearance test to confirm the success of the operation.

Regardless of the circumstances - dealing with mold, responding to water damage or fire/smoke damage-call your local PuroClean office, the Paramedics of Property Damage™. For all property damage situations, these professionals are standing by. They will mitigate the loss to prevent further damage and will then provide restoration services to return the property to a pre-loss condition as quickly as possible. All PuroClean offices have well-trained professional technicians who provide the latest state-of-the-science services to all property damaged from water, fire, smoke, mold, and other disasters.