Does Your St. Louis Home Have A Mold Problem?

1/30/2020 (Permalink)

Mold growing around window sill and wall

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 – 314-260-7177.  

How Does Mold Spread?

10/1/2019 (Permalink)

When water is introduced the colony can grow quickly.

Let's face it.. Mold can happen anywhere, even in your St. Louis, MO home! Much like a cold virus spreads through the air looking for a host, mold spores travel through the air looking for the next hospitable environment to latch onto.. Crazy right? Any damp, fibrous material is a prime breeding ground for mold.

What Causes Mold To Spread?

As mold grows, it releases spores. These spores travel easily through the air, especially when disturbed. When performing cleanup of mold, it is important to minimize spreading mold spores by taking some precautions:

• Turn off all fans
• Protect from breezes
• Lower humidity
• Isolate the area
• Isolate moldy objects

Is It Mold?

Mold can grow on any fibrous material when enough moisture is present. This includes carpets, furniture and drywall. Did you know there are at least 35 species of mold, ranging in color, texture and size. If you have any type of water damage or humidity and see something new covering an area, you should suspect mold. Even if you cannot see mold, a musky odor may indicate that mold is present but out of sight. Mold multiplies very quickly! A Very small spot can turn into a large area of mold. If the spores become airborne, you will soon see the same pattern in another area. Once you suspect mold, you should immediately isolate the area and begin cleanup efforts.

How Can Moldy Areas Be Cleaned?

If your moldy area is small, you can attempt to clean it yourself, but be very careful to avoid spreading or breathing in mold spores. If your area is larger, or have black mold we recommend you a specialist to help you out. Specialists are specifically trained to clean mold without spreading spores. They also have specialized protective gear that you may not have access to, such as masks and protective suits.
If you suspect you have mold or spreading mold, you need to hire mold remediation expert to resolve the problem and restore your property to its original condition.

If you have anymore questions don't hesitate to ask SERVPRO of St. Louis Central today! 

Can Your Belongings Recover From Mold Growth?

2/28/2019 (Permalink)

How To Recover From Mold Growth?

Moisture and high humidity can attract mold spores into your St. Louis, home, where they can grow across a variety of surfaces. While mold commonly grows on building surfaces like drywall and carpeting, it can also affect your belongings, such as clothing and furniture. Mold cleaning can be difficult; however, before you throw items away, you may want to learn about which could be saved by different types of professional cleansing processes and which cannot. 

1. Throw Away Porous Items 

Most porous surfaces can absorb water and encourage further mold growth. As such, some items like mattresses, thick rugs and stuffed toys that already show signs of mold damage are usually not salvageable. If your child has a favorite stuffed toy that you want to attempt to save, ask your remediation technicians if they have any mold cleaning processes that may help. You may want to remember, however, that porous items affected by black mold are usually considered unsalvageable because this type of fungus is particularly hard to eradicate. 


2. Freeze Documents and Books 

If you have important documents and books that developed mold, place them in sealable plastic bags and store them in your freezer. Freezing these items can inhibit further mold growth and protect them until they can be inspected by an expert mold remediation and restoration company. This can salvage items like original birth certificates, wedding albums and baby books. 

3. Set Aside Moldy Clothing 

If you have favorite items of clothing that have been affected by mold, ask your remediation technicians about what type of options you have for salvaging them. Wet, dry and immersion cleaning may all be possible, especially for leather jackets and shoes. Some companies have access to an Esporta Machine, which cleans soft contents by removing tough odors, dirt and mold in a way that even commercial-grade units cannot. 

Mold can have a devastating effect on your home’s contents. However, professional mold cleaning processes may be able to salvage your treasured possessions, even if you believe they are beyond repair.

Esporta Machine

2/28/2019 (Permalink)

The Esporta Wash System is the disaster restoration industry’s only wet-wash machine designed exclusively to recover “soft contents” damaged in fire and water disasters. Soft contents include items such as footwear, linens, outerwear, leathers, bedding, outdoor items, athletic equipment, survival gear, sleeping bags, life jackets, stuffed toys, and almost all of your personal clothing.

The patented system breaks down unwanted organic materials and kills bacteria, viruses, and mold spores on contact. The system also removes organic and inorganic contaminants without degrading or damaging the materials. It is five times more effective than traditional front-loading washing machines. 

