Averting Water Damage & Mold in your Laundry Room

5/6/2020 (Permalink)

Mold on a wall due to water damage

A regular spring cleaning can reveal more than you anticipated including water damage previously gone unnoticed. Discussed previously in blogs concerning mold damage in your attic, basement, kitchen, and bathroom; standing water may create a messy situation for your home. Unfortunately, it may also lead to mold for your property that may require a significant investment in order to remediate which should be done quickly since it may mitigate the health risk to the residents of your home. 

Standing water in your laundry room may spell disaster and result in mold lining the walls near your washing machine and dryer where excess moisture may result in the collections of water. To help reduce the possibility of mold occurring in your laundry room you want to first consistently check behind your machines as well as the tube lines that go into the washer machine for any abnormalities. It may be an inconvenience, but regularly checking may help you notice damage before it becomes too severe. Servicing your washing machine and dryer regularly may also reduce the possibility of water damage due to a malfunction in your machine. 

The SERVPRO of Burlington service area covers 

• Burlington
• Graham
• Elon
• Snow Camp
• Glen Raven  

Your SERVPRO of Burlington team is readily available to assess your fire, water, mold, or storm damage needs if such events arise. We can be contacted at (336) 229-1156.

Bathroom Flood Mitigation Efforts

4/20/2020 (Permalink)

Ceiling falling through due to mold damage.

There’s a lot of water output in your bathroom from the sink, toilet, bathtub faucet, and showerhead. Therefore the possibility of things going wrong in terms of mold damage caused by water damage is heightened. If you suspect that mold has infiltrated your bathroom it’s paramount that you respond swiftly and efficiently in order to mitigate the effects. Discovering that you have mold damage isn’t difficult if you know the signs. First and foremost if you smell any mildew or unpleasant smell while in your bathroom that is sustained for long periods of time that may mean that mold has infected your bathroom.

Secondly, checking behind your toilet for any black spots may be another clear sign that mold has begun to build up. Checking underneath your sink vanity as well is also critical. Often times these places in your bathroom go unnoticed since they aren’t seen that often unless you’re searching for them. Lastly, review the area around your shower and bathtub for black spots. Water ma oftentimes spills out of the bathtub and if too much does spill out it may cause standing water outside your bathtub.

When encountering mold it may require the use of an experienced and expert mold remediation crew to resolve your matter. Our Production Technicians at SERVPRO of Burlington have been trained in these matters, respectively and are equipped to assist when necessary.

The SERVPRO of Burlington service area covers

Burlington
Graham
Elon
Snow Camp
Glen Raven

Your SERVPRO of Burlington team is readily available to assess your fire, water, mold, or storm damage needs if such events arise. We can be contacted at (336) 229-1156.

Mold Remediation For Your Water Damage Property Part 1

4/6/2020 (Permalink)

Mold underneath the wallpaper.

Now is the right time to evaluate your home for any water damage issues that may have sprouted up and gone unnoticed due to the busyness of everyday life. As people are spending most if not all of their time indoors due to the stay-at-home order the governor issued last month it’s critical that you utilize this time to take into account the vulnerabilities of your home including mold damage. 

Mold is caused when moisture is allowed to build up on walls, ceilings, and flooring. Mold can occur anywhere in your home or place of business, however, it is more likely to occur in bathrooms, kitchens, and your basement. Bathrooms of course due to the possibility of water exiting the bathtub or toilet. Basements may also succumb to water damage and eventually mold due water infiltration from a storm. Broken and overwhelmed pipes may also burst to cause water damage to your basement possibly leading to mold in that part of your home. 

Mold remediation is one of the SERVPRO of Burlington’s specialties. We have years of expertise and experience in the field to best assess your circumstances. Providing your best solution to safeguard your property’s integrity as well as the health of your family. 

Stay tuned for more content chronicling the effects of mold damage on your property and your health. Reminding you of the importance of mitigating the effects quickly and efficiently. 

SERVPRO of Burlington is available 24/7 to respond to your water loss situations and can be reached at 336-299-1156. 

You May Have Hidden Mold

5/22/2019 (Permalink)

Mold often hides where you cannot see it

Locating mold when it is hidden is a hard thing to do. That’s why at SERVPRO of Burlington, we are here to assist you in determining if you have mold, where you have mold, and with the removal of the mold. While you as a homeowner or business owner may not be able to locate it on your own, you can certainly detect it. Usually mold will give off a “musty” smell. If your home or office has a “musty” smell that lingers and often gets stronger without decent airflow, or when windows are closed, than chances are you have a mold issue. Mold is detectable by you not just by smell but also by seeing signs of water damage on walls or ceilings. A dried-up water stain in your ceiling tile, or a dried-up water stain on your wall signifies water has been there long enough for there to be mold. Where there has been water damage, there will be mold. It only takes mold from 24 hours to 10 days to grow after the provision of growing conditions. It’s growth is just is not always visible to the human eye.

Mold likes to hide behind wallpaper or paneling, underneath paint, on the inside of ceiling tiles, the back of drywall, or the underside of carpets or carpet padding. Piping in walls or alongside windows can also become a source of mold, since they may leak water in which causes moisture and condensation to build up. Where there’s moisture there will within lie or begin a mold growth.

Mold growing inside buildings, becomes a hazard if not taken care of properly. The inhalation of mycotoxins can be very bad for your health or the health of any other building inhabitants. After a flood or major leak, mycotoxin levels are even higher once the building has dried out.

If you suspect or know that you have mold inside your home or office, then give us a call at 336-379-1772. At SERVPRO of Burlington we are here for you 24/7 and 365.

