You found mold. You made a call to a professional mold removal company. Now how long can you expect the process to take? Removing mold can be a lengthy process depending on its severity. Small amounts of mold may be removed in as little as a day, whereas larger infestations could take up to five.
Below, we answer the most commonly asked questions about mold removal so you know what to expect.
What Causes Mold?
Mold starts out as tiny spores that quickly spread throughout a home. In most cases, mold develops as a result of water damage. That’s why it’s not uncommon to find mold in areas that have recently suffered a flood or roof leak. Mold needs humidity and a damp environment in order to grow. In fact, mold can grow in as little as 24 hours after being exposed to these conditions. This is why cleaning up after unexpected water damage is so imperative.
What makes mold so different from a lot of other bacteria is that it is versatile. In other words, it can grow on pretty much any type of surface. These surfaces include but are not limited to:
- Roofing/drywall insulation
- Carpets and fabric furniture
- Paint and wallpaper
- Wood
- Sheetrock/drywall
- Ceiling tiles
- Metal
- Paper products, including cardboard
How Does Mold Removal Work?
Once a mold removal technician arrives at your house, they will suit up and remove items that have been affected by the mold. Depending on the room that’s been infected, this might include your couch, clothing, artwork, books, or drywall.
Then, the affected items will be safely bagged and disposed of according to local laws. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), professional mold removal services are required for infestations larger than 10 square feet. Once the items have been bagged up, they will spray down the moldy areas.
While many household products claim to kill mold, not all of them treat it at the source. Furthermore, there are thousands of species of mold, so some treatments may work better than others. Your mold removal technician will determine the type of mold and use the correct cleaning agent to remove it.
Once the mold has been sprayed, your technician will test to check for visual signs of mold, or if the areas still smell like mold. In most cases, mold usually smells musky. Last but not least, the technician will address the root cause of the mold so you can take steps to remedy it. For example, if there is a leak behind your wall, you’ll need a plumber to come out and fix it to prevent future mold growth.
Common Signs of Mold Growth
Knowing what to expect after you hire a mold removal company is important. But you should also familiarize yourself with the common signs of mold growth.
As mentioned above, mold has a foul, musky odor. So, if you smell that, chances are you have a mold problem. Likewise, tiny black or white spots can be another common sign of mold growth. However, many symptoms of mold growth may go undetected for longer than they should.
For example, mold growth can trigger allergies. But if the sun is shining and the flowers are blooming, you may confuse your mold allergy for a regular springtime allergy. Furthermore, mold exposure can trigger insomnia and anxiety. But if you’ve been working a lot or drinking coffee late at night, you may not think mold is even an issue. So how do you combat this?
If you notice an onset of symptoms that you don’t normally experience, take notice. Do these symptoms only occur when you step into a particular room? Do you instantly feel better once you step outside? If you answer yes to any of these questions, you may have mold.
Other common symptoms to look out for include itchy, watery eyes, coughing, and sneezing. Individuals affected by mold may also experience headaches. If you suffer from asthma, you may experience a worsening of symptoms.
Does Your Home Have Mold? Get it Taken Care of by the Mold Removal Professionals at PNW Restoration
It’s not fun to discover mold inside your home. However, treating it isn’t something you have to do alone. With the help of a mold removal professional, you can trust that it will be treated at the source. This way you, your loved ones, and your home can be protected.
If you recently found mold inside your home, don’t handle it yourself. Call the Portland mold removal professionals at PNW Restoration. We have years of experience treating many types of mold. Call us today at 971-247-3470 to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you get your home back to normal.
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