Archived Mold Remediation Blog Posts

What to do when you see mold.

Name: SERVPRO of Baltimore's Inner Harbor
Telephone: (410) 637-3433

1/17/2019 (Permalink)

If you see visible mold, do not disturb it. You can inadvertently spread the mold infestation throughout your home. When mold is disturbed, the mold can release microscopic mold spores which become airborne and can circulate inside your home.

What to Do:

Stay out of affected areas.
Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
Contact SERVPRO of Baltimore's Inner Harbor for mold remediation services.

What Not to Do:

Don’t touch or disturb the mold.
Don’t blow air across any surfaces with visible or suspected mold growth.
Don’t attempt to dry the area yourself.
Don’t spray bleach or other disinfectants on the mold.

About Our Mold Remediation Services

SERVPRO specializes in mold cleanup and restoration, in fact, it’s a cornerstone of our business. Our crews are highly trained restoration professionals that use specialized equipment and techniques to properly remediate your mold problem quickly and safely.

If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today – (410) 637-3433

Does your home have mold?

1/17/2019 (Permalink)

Microscopic mold spores naturally occur almost everywhere, both outdoors and indoors. This makes it impossible to remove all mold from a home or business. Therefore, mold remediation reduces the mold spore count back to its natural or baseline level. Some restoration businesses advertise “mold removal” and even guarantee to remove all mold, which is a fallacy. Consider the following mold facts:

Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors.
Mold spores are microscopic and float along in the air and may enter your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems or even hitch a ride indoors on your clothing or a pet.
Mold spores thrive on moisture. Mold spores can quickly grow into colonies when exposed to water. These colonies may produce allergens and irritants.
Before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed. Otherwise, the mold may return.
Mold often produces a strong, musty odor and can lead you to possible mold problem areas.
Even higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth. Keep indoor humidity below 45 percent.

If your home or business has a mold problem, we can inspect and assess your property and use our specialized training, equipment, and expertise to remediate your mold infestation.

If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today – (410) 637-3433

I found you!

7/3/2018 (Permalink)

Many people may already know the most common places for mold :

Basements or cellars that have been flooded , underneath kitchen and bathroom sinks, underneath or behind refrigerators, behind walls that also house plumbing, under carpeting that may have become wet, stacks of damp or wet newspaper or cardboard boxes, wallboard , and around air-conditioning units.

But I want to tell you some uncommon places to look.

Chimneys, front-loading washing machines, window sashes and seals, dishes ( yep, if you don't dry them well and stack them up ), books ( that old book smell can really be the smell of mold).

Try to stay ahead of the hiding game with Mold, take a monthly check around the house. In this game it's better not to find the mold to win.

Is it an allergy to pollen or mold?

6/13/2018 (Permalink)

I'm sure if you were asked the question, "can you have an allergy to mold?", your answer would more than likely be , "sure".

But if asked what the symptoms are then you might not be so quick to answer. Here's the thing, the symptoms of mold allergies are so similar to plant and animal allergies that you might get them confused.

Typical allergy symptoms are sneezing, itching, runny nose, congestion, dry and scaling skin. All of these same symptoms are associated with mold allergy as well.

Mold and mildew are fungi. The spores are the "seeds" of mold that travel through the air. These spores are what we inhale and have a reaction to. These spores can also get into our lungs and trigger asthma.

So if you think your allergies aren't going away, even when you've tried medicines and stayed in doors. It might not be the allergy that you think you have.

When in doubt have SERVPRO check you home for Mold. We are here to help.

Mold in the home.

5/22/2018 (Permalink)

If your home or business has a mold problem, we can inspect and assess your property and use our specialized training, equipment, and expertise to remediate your mold infestation.

Mold Removal???

5/15/2018 (Permalink)

If you see an advertisement for " Mold Removal " don't believe it. That's a fallacy.

There is no way to rid your home or business of all mold. Mold spores exist naturally almost everywhere , indoors and out.

At SERVPRO we understand mold and are trained to be able to remediate the mold in your home or business.

Every mold situation can be difficult and require a unique process but the general mold remediation stays the same.

Here are the basic steps:

Preform a mold damage assessment

Mold Containment

Air Filtration

Treat, remove the mold-infested materials

Clean contents

SERVPRO can make you feel safe again in your home and business.

We can also help with educating you to understand how mold grows and to try a avoid problems in the future.

Should you have your home tested for Mold?

