Battling Mold in Your Garage

12/6/2017 (Permalink)

If you suspect that your home or business has a mold problem, SERVPRO of North Palm Beach County can inspect, assess and remediate your property.

Florida homeowners are used to dealing with weather elements like heavy rainstorms, extremely hot days, and hurricane disasters at any point in time during the year. The combination of hot, humid days paired with incredible hot months creates the perfect home for mold inside of your garage. And if you are like most Florida residents, you likely have a garage in your home and depend on that space for storage, a place for your vehicle(s), and even an outside refrigerator in some cases. Unfortunately for our garages, mold thrives in dark, moist, unventilated places. So, while it may not be top of mind for most people, it is extraordinarily important to be aware of potential mold growth in your garage.

Building a garage with materials that would prevent mold is ideal, however, most people do not have that option. So, keep the following tips in mind for preventing and battling mold in your garage:

• Minimize moisture with a dehumidifier
• Ventilate as much as possible with fresh air
• Open the garage for a portion of time each day to let sunlight inside
• Make sure the garage door is properly sealed to prevent water from seeping in
• Keep your stored items organized and on shelves
• Keep any shrubs or plants near the garage trimmed at all times
• Avoid storing anything wet inside of the garage
• After a heavy rainstorm, remove any standing water and dry the area as soon as possible
• Do not keep cardboard boxes in the garage

Preventing mold in your garage is important for any homeowner. We recommend doing regular inspections of your garage to ensure that no mold spores have grown, especially in moist, dark areas. If you suspect that your home or business has a mold problem, SERVPRO of North Palm Beach County can inspect, assess and remediate your property.

The Fascinating Truth about Mold

8/22/2017 (Permalink)

While mold will always be present in your day-to-day life, there are a number of ways to avoid excessive exposure.

Most people do not realize that mold is everywhere. Mold lives inside, mold lives outside, and, in fact, mold is likely growing somewhere in close proximity to you as you read this article. Mold spores are microscopic and are therefore difficult to spot with the eyes. Thriving on moisture, mold spores often grow in places that are wet and colonies often grow quickly when exposed to water. Understanding some basic mold facts and figures can help you to be more aware of the potential dangers of mold growth and the risk of letting it thrive without professional removal or remediation.

We have spent some time collecting some of the most interesting facts and fascinating truths about mold. Take a moment to read through these figures and make mental notes of how important it is to be aware of any signs of mold:

• Approximately 93 percent of Chronic Sinus Infections are linked to mold
• Nearly 30 percent of new homes built have mold in them already
• Mold exposure has been linked to asthma, allergic reactions, and other respiratory health issues
• Fixing water leaks or problems is the best way to avoid mold growth
• Mold can grow on virtually any type of substance or surface as long as moisture is present
• Storm-driven rain is one of the most common sources of mold
• There have been over 1,000 mold-related insurance claims over the last decade
• Every single type of mold has a potential to cause some type of health issue
• Roof damage often leads to mold growth as a result of roof leaks
• Doors, windows, and exterior walls are all vulnerable to mold growth when moisture exists
• Poor ventilation inside of a home causes mold to grow
• Humidity must be controlled to prevent excessive mold growth

While mold will always be present in your day-to-day life, there are a number of ways to avoid excessive exposure. Keep the above facts and figures in mind in order to protect you and your family from mold-related health issues. If you believe that you may have a mold issue in your home or business, contact SERVPRO today to speak with our mold remediation experts!

How To Stop Mold Growth in Your Shower

7/6/2017 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO, our highly-trained mold remediation specialists are here restore your bathroom quickly, efficiently, and with the utmost professionalism.

Most homeowners can attest to the fact that mold and showers seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly. Despite your best efforts, that pesky mold starts to grow in the shower and it seems like there is nothing you can do to stop it. Mold thrives in moisture and confined areas and is therefore likely to flourish inside of a shower. While many do not realize it, mold is actually present everywhere, both indoors and outdoors, all of the time. When a mold spore is exposed to water, a colony can quickly grow and create a problem. In addition, mold often produces irritants and allergens and that can create health issues for you and your family.

