Not only are there immediate health risks from some kinds of mold, but there is some evidence that there is long term permanent damage from some types of mold. Therefore it’s a good idea to be well informed of the different types of mold and where they tend to thrive undetected in the home. If you are unsure of your ability to find and identify these dangerous molds, you should consider hiring a mold testing company.
Mold Problems
Mold is a byproduct of water damage in your home, especially in Orlando’s semi-tropical environment. One of the problems with black mold, the most dangerous, is that it can grow very quickly and in hidden locations especially in moist areas of your kitchen, laundry room and bathrooms. Another reason for hiring a mold testing company is they’re trained experts at locating and testing the different types of molds. You could have plenty of black mold growing in your home that isn’t the dangerous type, but the average do it yourself homeowner isn’t equipped to handle this project.
After a dangerous kind of mold has been located, it’s very important to have it professionally eliminated so that even the smallest amount has been destroyed. Then, effective measures need to be taken to prevent the immediate mold-in-homeregrowth of the dangerous molds. This could involve fixing leaking pipes, faucets, gutters or even windows to maintain dryness. But will also entail treatments that will kill the spores and prevent their regrowth for years to come.
One of the main reasons for being so careful with mold growing in your home is
because several studies have been done linking mold allergies, and the children who have been subjected to mold exposure, to having many unexplained symptoms such as stomach cramps, rashes of the skin, eczema, coughs and stuffed up noses. There are even some scientists calling for the study of molds being responsible for ADD and Autism in children. These theories haven’t yet been proven, but why take chances with your loved ones? You can have peace of mind by hiring a mold testing company tomorrow.
Many times mold has been found underneath carpets, caused by water seepage, that then young children play on daily for hours and sleep on as well.
Imagine the horror of finding such a problem and knowing that hiring a mold testing company could have saved months and years of unexplained health problems for your family and loved ones. Remember, even if the mold you find isn’t black mold, the growing conditions are the same, so it’s best to eliminate all the mold you find, where ever you find it.
In conclusion, there is no reason to panic if you find mold, clean it up and keep a vigilant eye out for it’s return. Always fix and repair any water leaks, as moisture is one of the biggest reasons for the growth of mold, and when in doubt hiring a mold testing company is just a phone call away.
Dealing With Mold
No one likes dealing with mold. In most cases, you should immediately contact a mold removal company if you find mold on your property. However, finding the mold can often be as difficult as removing it will be. There are plenty of places for mold to hide around the home and it can remain dormant for years without notice. If you are interested in keeping your home and family safe from mold, then the tips below are just for you. These tips are designed to help homeowners find, test, and remove mold in some cases. Read them carefully and remember to contact a mold removal company if you find a serious mold outbreak.
Sometimes, you may notice that mold is starting to form in a certain spot even though there are no signs of a leak. This is because condensation in the surface of your home will often imitate a leak and provide enough moisture for mold to grow and flourish. This is often happens when warm, moist air condenses and forms water molecules on the ducts where cold air is carried throughout the house. Luckily, you will often smell mold that starts here before anywhere else. The smell will be carried through the ventilation, but so will the spores. If you find mold inside any vents, the first thing you should do is contact a mold removal company. When you find serious condensation, it is often a sign that the duct itself isn’t insulated or may be missing a vapor barrier. Mold spores are everywhere and will eventually take root inside this condensation. The exact reverse of this will happen during cold weather, but the resulting mold is all the same.
If you do spot moisture in your home without mold, then you are in luck. If this is the case, you should act quickly to make sure that no mold spores are remaining to grow. You should first clean the moisture completely and dry the area. Once you have finished, clean the air and use a special antimicrobial spray that will stop the mold from returning if it was there to begin with. As a matter of fact, a layer of antimicrobial spray is great for preventing mold growth in large areas, such as the basement, where moisture and mold are common. Rather than using a spray, buy a large fog container that fogs the entire room. You can find these sprays and fogs available at most home centers and local hardware stores.
Whatever you do, don’t ignore mold. Even if it’s only a little spot, mold is serious and nothing to joke about. It could also be black mold, which poses potential health threats to humans and pets. Once mold is spotted, call a mold removal company and let them know the situation. Depending upon the severity of the mold, they can get in and out before it has a chance to spread further. If you wait too long, then the mold will spread and it will only cost more to remove. If you ignore mold forever, it can cause serious structural damage to the home!
