Posts Tagged ‘mold’

When water damage occurs, there is always the possibility of mold.  When there is water damage on a property in the state of Georgia, one of the first things that a water damage company will do is to inspect.  They look to see if any mold has surfaced. 

 

They have to do an inspection where they look to find contamination.  They have to know how much water damage and mold has spread through the property before the mold remediation process can begin. 

 

The experts should also check ventilation and any damp areas within the property.  During this inspection, ceiling tiles, sheetrock, paper and other materials should be checked for dampness or molding. 

 

When doing water damage checkups in the state of Georgia, they use what is called a boroscope.  This piece of equipment is used to look at ductwork spaces.  It is also used to look behind the walls of a home.  In order to fid moisture, they will use a moisture meter.  A moisture meter can also be used to find growing fungus and how much water damage the property endured. 

 

In order to have proof of what they found, they take photos with a digital camera and use the photos to show anything out of the ordinary.  They will be able to detect what areas need the most assistance. 

 

With mold testing, in order to determine where fungus resides in the house, the experts will have to take samples.  It’s easy for people to contract allergies after they have been exposed to it.  The person that does the sampling will scrape or cut a piece of material in order to get the mold.  Or they will wipe a portion of the area with a sterile item or using transparent tape to strip the area.    

 

The experts also check for air sampling.  If they find out through an inspection (visual) that there is contamination in the vents, they will conduct further testing.  They need to know how much contamination has permeated the area. 

 

They can get a better gauge if the vents are still on.  If there is a musty odor smell that can’t be determined by looking at it, they may have to resort to air monitoring.  Air monitoring may include having to sample the air outside. 

 

For water damage in the state of Georgia, it’s very important to pinpoint the cause of the water or moisture in the house.  This must be completed as soon as possible.  The sooner it’s done, the less chance there is of fungus rearing its ugly head. 

 

It should not take any more than 48 hours (preferably less than that) to cleanup, dry and remove anything that was destroyed by water damage. 

 

Also for water damage purposes in the state of Georgia, the crew should not forget about repairs to the property.  They should be done as soon as possible.  This can help prevent additional water damage and accumulation of moisture from coming back.

Home mold presents serious health hazards to you and your family. However, it is not hard to prevent mold once you know what exactly is mold, how to identify it, and what are the techniques you can utilize to prevent it.

 

 

So What is Mold?

 

Mold is a type of fungus that grows from spores and is essential for the breakdown of dead plant and animal matter. Mold spores are usually inactive, but they will become active if humidity levels exceeds70% or if the temperature goes above 65 degrees. Mold exists everywhere in the environment, it may be found indoors and outdoors. Mold is often found in damp or wet areas, this why it is so common in places such as the basement and bathroom and outdoor in grass and hay. People come in touch with mold everyday. Mold is what causes food to spoil, wood to rot, and paper to smell musty.

 

How to Identify Mold?

 

Mold is the black growth you often see on wet window sills. If you store paper or fabrics in a damp place you might get the musty smell that is cause by the action of molds. Active mold growth is slimy and is usually green, black, orange or purple. When inactive mold is dry and looks like a powder. It is usually white when dry. In its early phases, molds may look like a web while when in full bloom it looks like a miniature bush. Even when molds are unseen, wet spots or dampness can indicate a problem and molds will eventually follow. If you suspect that a spot is moldy, you can perform a simple test to find out if the spot is really mold. Touch the suspected spot with a small drop of bleach and see if the stain loses its color or disappears. If it does, it may be mold. If there is no change, it is probably not mold. Another good way to tell if mold is present is odor. Mold usually has a musty smell that can indicate the presence of molds even if they are invisible.

 

 Defining Moldy Areas

 

There are 3 common terms used to define a moldy area:

 

Extensive: A mold area is defined extensive if there is a single area of mold that is larger than 32square feet. If there are less than three patches of mold, each smaller than 10 square feet, is considered a “small” area mold. The definition of moderate area is given if there are more than three patches but each patch is smaller than 10 square feet or if there is on patch, larger than 10 square feet but smaller than 32 square feet

 

When water damage occurs it’s a multiple problem. There are damages caused by mold, sewage backup, and debris. If by flooding then sewage backup is common. Sewer backup is very unhealthy and the mess needs to be taken care of before it causes health issues to your family. Starting the drying process quickly is a most to help stop structural damage that could increase your costs.

 

When water damage happens to your home or business you’ll need some of these services: water extraction, sewage extraction, wall and debris removal, mold remediation, carpet and floor drying, structure restoration, air duct cleaning, carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, tile and grout cleaning.

 

There are health issues that go with mold and mildew from flooding and the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station has a helpful PDF you can download to help you understand the dangers, which come from the effects of flooding. This can help you realize the importance to your family in getting your home cleaned up in Newark or anywhere such damage may happen.

 

When anyone inhales mold spores, mold cells or mold waste products the effects are harmful and subject to causing allergic reactions, toxic effects or infections. One of the worst molds is stachybotrys, which has been called the “killer mold.” The spores are released when cleaning and bleach won’t kill it. It grows in cardboard, wall board, paper, and wall framing. After it has dried the spores become airborne and move around your home or office. This why you need experts to cleanup so no one in your family becomes ill because of this poisonous mold.