1/6/2018 (Permalink)

Many people get a mold testing when they see mold. Kind of sounds a little obvious that you have mold. At this time, I would get someone to remove it, not test for it, you know you have it.

There are times though that it makes perfect sense to have your home tested for mold.

If you have a musty smell. There may be mold.

If you have had water leaks behind the wall, it might be wise to see if mold is present.

If your having health concerns, your Doctor might advise you to have your home tested for mold.

Those are all good reasons to have your home tested for mold.

SERVPRO of Baltimore's Inner Harbor is here to help you whether you see the mold or want to know if you have it when you can't see it.

What the difference between Mildew and Mold?

1/5/2018 (Permalink)

Many people might say," It's mildew , not mold".

The truth is both are fungi and both are necessary for out environment. But not in our bodies or our homes. To answer the question, mildew is mold in it's early stages.

Mold can grow fast. It can take only 24 to 48 hours for it to grow. In 1 to 12 days mold can colonize and grow fast.

Mold can come from many sources, some you may not have even thought of.

Here are a few:

Damp Basement/crawl space

Over Flows from sinks and tubs

Flooding, leaks

High Humidity

Steam Cooking

Dryer Vents

Humidifiers

So keep the mold outside where it's needed for soil and leaves to break down.

Keep it out of your home. SERVPRO of Baltimore's Inner Harbor has the training and chemicals to help you do just that.

Can We Mitigate It? Yes We Can!

6/22/2017 (Permalink)

Where there's water, there is mold risk. Mold can not only affect your health, but it can also cause significant damage to your property. It is for the very same reasons that our SERVPRO of Baltimore's Inner Harbor teams have the training, protective gear, and specialized equipment necessary to handle any mold problem. Although every mold damage scenario is unique, and requires an equally unique solution, the general mold remediation process stays the same, so as to meet top industry standards.

Curious how we do it? Here are the basics for a "typical" mold job:

Dial 410-637-3433

The mold cleanup and restoration process starts when you call us and tell us about the problem affecting your home. One of our fabulous office admins will ask you a series of questions that help determine the necessary equipment, resources, and personnel needed to get your home back to normal

Inspection & Damage Assessment

Our team will inspect your home or business for signs of mold using technology designed to detect spores and any hidden water that might be feeding the mold and growing it

Mold Containment

Various containment procedures are followed prevent the mold from spreading and to isolate the contaminated area with physical barriers and negative air pressure to also keep the mold spores from spreading during the rest of the cleanup process

Air Filtration

Special filtration equipment captures microscopic mold spores in the air. Our professionals use powerful air scrubbers and HEPA vacuums to further prevent the spread of these mold spores while the mold remediation is in progress

Removing Mold & Mold-Infested Materials

The mold remediation process depends on
a variety of factors, but mainly the amount of mold, and the types of surfaces the mold appears on. Antifungal and antimicrobial treatments are then employed to eliminate mold colonies and help prevent new ones from forming. Removing and disposing of mold-infested porous materials, like drywall and flooring, is sometimes necessary to remediate heavier mold growth

Cleaning Contents & Belongings

Our SERVPRO pros thoroughly clean your furniture, miscellaneous items, curtains, and other restorable items affected by mold. We use a variety of techniques to clean and sanitize your belongings. Our teams are also trained to remove odors/deodorize using fogging equipment

Restoration

Depending on the extent of the mold damage, drywall, subfloors, and other building materials may be removed. Restoration may involve minor repairs, such as replacing drywall, painting, and installing new carpet, or it may entail major repairs such as the reconstruction of various areas or rooms in a home or business. Our Rebuild division is more than happy to help replace and restore after the remediation process is complete.

This process might seem like a lot to deal with, but that is what the SERVPRO of Baltimore's Inner Harbor team is here for!

Summer Mold...Makes Me Feel...Bad!

6/8/2017 (Permalink)

Do you know the prime time for mold to spawn in your home? Summer.

Our favorite season also happens to be mold's favorite too...but this doesn't mean mold has to ruin your whole summer!

Summer is mold's favorite because mold thrives in temperatures above 77 degrees, which, lucky you, happens to be around the average summer temperature in Baltimore and the surrounding communities.

Have no fear, mold is an avoidable issue! While it isn't always in your control, and mold can hide from you, try following these useful tips to lower your property's risk for mold. You can be free of mold, and free to enjoy all that the summer months have to offer.