If you are ever in a position where you believe there might be black mold on the property, you should immediately contact a mold testing company. These are the guys who will come out to your residence and inspect for mold thoroughly. They know where mold likes to hide, how it lives, and they have the tools to sniff it out. Even without a clear line of sight to the mold, a mildew-like smell is enough to warrant calling a mold testing company. If you have excess moisture in the house, water damage, or a leak, then you should contact a mold testing company as well.
If left unattended, mold can create serious problems for the foundation of your home and the health of your family. Prolonged exposure to black mold can lead to serious health problems, such as bloody phlegm. The house also suffers from mold. Mold can destroy the foundation of a home if ignored. Many times, when having mold removed from the house, the affected building materials will be removed from the house completely and replaced. The longer you wait to address the situation, the more expensive it will be to remove all of the mold from the property.
Signs of Mold
There are usually some signs that mold is growing on the property. To begin with, mold grows in dark and moist environments. Mold cannot grow without the moisture, so a dry home is a mold-free home. Unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to keep your entire home free from moisture. Proper ventilation, ductwork, and insulation will help reduce the chance that moisture will build up inside the house. The crawlspace beneath the house is the most common place to find black mold growing. It is often found in the basement or garage areas as well. If you know of a leak in the house, then there is probably mold where the water has dripped, unless you find the leak early.
You shouldn’t attempt to remove the mold yourself. Even cleaning the area where the black mold is growing can cause the problem to worsen. The black mold can cause health problems if you aren’t wearing a special suit or mask to prevent the spores from getting into the lungs. Mold releases millions of spores and this is what causes the mold to spread to new places. If you try to wash the area without proper purifying fans running and plastic sheets, the mold will spread to new areas of the house and the problem will only get worse. The best thing to do is immediately contact a mold testing company.
When you call a mold testing company, they will first come to the home and assess the damage. If you have already found mold on the property, let them know where it is growing. Provide them with as much helpful information as possible, such as the locations of any leaks or areas in the home with moisture buildup. This can be a somewhat invasive project, but a professional company will be able to confidently identify all of the mold growing in the home, even mold that hides between the walls.
Health Issues From Mold
There are many reasons why people can be sick on a regular basis. Their diet might not be the best, or the lifestyle that they leave may not be conducive to being healthy all the time. However, what most people do not know is that having mold in your home can actually cause you to get sick. Mold can either be visible, or completely unnoticeable. It usually produces a strong musty odor that you simply cannot ignore. If you have had moisture problems in the past, there is a high probability that undetected mold growth may be occurring in your home right now. If you, or family members, are perpetually sick, perhaps coughing on a regular basis without knowing why, it might be in your best interest to have a mold testing company come out to your house. In this article, we will present a few tips on hiring a mold testing company that can quickly assess whether or not you have a mold problem in your home.
The first thing you will want to think about is whether or not you have had water damage in the recent past. Perhaps you had a leaky roof, and the water was able to descend into your ceiling, walls, or even as far as your carpet and floor boards. If this did occur, there is the possibility that mold has developed in these locations over the last few months, causing some of the health issues that you’re currently feeling. There are many different types of molds including Alternaria, Mucor, or Memnoniella just to name a few. If you have any of these in your home, it is possible that they could lead to developing headaches, asthma, or even cancer if left long enough.
Mold Removal Companies
Once you have decided to hire a mold testing company, you will want to find the most reputable one in your area. Many of the best ones will offer a free inspection in order to determine whether or not you have mold in your home. They will come with several different devices, or perhaps do a swab of certain areas in your house. It is common for mold to develop beneath carpets, behind windowsills, and even in your air-conditioning unit. They will check all of these locations, and if they find it, they will present you with a couple different options in regard to getting rid of this problem.
Checking the Internet is probably the best way to find a mold testing company in your area. You should give a couple of them a call to see if they have any available appointments in the near future. You should also ask about their rates, and how quickly they can permanently remove the mold from your household. Based upon their years of experience in your community, and their overall reputation and price, you can make an appointment with one of these mold testing companies to help you and your family.
