These Shocking Facts about Mold Removal Will Stun You

Mold is a type of fungus that grows in multicellular filaments called “hyphae.” The type of mold we will be discussing here today is the kind that grows on walls and destroys property. Toxic mold is nasty stuff and it can cause diseases in humans and in animals if it’s left untreated.

Toxic mold is most often found in areas that are damp, dark, or steamy, like closets, basements, kitchens, and attics. If mold growth is left untreated it will end up causing you health problems, ranging from a runny or stuffy nose to a full-blown mold infection inside your very own lungs. For this reason mold removal is essential, and the mold removal process has a few guidelines that need to be followed to ensure that your home is fully cleared of the mold and that the conditions for regrowth, like the moisture source that caused the growth in the first place, are eliminated.

When it comes to mold removal, there are some things you need to know before you call in any mold removal specialists to handle the problem. Some mold removal service will try to swindle you out of your money by including unnecessary fees that can be avoided with some simple knowledge.

Pre-testing for mold is a process that specialists use to determine whether you do in fact have a mold problem. However, this process is completely unnecessary if you can actually see the mold growing in your home. Once the mold is physically identified, it’s pretty much confirmed you have a mold problem; any mold is too much mold. All mold is removed in the same way so the type of mold you have really doesn’t matter. If a mold removal specialist tells you you need to spend extra money on pre-testing, be aware that it's most likely a waste of money.

The five basic principles of a successful mold removal and remediation program are as follows:

1.      Safety

2.      Assessment

3.      Contamination Control

4.      Source Removal

5.      Moisture Removal

These five principles should be the cornerstone of any mold removal process, and they don't vary between different types of mold. When it comes to safety, all occupants and workers need to be protected. This can mean wearing some kind of face mask and other safety gear.

Assessments are also an important part of the mold removal process. Assessments need to be made before during and after the mold removal and remediation process. Contamination control is essential for preventing the cross-contamination and spread of mold from infected to uninfected areas of your home. If the mold is to be completely eradicated from your home, the source of it needs to be traced and eliminated. Then finally, after the mold has been removed, the source of the moisture that was allowing the growth of it in the first place also needs to be traced and eliminated. Otherwise you will be calling mold specialists back to your house in no time.

Once the mold is completely removed from its source, the air then needs to be cleansed of any mold spores. This requires a high-efficiency particulate air scrubber, followed by the continued ventilation of air by regular or more powerful methods. It’s crucial that the air filters used in this process are high-efficiency particulate air filters, however, as they are the only ones able to cleanse the air of tiny mold spores. Regular air filters will not get the job done.

The mold remediation process should not be very expensive or sound so complicated that you can't understand it. A true mold removal specialist will use plastic sheets to prevent the spread of mold and will discard any contaminated materials, rather than try to restore them to uncontaminated condition. They also use an encapsulate or a sealer to make the area more resistant to mold infection in the future. Antimicrobial chemicals are usually used to scrub away any mold stains, and negative air containment is usually performed by using fans to blow out contaminated air and cycle in fresh air.

Discovering toxic mold in your home can be a scary thing. You might be tempted to call and hire the first mold removal specialist you can find, but if you keep the basic guidelines of this article in mind, you can avoid being swindled. Mold removal should not be such a complicated process that your specialist can’t explain it to you in laymen's terms. Remember that pre-testing is only required in cases when you aren't actually sure whether you have mold or not. Your mold removal workers should be using all the proper safety equipment and correct methods for mold removal and should not be trying to cut any corners. If you keep all of this in mind, you will be able to find a reasonably-priced specialist who can remove all of the mold from your house and keep it from coming back.