If you have favorite items of clothing that have been affected by mold, ask your remediation technicians about what type of options you have for salvaging them! 

Mold Damage Tips After A Flood

2/19/2019 (Permalink)

If your home or commercial building recently flooded due to storm damage or some sort of plumbing issues, you're probably unsure of the next step. Not only are you worried about property damage from the water, but you also have to worry about mold in your home or business. Mold can affect indoor air quality, can cause significant property damage and can cause a foul smell that even the best deodorization techniques can't get rid of! Follow these tips if you're dealing with residential or commercial mold. 

Get Rid of Moisture

This is the very first step! Before the mold can be properly addressed, as much moisture as possible needs to be removed. If there is standing water, it can be dangerous to walk into your home or commercial property, so please make sure you can safely enter the building or structure.  

Protect Yourself 

You just never really know what can be floating around in standing water that can hurt you. For example, electrical wiring. You don't want to endure an electrical shock. Once you know you can safely enter, PROTECT YOURSELF by wearing protective clothing, such as gloves and a face mask. 

Hire a Professional

The best thing you can do is leave it to the experts. Rely on a team of professionals to help get your home or business back in tip-top shape. Experts can come in and assess the true extent of the damage and help ensure all of the molds is properly remediated. We promise it could save you a lot of time, money and headaches in the future. 

Visit our website today to learn more about mold. 

https://www.SERVPROstlouiscentral.com/

Checking your House for Mold?

1/15/2019 (Permalink)

Here is an after photo of a case of mold in the kitchen.

There is quite a bit of contradictory advice when it comes to testing for mold in the home; namely, whether it’s a DIY-type job or one that calls for the experts. But as most things are, it’s not a black and white answer. With different circumstances it requires different approaches.

Here are some warning signs..

• Smell. The musty aroma accompanying mold is the only real tell-tale sign that you have a problem. Never had the misfortune of smelling mold? Well, lucky you! 
• Allergies. Sneezing, runny nose or sore eyes? Chances are there are some mold lingering in your house.
• Serious health problems, such as damage to internal organs or mental impairment, can be indicative of toxic mold, which is a serious problem. So get figured out fast!
• Visible growth. Seeing mold is iron-clad proof that it exists, but often it’s the mold you can’t see that is most problematic. Mold is always hiding.
• Water problems. If your home has recently been flooded or you’ve suffered leaky pipes, chances are you’re going to have a mold problem. So don't push it off for a tomorrow problem..

Call in the Experts! 

Although mold is an everyday problem that may seem to be more irritating than anything else, when toxic mold enters the equation it’s a whole new ball game. If you have the slightest suspicion about mold in your household contact SERVPRO of St. Louis Central Today! 

(314) 260-7177

Black Mold on your Ceiling?

1/15/2019 (Permalink)

Black mold on Ceiling.

If you smell a sour odor in your bathroom, the solution may be above you. The first place that usually develops mold in your household is the bathroom. Few people notice and act on the mold immediately but by the time you do notice it, black mold will look awful, and it may even pose health risks. What do you do when you find it, and is it dangerous? Call SERVPRO! 

So.. What causes Mold? 

The bathroom is a common place for mold to first develop because most bathrooms have all of the risk factors for mold growth including:

• Water, dampness
• High humidity
• Warmth
• Low air circulation
• Low lighting
• Oils

What are the Dangers of Black Mold?

Toxic black mold, can release spores as it feeds on organic materials in common household materials like drywall, carpet, insulation or sub-flooring that have been exposed to moisture. But, severe cases of prolonged exposure, black mold health effects can be more dangerous. Often compounded by allergic reaction to the black mold spores, these symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, and bleeding in the lungs and nose.

Remember that while you should handle all mold promptly, health effects from mold exposure is very rare. There’s no need to panic. Plus, simply reducing your humidity and increasing air circulation is usually enough to keep mold from returning.

If you do have a reoccurring mold issue be sure to call the specialists at SERVPRO! 

What To Do When You Suspect Mold In Your Home or Office

3/7/2018 (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 St. Louis Central 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 of St. Louis Central 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 – 314-260-7177

Do You See Signs of Mold In Your Home or Business?

2/23/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of St. Louis Central can assess your situation and help to remediate your mold problem!

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 – (314) 260-7177