There are many reasons that people today should be very worried about whether or not they have mold in their home. Not only is it a very unsightly eyesore that can occupy certain areas of your home that are humid including your basements and bathroom, it is a proven hazard to the health of those that breathe it. The spores can easily circulate throughout your household, even in the dry areas, allowing it to get into your body through your lungs. It can lead to a variety of health issues including asthma, irritated eyes, rashes on your skin, and stuffy noses that come out of nowhere. It has also been attributed to certain forms of cancer that people develop, depending upon how long their exposure to mold has actually been. In order to test your home for mold, you may have considered purchasing a do-it-yourself mold kit. However, there are many reasons why you should avoid the DIY alternative, and hire a professional to test your home for you. In this article, we will address the benefits of using a professional mold testing company, and why using a do it yourself kit may not be the best way to protect your home and your family.
Initial Detection Of Mold
The initial detection of mold within a household could come about for a variety of reasons. The most obvious way that it is detected is by seeing it on your walls. You may also smell a very strong musty odor, one that has never been there before. If you have recently had a flood in your home as a result of natural causes, or a major appliance like a washing machine that has overflowed onto your carpet and floors, it is possible that this has attributed to the development of mold, fungi that can quickly show up when it is provided with the proper damp conditions. If you believe that you have mold, you should certainly consider getting a test done in your household to see if it is actually there, and to determine what type of mold you and your family are actually breathing.
Using A Mold Detection Kit
Although you can pick up a mold detection kit in your neighborhood for a reasonable cost, it may be limited in regard to the types of mold that it can detect. It is also possible that it might not work, giving you a clear signal, when in fact your home has mold in many locations. If you cannot see mold, and it is then an area of your home such as your air-conditioning ducts, you may not see it, yet be breathing it every single day. Since many of these kits are very unreliable, your best choice is to hire a professional.
Hiring A Professional Mold Testing Company
A professional mold testing company is always your best choice would it comes to determining whether or not you have mold in your home. Even if you have seen the mold on your walls, you’ll still want to know what type of mold is actually there. These companies typically do not charge for their initial visit, and will be able to tell you what type of mold is currently occupying your household. They will also be able to quickly to take care of this potentially life-threatening problem.
Although this will cost much more than using a mold kit, and then subsequently using household products to get rid of it like bleach or ammonia, it is a worthwhile investment to use a professional
If you believe that you have mold in your home, you might want to purchase a do-it-yourself kit to determine whether or not there is mold in your home. However, to make sure that you are able to find, and remove, mold in your home, working with a professional mold testing company is the best solution for permanently removing mold that may be affecting the health of those living in your household today.}
Has your family recently been experiencing health issues? If anyone has developed a bad case of asthma, sinus infections, or even infections in their digestive tract, you might want to consider the possibility that they may have been exposed to mold. Some mold, including Stachybotrys chartarum or black mold is very toxic, producing spores that can become airborne which, if inhaled in great quantities on a regular basis, can induce certain health problems within many people. Detecting the spores is very difficult because, once airborne, they are virtually invisible to the naked eye.
If you are not able to see the mold on your walls, beneath your carpet, in your windowsill, or in your basement, you may have to hire a professional mold removal company to help you out. However, finding the right one might be a little difficult, depending upon where you live. Let’s look at a couple ways to quickly find a reliable mold removal company in your area, and show you how to also save a considerable amount of money when hiring one of these professionals.
Brief Overview Of Mold
Although you have probably heard a number of stories about what mold is, and how toxic it can be, there are many more myths than facts floating around about this potentially airborne fungus. A fungus that will grow in a location that is damp. It is able to sustain itself by producing spores, and can continue to grow even after the area has dried out. If you have recently had an excessive amount of water in your basement, a leaky window, or your carpet or linoleum has recently been flooded, it is possible that mold has developed in these areas, and will continue to do so until it is removed. The spores that are created, especially with black mold, can cause several health problems. Once they are airborne, and people breathe them into their system, the health issues will begin. Now that you know a little bit about mold, and that it can be potentially hazardous, let’s look at a couple ways to find a reputable mold removal company to help you out.
