Does Your Home Have A Mold Problem?

6/3/2019 (Permalink)

Even though some forms of mold can add value to our lives, other forms can be harmful. Microscopic mold spores naturally occur in our environment, 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 the mold infestation immediately.

Facts About Mold

9/6/2018 (Permalink)

-Mold has existed since ancient times.

-The human species has always lived in the presence of mold.

-There are over 100,000+ species of mold identified. The unique flavor of bleu cheese is produced by mold.

-We are constantly exposed to thousands of different types of fungi in our everyday lives. Certain types of fungi tend to exist naturally in soils, plants, fruits and textiles.

-Exposure to these fungi in naturally occurring doses is generally not harmful to health.

-While the types and concentrations of fungi existing in the environment vary from one geographic region to another, the most common types are as follows: Aspergillus (most common), alternaria, bipolaris, Chaetomium, fusarium, penicillin, and paecilomyes.

Mold Needs the Right Environment to Grow

• Water, moisture or high humidity
• Food (any organic substance)
• The right temperature (generally 68*F-86*F, but some can grow in 30*F or colder)
• Lack of ventilation
• Mold presents greater challenges to young children, the elderly and other immune-suppressed people.
• Some molds can produce toxins if the environment conditions are right.

Mold Prevention Tips for Commercial Facilities

8/15/2017 (Permalink)

A water damage -- one that has either been mishandled or gone undiscovered -- can help property owners stop moisture problems before they start. A primary focus should be on maintaining the following: roof, drainage system, windows, doors, plumbing, and HAC systems. In addition to preventive maintenance, building managers should also have a strong reactive maintenance plan in place for when unexpected events transpire, including having SERVPRO of South Orange County provides fast and thorough water cleanup.

-Keep the humidity level between 30 to 60 percent.

-Use cleaning products with proven mold killing properties.

-Regularly inspect plumbing and appliances for leaks.

-Keep gutters and drains clear of debris.

-Inspect the roof, windows and others areas where water might enter the building, and perform necessary maintenance.

-Respond to all water intrusions immediately.

-Contact SERVPRO of South Orange County at (407) 226-2621 for assistance after a water damage or if you discover mold in your building.

Mold Prevention Knows No Season

10/4/2016 (Permalink)

Maintaining a healthy indoor environment in a commercial facility is a year-round endeavor. While it is true that every building has some mold spores present, unhealthy levels can quickly arise under the right circumstances – usually within 24-48 hours when excess moisture is present.

Periodic inspection and proper maintenance of building envelope, plumbing system and the HVAC system to detect potential problems in advance and to prevent moisture from entering the facility is very important. This is especially true during the fall and winter months when the weather puts extra pressure on these systems and most indoor environments are primed for mild growth (i.e., warmer temperature settings, less air flow to help keep humidity levels under control, etc.) Even in buildings where maintaining a warm indoor environment is a non-issue, indoor air quality can still be impacted by mold species that thrive in cooler conditions.

SERVPRO of South Orange County is equipped with the proper equipment to help identify indoor air quality issues, including improper humidity levels, contaminated ductwork systems and moisture that may have accumulated behind walls or under flooring due to an undetected roof or plumbing leak.

Call us for helpful information on how to prevent indoor air quality issues as part of your Emergency Response Profile development.

Commercial and residential mold damage in Orlando? Call SERVPRO of South Orange County!

7/27/2016 (Permalink)

Mold in home due to not running the AC.

When you have a water intrusion, mold can quickly become a problem. Especially with the high heat and humidity in Orlando, Florida mold can start to grown in as little as 48 hours. Water intrusions such as a roof leak, plumbing leak, or AC leak should be addressed immediately and dryed out properly in order to avoid mold issues. Mold is not only a hazard to your health but can also cause major damage to your building. SERVPRO of South Orange County Professionals are thoroughly trained and have all the proper equipment to handle any size mold problem.  

WATER DAMAGE OR MOLD IN YOUR BUSINESS OR HOME? CALL SERVPRO of South Orange County at (407)226-2621

Related Mold Services

• Overview of Mold Services

• Mold Damage Tips

• What Is Black Mold?

• Mold "Removal" vs Remediation

• Caring For Your Belongings

• Mold Restoration Process

• Odor Removal

• Commercial Mold Remediation

  With mold problems in your home or business, the primary focus is safety:

• Significant mold growth can occur in 48-72 hours.

• Mold presents a greater risk to children, the elderly, and anyone with respiratory problems.

• A musty odor may indicate hidden mold behind drywall or under carpeting.

  Tips before we arrive:

• Stay out of affected areas.

• Turn off the HVAC system and fans, as to not spread the mold.

• 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.

Mold Prevention Tips for Commercial Facilities- Orlando, Fl

4/21/2016 (Permalink)

15,000 sf flood at a medical facility - Downtown Orlando. SERVPRO of South Orange County responded at 3 am.

A water damage-one that has either been mishandled or gone undiscovered-can result in visible mold growth in as little as 24-48 hours.

A strong preventative maintenance program can help property owners stop moisture problems before they start. A primary focus should be maintaining the following: roof, drainage system, windows, doors, plumbing, and HVAC systems. In addition to preventative maintenance, building owners should also have a strong reactive maintenance plan in place for when unexpected events transpire, including having SERVPRO of South Orange County provide through and fast water clean up.

TIPS TO PREVENT MOLD

-Keep the humidity level between 30 to 60 percent.

-Keep gutters and drains clear of debris.

-Inspect the roof, windows, and other areas where water might enter the building, and perform necessary maintenance.

-Contact SERVPRO of South Orange County (407) 226-2621 immediately upon discovering water damage or mold in your building.

FAULTY STUCCO CAUSING WATER DAMAGE AND MOLD DAMAGE- Orlando, Fl

3/9/2016 (Permalink)

Your home is a big investment. Unfortunately in Florida many home less than 10 years old are rotting away and losing their value FAST.

Most Florida homes have stucco exteriors. This is basically a layer of cement designed to keep moisture from entering your home. The problem is when the stucco is applied quickly or incorrectly eventually cracks form causing water damage in the home, ultimately leading to mold issues. Most home structures consist of wood framing, at least on the second floor  which will rot away once water enters thru the cracks in the stucco. Believe it or not a small hair line crack in your stucco can cause gallons of water to pour into your home during a heavy rain.

This issue usually goes unnoticed for years until the homeowner has a huge water damage and mold issue on their hands. A lot of homes built during the construction boom (2005-2010) are running into this issue once their warranty is long expired.

It is best to frequently walk the outside perimeter of your home and inspect for cracks in the stucco as well as concrete block. If you believe you may have water or mold damage to your home as a result of stucco cracks please call SERVPRO of South Orange County at (407) 226-2621 to schedule an inspection. Remember when dealing with an issue like this, time is of the essence. A licensed professional will come to your home and inspect thru moisture detection and thermal imaging for damage that may not be visible to the human eye.