Thursday, December 20, 2012

Mold Remediation Boca Raton







    

Mold Remediation Boca Raton


Water damage is a major cause for concern in any household or building. Water damage does not occur only as a result of floods or heavy rain, but also due to seemingly innocuous problems such as a simple leak in a pipe. Water damaged walls are very common whenever there is a leak in a pipe that runs through a wall. Water may be the elixir of life, but it has proven to be severely damaging to our goods and property. The walls, wood and carpeting in our homes require protection from water sources, as they can be damaged far too easily. In the event of unforeseen water damage, immediate repair and restoration is essential in order to prevent further damage by mold and mildew. Restoration companies can provide the tools and expertise necessary to return your property to its former glory.
Substantial moisture combined with brick walls or fabrics is the perfect recipe for mold growth; hence, you will often find that damp walls, carpeting and wood all tend to house mold growth. Mold and mildew thrive in damp, cool places, meaning that any place where water remains stagnant for a long period of time will likely foster mildew growth. Mold can prove to be damaging to the objects on which it grows, compromising walls, carpeting and wood with upsetting ease. Since it is essentially a variety of fungi, mold should not be ignored. It can have negative effects on the environment of a home and the air we breathe, and may be especially harmful to babies and children who tend to stay very close to the floor.
Certain mold varieties can be toxic and may lead to severe health problems; therefore, mold should be destroyed at first sight. Prevent mold growth in the first place by taking steps to ensure that water damage does not occur. Dehumidifiers work well at removing moisture, and in the event that mold starts growing at a rapid pace, chemicals that treat and kill mold and its spores should be applied. You can carry out most basic mold removal techniques by yourself without any professional expertise, but when there has been severe water damage and a large amount of mold or mildew is present, it is best to consult a mold cleanup professional to undertake the inspection and removal process. Also, if you do not know much about mold or have trouble differentiating between regular and toxic molds, it would be better to leave the task to a professional. Black Mold in particular, requires special care; amateur attempts at removal are not recommended.
In the rare cases where water damage is truly unavoidable, proper measures should be taken to immediately remove moisture from the area. Usage of electronic dehumidifiers, silica gel, additional waterproofing of property and so forth are a few of the methods that one should consider. If you live in a region that is frequently subjected to heavy rains and a high water flow, purchasing mold insurance for your property might also be recommended. Water entering your property uninvited might be unavoidable, but these solutions for preventing water damage are always within reach.

Mold remediation
Have you recently been facing respiratory problems such as wheezing or difficulty breathing? Do your burning, watery eyes worry you? Have you found that skin irritation, pains and aches are becoming regular problems for you? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then you should consider hiring a mold removal company to conduct a mold inspection. Since mold originates form spores that can only be seen under a microscope, it is essential to use professional mold removal services to determine if your home is suffering from this vexing problem.
Apart from the health issues mentioned above, there are several others that are also associated with mold and mildew. These health threats may be exacerbated by the presence of black mold in the home. For general mold removal, you may take some steps on your own, but you will surely have to get in touch with a professional mold remover in order to safely accomplish black mold removal. Since mold has become a serious problem for many people, mold remediation has become a big business in recent years. Learn what mold remediation is all about:
Safely and thorough removing mold spores and existing colonies is known as mold remediation. It is an exhaustive process that is started by determining the source of the mold growth. Generally, mold grows in a hot and humid environment with enough moisture for the mold to thrive. After determining that mold is present in your home, certain remedies are recommended which may be tailored to your specific circumstances and mold type.
In the simplest cases, these remedies may focus on ensuring a sufficient level of sunlight in your home, along with better ventilation and the use of household cleansers. The best thing about mold remediation is that contractors can work according to your needs and problems. In this way, mold removal from the home can become much easier and more effective.

Basic remediation methods:

The methods of mold remediation may differ from building to building, but the following are the methods used in most cases:
• Using wet vacuum cleaners to remove water from carpets or other places
• Using damp wipes for mold removal from non-porous surfaces
• Using detergent or mold removal bleach
• Using a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtered vacuum in order to ensure that mold is no longer present in the home

Equipment used in mold remediation:

Before, during and after the employment of these mold removal methods, it is essential to have the right equipment on hand in order to kill mold properly.
• A moisture meter is one of the most important tools, as it informs the user of the moisture level in a house. By using this tool, one can easily determine whether or not a house has an ideal moisture level.
• A humidity gauge should be used hand in hand with a moisture meter, since both of these tools can help determine the levels of the most basic factors in mold growth.
• A Borescope and a digital camera: The Borescope is used to ensure that mold is not present inside the walls, while the digital camera helps to capture certain elements required during an assessment.
Apart from these basic tools, you may see some contractors using devices including personal protective equipment, thermographic cameras, dehumidifiers and so on. Due to the availability of these and other indispensable tools, the process of mold remediation has become much easier. 

