Water Damage / Mold
Water Damage / Mold
Hidden mold in your home or property can have dangerous effects on the health of your family or tenants. Mold is sometimes called “the silent killer” because it can make people sick without them realizing it is the cause of their sickness. When visible, it is easy to spot, and also emits a musty odor. But mold can also grow behind walls, in attics, or other unseen corners of the home and then spread through HVAC systems.
Symptoms of mold irritation can include sneezing, wheezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, and skin rashes. If people have prolonged exposure, it can result in very serious illness.
Mold often forms where there is excessive moisture and lack of ventilation to dry dampness out. In homes, this often happens due to leaky roofs or pipes, flooded toilets, broken/cracked water lines, sump overflow, and more.
There are three categories of water:
- Category 1: Clean Water — Originates from a clean source but can degrade in a relatively short time (i.e., within 48-72 hours on a wet carpet).
- Category 2: Grey Water — Contains a significant level of contamination, can cause discomfort or sickness, carries microorganisms and nutrients for microorganisms, and has potential to turn into Black Water if untreated for longer than 48 hours.
- Category 3: Black Water — Contains pathogenic agents and is extremely unsanitary, such as toilet back flow from beyond the tap, and other ground water flooding.
Typically, molds that colonize in water damaged structures take about 3-10 days to grow, so it’s important to dry water within 48 hours. If you see small patches of mold (i.e., less than a few square feet) you can safely remove it with certain over-the-counter cleaners or a simple bleach/water combination). However, if you have large deposits of mold in your home or office building, it’s extremely important to have it professionally removed. In some instances, this will literally save lives.
What does mold remediation entail?
Mold remediation is a multi-step process that requires proper safety precautions to avoid direct contamination, and proper waste disposal to avoid contaminating others.
1) Applying antimicrobial agents. Antimicrobials prevent mold growth from occurring until the wet area is dried out and can also kill existing mold spores when present.
2) Identifying the source. We identify all areas where mold may be growing or has the potential to grow through the use of state-of-the-art moisture detection equipment and inspection tools such as thermal imaging.
3) Containing the mold. Once the source of moisture intrusion has been repaired, our technicians isolate the contaminated areas to eliminate the spread of mold spores to other areas.
4) Filtrating the air. During the process of mold removal, spores can be disturbed and become airborne, requiring the use of HEPA air filters to clean the air throughout the project.
5) Removing and cleaning up mold. In most cases, the most effective way to ensure proper mold remediation is to eliminate affected materials completely, often including drywall, insulation, wood trim, carpet, and even furniture.
6) Replacing affected materials. We provide restoration services and repair affected areas with new materials, returning the property to a pre-loss condition.
Working with Breathe Easy Environmental
If you suspect that your property may have mold, it is very important to hire an expert who can properly remove mold from your home to keep you/your family or your renters safe. Most standard homeowner’s insurance policies cover a mold claim if the growth has been caused by a covered peril that is sudden or accidental in nature. Either way, Breathe Easy Environmental’s mold remediation costs are often lower than other local companies, and we will work with you to determine the best method for removing mold from your home. Contact us today to learn more.
