Why is it So Important to Address Your Mold Problem?

8/22/2022 (Permalink)

If you've found visible mold anywhere in your home or office space, or if you keep noticing musty odors, chances are you’re concerned about whether you have a serious mold problem. The first thing you should know is that any noticeable mold should be treated as a serious problem.

While visible mold may only be present in one or two places, mold is actually everywhere. Microscopic mold spores float through the air, and can spread extensively throughout a residence or an office in as little as 48 hours through the HVAC system. Fortunately, advanced remediation techniques can control the level of mold in your building and restore the cleanliness of your space – but the problem can become harder to resolve the longer it is left untreated.

No matter how much cleaning you do, there will always be at least some mold spores present, both inside and outside your home or business. It is when the spores come into contact with excessive moisture or cellulose that the mold can grow out of control, and you notice black spots or blotches on a wall or surface. Many types of mold can affect your home, including toxic “black mold.” Because mold is a health hazard that can affect the livability and value of your property, it is important to contain and remediate it as soon as possible.

What Types of Problems Does Mold Cause?

Visible mold is definitely unsightly, and no one likes to find moldy bread or cheese in the refrigerator or moldy oranges in the fruit bowl, so we throw those things out. But other than avoiding it when we see it, why is it bad? After all, penicillin, a beneficial drug, is made from mold. The blue part of blue cheese is mold – and we actually eat that. 

There are many different types of mold, and not only is much of it beneficial, it is actually necessary: molds help decompose dead material. But many people can have adverse health problems from too much mold, and, in particular, breathing in the mold spores that float through the air. So the problem is not necessarily mold per se, but the degree to which an area is infested with mold, and the type of mold you are dealing with.

As noted above, mold spores are tiny, even smaller than particles of pollen. And just as some people have allergic reactions to pollen, people can have allergic reactions to mold. According to the U.S. EPA, allergies to mold are fairly common. Inhalation of the spores can cause respiratory symptoms similar to hay fever, such as sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and wheezing, and some people can develop a rash from contact. For people with asthma, mold spores may trigger an asthma attack.

If Mold is Everywhere, How Can I Avoid These Health Problems?

You are likely to find visible mold in parts of your building that are damp, as dampness provides the ideal environment where mold likes to colonize. If you find mold or smell something that is “not right,” give SERVPRO a call. 

Keep in mind that, while you cannot entirely eliminate all mold, you can restore safe mold levels in your building through mold remediation. Be wary of companies that promise “mold removal,” because it may mean that all they really do is clean up visible mold, without doing enough to contain the further spread of mold or prevent future growth, which is critical to minimize adverse health effects.

As soon as you call us, we will ask some questions to determine what equipment we think we will need to bring. When our experts come to your building, they will do a thorough inspection to locate all the problem areas – not merely where you see or suspect mold growth. Once we identify the problem areas, we will begin the remediation process.

During mold remediation, we seal off the area or areas that need to be treated. We will ask you to shut down or seal off your HVAC system in that area. We use negative air chambers to isolate the air in that area, and set up an air filtration system that incorporates HEPA vacuums and “air scrubbers” to filter out any spores in the air. We clean all the surfaces with antifungal and antimicrobial cleansers. If there are infested materials, they are removed and discarded.

Finally, we will  rebuild and repair the parts of your structure that need restoration. We will clean and treat any items that are in the area that do not need to be discarded. By the time the process is over, your home or commercial building will feel like it's back to normal.

Find a Remediation Company Near Me

Our mold remediation experts at SERVPRO of Coeur d’Alene can be quickly dispatched to tackle mold problems in Coeur d’Alene, Bonners Ferry, Sandpoint, and surrounding communities.

Fast response times and thorough remediation techniques are the key to getting a mold problem under control. If you suspect mold, contact SERVPRO of Coeur d'Alene today.