What Conditions Does Mold Grow In?

6/3/2021 (Permalink)

Is Mold Growing In Your Home?

What Conditions Does Mold Grow In? | SERVPRO® of North Central Mecklenburg County If you have not considered the possibility of mold becoming a problem in your home, it would be a smart idea to think through how it could impact your household. While mold is a preventable problem, if it does break out, it can be a serious issue to tackle for homeowners, and if it is not handled properly from the beginning, it can quickly return on a repeat basis.

Fortunately, there are things that every homeowner can do to prevent mold from growing in the first place—namely, by avoiding creating conditions where it is likely to thrive. Below, we will take a look at how mold finds its way into your home as well as the conditions that it likes so you can be on the lookout for susceptible places in your home.

How Does Mold Get Into a Home?

Mold spores are airborne, and they can easily be transported from the outdoors to the inside of a home when the door is opened, when people walk inside with their shoes on or when pets and people carry the spores in on their fur or clothes.

Mold is nearly everywhere, which is normally not an issue because it needs a very specific set of conditions to begin to grow and reproduce.

The Conditions That Mold Finds Favorable

There are many different types of mold that may grow in areas, but they all have one thing in common: They cannot grow without an adequate amount of moisture.

Mold requires dampness to take hold and begin reproducing, which is why it is often found in basements, bathrooms and areas that have experienced water damage.

How Can I Discourage Mold From Growing?

One of the best things that homeowners can do to prevent mold from growing is increasing circulation and not letting areas in the home become too humid. Adding a fan to a bathroom or installing a dehumidifier in a basement can go a long way in discouraging mold from making itself at home.

Additionally, if you have any water damage to your home, it is best to get it professionally restored right away so mold does not begin to grow in the damaged area.

If you need help with mold remediation or water damage restoration, we are here to help. Get in touch with us to learn more about our services today

Can You Smell Mold? | SERVPRO® of North Central Mecklenburg County

6/3/2021 (Permalink)

Can You Smell Mold

Can You Smell Mold? | SERVPRO® of North Central Mecklenburg County

If you are concerned that you may have mold in your home or are just wanting to be extra vigilant about looking for the signs of it, it is important that you are aware of what to watch out for that might indicate that you have a mold problem on your hands.

Mold can be a tricky thing to deal with, but if you can catch it quickly, it can be far less complicated to handle.

What Is Mold?

Mold is an airborne fungus whose organisms are almost always present in the air. In natural settings, mold is responsible for the important role of breaking down decaying matter, and due to its airborne nature, it is able to travel quickly from place to place.

Most of us are likely exposed to mold every time we step outside, but in low concentrations. It is only when mold becomes concentrated in an area of the home that it can become dangerous.

When mold becomes concentrated, it can begin to infiltrate the air in your home and cause health effects. Some people have a mold allergy, which makes them extra susceptible to its effects, but even in otherwise healthy people, mold can cause health effects.

Will I Be Able to Smell Mold?

Oftentimes, a dank, musty odor is the first sign that homeowners have something amiss in regards to mold in the home. Many people are surprised to realize that mold can begin growing in as little as 24 hours, so if you catch a whiff of something odd, it is best to investigate quickly.

The smell that mold creates is pungent, and often described as “stale,” “damp” or “rotten.” Because the smell comes directly from the mold, opening the windows or increasing circulation is of no use, though it may temporarily improve the conditions.

What Should I Do if I Suspect Mold?

If you suspect that your home has a problem with mold, whether due to the smell or some other reason, it is important to act quickly. Mold remediation is the only option for dealing with a mold infestation—bleaching it or cleaning it will only be a temporary solution as more mold can continue to grow. If you think you have mold, it is important to call in an expert mold remediation team right away.

Do you think you have mold in your home? We are here to help! Contact us today to learn more about our mold remediation services for commercial and residential spaces.

MOLD MOLD MOLD

10/26/2018 (Permalink)

Mold is a fungi and it’s is everywhere in nature. There is mold in the outside air we breathe. The issue with mold indoors is the type of mold that has developed and its concentrations.  