If it is hot outside, turn on your air conditioner. This keeps the inside of your house cool, thus starting the mold abatement process
Be on the lookout for condensation or moisture in any of your air ducts. Air conditioning units can produce a small drip of water that can serve as food for plenty of mold spores to grow
Do your best to keep humidity down in your home. Moisture in the air is the main attraction for mold to form and survive when humidity inside is above 50 percent. Get a dehumidifiers to help by keeping your home or business comfortably dry
If it rains, close your windows. Closed windows keep moisture and any excess water out
If rainfall is substantial, check on your roof for any leaks. Any ceiling discoloration can be indicative of a leak or even mold
Inspect any of your appliances or pipes for leaks, clean up any water and fix the leak (if you can) ASAP
See to it that your dryer is vented to the outdoors, and not toward the attic or another crawlspace thus left to build moisture in dark spaces (which mold loves)
Open a pathway for cool air when you take a shower. Whether it be the fan or a window, the circulation of cool air can keep humidity from the warm air down
Remove carpeting from your bathrooms or other commonly wet spaces so mold doesn't grow on it

If you suspect mold in your home, call us (the real mold remediation professionals) ASAP for an inspection.

410-637-3433

Mold, Must, Mildew...Oh My!

5/22/2017 (Permalink)

You know that any water damage to your home or business is a nuisance as is...but what happens after the water is gone? If water damage isn't mitigated and dried properly, mold has plenty of room to grow and potentially destroy your property.

If you find any traces of mold, or if you suspect water damage that wasn't correctly dried, SERVPRO of Baltimore's Inner Harbor should be your first call. The process of making your space mold free starts as soon as you pick up the phone. One of our representatives will pose a series of questions to you about the spores you discovered. This helps to speed the process of remediating along because your answers aide our professionals in understanding what kind of equipment, personnel, and other resources are needed on scene.

Once we arrive, we thoroughly inspect and assess the damage and the mold itself. We are also certain to trace any hidden water sources that could be feeding the mold. We do this with special technology and moisture meters. After we are sure we know where the mold is hiding, our teams follow various procedures to see to it that mold doesn't spread to other spots in your property. Physical barriers and negative air pressure help isolate the contaminated area. Our SERVPRO professionals also use specialize air filtration to capture microscopic mold spores that might be floating in the air. Additionally our IICRC trained employees use powerful air scrubber and HEPA vacuums to minimize potential cross-contamination of rooms in your home to keep the remediation process on track.

If necessary, SERVPRO will use antifungal and antimicrobial treatments to eradicate mold colonies. This keeps mold from regrowing. It is also important to clean, and or remove any porous materials that have become mold-infested. It can be as simple as our teams professionally cleaning them, or breaking down drywall, or the wall itself to rid your property of mold completely. Our technicians are also highly trained to deodorize your belongings as well as your entire space.

If the mold damage is extensive and severe, we are more than happy to employ our Rebuild team to replace your drywall, paint, or even install new carpet. If the area or room needs to be rebuilt, we can do that as well.

As soon as you spot mold, be sure to dial 410-637-3433

DIY Mold Removal? Think again!

4/10/2017 (Permalink)

You’re doing spring cleaning, getting ready for the warm weather and just as you go to wipe down that dark corner in your kitchen, you spot it….mold.

What do you do? Your knee jerk reaction might be to bleach it. Be wary: bleach is not a sufficiently potent mold killer! Bleach might take care of surface mold, but not the root of the problem that actually caused the mold to grow. This means when you’ve bleached down the surface, it might look pretty and clean, but the mold is likely to grow back. Even worse yet, the mold cells might register the bleach as a threat to its existence, which means when the mold regenerates it could become resistant to the bleach.

So how do you rid your home of mold in its entirety?

That’s where we come in.

Removing mold on your own without proper knowledge and training can present numerous risks and challenges. Using the wrong method to remove it, as aforementioned, can only worsen the problem. It is important to note that warm weather makes mold's usual hiding places more likely to stay warm and damp which puts your home and business at a higher risk if your building isn't climate controlled.

That’s why our mold remediation teams are trained and certified to remove mold safely and keep it from ever returning to your home.

If you see or smell possible mold in your home, be smart and be safe. Don’t touch any mold with bare skin and try to not breathe it in.

Remember: before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed!

If you have a fire or water emergency, please call us now at (410) 637-3433