The morning air is cold this morning, and you are sipping coffee. You are thinking about what to do today. Scanning your room randomly, you see a faint patch of black spots on your wall that emit a musty smell. The variables tell you it's a mold infestation.
Your mind suddenly goes on high alert, prompting you to call for a mold inspector. A feeling of dread takes over as you remember the weariness of going through the motions of having the mold removed again.
But then you wonder and pause to consider. A question pops up in your head as you take another sip of coffee and ask yourself, “Can I completely remove mold from my house?”
Indoor mold infestation in Brooklyn, NY is a pressing problem
Season after season, you are faced with mold infestation. Sometimes your good old mixture of baking soda, vinegar, and water does the job. Other times, your bleach solution can aid in removing mold.
But when faced with very fast and aggressive mold expansion, you know it is time for mold testing and mold remediation. Act fast before it leads to unwanted consequences like skin infections, hay fever, and other allergic reactions.
What’s the thing about molds that they keep on coming back?
So, here’s the thing. Mold is always present. Even after an expert mold remediation process, mold will always find surfaces to colonize when your environment is conducive to its growth.
Mold spores love moisture.
Mold will grow when a surface is drenched in water for more than 24 hours. You'll have surface mold problems when there is a leaking pipe or when you let vapor from your hot water tank reach your ceiling and dry walls. You will find mold in damp rooms, grout lines, crawl spaces, ceiling tiles, and wet materials where your HVAC system is positioned.
Microscopic mold spores will take root and grow on pavements moistened by a flood or heavy rain. As long as there are leaks inside your house, you will have a mold problem.
As a remedy, keep your house free fom unnecessary moisture. Immediately dry out wet areas to keep hidden mold from resurfacing. Use your squeegee, towels, and mops to dry out anything that causes wet and moist surfaces, and throw away damp materials you no longer need.
Mold loves humid spaces
In Brooklyn, New York, high indoor humidity is the main cause of mold growth. If Relative Humidity (RH) is maintained above 70% indoors for extended periods, mold will grow. Stoves, heaters, and dryers can cause mold to thrive and expand.
The remedy is to maintain indoor humidity to optimal levels. Monitor temperatures within your home, school, or office to ensure humidity is below 60% indoors. Knowing these numbers will help you know when they will likely show up and grow.
Keep your indoor environment dry and well-ventilated. A good air conditioner or dehumidifier can remove excess moisture in the air and control indoor mold growth. But ventilation is a major factor you should work on. Rooms that are poorly ventilated are often the root cause of mold problems. The best mold removal products in the market will only work well with excellent indoor air quality.
Rapid mold expansion can happen on any given surface
Mold eats to stay alive. They feed on organic materials such as those in your wood panels, drywalls, food, gypsum boards, clothes, luggage, cardboard, newspapers, and fabrics. They also get food from airborne organic particles such as dust and pollen.
They can even root deep in pores and cracks of your concrete floor, unless you get it concrete polished.
Getting rid of all organic materials in your home is impossible. What you can do is immediately dispose of mold-infested materials. Also, remove porous materials near areas frequently wet with water because they are surfaces where future mold growth will occur.
But never attempt to handle mold without protective equipment. Even when using soap residue or a bleach and water solution, you must wear rubber gloves to protect your skin and a respirator to keep yourself from inhaling the spores emitted by mold colonies. Protective gear is crucial because there are dangerous mold varieties that can give you serious health problems.
When mold infestation is beyond your control, your best chance of solving the problem is through a professional mold remediation service. Mold removal experts know how to identify contaminated areas where indoor mold growth often begins.
Mold growth occurs in rooms that lack sunlight
Mold hates the sun. Its ultraviolet rays can easily destroy their spores and damage their ability to multiply. Sunlight is best for killing toxic mold and fungus spores. Using UV lamps in rooms that do not receive enough sunlight can help. But nothing can beat sunshine.
How will I know when there is mold growing in my space?
Now that you know what combined conditions mold will grow and thrive, the next step is to know the warning signs. There are physical signs for you to know they are present.
Visible mold growth
Moldy surfaces are easy to spot. You can see mold colonies on fixtures, tiles, food, windows, drywall, carpets and rugs, air ducts, and any areas with excess moisture caused by leaks or poor waterproofing treament.
Mold can be any color. But be wary of the black mold (stachybotrys chartarum). Black mold is the most common toxic variety found inside homes. It is best to call for professional mold remediation for effective black mold removal.
Discoloration on walls and ceilings
Another way to spot mold growth is by observing signs of discoloration. Dark spots that look like maps are mold growth caused by poor ventilation and high humidity levels.
Musty odor
You can detect mold when a musty and earthy odor is inside your room. Mold can also smell like rotting leaves, wood, or paper. This comes from microbial volatile organic compounds that are in molds. People exposed to mold may experience various allergic reactions from the skin or the lungs.
When these signs are present, call for certified mold removal experts who can remove mold with the right tools and equipment.
Mold is growing in my space. So what?
You should get rid of mold as soon as possible because mold can harm your health and your property.
How mold can harm your health
Mold exposure cannot be undermined because it is harmful to your health. They produce mycotoxins that are dangerous if inhaled in large quantities. Sadly, all the mold spores in the air attach themselves to dust, which means you can unknowingly inhale these microorganisms.
A mold problem can affect your lungs and bloodstream. Your body will normally fight them off by creating an allergic reaction. That is why prolonged exposure to mold can lead to a runny nose, cough, and watery eyes. Unfortunately, some develop or experience worsening asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
How mold can harm your property
Mold feeds on organic substances. The growth and spread of mold for extended periods can harm your home, school, or office’s physical structure. There can be a direct attack on the structure, like wood and rubber. Mold can also create acid formation and corrosion on metal surfaces. Left unattended, this will cause damage to the structural integrity and aesthetics of your property.
Is mold remediation process a permanent solution for mold?
You can completely remove mold from your house. But mold will always return when the environment is conducive again for them to thrive. To avoid this, you need professional mold removal services. Mold experts can stop mold from potential rapid growth and limit its impact on your health. Here's what we offer our clients when doing mold remediation.
Testing for mold spores. Before mold remediation, we gather mold samples. Mold testing is needed to know what kind of mold is present in your home or office has and how it can be removed.
Remove and repair the area of mold. The areas affected by mold have to be completely dried out. Damage has to be addressed, especially materials that have been infested with mold. The source of water, moisture, and humidity will be resolved.
Removal of any HPD violations. When mold inspection is done in your home, school, or office, HPD or Housing Preservation & Development violations will be reported. Note: Make sure you have homeowners insurance if your landlord did not inform you of an existing mold problem before renting their place.
CONCLUSION
Mold has to be removed as soon as possible. When the environment is right, mold growth is inevitable. Don't make room for mold to thrive and grow; otherwise, it can lead to mold reproduction and an out-of-control infestation. In other words, don't take mold lightly. Use protective gear such as rubber gloves and breathing masks when dealing with mold.
For effective mold remediation, pros will be able to do it for you thoroughly. Call the best mold removal specialists in Brooklyn, NY, so your home, school, or office will be safe and free from mold.
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