Finding Reputable Mold Removal Companies
The Internet has made it possible for many people to be found without having to use a phone book or traditional advertising. By placing a website on the Internet, it is possible for people to find you when searching for certain keyword terms. In regard to mold removal businesses, you can search for them on the web and find several of them in your area. In most cases, these professionals will have all of the information that you will need presented on their website. You can find out what type of services that they offer, the amount of money that they charge, and you will also have access to phone numbers and email addresses, allowing you to quickly contact them for help.
Saving Money With Mold Removal Companies
The easiest way to save money when hiring a professional mold removal business is to look at the specials that they are offering. Most businesses today offer first-time customers some type of discount in order to gain their business. If you live in a city, and there are several of these companies competing against each other, you can easily hire a company at a substantial discount. If you live in a rural community, and there is only one business in town, they might offer you a small discount if you are a new customer, but the odds are, you will pay the full rate.
Regardless of how much money you can save, or which business you actually hire to help you, the goal is to find a mold removal company that is willing to come out to your home as quickly as possible to remove the mold. If you believe that you have mold in your household, call one of these professionals today.
Should You Clean Toxic Mold Yourself?
Mold damage can be a very alarming occurrence. If you have found mold in your home, you should not attempt to clean it yourself. It may be toxic. At the very least, it could make you and your family members ill. If you have found mold, you need to have a professional company that specializes in mold removal to handle the situation for you.
First of all, do not touch the moldy areas. Though you may be tempted to move things around to see how far it has spread, you do not want to do this. You will stir up the mold and release spores into the rest of the room. This means that your problem will spread much more rapidly.
Find out which companies in your area specialize in mold removal. You can ask family or friends if they have experience with qualified contractors in this type of clean up. You may also check the yellow pages or go online.
Once you have a list of companies, look on the Internet to see what experiences other consumers have had with them. Use sites such as Angie’s List that do not allow advertisers to influence the posts. You can also contact the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any things said against the companies on your list.
That step probably eliminated some of the businesses on your list. Now, you can begin to shorten it again by calling the companies. Ask if they have license to perform mold removal. Also inquire if they have the proper insurance and certifications that are required by state and local officials. Any company that does not meet these requirements should be eliminated from your consideration.
Ask the remaining companies on your list if they are willing to give you a free inspection and estimate of what it will cost to remove the mold growing in your home. Most contractors are willing to do this. Do not commit to the first one that comes to your home. You will want to have estimates from at least three. You can also ask them if they will meet or beat the prices of their competitors.
Weigh each company carefully. Think about how professional the representatives were when they came to your home. Were they dressed properly in company attire? Did they treat you with respect? Did they seem hesitant to provide you with a written estimate? The answers to these questions should help you to select the best company in your city.
Now that you have went through all of these steps, call the company that you wish to hire. Set up an appointment with them so that they may come to your home.
Types of Toxic Mold
If you happen to have mold in your home, you know that this can be a very detrimental situation. If you have people in your household that are suffering from asthma, are having trouble sleeping, or are constantly sick, it is possible that the mold is causing these conditions. Mold can be categorized into three major groups. The first type is allergenic molds, the second type pathogenic molds, and the third are toxic in molds. We will discuss each of these types below, and also provide you with useful tips on hiring a mold removal company in your area.
Allergenic Molds
Although these are typically not life threatening, they can cause debilitating health effects with those that are currently suffering from asthma, or if they have a history of being allergic to certain substances such as pollen or dust. Your body will only have a mild reaction to this type of mold, and it really depends upon how sensitive you are to allergens in general. In most cases, you might develop a slight rash, have subtle eye and nose irritations, and even have a scratchy throat or cough. It is hard to determine whether or not it’s actually mold, or your allergies, is allergenic molds are in your home.
Pathogenic Molds
This type of mold can actually create infections within people. They can cause significant health problems, especially with those that do not have adequate immune systems. In most cases, healthy people will not be affected as badly by this particular type of mold, and will be able to resist any infections that might be caused. High exposure to this mold may cause what is called hypersensitivity pneumonitis, but other than this put together medical condition, it is virtually harmless to those with sound immune systems.