Showers are damp and dark, facilitating mold growth and causing major headaches for homeowners. From the shower ceiling to the shower floor, a quick look around your bathroom area is likely to reveal some mildew issues. Things like pipe leaks and poor ventilation can cause bathroom mold to grow. Preventing mold from growing in the first place is of course the most efficient method. Therefore, try to keep your bathroom fan on when you shower for better ventilation, replace your shower curtain frequently, possibly use a dehumidifier in the bathroom, and wash your rugs in the bathroom often.

While preventing mold growth in your shower is ideal, it is not always possible. For that reason, getting rid of mold in the bathroom is a concern of many homeowners. As long as the bathroom has not suffered from a serious mold growth infestations, getting rid of it is entirely possible. First, remove any sealant that has visible mold. Then, start by cleaning your shower top to bottom with any type of mold-killing cleaning product such as hydrogen peroxide or bleach, but be careful not to mix these toxic cleaning products. Finally, keep any and all doors and windows open in the bathroom to get air circulating and drying the area as much as possible.

Unfortunately, there are many scenarios when the homeowner waits too long to address mold growth in the shower or bathroom. If the mold problem in your bathroom seems outside of the scope of the above suggestions, you will likely need professional help. At SERVPRO, our highly-trained mold remediation specialists are here restore your bathroom quickly, efficiently, and with the utmost professionalism. Don’t let mold ruin your beautiful bathroom, contact us today to learn more!

The Dangers of Mold in Your Home

6/28/2017 (Permalink)

Unwanted mold growth can lead to adverse health effects and can make living in your own home uncomfortable.

South Florida homes are particularly susceptible to mold growth in their homes because mold and moisture thrive together. A type of fungus, mold is also called mildew and can grow both indoors and outdoors, flourishing in humid, damp, and warm conditions. Unfortunately for Florida homeowners, the weather in the Sunshine State typically creates a humid, damp, and warm environment. As such, mold threatens homes all across South Florida, especially during very hot and humid days. Places like shower stalls, wet carpets, and other areas that suffer from water exposure are most vulnerable to mold growth. This occurs because active mold growth needs moisture. Understanding the dangers of mold in your home is important to preventing serious health risks for you and your family.

Some people are more sensitive to mold than others and will immediately feel an allergic reaction when they are exposed to it. Things like sneezing, coughing, skin rashes, red and itchy eyes, and runny noses are all common allergic reactions to mold presence. Those who have a serious allergy to mold may even experience shortness of breath, even causing asthma attacks for people with asthma. The groups of people who are most often connected to sensitivity to mold exposure are:

• Elderly people
• Children
• Infants
• People with compromised immune systems
• Sufferers of chronic lung disease

Mold can enter a home through vents, windows, doorways, and even air conditioning systems. In addition, outside mold can even attach itself to pets, clothing, and shoes and be tracked inside of a home. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there have been more than different 1,000 types of mildew and mold identified inside of houses throughout the country. Therefore, contacting a qualified, professional mold remediation expert is imperative to keeping you and your family protected. Unwanted mold growth can lead to adverse health effects and can make living in your own home uncomfortable. If you see any signs of mold it is critical that you contact SERVPRO immediately and speak with one of our mold specialists.

The Dangers of Black Mold

2/24/2017 (Permalink)

If you have any concerns about mold growth in your house or in your office building, contact our mold remediation specialists right away!

Throughout the last years many myths have developed regarding black mold and the dangers associated with it. It is important to note, however, that not all black bold is toxic. Additionally, all toxic molds are not necessarily black mold. The two toxic black molds are Aspergillus and Stachybotrys chartarum, typically found in damaged buildings where moisture is present. Determining whether or not mold is dangerous is incredibly difficult. Therefore, whenever any mold is detected in your home or office building, it is essential that you contact a professional as soon as possible. Mold remediation must be done immediately to remove the mold and the toxins associated with its presence.

Black mold is very slow to develop and typically feeds off of earlier mold growth to flourish. More often than not, black mold is rather heavy and unlikely to become airborne. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as the World Health Organization (WHO), a person who is living or working around mold is at greater risk of developing a respiratory disease. Mold almost always gets into a building or house due to excessive moisture, most often from:

• Sewer backups
• Water damage following a rain storm
• Flooding
• Leaky pipes
• Blocked gutters
• Poor drainage systems
• Rook leaks
• Condensation

Preventing black mold from forming is relatively easy to do. Make sure that the ventilation system in your home or office is functioning properly. Minimize moisture by keeping the area temperatures warm, as cold air holds moisture much more efficiently. Finally, try to limit humidity in situations such as cooking with a window open. If you have any concerns about mold growth in your house or in your office building, contact our mold remediation specialists right away to limit the dangers and damage associated with mold growth.

