Recent Mold Remediation Posts

How To Get Rid OF The Toxic Mold?

8/1/2023 (Permalink)

Are you concerned about the mold growing on your property? The growth of mold is an extremely serious issue for all the property owners. Apart from destroying the property, it can put your health at risk too. The mold thrives in a humid area and is extremely toxic. This is why you need to take immediate steps to get rid of it. There are many ways through which you can deal with the mold. Want to know how? Stay tuned then.

Figure Out The Problem

Before you start the mold removal process, you need to figure out how big the problem is. It will help you decide whether you should try to get rid of it yourself or hire some professionals for the job. If the problem seems manageable enough, then you can do it yourself. But, if the infected area is too large for you to handle, then it is advisable that you take the assistance of a professional service provider.

Dry Out The Area

Mold grows in a wet and humid area. Therefore it is extremely important that you dry out the area if you want to have it removed. Clean and dry all the mold-infested areas and materials before you start the removal process. To reduce the spread of mold spores, you can remove the unsalvageable items from the infected area and store them in plastic bags. This will ensure that your precious items stay safe and secure from the mold.

Wear Proper Clothes

If the affected area is small and you decide to get rid of the mold yourself, then you need to dress properly to do the job. Do not head out to get rid of the mold if you are not properly dressed. Wearing proper clothing and using the right equipment is extremely important to remove the mold. It will keep you safe and also reduce your exposure to mold spores. You will be prevented from inhaling the mold spores as well. you should also wear a respirator to avoid breathing into mold spores.

Use The Right Cleaning Solution

You can decide upon which type of cleaning solution to use for cleaning of mold by looking at the surface that you are going to clean. Although hard surfaces can be cleaned using soap and water, you will require stringent chemicals if you want to clean the mold properly. If the material has become too moldy, then you might need to throw it off as well.

Get The Help Of Professionals

If the mold affected area is too large for you to handle then you will not be able to get rid of the mold yourself. This is why you should get the help of professionals to deal with the situation. They will take care of everything professionally while you sit back and relax.

If your property is infested by mold, you should get rid of it as soon as possible. Dealing with the problem is extremely important for your property and your health as well. Looking for the best service providing company in town? Contact SERVPRO to benefit from the expert services.

What is Mold?

7/24/2022 (Permalink)

Molds are various types of fungi (singular = fungus) that grow in filaments and reproduce by forming spores that can travel through the air. The term mildew refers to some kinds of mold, particularly mold in the home with a white or grayish color or mold growing in shower stalls and bathrooms. Mold may grow indoors or outdoors and thrives in damp, warm, and humid environments. Mold exists in essentially any environment or season.

The most common types of household mold found indoors include CladosporiumPenicilliumAlternaria, and AspergillusStachybotryschartarum (also known as Stachybotrys atra and sometimes referred to as "black mold") is a greenish-black mold found indoors, although it is less common than the other types of mold found in homes. Stachybotrys grows on household surfaces that have high cellulose content, such as wood, fiberboard, gypsum board, paper, dust, and lint. There are types of mold that can grow on substances as different as foods and carpet.

Molds reproduce by forming tiny spores that are not visible to the naked eye. Mold spores are very hardy and can survive under conditions in which mold cannot grow, such as in dry and harsh environments. These spores travel through outdoor and indoor air. When the mold spores in the air land on a surface where moisture is present, mold can then start to grow.

Outdoors, molds play a role in the decomposition of organic material such as dead trees, compost, and leaves. They are most common in damp, dark areas or areas of decomposing plant life. People often find mold indoors in basements or shower stalls. Indoor mold in residential areas has the potential to cause health problems and can destroy surfaces and objects where it grows

Mold Restoration and Cleanup

7/22/2021 (Permalink)

There’s so much to see and do in Southern Delaware County & West Chester and the landscape can change with the weather, from the rich color of the autumn leaves to winter snowfall. 

Unfortunately, that can also leave both residential and commercial properties vulnerable to water damage. Whether you’ve got a private home or a business, once mold invades it can become a costly problem.

Mold remediation can be essential in this area and that’s where the professionals at SERVPRO come in.  We’ve been serving this community for 15 years and we pride ourselves in having the personal touch. Since we live and work here too, we know what it’s like and we want to ensure that your home or business is safe.

Why Trust SERVPRO of Southern Delaware County & West Chester?

