Mold Remediation and the EPA in Your Hollywood Home

6/5/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Hollywood/Hallandale/Aventura wants you to understand: Mold in Drywall

Even a tiny bit of moisture can lead to mold growing in drywall.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ruled that only licensed professionals can clean any surface that has more than 10 square feet of mold. The EPA cannot know how you take care of your home or business, but you will need an inspection if you want to sell. You might not see all of the mold. The sooner you get rid of mold, the less damage it can cause.

SERVPRO of Hollywood/Hallandale/Aventura is licensed in mold remediation.

Mold remediation means getting rid of the mold spores that become mold as well as fixing the root cause of the dampness.

Mold:

• can start growing on a damp surface within 24 hours
• can destroy the materials they grow on
• can spread and destroy adjacent materials
• grows from tiny spores that travel through the air

SERVPRO of Hollywood/Hallandale/Aventura can:

• remove drywall
• disinfect certain surfaces
• find the source of moisture
• stop the moisture problem

Links:

https://www.fema.gov/pdf/rebuild/recover/fema_mold_brochure_english.pdf

https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/mold/index.html

How to remove black mold

6/20/2017 (Permalink)

lack mold can be an insidious problem for homeowners, potentially leading to a costly removal process and even a host of health problems. But by learning how to get rid of black mold safely and effectively, you can protect the health of your family and the value of your home, without breaking the bank.

Mold Can Be Unhealthy and Dangerous SEE ALL PHOTOS

Removing black mold is a step-by-step process that requires patience, an investment in protective gear and black mold removal products, and, of course, the courage to brave dark, cramped spaces inhabited by toxic fungus.

First, you must remove the source of any moisture from the affected area. If any leaks or persistent condensation aren't alleviated, the mold will likely reappear after removal.

Next, seal any doorways or other openings leading to other areas of the home, place heavy plastic over them, then seal the plastic in place with duct tape. If there are outdoor openings in the room, place an exhaust fan near them to help remove mold spores from the room.

Wear a respirator or a facemask rated for black mold spore protection, and cover arms, legs and hands to avoid contact with mold spores. Use soap and a sponge to remove visible mold. If the moldy area is dry, lightly spray with water, as this will reduce the incidence of airborne mold spores during cleaning. Next, use commercial black mold removal products, which can be found in most hardware or home repair stores, to disinfect the moldy areas, in addition to any adjacent areas. If you use bleach, make sure it won't discolor the material or surface. Place all sponges, equipment and other materials used in cleaning in a heavy duty garbage bag, and if possible, remove the bag through an nearby exit as opposed to the main house, to avoid distributing mold spores.

Mold Remediation and Restoration:

Any home or business can quickly become infested with mold with the introduction of a water source, like a roof or plumbing leak. Mold can spread throughout a property in as little as 48-72 hours, and can produce allergens and irritants that have the potential to cause other health effects.

If you suspect that your home or business has a mold problem, SERVPRO® Franchise Professionals can inspect and assess your property. If mold is found, they have the training, equipment, and expertise to handle the situation.

Please refer to our Mold Damage Tips to learn more about mold and what to do until help arrives.

SERVPRO® of Hollywood/Hallandale/Aventura

Provide 24/7 Emergency Service

Highly Trained Water Restoration Specialists

Faster to Any Size Disaster

How to Eliminate Mold from Your Bathroom

4/6/2017 (Permalink)

Bathroom mold is ugly, disgusting, and unhealthy. And, unfortunately, it often seems an ever-present nuisance that even the most fastidious home owners must deal with. However, mold doesn't have to greet you every morning as you step into the shower. These preventative measures and cleaning tips will help you get rid of the mold and mildew that collects in showers, baths and sinks.

Do Your Drains Drain?
First, make sure that you have good drainage in your sink, tub or shower. If the water does not drain as quickly as you run water, you have a present (or building) problem. When water doesn't drain properly, it stands, creating an environment that is moist for longer periods of time. These types of environments are those in which mold thrives. Use a bleach solution, a chemical specially formulated to unclog drains, or call a plumber if the drain stoppage is particularly bad. It will be impossible to maintain a clean bathroom without properly working drains.

Thorough Cleaning
When you go to clean your bathroom, make sure that you remove all products first. Use a quality cleaning product and spray or wipe on all stained, soiled, damp, and moldy areas with a sponge - brushes can scratch surfaces, reducing their life and appearance. Use an old toothbrush to clean around faucets, drains, and in crevices. For moldy showers, it's possible to use a mild solution of bleach to kill mold and prevent its immediate regrowth. However, never mix bleach with any other cleaning solution, as this could produce toxic fumes.

Before putting the products back, wipe them with a moistened cloth that contains some of the same cleaning solution. This will deter mold by removing any already present around the bases of bottles and jars, kill germs, and prevent the already sanitized surface from being re-contaminated with mold and bacteria.

How Professionals Remove Bathroom Mold

9/26/2016 (Permalink)

How Professionals Remove Bathroom Mold

Author: Tidal Wave Response

Mold and humans can be a winning combination: experts estimate that penicillin has saved more than 80 million lives since it was discovered in the 1940s. However, penicillin isn’t the type of mold growing in your bathroom. At Tidal Wave Response, our teams know the mold that is likely to grow in damp places like bathrooms can have serious health consequences for the people exposed to it, including throat irritation, coughing, eye irritation and nasal stuffiness.

This is one reason it’s critical to remove and treat any area of your home if you discover mold growing there. Professional mold removal services in Alpharetta use a variety of techniques to eliminate toxic mold from homes. Removal techniques largely depend on where the mold is growing.  Here are a few of the ways the pros deal with the problem.

Drywall

Mold growing on unpainted drywall can’t be eliminated. The drywall must be removed and replaced. That doesn’t necessarily mean knocking down walls; if the mold growth is recognized in a timely fashion, affected portions of the drywall can be carefully sliced out using a utility knife. And then it’s simply a matter of patching the spot.

When mold appears on a painted or primed all, the mold is likely just growing on the surface. Removing it may be as simple as using a mold-killing cleaning solution to wipe down the wall.

Carpet or Rugs

If you noticed mold growing on wall-to-wall carpeting, you’ll have to toss the carpet. There is no way to eliminate mold from fixed carpets, and allowing it to remain or ignoring the problem isn’t really an option either as mold will continue to grow.

Rugs can be cleaned, however. Professionals use a mold-killing solution to douse the rug and then scrub the mold away. Typically, they’ll take the rug outdoors to allow it to dry in the sun. Once it’s completely dry, the rug should be vacuumed with a HEPA vacuum to remove any mold spores that may have been left behind.

Tiles and Grout

Mold growing on tiles or in the grout require elbow grease and a mold-killing cleaning solution. Tiles are scrubbed completely, but if there’s much mold in the grout, the grout may have to be bleached to remove mold stains. Once the stains and mold are removed, professionals may apply a grout sealer to prevent the growth of mold in the future.

In some instances, it’s impossible to remove mold or mold stains from the grout. It can be replaced if necessary.

Depending on how much and how toxic the mold is, professionals may recommend a thorough cleaning of HVAC systems to remove mold spores and toxins from the air in the home.

Mold can seriously damage a home and the health of its occupants.