 

When a nor’easter storm hits Newark federal aid is available and trained volunteers can help you with cleanup and other assistance. Agencies such as Catholic Charities, Southern Baptist Convention, Mennonite Disaster Services, Tzu Foundation, the Christian Reform World Relief, the Salvation Army, and United Way offer service for all though the elderly and disabled have first priority.

 

Cleanup after a flood in Newark or elsewhere requires hundreds of workers. Buildings have to be renovated, torn down, and hauled way. OSHA states that all of this cleanup and demolition sometimes releases asbestos that is airborne asbestos. This dangerous mineral fiber can case lung disease and cancer they state, therefore they have guidelines for workers during cleanup from asbestos during restoration after flooding.

 

OSHA also alerts workers that cleanup after flooding to the fact that rotting vegetation causes airborne fungi if airborne dust particles are inhaled then the fungal matter is taken into the lungs. They state specifically that inhaling is the way to exposure that is most critical to cleanup workers after flooding.

 

After the overflow of the bay in Newark, New Jersey much damage was sustained and all cleanup precautions were vital to insure the health of all workers. Whether the damage is to a business, public building or home total renovation and repair is needed so life can go on without further problems such as illness as a result of a flood.

Mold spores are released into the atmosphere when they are touched. Once the fungus is releasing mold spores into the air they float around and get blown around with any movement. They are difficult to detect and can be inhaled easily. Once inhaled they are able to produce modest or much more serious health problems. They frequently account for a variety of allergic reactions, and even asthma attacks. They can also induce intense health problems. Some types of mold are toxic to humans.

The average person cannot easily identify mold that creates potentially fatal mold spores. Few people are experts in mold indentification, and most of us feel that to figure out different types of mold is problematic, if not inconceivable. It is always a very good wearing protective gear for your precaution in the near of mold, as toxic mold is difficult to identify.

Try to avoid breathing in mold spores at any time. You can achieve this by being vigilant. Control your environment for mold infestation. As soon as you notice a problem, try to extinguish the mold employing a detergent or bleach solution. When you use a detergent solution, add a borate based detergent to the mix for much more effective cleaning. Do not rinse. Bleach, solved in water, can be used to defeat and manipulate mold and mold spores. Vaccuuming is likewise a good way to get rid of mold spores inside your house.

People in houses that are often exposed to water need to be particularly viligant. These homes are full of moisture which permits molds to thrive. While numerous houses can have mold spores, those with high moisture levels will be the ones that will receive mold infestations more often.

Manifestation of Molds

Molds when develop leave white outgrowth or little black spots which look like bits of thread. The white threads, if left unattended, will become larger. As the mold colony becomes more established, the black spots will expand to big black blotches.

Molds eat the organic matter they grow on. While they consume their organic “hosts”, the matter becomes decayed and rotten. Larger quantities of mold spores are being released into the air as molds continue to grow. Mold spores can survive in the atmosphere for quite a long time. They are able to travel and haunt different types of surfaces.

After the change of the surroundings to an ideal combination of heat and moisture the mold spores grow into the fungus.

I read some scary statistics the other day – over 1 in 3 people in North America and Europe live in houses with damp and mold problems.  Anyone who’s moved house recently will probably have come across many properties with damp, stained walls and even growth of mold spores.But there’s a real lack of awareness about the problem.  Damp and mould problems are often in hidden corners of your home and many times it resides inside walls where you can’t see it. 

Damp causes sickness
Damp has been linked with an alarming range of illnesses.  Most common are allergic reactions and flu-like symptoms like sneezing, sore eyes, coughing and wheezing.It can be a nightmare for asthma sufferers, and there’s even been a study connecting it with causing asthma during childhood.  Damp can also cause serious respiratory problems in the long run.  Another recent study even revealed a connection between mold and depression! 

Causes
You may be wondering, how this stuff manages to infect your home?To start with, it’s important to state that mould occurs naturally in small amounts and can be sorted out quite simply.However the major problems start when it’s left untreated and allowed to spread.  Mould builds up as a result of too much humidity in the air combined with a lack of proper ventilation for the moisture to escape.Water collects in the atmosphere from places like the bathroom, as well as condensation on windows.But it needs to go somewhere!  Lack of ventilation can be down to poor workmanship and failure to ensure proper damp proofing when the home was built.  It also down to lack of proper ventilation.  This is becoming more and more common these days as we seal up our homes to keep the heat in and reduce energy costs.

Dealing with damp
We should all concern ourselves with preventing mould developing in our homes. It’s not just for people who already have damp problems.Left unchecked it becomes a lot harder – and costlier – to deal with.  Here are some top tips on how to avoid damp buildup in your home or workplace:

 

1. Dry up any build up of condensation you notice around the house within 24-48 hours.  Remember, mould can’t grow without moisture.
2. Ensure that you get proper ventilation in the building to give moisture an escape route.  Consider installing air vents or opening a window after showers.
3. Think about cold surfaces around the house where condensation may occur, like pipes, roofs, outside walls and windows – and get them insulated.
4. It’s well worth considering investing in one of the many dehumidifiers out there to remove moisture from the atmosphere.  Certain portable air conditioners also do the job, with the added bonus of keeping you cool in the summer.
5. Get wise on your legal position.  If a damp problem really takes hold it can ruin your life and bank balance. Find out from your home insurance to see if your policy covers mold damage. Those living in rented accomodation should ask their landlord to have damp and mold professionally looked at.