The days of spraying bleach on some black mold in the basement and calling it good are gone. Mold, if not properly remediated, can spread, grow, and create extensive damage in a home. In some cases, it can even cause people in the home to get sick.
So, you think you have mold in your Minneapolis-area home? Here are some things you should know.
Any place there is moisture inside a structure, mold can grow. Think about roof leaks especially after heavy rains or an ice dam, leaky windows and doors, leaking pipes, sewer backups or overflows, damp basements and crawl spaces, condensation on cold surfaces like basement walls, and the list goes on and on.
Standing water from a flood can also cause mold growth if the area is not quickly dried and properly cleaned.
Mold grows best in places that are warm, damp and humid. Sound like Minneapolis in the summer time? You bet!
The good news is, you can control mold growth by controlling humidity levels in your home, like running the air conditioning on a humid, hot July day. Also, if you see a roof, window, or pipe leak, get it fixed quickly. Should you experience a flood in your home, be sure the affected area is dried quickly and completely and disinfected. Plus, be sure shower, laundry, and cooking areas are well ventilated.
Even if you do everything you can to prevent mold in your home, sometimes nature just runs its course. That’s where 24Restore can step in to help.
Just because mold thrives best in warm, humid places doesn’t mean the buck stops there. Mold spores can survive harsh environmental conditions, including extreme dryness.
Dr. Robert A. Wood, from John Hopkins University’s School of Medicine, worked with four allergists to bust myths about mold. They concluded not all mold is toxic. Only certain mold spores produce toxins, and even then will only produce toxic spores under certain circumstances.
Now, just because you aren’t sick doesn’t mean mold doesn’t exist. Likewise, mold can be lingering in places you might not expect. If that is a concern in your home following any of the issues we’ve listed above, like a flood or leaky roof, consider having mold testing done in your home. That will give you an idea of what might be lurking in those hidden places, and help you and a professional create a plan of action if needed.
Restoration companies are well stocked with a variety of drying equipment and chemicals to get in and out of your house as quickly as possible. Like many industries, restoration contractors abide by some industry best practices, one being the best restoration companies will likely leave your home in even better condition than it was before the mold occurred. They are also well trained to effectively treat the mold so it won’t be a recurring problem.
In many cases, the remediation may be handled by your homeowners’ insurance. However, if you have standing water in your home, don’t wait to get a hold of a professional mold removal company. A professional, like someone at 24Restore, can walk you through what the cleanup process will look like and get the ball rolling before a mold problem can arise.