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

How do i know if I have mold?


How do I know if I have mold?


Many people in South Florida are not aware that exposure to mold can have serious adverse effects on your well-being. Mold exposure is usually misdiagnosed as a number of other conditions because the symptoms are so varied. But exposure to mold spores can have very detrimental effects in the long run, such as cancer, lung problems, brain damage, and ultimately death.

            It can be tricky to discern whether your house has become a victim to mold many people live day in and day out with toxic mold spores and don’t even realize they are there. The first step to identifying mold is to look for black or green spots around your house. Mold can grow in any environment where there is moisture, so look for condensation around any glass windows or doors in your home. The condensation will look like little water droplets around the glass. Also, if you have mold, your house will start to get a distinct musty smell, like clothes that have been left wet for a long period of time. Even if the smell is not overwhelming, a damp smell is a tell tale sign of mold.  Any place in your home that is damp whether it is because of a leak or inadequate ventilation can be susceptible to mold and should be inspected thoroughly.

It’s important to note that mold can grow virtually anywhere, including furniture and carpets. Mold that is found on other places besides the walls or ceiling is called mildew. Look for mildew in damp places around your house. A good starting point is your bathroom, and makes sure to give special attention to your shower and bathtub. Mildew has an almost powdery appearance, and it will either be gray or white. 

            After a flood, there is always more potential for mold to propagate because of all the moisture that comes into a home. You cannot rely on things to air dry because this can be a perfect breeding ground for toxic mold. It is important to fix any leaks in your roof or pipes immediately to prevent mold spores. If you have experienced flooding in your house, contact a mold remediation specialist to seek help. 

            A homeowner should waste no time hiring a professional when the problem arises, because mold will continue to grow until it becomes very difficult to repair. Mold remediation is definitely the way to go once you have identified mold in your house, because experts can help you identify the source and eliminate this serious problem with safe and appropriate remedies.

             

Monday, October 22, 2012

Symptoms of Mold and how it can Affect your Health


                                   


                    HOW MOLD CAN AFFECT YOUR HEALTH 
                Mold has been around for centuries. One of the earliest recorded instances of these    pesky spores was in the 1800’s, when a Japanese scientist attributed the consumption of contaminated rice to vomiting and convulsions.  It is now known that exposure to mold can be the start of diseases that can cause permanent damage over time if undiagnosed. Mold related illnesses are commonly misdiagnosed because there is such a wide array of symptoms the exposure can bring about. Because acting quickly is very important when   dealing with mold, don’t ever wait to consult with your physician if you feel ill and/or noticed   mold inside your home.

Scientists have discovered that a fungus inside of mold, call mycotoxin, is one of the factors that can cause a variety of respiratory, physical, and psychological symptoms. When exposed, it is common to experience the symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as sneezing, skin irritations, trouble breathing, wheezing, and itchy nose, etc. Other symptoms noted in people who have been contaminated for longer are fever and exhaustion. As time progresses, the symptoms of mold exposure get worse .It is also important to note that every person reacts differently to mold, and what may affect one person greatly may not affect another, and vice versa.

People with Asthma and other allergies are also susceptible to being affected to a greater degree by mold. Since mold affects the respiratory system, any difficulty breathing or tightness in the chest will get much worse when exposed to mold spores. Other studies of mold exposure have also identified red eyes, headaches, coughing, nose drips, and watery or irritated eyes as possible symptoms.
          
One type of mold, called Stachybotrys, can be especially dangerous to you and your family. It is usually referred to by its street name, “black mold”. This mold has been showing up more and more in the United States because of foam used in the insulation of homes. This toxic mold can be particularly deadly to children who are still growing. This type of mold can cause symptoms like nose bleeds, coughing up blood, memory problems, and hemorrhaging. Chronic exposure to black mold can and will lead to death, so handle this situation with extreme care.

Unfortunately, since mold needs warm temperature to grow, South Florida’s hot and humid climate is a good breeding ground for it. We are inadvertedly exposed to species of outdoor mold every day in Broward and Dade County. This mold is not usually harmful unless you have mold allergies, which would cause you to experience flu like symptoms. Although some molds are more toxic than others to the human body, any species of indoor mold is considered extremely hazardous, and should be taken care of by a mold remediation professional. The mold that grows indoors can lead to farm more serious consequences, ranging from irritation to death, in extreme cases. All in all, whatever your mold situation is.