Most Common Places for Home Mold Growth

9/13/2016 (Permalink)

The sooner you identify a problem and call SERVPRO of North Palm Beach County, the sooner our highly trained mold remediation specialists can restore

When a home suffers any type of water damage, mold infestations can arise within 48-72 hours throughout the home. Removing all mold in a home is impossible as they are microscopic spores living both inside and outside. In Florida, mold is incredibly common because it thrives on moisture and thus quickly grows into colonies where any water exposure exists. Unfortunately, mold spores produce a variety of irritants and allergens, making them potential health problems. As such, removing as much mold as possible is important for any homeowner, particularly for South Florida homeowners.

Mold remediation is most effective when mold is discovered and addressed quickly. SERVPRO of North Palm Beach County prides itself on getting to your mold disaster as fast as possible, which is critical in making sure that the damage is limited and the cost of remediation is manageable.

As such, being aware of the common places where mold grows is essential to reducing the mold damage and preventing future mold growth. The following are some of the most common places for home mold growth:

1. Bathrooms and showers
2. HVAC system drain pans
3. Underneath kitchen sinks
4. Areas surrounding refrigerators
5. Carpets
6. Crawlspaces
7. Ceiling tiles
8. Surrounding air conditioning units
9. Stacks of paper/newspapers/cardboard boxes/etc. that are dampened or wet
10. Areas surrounding any kind of cooling or heating appliances

While the above are some of the most common locations for mold growth, it is certainly not limited to those 10 areas. Nevertheless, consistently inspecting these common regions in your home will help to ensure that moisture is not creating mold growth. The sooner you identify a problem and call SERVPRO of North Palm Beach County, the sooner our highly trained mold remediation specialists can restore your home.

Does Your North Palm Beach County Home Have A Mold Problem?

7/13/2016 (Permalink)

In North Palm Beach County, mold can spread through a home in as little as 48 hours.

Microscopic mold spores naturally occur almost everywhere, both outdoors and indoors. This makes it impossible to remove all mold from a home or business. Therefore, mold remediation reduces the mold spore count back to its natural or baseline level. Some restoration businesses advertise “mold removal” and even guarantee to remove all mold, which is a fallacy. Consider the following mold facts:

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

If your home or business has a mold problem, we can inspect and assess your property and use our specialized training, equipment, and expertise to remediate your mold infestation.

If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today - (561) 881-8784

6 Ways to Prevent Mold from Growing in Your Closet

5/13/2016 (Permalink)

South Florida homes are prone to mold and mildew due to all of the moisture and humidity in the region.

Mold growth is present everywhere, from outdoors to indoors and in every region in the world. This natural part of the environment is typically not an issue until it moves from outdoors to indoors, causing mold spores to grow on a damp or wet spot. Health risks may then develop, as mold produces irritants and allergens that may cause allergic reactions, upper respiratory tract symptoms, and more. Controlling mold in your home is imperative, especially in South Florida where mold and mildew are common.

South Florida homes are prone to mold and mildew due to all of the moisture and humidity in the region. The closet, however, is especially disposed to these issues because it offers an atmosphere perfect for mold to thrive. Cleaning up and removing the mold is typically a job for professionals. As such, preventing mold from growing in your closet to begin with is most favorable. Here are some tips to do so:

1. Avoid packing clothing tightly together, as air circulation in between clothes is important.
2. Make sure clothes are either hanging or in boxes, do not store clothing on the closet floor as moisture can appear underneath.
3. Before putting your clothes away in the closet, make sure that they are completely dry.
4. If possible, always keep the closet door open to maintain air circulation throughout the tiny space.
5. Every once in a while it is important to completely clear out the closet and wash its contents.
6. Always choose wire shelves as opposed to solid shelves to improve air circulation.

Taking these steps will go a long way in preventing mold from becoming an issue in your home’s closet. However, mold can still form and spread quickly, requiring immediate response. Contact SERVPRO as soon as you recognize an issue and we will provide fast, efficient, and professional service for all of your mold remediation and removal needs!