Toxigenic Molds
The worst type of mold you can have inside your home is toxigenic, simply because of the mycotoxins that are part of this type of mold. This type of mold can lead to severely toxic effects including cancer, immunosuppression, and at the very least, short-term irritation to the throat and lungs. If you have this type of mold in your home, it needs to be removed as soon as possible.
Hiring A Mold Removal Company
What you will want to do is find a reputable in your area if you believe that have any of these molds in your home. The easiest way is to search the Yellow Pages or the Internet for reputable companies in the area. If you know of someone that has recently used a mold removal company, and had great results, you should probably use them. You should also call a couple different ones in order to choose the business that has the most experience, and that will come out for free to inspect your home. If you do have mold, they should offer you affordable rates to get the job done fast. Hopefully these tips will help you find a mold removal company that can help you take care of the mold in your home in a short amount of time.
If you have a small family, and you have recently experienced flooding in your home, there is the possibility that mold might begin to develop. If this occurred several months ago, and individuals in your household are beginning to have symptoms associated with hay fever, or if they are constantly tired for no reason at all, it is possible that you have mold in your household. You can purchase do-it-yourself kits to determine whether or not these airborne spores are present. You can also check the corners of your home, specifically near windows where leaks may have occurred, pulling back the carpet to see if mold is developing in dark damp locations. If you visually see mold, or if people in your family have recently become extremely ill, it might be time to contact a mold removal company in your area.
Although most people believe that mold is primarily toxic, most molds are not. In fact, if you see mold in your home, the odds are poor that it is actually the toxic kind. However, by bringing a mold removal specialist to your home that can test the air, they might find spores from a number of different toxic molds including Stachybotrys chartarum, Aspergillis, Penicillium, Fusarium or Cladosporium. If they find these particular strains of mold, they need to remove it as soon as possible in order to preserve the health of your family.
Finding an affordable mold removal company is very easy to do. They are typically listed in your local phone book. Simply give one of them a call, and see if they have any openings. You may have to call several of them to get someone out to your house in the next few days. Some of them may not have openings for a couple weeks, which is why you need to call several of them to set an immediate appointment. Although money is not your primary concern, especially if you have the potential of black mold in your home, you should also ask about their rates to make sure you’re saving money, and protecting your family at the same time.
Most mold removal companies will provide you with a free test to see if you actually do have mold in your home. If they are able to detect toxic molds, it might be in your best interest to take your family to a different location. Depending upon what they need to do.
Mold FAQ’s
- Are you having a problem with mold in your home?
Well, if you are then you must know that this could possibly become dangerous unless you hire a mold removal company to help you clean it out. Mold can cause all sorts of health problems not to mention that it might leave an odor in your home. Did I forget the worst part? Mold decreases the value of your home. Please make sure that you have this problem taken care of as soon as possible.
- Not sure you have mold?
Well, it is easy to get a mold inspector over to your home. All you need to do is find the right company. Why not check review’s on Angie’s list. This site is sure to lead you to the right professionals that will let you know how much mold is in your home. Everybody has mold, its not always dangerous. They will let you know whether it is in your home or not.
- Can I tell myself whether the mold is dangerous?
Sort of… A good way to tell is to look at the color. Did you know that mold comes in all sorts of colors ranging from orange to white? Is the mold in your home the color black? If it is then you need to get out of your home right away. This is the most dangerous color when it comes to mold.
- What can happen if I never have my mold removed?
You might develop health problems if you continue to live with mold in your home. These health problems can range from respiratory issues all the way to certain types of cancer. Did you know that mold can affect mental ability as well? It has been known to help the onset of dementia in the elderly.
- How long will it take me to have the mold removed from my home?
This all depends on how much mold you have of course. It also depends on the company you hire. If you hire the right guys you will notice a faster job. Most mold removal jobs can last from days to weeks depending on how much mold and who you hire.
- How do I know how to find the best professional?
Well, as long as you look at reviews written by customers they should be honest. Some reviews on the internet are quite biased though. You need to make sure that the review is not written by a third party member. These reviews tend to be biased. Remember Angie’s list when you are looking for the right removal service. There are other sites with honest and easy to understand reviews as well. All you need to do is look for them.
- Are you ready to get the value back in your home?
Well, even if your not I am sure that you at least want to prevent all the many health problems that mold can cause. Getting mold removed really is the best thing for your family.