Americans spend as much 90 percent of their time indoors, but have you ever thought about the quality of the air that you are breathing as you sit inside your home, office or even a restaurant?
Best Practices to Prevent Mold growth
We have many clients ask for best practices to prevent or control Mold growth. The following information is a guide in response to the request. The Most important factor to consider is when water leaks or spills occur indoors -ACT QUICKLY. If wet or damp materials or areas are dried 24-48 hours after a leak or spill happens, in most cases mold will not grow. Make sure that you do routine inspections inside and outside of your home. Clean and repair roof gutters as needed. Make sure the ground slopes away from the building foundation, so that water does not enter or collect around the foundation. Keep air conditioning drip pans clean and the drain lines unobstructed and flowing properly. This is a common problem that can cause a significant damage and can be prevented with a routine safety check.
Homeownership and Mold
As homeowners are more educated today regarding indoor air quality they are learning more about the damage mold can cause to their health and home. We are seeing an increase in home owners concerns on how mold can impact health. Homeowners are beginning to realize that their energy-efficient, “tight” homes built since the ’70s energy crisis can actually be havens for destructive mold, thanks to poor circulation and “mold-friendly” materials like conventional drywall and particleboard. They’re also discovering that many insurance companies are no longer covering mold-related damages. This puts the burden on the homeowner to prevent mold before it causes serious health issues and expensive mold remediation projects.
Mold And Allergies
Are you one on the many individuals who have allergy symptoms year round? If you answered yes you may be one of the increasing numbers of people allergic to mold. While people with pollen allergies tend to have seasonal symptoms, mold allergies can flare up all year long. Indoor mold can be a problem, because mold will grow in your house where there is an increase in moisture and humidity. You may see mold growth on a basement wall, in your crawl space, a damp carpet, or behind the bathroom tile.
Precautions for Mold removal
The most important step for any do it yourself project is to do an assessment of what is involved and what is my skill level for completing the project safely. You should identify what precipitated the mold growth and the project scope or amount of work involved. Safety for you and your family is the most important factor to consider. Always take precautions to limit your exposure to mold and mold spores. You should avoid breathing in the spores. The best way to limit your exposure to airborne mold is to wear a respirator. The N-95 respirator is recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency. For best results make sure the mask fits properly.
How do I know if I have toxic mold? What’s does Mold look like?
Mold is a type of microscopic organism or fungi that grows in damp environment and there are about 200,000 types, most of which are harmless. They thrive on soil, air, and practically everywhere as long as there are moisture, oxygen, and some organic matter. Certain types of mold are found in soil, plants, and even crops like corn and wheat. It likes damp and shady areas and can be found indoors.
Black Mold Los Angeles
If you’re located in the Los Angeles California area mold removal service doesn’t have to be a costly, prolonged disorganized ordeal. When you work with the experts at The Ultimate Company LLC. With years of experience and training, our staff is fully committed to restoring the integrity of your home. Whether you’ve just discovered mold in your home or commercial building or have been aware of its presence for some time, your health and the quality of your home and belongings can be at risk.
Professional mold removal is it worth the cost ?
I hear many times that mold removal can be expensive. The question that I always ask is can you put a price on you and your family’s health. Hiring a certified profession can take a lot of responsibility off you the homeowner. Cost should not deter you form taking care of the problem. When you evaluate the dangers mold can cause you and your family’s health, then the cost is defiantly worth it.
Why Mold Testing
The purpose of a mold test is to locate mold infestations, determine the cause and provide useful information to help determine the best and most effective removal or treatment plan necessary. A mold inspection can reveal hidden mold conditions. The absence of visible mold is not necessarily conformation that there is no mold problem. A mold test can also identify a small problem before it becomes a big mold problem and impacts the air you breathe. A mold inspection can assist in finding out what caused your mold problem.
Mold and Your Health
Over the last several years we have seen a steady increase of the presence of mold in homes and commercial buildings. Mold and how it can impact your health has been seen in the headlines on national news, magazines, and local papers. With the economy and recent foreclosed homes we are seeing more and more homes with mold related issues. People still don’t fully understand the health hazards of mold exposure and how it affects your air quality. The term toxic mold is somewhat misleading as it exudes an idea that certain molds are toxic, when actually certain types of molds produce secondary metabolites that produce toxins which are called mycotoxins. The spores can definitely destroy one’s health and immune system. Sometimes, people are unaware they have problems with the air they are breathing and the mold spores until they are very sick. Certain people may have a minor allergic reaction to the some molds, but once you have the affected area remediated of the toxic spores they most likely recover with few serious side effects. However, if they have been exposed to the dangerous molds such as Stachybotrys or Chaetomium, they could suffer from a myriad of serious symptoms and illnesses such as chronic bronchitis, heart problems, cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue, bleeding lungs and much more.
