Do I need a Professional Mold Remediation Company for Mold Removal?
It is impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors; some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in house dust. The mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean up the mold, but don’t fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will come back. For these reasons, a professional mold remediation company is the best solution to this type of problem.
- The key to mold control is moisture control.
- If mold is a problem in your home, you should clean up the mold promptly and fix the water problem.
- It is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
Ten Things You Should Know about Mold
- Mold can grow almost anywhere moisture is present. That means the key to reducing mold growth in your home is keeping surfaces dry.
- There’s no quick fix solution to eliminating all mold. Mold is ever present indoor and outdoor, on surfaces and in the air we breathe. There’s no magical chemical you can spray to get rid of all of it. Remediation and controlling the moisture level in your home is your one line of defense.
- Mold thrives in humidity. There are simple things you can do in your home to help reduce indoor humidity and decrease mold growth including: increasing ventilation throughout the house, installing air conditioners and dehumidifiers, and venting high-moisture rooms like kitchens, bathrooms, attics, and crawlspaces to the outside.
- Mold doesn’t need light to grow. That’s right, watch out for mold in basements, crawl spaces, and other dark, wet areas. Mold is one of the only organisms that doesn’t require light to thrive and reproduce.
- Condensation is a huge source of mold growth. Installing insulation can reduce the potential for condensation to collect on cold surfaces like windows and external walls, in addition to interior surfaces like piping and floors.
- Water damage can facilitate mold grown in as little as 24-48 hours. In other words, repair damage from flooding, burst pipes, and general leakage immediately.
- Painting over mold doesn’t work. Many homeowners think they can ‘seal and kill’ mold by painting over it. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Mold will continue to grow under the layer of paint, and eventually work its way through to the surface again. Absorbent materials like drywall and ceiling tiles that have been affected by mold need to be replaced.
- Mold loves carpeting. Carpet should not be installed in any area where moisture is present, as carpet fibers can trap water and breed mold.
- You are legally required to have a mold assessment before mold remediation can begin in New York State. A licensed mold inspector must perform a detailed inspection to determine if remediation is necessary, which can involve taking samples of indoor air and on surfaces to be tested in a lab.
- Mold can affect your health over time. If left untreated, prolonged mold exposure can lead to a number of health effects and symptoms in you and your family, including allergic reactions, asthma and other respiratory problems. We do air, swab and platelet testing for mold and allergens.
Is sampling/testing for mold necessary?
In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary. Since no EPA or other federal limits have been set for mold or mold spores, sampling cannot be used to check a building’s compliance with federal mold standards. Surface sampling may be useful to determine if an area has been adequately cleaned or remediated. Sampling for mold should be conducted by professionals who have specific experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling methods, and interpreting results. Sample analysis should follow analytical methods recommended by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or other professional organizations.
Hidden Mold
Investigating hidden mold problems may be difficult and will require caution when the investigation involves disturbing potential sites of mold growth. For example, removal of wallpaper can lead to a massive release of spores if there is mold growing on the underside of the paper. If you believe that you may have a hidden problem and need mold removal in Saratoga, Queensbury, Albany or any city in our service area, Home Technology Inspections is the experienced professional for you.
