Discovering mold in your home can be scary. You’ve probably heard of all of the horror stories related to mold illnesses and the costs associated with removing it from your home. Now that you have found it in your own home, a bunch of questions are probably floating through your head.
- Is this mold dangerous to me and family or even my pets?
- How do I get rid of the mold?
- Who do I call for help?
- What is the mold remediation process?
- How much is this going to cost?
All of these questions are to be expected. After all, the average person doesn’t have much experience with mold, at least until they find it in their home. In this blog post, we are going to walk through the common mold remediation process. Depending on location, type of mold and severity, this process may vary. Finding a specialized mold remediation specialist will help determine what specific steps need to be taken in your home.
The Mold Remediation Process
Inspection
Your home will first need to be inspected as the first step in the mold remediation process. Before you can outline any type of remediation, you need to know what caused the mold (moisture source), what type of mold is present, and the extent of the mold growth in your home. This information will guide the expert in determining the exact mold remediation process required for your home.
For the inspection, you may want to consider hiring a mold inspection expert or a mold remediation company. While you may be able to handle the visual aspect of the mold inspection, professionals are trained and specialized in mold. They will be able to quickly determine and test for different mold types and guide you in the repair of the moisture source. They will also be educated in the health effects of different types of mold and be able to suggest medical steps for you and your family to take if necessary.
Sealing the Mold to Prevent Further Growth
Mold grows very quickly in the right conditions. The mold that is present in your home will need to be quickly sealed to prevent further growth, damage and contamination. The mold must be contained so more of your home is not affected. The mold professionals will document and photograph the mold and then quickly contain the affected areas using multiple different techniques. If required, they will use an HVAC system and building envelope to seal the mold. In this part of the mold remediation process, a negative air pressure is created and a HEPA filter exhaust to the outside of your home is used to prevent any cross contamination.
Moisture Control
Mold loves moisture. Therefore, after sealing the mold to prevent further growth, the next step in the mold remediation process is to remove the environmental conditions that tend to breed mold growth. That environmental condition is moisture. Moisture can be removed through a variety of different techniques such as extraction of standing water and dehumidifiers. The source of the moisture must be repaired as well (if applicable).
Mold Removal
After the affected zones are completely dry, the mold remediation company will use a HEPA vacuum on all of the affected surfaces in your home. These vacuums use very fine filters which can remove even the tiniest of particulates. All surfaces are thoroughly washed and dried. The mold remediation specialists will take any additional steps to remove the mold based on the type of mold and extent of the damage. These steps may vary depending on those factors. But when you hire certified professionals, you can rest assured that the mold will be completely removed as part of the mold remediation process.
Clean Up
As part of the mold remediation process, the furnace and duct systems in your house must be cleaned and free of mold. This is a very important part of the process as mold in these areas can contaminate your home again.
After all of the mold has been removed, all of the equipment and tools should be cleaned up leaving your home clean and fresh.
What Should You Look for in a Mold Remediation Company?
When it comes to who you hire for the mold remediation process, you have choices and should always do your homework before selecting a company. Be sure to read reviews and talk to friends and family for recommendations if you can. When you begin to compare mold remediation companies, here are a few things to look for or assess in your choices.
- What standards and guidelines does the company perform work in accordance with?
- What certifications does the company have?
- Does the company include mold remediation in the crawl space, vents to the exterior and HVAC system if required?
- Is the company able to extract water or remove moisture from your home?
- Does the company have hands on restoration experience?
- Do they have all of the specialized tools and equipment required?
- Are they willing to walk you through the process and answer all of your questions?
Mold remediation can be costly so you may want to get several quotes and evaluate a few different companies in your area. Don’t just go for the cheapest quote but rather look for a company who can offer you a complete package that you are comfortable with. You should feel safe and secure in your choice so that when you return to your home after the mold remediation process is complete, you are confident that the mold is fully removed.
Conclusion
Finding mold in your home is scary for homeowners. It is one of their worst nightmares. However, mold is a very real threat to nearly every home in the world. Conditions that breed mold can be introduced very quickly and can go unnoticed for quite a bit of time. While prevention is always best, sometimes mold takes hold in our homes without us ever knowing how or when it started. It doesn’t take much moisture to create a big problem.
Educating yourself in the mold remediation process helps relieve anxiety and allows you to make better decisions for your home and family.
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