Water damage is a serious matter that can have a devastating effect on both homeowners and commercial business owners alike. At SERVPRO, we understand the importance of responding quickly to every emergency and providing the most professional results every time. We’re ready to respond immediately 24 hours a day and we use state-of-the-art equipment to get the job done right. 

Speed is essential since mold growth can begin within 48 hours after initial water damage. Whether historic or brand new, every property deserves the best care and that’s what we provide, even ensuring that our technicians are trained in the most current mitigation techniques.

We’ll not only address the initial water damage, we’ll carefully remove and repair any damaged materials and safely dispose of anything that can’t be repaired. Then we’ll use our professional-grade equipment to thoroughly dry every inch of your property and ensure that mold growth is stopped in its tracks.

What Makes Mold A Problem

It only takes a small water leak for mold to grow and spread in your home or business. Once it begins, mold can spread rapidly, particularly if it gets into the air ducts, where it can begin to affect the entire building. That’s why quick and thorough mold remediation is so important and why the professionals at SERVPRO take their jobs so seriously.

Mold thrives in any dark, damp area such as a basement, garage, attic or closet and it can spread to fabric, clothing, and upholstery as well. Since it is made up of microscopic spores, it can become a problem before you even realize it, which is why you should always rely on a professional water mitigation company to handle your water emergency. Unfortunately, with the sometimes harsh winter weather, water emergencies can be common and water damage can be a huge problem.

 Remediation The Right Way

Removing mold is about more than just scrubbing away those nasty patches of white or black. More often than not, visible mold growth is just the tip of the iceberg. The only way to ensure that mold growth is completely eradicated at its source is with professional mold remediation services like those provided by SERVPRO.

We know exactly what it takes to treat the kind of water damage that homes and commercial businesses often face and we’re prepared to respond whenever you need us. We’ll arrive and assess the situation immediately and determine exactly what kind of response is required. Then we’ll go to work to provide complete remediation because our ultimate goal is to restore your home or business to its previous condition. 

Of course, the cleanup of commercial property can be more extensive, but no job is too big for us. We follow the same basic steps as home mitigation for commercial properties and rest assured, we’ll treat your business with the utmost care. As members of the community ourselves, we know how costly water damage can be to a business so our goal is to get your doors open to customers as quickly as possible.

We understand how important it is for mold remediation to be done the right way and that’s what we do on every job. You wouldn’t trust your family or your customers to anything less than the best and that’s exactly what you’ll get when you turn to SERVPRO. We’ve got the training, equipment, and personnel to ensure that mold growth is stopped at the source and your property is as safe as possible.

The Name You Can Trust In Water Mitigation

Life is beautiful in historic Southern Delaware County & West Chester, and the water mitigation professionals at SERVPRO are committed to keeping it that way. When water damage strikes your home or business, you can trust us to handle your property as if it were our own. 

That’s the promise we’ve been making to the local community for over a decade and it’s one we proudly stand by.

Mold Mitigation Professionals You Can Trust

Water is an integral part of life but it can also become a real problem at times. Whenever MOLD damage strikes your home or business, you need to act fast and rely on the water mitigation professionals at SERVPRO.  

We’re a name you can trust and we’ll do our best to serve every member of our community with care.

Call Danielle at 610-506-8919

SERVPRO of Southern Delaware County & West Chester is here to help.  We are SERVice PROfessionals and are ready to respond to your moment of misery.

Choosing the Best Mold Mitigation Company

1/11/2021 (Permalink)

Mold mitigation can be a real concern whenever water damage occurs. 

Mold forms and spreads within 48 hours after water damage and the more it spreads, the more of a hazard it becomes.

It can cause serious health effects, especially for those with respiratory conditions like asthma. 

If you suspect a mold infestation in your home or business, the sooner you can do something about it, the better.

When water damage occurs, it can often be a real cause for alarm but you needn’t worry provided you choose the right mold mitigation company to help solve your problem. 

It might not seem like much of an issue but surprisingly, some customers can take as much as a week or even a few weeks to shop around and find a mold remediation company. 

Unfortunately, that time can allow mold to spread even further and become more of a danger.

If you’re experiencing a mold issue, you want to move quickly and begin mold mitigation as fast as possible

You’ll want a mold remediation company that responds within those critical first 24-48 hours and offers a full range of services dedicated to restoring your home and belongings to their pre-damage state as quickly and thoroughly as possible.

Mold can be a challenging problem but choosing a mold mitigation company shouldn’t be

  • You need a company with the proper training that is ready to respond quickly and put the top of the line equipment and techniques to use to address the problem thoroughly.

