Mold can be difficult to deal with. Fortunately, many professional restoration companies offer specialized services to remove it from homes and commercial properties.

If you are a tenant, consistently report the problem to your landlord. Landlords are responsible for cleaning and repairing the issues that caused the mold.

How to Find Out if Your Home Has Mold Problems

Many home and business owners only pay attention to mold if it is visible. But scrubbing it with bleach and neglecting to address the underlying issue is treating the symptom, not the disease.

If you suspect mold, a professional should test your water, walls, and ceilings to determine the type and severity of the infestation. They will also check the source of the problem (e.g., a leaky roof or high humidity) and fix it. Additionally, once they have sorted the problem, they may point you in the direction of where you can get crawl space encapsulation in Morgantown, WV, or anywhere you’re located, to prevent mold and other problems from happening in the future.

A qualified company should isolate the moldy area with plastic sheeting, sealing off doors and windows as needed. They will use fans to circulate air and dehumidifiers to remove moisture from the affected surfaces. They may discard moldy, porous building materials like drywall and insulation.

Before mold remediators arrive, move furniture and other items unaffected by the infestation, sequester pets in another room, and clear a path from the door to the moldy areas. They should vacuum and use air scrubbers equipped with HEPA filters to reduce the spread of spores.

Symptoms

If you’ve discovered mold in your home, it is essential to contact professional remediation, such as Valley DRC, as soon as possible. This will help ensure that the problem is addressed promptly and that the mold does not spread to other areas of your home.

Observe the area for signs of moisture damage, such as warped walls or ceilings. This can be a sign of a leaky roof or plumbing issues, which can cause the fungus to grow and spread rapidly.

Also, watch out for signs of a reaction to the mold, such as congestion, itching, or wheezing. Symptoms of this type of reaction are similar to those of a cold, but they can become more severe when left untreated.

Stains

Mold spores are everywhere in the environment, indoors and outdoors, but when they become exposed to a water source, like a leak or flooding, they can quickly grow into a severe problem. This is why taking care of any signs of mold is so essential, especially if you think you have severe pain.

Once professionals have established a mold infestation, they will begin remediation by erecting containment barriers around the affected area. This will prevent mold from spreading to other areas of your home and limit cross-contamination in unaffected areas.

They will then scrub hard surfaces with antifungal and antimicrobial cleaners. Carpeting, ceiling tiles, and other porous materials may need to be discarded since it’s almost impossible to clean them thoroughly.

In addition to cleaning the impacted area, specialists will also repair the cause of the mold growth (i.e., fix any leaks) to prevent the problem from returning. They will also apply a sealer or encapsulant to make the contaminated surfaces more resistant to moisture and future mold growth.

Smells

During mold remediation, the first step is spraying the affected area with an EPA-approved biocide. This will kill the mold spores and dry the surface. Once the mold is gone, the professionals can begin cleaning the rest of the room. The entire space must be clear of furniture, items, and paper. This is because the spores will become entwined in writing and other porous materials, making removal difficult.

Keeping an eye out for discolored patches and a whiff of musty or earthy smells can help you recognize when you have a mold problem. It is also essential that you take a proactive approach to your health by contacting a professional right away.

The longer you wait to address a mold issue, the more complicated it will be and the more expensive it will be to get fixed. It is also worth noting that the effects of breathing in mold spores can be worse for those with asthma or other respiratory conditions.