Mold Removal
Mold Removal
If you have found mold in your house during your annual inspection, call AdvantaClean! Our mold removal company of experts will safely check the air quality, understand the reasons behind the growth of spores in the environment and quickly remove the mold from your home.
Quickly preventing the spread will not only save your furniture (and even the structure of the building) from future damage, it will also avoid subsequent damage to your health.
What is Mold?
Mold is a common fungus that grows best in warm, damp environments and multiplies as microscopic spores. It travels through the air, attaching to structures like drywall, flooring and other materials in a home. Once it takes hold, mold in a house can multiply quickly in high humidity surroundings like basements, bathrooms and crawlspaces.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), if you see or smell mold, there is potential health risk and you should hire a professional mold detection company, like AdvantaClean, for cleanup and removal.
When tiny mold spores travel through the air and settle, under the right conditions, mold or mildew can multiply quickly, often going undetected, and become a problem inside your home. Mold can grow almost anywhere when moisture is present for an extended period of time.
Where Does Mold Grow?
Mold can multiply on most porous surfaces where there is damp stagnant air. While it prefers temperatures above 60 degrees, it can also grow in cold temperatures, which is why it can be found in a refrigerator (ew!). Most often, however, it is found in the following places:
- Wallpaper and drywall
- Ductwork and ceiling tiles
- Carpet, drapes and furniture
- Attics, basements and crawlspaces
- Books and magazines (anything made of paper or organic material)
You Can Control Mold Growth in a House By:
- Controlling humidity levels
- Sealing leaky roofs, windows and pipes
- Thoroughly cleaning and drying after water flooding
- Ventilating shower, laundry and cooking areas
Mold damage can be prevented. Placing a dehumidifier in a room with higher moisture levels can drastically reduce the risk of mold growth. Acting quickly to manage mold spores from spreading further will keep your structure sound and contribute to better respiratory health.
The effects of mold not only include the potential for structural damage to your home. If you are in the market to sell, undetected mold can dramatically lower the value of your home. Some real estate agents believe the presence of mold can drop the value of a home up to 10 percent.
Mold removal (also known as mold remediation), is the process of cleaning mold by removing mold and treating surfaces and materials that have been contaminated by mold or mildew. The methods used for removing mold will vary, depending on the type of mold in the house and the effects of mold on the surface or material.
To ensure you are completely removing mold in your home, a customized mold inspection and mold cleanup process will be followed to properly remove and treat the contaminated areas. Once the source and types of mold are identified, a mold removal plan will be developed and executed, including containment of the work area to control and limit the spread of mold in the house or other contaminants into surrounding areas of the home.
AdvantaClean uses a three-step process for mold removal.
- Staging
- Source Removal
- Exit Protocol
AdvantaClean specializes in removing mold, and our mold specialists use HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) vacuums for final mold removal after affected areas have been thoroughly dried and contaminated materials have been removed. HEPA vacuums have specialized filters that capture tiny mold particles that would typically pass right through a normal vacuum filter. HEPA vacuums are also used for the cleanup of dust that may have settled on surfaces outside of the mold remediation area.
Mold removal is NOT a “do it yourself job”. Mold removal requires professional chemicals, equipment and training that can only be found from mold removal companies. Treating mold with household chemicals can cause mold to spread and create more costly issues in your home, especially if you're dealing with black mold.
Most chemicals, including bleach, have been proven ineffective against eliminating mold in the long run. Contrary to popular belief, when you apply bleach to kill mold on a porous surface, (i.e. wood, drywall, grout, carpet, etc.) it actually facilitates mold growth. The chlorine molecules stay on the surface and will only kill a fraction of the mold while the water in bleach (bleach is mostly water) sinks into the material, promoting mold growth
AdvantaClean is certified for removing mold and our mold specialist will meet with you to discuss a plan for mold remediation. Each AdvantaClean technician is trained on proper mold removal / mold remediation procedures in accordance with the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) S-520. Contact AdvantaClean for professional mold removal.
A mold inspection is the first step in the process of determining if you have a mold problem. During a mold inspection, AdvantaClean’s certified mold specialists will inspect and sample the air in and around your home for mold detection. A mold specialist will use a variety of mold detection techniques to look for mold and mildew, identify the types of mold present and offer a suggested mold remediation plan.
Mold inspection is important to both the safety and health of a home and its occupants. Since mold remediation can sometimes be costly, a mold inspection performed by a mold specialist is highly recommended.
Mold inspections should be performed by a qualified mold specialist who has formal training and experience. Mold inspections look for evidence of mold or mildew growth which indicates a water or moisture issue. They can include mold growth around vents, on walls or baseboards, even in your HVAC ductwork! Because the source of mold growth can often be hidden, you should hire a mold specialist who knows where to look and has the equipment to assess your situation.
A mold specialist will also look for mold in areas where it could be causing structural issues, such as attics, basements and crawlspaces.
Mold or mildew cannot grow without water. Stagnant water damage is the source of mold growth. A mold specialist will determine the moisture source and recommend options for water removal and mold removal. If the source is not found and eliminated, mold will return, and mold remediation will have a negligible long-term effect. If your home has significant water damage, AdvantaClean also specializes in water damage restoration. We will make sure your home is happy and healthy!
Call AdvantaClean for 24/7 Emergency Services
Is Mold Affecting Your Health?
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See How AdvantaClean Can Help
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