  • Look for a company with the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). 
    This training will ensure that they are fully equipped to handle any residential or commercial mold infestation and provide complete mold mitigation services.

  • That begins with responding as quickly as possible after your initial call. 
    A representative should instantly determine what equipment, resources and personnel will be needed to address your problem and get a team to your property within 24 hours.

  • Once they arrive, the team should perform a thorough inspection and assess the extent of your mold mitigation needs. 

  • Then they can begin taking steps to contain the spread of mold, including using negative air chambers and negative air pressure.

In order to ensure that the mold is stopped in its tracks, it’s necessary to tackle more than the visible signs of mold

Microscopic mold spores in the air are what spread mold throughout a home, so you’ll want a mold remediation company that uses specialized filtration equipment to capture those spores and powerful “air scrubbers” and HEPA filters to prevent them from spreading.

Since mold can spread quickly in porous materials such as drywall and carpeting, any thorough mold mitigation should include removing and replacing those materials as well as using antimicrobial and anti-fungal products on materials that can’t be removed or replaced. 

Mold can affect more than your home itself, so you’ll want a company that does everything they can to help preserve family photos, documents, and other precious items.

When mold rears its ugly head, you don’t want to wait too long to act.  

Be an informed homeowner and you’ll be prepared to make the right choice for your mold mitigation needs  

In Southern Delaware County & West Chester, that choice is easy with SERVPRO. 

We offer full mold mitigation and remediation services so that you can have real peace of mind. We’re guaranteed to get there faster to any disaster and use our expertise to make your mold problem a thing of the past.

If you are experiencing mold, call SERVPRO of Southern Delaware County & West Chester.

610-506-8919

Does Clorox Bleach Kill Mold?

5/29/2019 (Permalink)

Here are the facts about the common brand of bleach:

  • Clorox is more useful for killing bacteria and viruses than for killing molds, parasites, and spores. It kills the kinds of microorganisms found in sewer water, but it is not as lethal to any kind of microbe that travels through air.
  • Clorox doesn't kill mold effectively at temperatures below 52 degrees F. Some species of mold, however, continue to grow even when the temperature is slightly below freezing.
  • By the time you have black, inky blobs of mold, it's too late for Clorox. The active chemical in bleach does not break up the biofilm that glues mold into patches.
  • Mixing Clorox with contaminated water greatly reduces its effectiveness for disinfecting walls, floors, and household surfaces. Any kind of formerly living matter in water can bind to Clorox so it can't disinfect anything else. It's important to mix Clorox with clean water.
  • Clorox is more effective for disinfecting indoor surfaces than for disinfecting outdoor surfaces. Sunlight breaks down the active chemical that kills bacteria, viruses, and mold.

Clorox is great first aid for water damage. It's just not enough to bring your house back to its original condition. For that, you need the help of water restoration professionals like SERVPRO of West Chester.

Do You Know if You Have Mold?

5/28/2019 (Permalink)

Many people who live in southeastern PA may be dealing with a mold problem without even knowing it. There are many reasons to address this - including health concerns, home value, and aesthetics. If you see mold in a section of your home that is greater than three feet wide, you need to contact a mold professional to inspect it and start the process of remediation. Have a licensed professional come into your home to address the damage caused by mold and especially if it is a species of “black mold.”

The IICRC certified technicians at SERVPRO of West Chester are qualified to address mold issues and we can work with local mold inspectors to determine the optimum solution to get your life back to normal. Restoration can be scary, but SERVPRO can make it “Like it never even happened.”

If you have any concerns or questions about an area of your home affected by mold, give SERVPRO of West Chester a call at 610-692-8884 to have one of our professionals schedule an appointment. We are a premier restoration company and specialize in water damage, storm damage, fire damage, and mold damage. We have been proudly servicing south eastern Pennsylvania for over 14 years.

SERVPRO Understands the Mold Life Cycle and Can Remediate Problems

10/9/2018 (Permalink)

Mold spores are everywhere. The only exceptions are hospital surgical rooms and maybe so-called ‘clean rooms’ needed for assembling some types of electronics. As inert spores, they are no more dangerous to homes or people than common house dust.

For homes in the West Chester area, mold damage is only a concern when three factors achieve the right levels of moisture, food, and temperature. To halt mold growth and deal with the damage, SERVPRO technicians know to interrupt one or more of these factors.

