Should You Get Your St. Charles Home Tested or Sampled for Mold?

3/13/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of St. Charles is here to help with all your mold remediation services.

When is time to get a sample for mold? If visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary.

Surface sampling may be useful to determine if an area has been adequately cleaned or remediated. Sampling for mold should be conducted by professionals who have specific experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling methods and interpreting results.

Sample analysis should follow analytical methods recommended by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or other professional organizations.

Are there federal regulations or standards regarding mold testing?

Standards or Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for airborne concentrations of mold, or mold spores, have not been set. Currently, there are no EPA regulations or standards for airborne mold contaminants.

Understanding Mold

When water intrudes into your property, mold growth can start in as little as 48 hours. Consider the following mold facts:

• Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors.
• Mold spores are microscopic, 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 that odor can lead you to possible mold problem areas.
• Even higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth. Keep indoor humidity below 45 percent.

The Mold Remediation Process

Every mold damage scenario is different and requires a unique solution, but the general mold remediation process stays the same. Learn more about our mold remediation process.

1. Emergency Contact - (636) 442-0847
2. Inspection and Mold Damage Assessment
3. Mold Containment
4. Air Filtration
5. Removing Mold and Mold-Infested Materials
6. Cleaning Contents and Belongings

What to Do If You Find Mold

2/10/2022 (Permalink)

Mold is a terrifying word to many property owners. A word with the potential to cause a ton of problems. What should be done if you find or suspect mold in your home or business? Let’s start with some facts about mold.

Mold Facts:

• Mold is all over, inside and out.
• Mold spores are microscopic, floating aloft into your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems.
• Mold spores thrive on moisture, quickly growing into colonies when exposed to water. These colonies may produce health effects.
• 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.
• Higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth, so keep indoor humidity below 45 percent.
• Significant mold growth can occur in 48-72 hours.
• Mold may present a greater risk to children, the elderly, and anyone with respiratory problems.
• A strong, musty odor may indicate hidden mold behind drywall or under carpeting.

How do you know if you have mold? One of the easiest ways to identify if your property has mold damage is seeing the actual mold spores. However, this is often a sign of a larger problem and should be properly investigated by a professional. Another sign can be if you notice a bit of moldy or musty smell, which can also indicate there may be a mold issue.

It’s also a good idea to check where you know water has leaked in the past. Past flooding can also lead to mold issues, becoming a problem a long after if the initial water damage was not thoroughly dried. Be sure to check previously flooded areas for mold.

One of the first steps before remediation of your mold affected area is to stop the source. Many times, mold is from a small plumbing or roof leak. The source will need to be repaired or the mold will simply come back again and again. If you’re not sure of the moisture source, it’s best to hire a professional such as SERVPRO of St. Charles City for help.

Our technicians can inspect your home or business. SERVPRO of St. Charles City, SERVPRO of St. Peters and SERVPRO of Dardenne Prairie/Weldon Springs has the training, protective gear, and specialized equipment necessary to handle your mold problem.

We are here to help. Give SERVPRO of St. Charles City a call today: (636) 926-0033.

Where To Look for Mold in Your Home

5/30/2019 (Permalink)

What are mold and mildew

If you know where to look for mold, you can stop mold damage before it gets too serious. In O'Fallon,MO, this is an important issue for any homeowner. Mold can be predictable, so it’s a good idea to educate yourself about how mold works in order to stay on top of it.

What Are Mold and Mildew?

Mold is a type of fungus that can cause structural damage to your home. It reproduces via microscopic airborne spores, so it can only be seen once it begins growing as a colony. Mold growth has a fuzzy appearance due to multicellular filaments known as hyphae and can present in a variety of colors, such as black, brown, blue, green, yellow, pink and white. It emits a distinct musky odor. Mildew growth is a specific type of mold that appears chalky rather than fuzzy and is usually white or gray. It does not cause as much damage as mold.

Where Does Mold Like To Hang Out?

Since moisture facilitates mold, it is best to identify any sources of this in your home, such as leaky pipes. Mold likes to feed on organic material, such as drywall, paper, wood and fibers that have been exposed to water. You should routinely inspect the following places for mold damage.

• Basement
  
• Kitchen
  
• Bathroom
  
• Area near HVAC
  
• Anywhere that appears damp
  
  

What Should You Do When You Find It?

If you locate evidence of damage from mold in your inspections, the first thing you should do is have the problem assessed by professionals. They can recommend how to move forward via a mold remediation process. Mold can never be totally removed because it is a natural component of the air around you, but it can be managed to stay within appropriate levels. You should not attempt to remove mold on your own.

Knowing where to expect mold in your home is an important first step in preventing mold damage. Remember, mold loves moisture.