What You Can Do To Try To Prevent Mold

5/22/2019 (Permalink)

Mold will spread quickly. Take precautions to prevent it when possible.

If your home has experienced any water damage be it due to flooding, plumbing, pipes, dampness in basement, attic or crawl space, sink or tub overflowing etc., then chances are you will develop mold. Mold will develop within 24-48 hours of water exposure. Even worse, it will continue to grow until steps are taken to eliminate the source of moisture, and effectively deal with the mold problem. That’s where we come in. At SERVPRO of Greensboro we are here to effectively and safely remove mold from your home or office.

You can try your best to prevent mold from growing. There are many ways to try and control moisture and mold growth in your home. Here are some things you can do:

Stop the water - Fix leaks in pipes, and any damp areas around tubs and sinks

Prevent water from seeping in from outdoors. Rainwater from gutters or the roof needs to drain away from the house. Ground around the house needs to slope away to keep basement and crawlspace dry. Make sure that your water is draining properly and away.

Covering dirt in crawlspaces with plastic can help to prevent moisture from coming in from the ground. Ventilate the area as much as possible. Don’t seal it up entirely without air being able to flow and circulate.

Keep fabrics clean and dry. Store clean fabric items in well ventilated areas.

Try to keep the humidity levels in your home or office below 40%.

Reduce the moisture in the air with dehumidifiers, fans, and open windows or air conditioners, especially in hot weather. Do NOT use fans if mold may already exist as that will spread the mold spores further throughout and make them airborne if they are not already.

Consider having your air ducts cleaned if you suspect that mold exists on the duct’s inside surface, or if the duct insulation has been wet. It is best to be safe and certain that there is no mold inside them especially as they will spread the mold spores and keep them airborne.

Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces by insulating them.

In moisture prone areas, choose carpets of man-made fibers.

Constantly check your bathroom, laundry room, any mechanical room, etc. for water, and moisture levels.

If you suspect that you have mold, or if you do have mold, than give us a call at 336-379-1772. At SERVPRO of Burlington we have the equipment to detect, and safely mold effectively and efficiently from your home or office.

Myths of Mold Vs. Facts of Old

5/24/2018 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO of Burlington we have mold remediation services. Most of the time it’s in an un-used part of the home like a basement or attic.

Some customers try to handle the project themselves and find that the mold comes back a few weeks later. Here are some myths & facts about mold and the dangers. If you think you have mold, you should contactSERVPRO of Burlington to discuss the plans of actions.

MYTH NO. 1 BLEACH KILLS MOLD?

Liquid bleach is a solution of chlorine in water, usually 6 percent sodium hypochlorite, thus 94 percent water. Smearing bleach on mold may appear to kill it, but the effect is superficial and very temporary. Once the chlorine is gone - and it evaporates rapidly - what's left is all that water, feeding the mold.

There are many chemicals that kill mold. They're called biocides.

MYTH No. 2   'Toxic' Mold is the only dangerous type of mold.

"Toxic" mold or "black" mold is often touted by the hucksters in the mold industry as being the one that makes people sick, the one you must eliminate. This is pure scare tactic. 

Yes, there are some strains of mold that seem to be more toxic than others. But there is no such thing as good mold, or even tolerable mold, unless you like stinky cheese. Mold in your home is a problem, because it signifies a moisture problem. Moisture inside your home enables mold growth, and it can also lead to rot, threatening the structure itself.

On top of that, any mold problem that's allowed to continue often will pave the way for the dreaded "black mold." The most infamous "black mold," stachybotrys chartarum, is what's known as a tertiary mold. It's very slow to develop and usually follows earlier mold growths, actually feeding off the previous mold colony.

MYTH No. 3, Homeowners can properly remediate mold themselves?

Homeowners are not trained or knowledgeable about mold enough to properly remediate the damages, most times homeowners cause more damage when they don’t hire a professional. Most of the errors are in the contamination process. Not using vapor barriers or the proper equipment to clean the air during removal stages. When it’s not properly sectioned off, they can cross contaminate mold threw other area of the home that previously did not have mold spores.

Fact No. 1 :  Mold is everywhere and mold problems exist indoors in every climate.

Mold is, literally, everywhere on the planet, in every climate. A house in the Mojave Desert can have a mold problem as easily as one in Florida or New Orleans. 

Mold needs three things to thrive: moisture, food, and the right temperature. Moisture can collect in walls, attics and crawl spaces in the driest of climates with a little help, such as a roof or siding leak, plumbing flaw, and pressure differentials created by air conditioning, or even a poorly vented bathroom.

Food for mold is pretty much everything we build with and everything we own. Mold loves household dust... even in the kitchen sink. And the warmth mold needs is the same temperature range humans prefer.

Bottom line: Every home has mold but not every home has a mold problem. If you think you might have a mold problem, don't ignore it. Get help.

Fact No. 2 Home inspectors don't know mold.
 
Home inspectors - the ones who check out a house prior to sale - are generally ignorant about mold. Many inspectors will see mold and ignore it because there's no rot or obvious moisture. Others may not see it at all.

If you think you have mold in your property, call a professional remediation company like SERVPRO of Burlington– (336-379-1772)

Tips For Avoiding Spring Mold

5/23/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Bulington has seen a lot of mold begin to form this time of the year.  Here are some things that we have learned. 

The last thing most people want to find in their home is mold. Many people find mold in their home and have to go through mold remediation, however there are some things you can do to help prevent mold from growing in your home.