The temperature range most mold thrive in is 68 to 86 degrees. That encompasses the comfort range for nearly every home in Pennsylvania. Raising the temperature is fairly simple, all we have to do is turn off the air conditioning for about an hour. Since homeowners cannot live like that and it is too expensive to keep a home under 68 degrees, we can only alter the temperature in a commercial building like a warehouse.

Spores feed and grow on common building materials like ceiling tiles, drywall, and wood. Even the insulation in walls and attics can serve as food. As the mold colony grows, spores extend growths called hyphae to dig into the materials and feed. If they penetrate deeply, the only way to remove the mold is to remove the infested drywall or other material. Since it is impossible to remove all building materials from the home to prevent mold growth, SERVPRO technicians concentrate on interrupting the moisture.

The source for most moisture in a home is a leak or drip from a poorly connected or damaged pipe. The simplest way to find the source is to trace the mold growth and follow it to its origin. We do this with visual inspections and an air content meter which measures the number of spores in the air. Once we find it, technicians tighten the connection, repair the pipe or another leak source, or simply replace the damaged section. For complicated repairs, we recommend for the homeowner to hire a plumber.

Winterizing Tips to Prevent Mold Growth

9/17/2018 (Permalink)

The wet season in the winter months is one of the best times of year for molds to grow and expand.  Many times mold is contained near sources of water where it can easily grow and reproduce.  As it grows, mold can break down and compromise the integrity and strength of the source in which it lives.

Mold can be killed, but if it is not removed properly, it can remain in the area just cleaned and the dry spores can be released into the air.  Prevention is key to keep your health from being affected by mold and homes and buildings strong.

Here are some winter weatherizing tips to keep mold at bay:

*keep all areas clean - mold feeds on dust

*make sure all seals on windows and doors are not compromised and in good working condition

*clean and repair roof gutters regularly

*if there are freezing temperatures, take measures to insulate pipes inside and out to ensure they will not crack and/or burst.

The 2 most important things to remember when trying to prevent mold growth are - keep everything clean and keep everything dry.

Houseplant Mold Prevention Tips

9/17/2018 (Permalink)

Many people have houseplants in their homes - they are used for both decoration and for helping to improve air quality.  Unfortunately, houseplants can also be the source of mold.  Since plants require a lot of moisture to survive, it makes them the perfect feeding grounds for mold.

Mold needs 3 things to thrive - food, oxygen, and moisture.  Organic matter, such as soil and leaves, are some of mold's favorite foods. To prevent active growth in plants, treat them just like any other parts of your home. That is to control the moisture levels. Listed below are mold prevention tips that will lower the chances of houseplant mold.

  • don't over water - follow the watering instructions that came with the plant
  • cinnamon - this natural, harmless, anti-fungal substance can be added to the soil
  • gravel - adding gravel to the bottom of the soil will help the plant drain more efficiently

By following these tips, you can still enjoy the benefits of having plants in your home.

Do I Need Mold Inspection Services?

9/17/2018 (Permalink)

Mold is great at hiding in places you would never suspect. Even hidden, it can cause great damage to the property and to the health of those living there. Here are some things you can do to find out whether you need mold inspection services.

Sniff the Air

Mold has an earthy, musty odor. If this is a natural smell of a property, there is probably mold growth somewhere. It's suggested to turn off either the heat or air conditioning and close all doors. After a few hours, go room to room and find which room has the strongest odor. This is most likely the room where the mold growth is most active. 

Water Intrusions

If you’ve had a water leak that caused surfaces to be wet for more than 24 hours, you probably need a mold inspection. This rule is a reminder that you can control mold by keeping moisture under control within a property. If moisture levels reach above 60% on a humidity reader, mold will likely grow.  If surfaces remain wet for more than 1-2 days, the mold growth process will likely begin. 

Mold Prevention Tips

9/5/2018 (Permalink)

There is always going to be some mold everywhere - in the air and on many surfaces.  Molds have been on the Earth for millions of years.  Mold grows where there is moisture.  Here are some tips to help prevent mold growth in your home.

*keep humidity levels as low as possible - no higher than 50% - all day long.  An air conditioner or dehumidifier will help keep the level low.

*be sure your house has adequate ventilation

*fix any leaks in your home's roof, walls, or plumbing

*clean up and dry out your home thoroughly and quickly (within 24-48 hours) after flooding

*add mold inhibitors to paints before painting

*clean bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry areas with mold-killing products

*remove or replace carpets/upholstery that have been soaked and cannot be dried promptly.