When an environment contains the right amount of nutrients, moisture, and oxygen with ideal temperatures, mold growth can occur. Mold thrives between 60-90 degrees Fahrenheit.  Mold enjoys the humidity of Charlotte.

Mold uses cellulose materials as nutrients for its growth. Some forms of cellulose materials that exist in an indoor environment include the following:

• Drywall
• Paint
• Wallpaper
• Wood Members
• Insulation
• Hardwood Flooring
• Carpet
• Clothing
• Food

Mold is typically fuzzy or wooly in texture with colors ranging from black, green and brown to yellow, gray, pink and white.

The type of mold that exists in an indoor environment cannot be determined by the naked eye.

An on-site inspection by a  professional will help develop a proper course of action. We proudly service the Charlotte area as well as the Huntersville, Cornelius and Davidson areas. We listen to your concern's, be it young or old family members, pets, or other limiting factors. We are here to help at (704)-596-9700  

source:blackmoldresources.com

Mold vs. Health

10/22/2018 (Permalink)

How mold can affect your health?

The effects of mold on individuals varies. Our body is constantly battling various intruders and one of those intruders is mold. While many people have strong immune systems to battle these intrusions, even the healthiest individuals suffer from adverse health effects from mold due to one of the following:

• Mold Allergies 
• Weak or Undeveloped Immune System 
• Exposure to High Concentrations of Mold
• Exposure to Toxic Mold 

Some indoor molds have the ability to produce mycotoxins, which are toxic byproducts produced during metabolism. Symptoms caused by mycotoxins vary depending on the type, amount, and duration of exposure. Mycotoxicoses can result in acute toxicity, causing a rapid onset and obvious symptoms of toxic response, or chronic toxicity, caused by low dose exposure over a long period of time, typically resulting in cancers and other irreversible effects. In either scenario, the mycotoxins can enter the body via ingestion, skin contact, or inhalation.

We at SERVPRO of North Central Mecklenburg County are trained in the removal of mold. We are here to help answer questions you may have and to offer sound practical advice. Call us at (704)0596-9700

SERVPRO of North Central Mecklenburg County

source:http://blackmoldresources.com/

Indoor Mold, How much do you really know?

10/20/2018 (Permalink)

An indoor mold problem can show itself in different ways. Some common indicators include:

• Visible mold growth
• Musty or moldy smell
• Staining/discoloring of the ceiling or walls (water damage stains)
• Known leak or water damage (within the past few years)

Any of the above should bring about concern with property owners or occupants as they can be an indicator of an indoor mold problem.

Unfortunately, while these conditions should warrant a reaction, many people don’t react until their health or the health of someone they know is impacted.

Despite the indicators, addressing a potential mold problem is important. The first step in this process is to verify whether or not you actually have a problem and, if one is present, the size of the problem.

Several environmental inspection companies are available to investigate a property to determine if a harmful mold growth and environmental contamination exists. During the property inspection, samples of the air and surfaces may be taken during the mold testing process. These samples should then be analyzed by an independent third party lab to detect the presence or absence of mold growth within the area in question.

 If the investigation of the property concludes that the indoor environment is unsafe, mold remediation should be pursued. It is not recommended that mold be remediated by a private party, regular contractor, or maintenance worker as this can exacerbate the problem. The best choice for mold remediation is a professional mold remediation or damage restoration company that is experienced and certified in environmental remediation and decontamination such as SERVPRO of North Central Mecklenburg County.

SERVPRO of North Central Mecklenburg County

 source:blackmoldresources.com

Charlotte's Spring is the Beginning of Mold Season

4/18/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of North Central Mecklenburg County can help you remove that nasty odor.

With spring upon us, it's time to think about spring cleaning and getting rid of that odor that's lingered all winter. Let the experts at SERVPRO of North Central Mecklenburg County come out and inspect your home and offer an effective plan for removing that smell. Be it pet odor, fireplace odor, cigarette odor or mold, we use the IICRC indstry standards to eliminate the smells. We are used time and time again by real estate professionals to remove cigarette smoke odors from a home before it is put up for sale. We also will throughly clean your carpets and ducts and vents if necessary. Call our office at (704)596-9700 to discover what we can do to help start your spring off right.