Do You Need Professional Mold Removal?

DO contact a mold removal company if you have any of the following:

1. Mold that covers more than 10 square feet (about a 3 foot x 3 foot area).
2. Significant water damage (floods, second story bathtub overflow that damages the floor and/or ceiling, burst water pipes and the like).
3. Walls, floor, ceiling or other water-damaged areas have been wet for more than 48 hours.
4. Existing, on-going mold and moisture problems.
5. Your furniture, walls, wallpaper, floorboards, etc. have visible and extensive damage.
6. You suspect a hidden source of water – for example, when you see condensation build up in an area where no water should exist.
7. Someone in the house is experiencing significant health problems or being affected negatively by the moldy odors.
8. You have reason to believe that your home’s heating or air conditioning system may have a mold problem (mold near the intake, condensation build up on any of the system’s component parts, etc.).  In this case, DO NOT turn on the system or attempt to clean the mold yourself because the possibility of the mold becoming airborne is extremely high.
9. If you see or smell some obvious signs of mold but not the mold itself and you suspect it might mean something terrible is happening behind the walls.

Hidden Mold

In some cases, indoor mold growth may not be obvious. It is possible that mold may be growing on hidden surfaces, such as the backside of dry wall, wallpaper, or paneling, the top of ceiling tiles, the underside of carpets and pads, etc. Possible locations of hidden mold can include pipe chases and utility tunnels (with leaking or condensing pipes), walls behind furniture (where condensation forms), condensate drain pans inside air handling units, porous thermal or acoustic liners inside ductwork, or roof materials above ceiling tiles (due to roof leaks or insufficient insulation).

Some building materials, such as dry wall with vinyl wallpaper over it or wood paneling, may act as vapor barriers, trapping moisture underneath their surfaces and thereby providing a moist environment where mold can grow. You may suspect hidden mold if a building smells moldy, but you cannot see the source, or if you know there has been water damage and building occupants are reporting health problems. Investigating hidden mold problems may be difficult and will require caution when the investigation involves disturbing potential sites of mold growth make sure to use PPE. 

Why is mold growing in my home?

Molds are part of the natural environment.  Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees, but indoors, mold growth should be avoided.  Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air.  Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet.  There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture.

It is impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors; some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in house dust.  The mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present.  Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors.  If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem.  If you clean up the mold, but don't fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will come back.

What should I do if I find or suspect moldy conditions in my home?

if you see a discoloration or growth on surfaces in your bathroom, water heater closet, on your window sills, under your kitchen sink, on your baseboards or under rugs and carpeting, it may be mold.

1. Fix any plumbing leaks and other water problems as soon as possible. Dry all items completely. Mold will not grow without moisture.
2. Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water and dry completely. Use of biocides such as chlorine bleach is not recommended as a routine practice. Please note: Dead mold (treated mold) can still cause allergic reactions in some individuals, such as those who suffer from asthma or other respiratory disorders. It is not enough to simply kill the mold, it must also be removed.
3. Avoid breathing in mold or mold spores. To limit your exposure to mold use an N-95 respirator, available at many hardware stores.
4. Wear gloves. Avoid touching mold or moldy items with your bare hands. We recommend wearing long gloves that extend to the middle of the forearms.
5. Wear goggles. Avoid getting mold or mold spores in your eyes. We recommend wearing goggles without ventilation holes.
6. Throw away moldy, porous materials like ceiling tiles and carpet.
7. To contract for extensive mold clean-up (i.e. greater than 10 square feet of moldy material), call Mold Remediation of Chicago at 708-396-0200.

The Good and Bad With Mold Growth

Molds usually breed in the environment. Molds are considered as fungi but are useful in biodegradation or natural decomposition of dried leaves.  Despite of the advantages that it provides on the environment, molds are still considered as a hazard to human health. This is because molds produce allergen that prompts allergic reactions. Molds also triggers asthma attacks to people that have allergic reactions to molds because most of the molds generate toxins and irritants.

The importance of mold removal and mold remediation are as follows:

• Restore safety in your environment
• Prevents health risks
• Reinstate the beauty of your homes, offices and buildings

Sickness from Mold Spores Include:

• Cold-like symptoms
• Respiratory problems
• Nasal and sinus congestion
• Sore throat
• Watery eyes
• Coughing
• Skin irritations
• Asthma attacks
• Allergic reactions

Why Professional Mold Removal?

Mold growth in a home is never okay. Although most types of mold are actually not that dangerous, other than black mold, it can still cause allergic reactions and other problems. Mold will also continue to grow if not dealt with and can become a serious – not to mention costly – problem.

If you ever notice any mold in your house it is crucial you call in Mold Remediation Chicago(708-396-0200).   Some homeowners believe they can take on the task of mold removal themselves but the fact of the matter is if you want to know for sure the mold is gone, this is the only way to go about it.

Mold Remediation Chicago has all the right tools and equipment needed to remove mold from your home and assure you your living space is now safe and clean. It also saves you from having to get too close to the mold and possibly spreading it in other areas of the home. There is a specific process that must be followed to remove mold without spreading mold spores and in turn having mold growth in other areas of the house as well.

The Mold Story!

Molds are part of the natural environment.  Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees, but indoors, mold growth should be avoided.  Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air.  Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet.  There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture.