Archives: June, 2019

Mold, as an organism, has been on this earth for millions of years and occurs naturally virtually everywhere. It’s important to know how to remove mold, as it can pose serious health issues.  

In this blog, we’ll cover what causes isolated mold growth, how to properly remove mold once discovered, share tips for cleaning it on your own and suggest when it’s recommended to call a pro. Be educated and read more about how to remove mold.  

How Did Mold Get Here in the First Place?  

As mold removal experts, we know a lot about mold – how and where it grows and how to get rid of it. Spoiler – it’s not bleach. The truth is mold exists in nature and is inside your home right now. 

Similar to humidity, there is such a thing as official “safe” or “normal” levels. When a home or commercial building has too much humidity or suffers water damage, however, it’s at risk for excess mold formation. Common situations include: 

• Heavy rains
• Natural disasters
• Broken ice maker line
• Washer hose break
• Water heater leak
• Toilet overflow
• Tub overflow
• Supply line break
• Leaky pipe or garbage disposal discharge

Basically, anytime there’s water in a place where it doesn’t belong and it has the right conditions, mold grows. Mold prefers the dark, like a cabinet under a leaky sink. The back of a closet with excess humidity and low airflow provides the perfect conditions for mold to flourish. 

If you’ve experienced water damage with standing water in a crawlspace or basement, the amount of water saturation and length of time the water is there leaves a higher risk of mold growth. Let’s review some other common questions…

Why Do I Need to Know How to Remove Mold Quickly?

It’s critical to tackle water damage quickly to reduce the chance of mold. The longer the water sits, the longer it has to permeate porous surfaces. 

Therefore, the longer it sits, the worse the risk. Porous surfaces are anything water could penetrate. Damp or wet wood, drywall, flooring and furnishings provide a perfect medium for mold growth. 

How to Remove Mold with a Dry Out

A dry out is what it sounds like. Expert mold remediation specialists use sophisticated equipment to dry the space. These include moisture meters, air movers and heavy-duty dehumidifiers.  

In many instances, air-scrubbers are utilized that capture mold spores during a dry out or demo of an affected area to protect occupants and to curb the spread of mold spores. 

Penetrating and non-penetrating meters are used throughout the process. An affected area that may feel dry to the touch, may have a moisture content far above the dry standard throughout the rest of the structure.

While every job is unique due to the many variables present  – time, amount of moisture, length of exposure, etc., the dry out process can typically be accomplished in 3-5 days.  

The dry out starts immediately once equipment has been set on the job.  Our technicians will monitor progress and will adjust equipment to most efficiently dry the space in the shortest amount of time possible. 

Will Mold Make Me Sick?

Different people react differently to exposure to mold spores. Some people are sensitive and may experience cold symptoms or a rash. 

For those with compromised immune systems, the elderly, pregnant women and children even short-term exposure can cause serious health complications. Long-term exposure may contribute to respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, especially for children. 

How to Remove Mold On My Own

A homeowner can typically remediate an affected area of 10 square feet or less on their own. The following steps provide a general outline of procedures to safely remediate a small area of mold:

Step One: Put on a pair of disposable gloves and cover the mold with plastic. Even a trash bag will work okay. Tape the plastic to the wall. 

Step Two: Cut out the drywall in the affected area and quickly place it in a trash bag. Remove it from the area unless…

Step Three: If there is mold inside the wall cavity or on the backside of the drywall, place the drywall back into the hole. Tape up the seams and leave it for evaluation by a professional. If there is mold inside the walls or the overall surface area is greater than you realized, we recommend calling professionals. 

Don’t risk your health trying to do it alone. We know how to remove mold safely and discreetly. 

If you have a slight haze of what appears to be mold growth on surfaces, use a mild dishwashing detergent with water and wash it off. Nothing else is needed. Most people think bleach will work, when in reality it does not. 

When You Need to Know How to Remove Mold – Call Mold Remediation Pros – AMERESTORE

In conclusion, call a tested restoration company like AMERESTORE. We’ve served people in their time of need for more than 30 years. We take care of homeowners and business and property owners with safe, efficient and discreet service. We’ll be there for you with a quick response. 

We take our work seriously and give every job 100 percent, whether at home or responding to a disaster many states away. When you have a need due to water damage, fire and smoke damage, storm or hurricane damage or mold remediation, call AMERESTORE. 

Understandably, people rarely think about water damage restoration until they need it. Water damage can be devasting. It’s not just homes and businesses on the coastline or in a flood plain. Floods destroy homes and businesses yearly all across the U.S., even in areas that have never flooded in the past. 

But what about simple everyday floods? Many people need water damage restoration after simple mishaps, such as a toilet overflow, a broken ice maker line, a roof leak, a malfunctioning sump pump or broken water line to the dishwasher. 

Every year, for example, we talk to property owners who find the outside hose bib froze and busted during the winter. Unfortunately, they don’t realize it until they use the hose for the first time and find there’s a flooded basement, crawlspace or even a part of the house. Imagine filling a pool or power-washing only to discover water has flooded the inside of the property too!

According to insurance industry research, 14,000 commercial property owners and homeowners in the U.S. experience a water damage emergency each day. That’s a lot of soggy drywall, insulation, flooring and furnishings. 

Read this blog to learn about the water damage restoration process. Should you ever need water damage restoration, you’ll be better prepared in case of an emergency. We’ll review the steps to expect from a reputable water damage restoration company. 

Water Damage Restoration Step One:  Stop the source, call an I.I.C.R.C. certified restoration company. 

If possible, stop the source of the water damage. If this cannot be completed inside of the home or building, locate the water shut off valve and turn it off. Call a plumber and advise them you have a water problem and need a repair. 

While waiting on the plumber, call a restoration company to respond to your loss. We also recommend you contact your insurance company to start the claim process. 

Be advised, in most states YOU CAN CHOOSE THE RESTORATION COMPANY OF YOUR CHOICE!  Do not let your insurance company choose for you. Those restoration companies work for the insurance company, not the home or property owner. 

Choose someone who works for you, like AMERESTORE. We respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Water Damage Restoration Step Two:  Extract the water

This is the most important part of the restoration process. To begin the dry out phase of the loss, as much of the water as possible must be removed. The right equipment is critical to extract water from the carpet, pad, tile floors, etc. This is the fastest way to get everything back to the established normal moisture content (dry standard) and to reduce residual loss to the structure and contents.

Short term exposure to water will not destroy carpet. In most instances, carpet can be saved and dried if saturated from a (clean) water source. Long-term exposure, however, can delaminate carpet to the point that it is not salvageable.

Remediation to standing water in a crawl space or basement must be completed carefully. Many of the mechanicals in a building are located there and require special attention. In addition, it’s important to assess insulation, if present, and the structural integrity of the other building materials.

You can count on experienced and reputable restoration specialists like AMERESTORE to provide a thorough assessment. Your restoration company should also handle any necessary demolition. If the water damage is minor, few, if any, repairs will be necessary. 

In serious cases, unsalvageable drywall, baseboards and flooring must be removed and replaced/repaired after the completed dry out phase. 

Water Damage Restoration Step Three: Dry Out

After water extraction is complete, we establish air movement and dehumidification in the affected space. The type and amount of equipment are established by mathematical formulas according to I.I.C.R.C. (industry) standards. In most cases, daily monitoring takes place throughout the remainder of the dryout until all affected materials have reached the dry standard. 

Amerestore also uses tools like moisture meters throughout the process. Initially, to identify levels of affected areas and later to gauge the daily improvement of the drying.

Porous materials, like wood, drywall, carpet and other furnishings may still be heavy with moisture even if they appear dry. It’s important to monitor moisture levels throughout the drying process with moisture meters to know when the structure has returned to normal moisture content. It’s the only way to know if the job is “complete.” 

Water Damage Restoration Step Four: Dry out complete, repairs begin.

Once a certified technician determines everything is back to normal moisture content (dry), it is time for repairs. Our team compiles a detailed estimate and sends it to the home or property owner. If you plan to file an insurance claim, Amerestore sends the estimate to your carrier for you. Upon approval of the estimate, work begins to restore the affected areas to pre-loss condition.

When You Need Water Damage Restoration, AMERESTORE is There for You

Regardless of where you live or work, water damage is a risk. Take steps to protect valuables before and after an incident. 

For example, if your home suffers major storm damage and it’s uninhabitable, be sure to remove jewelry, money and other valuables. 

If you own or operate a business, have an emergency plan for your company’s most valuable assets. For many business owners, it’s IT equipment including computers, servers and proprietary data storage. Prepare plans if the servers go down. If they are located in a basement, they should be elevated. If they are on an upper level, put something over them in case of water damage from above. 

For more than 30 years AMERESTORE has provided restoration for water and sewage damage, fire and smoke damage, storm and hurricane damage as well as biohazard/trauma cleanup and mold removal. 

Near or far, AMERESTORE performs an exemplary job and acts as your liaison with your insurance carrier. We communicate directly with your insurance adjuster to handle the paperwork so you can focus on recovery. You are never required to use a particular restoration company. Remember, it is always your choice. 

Call us for help 24/7. AMERESTORE has three locations serving the Midwest: Indianapolis, Indiana (corporate office), Terre Haute, Indiana, and Louisville, Kentucky. We also travel throughout the U.S. to assist after natural disasters. 

There are thousands of mold varieties naturally occurring on our planet but once someone realizes “I have mold in my house,” they freak out. Why? In this blog, we’ll cover some frequently asked questions relating to where mold comes from, why it’s a problem and what to do about it. Stay safe and read more in case you discover mold in your home or business.  

Frequently Asked Questions about Mold in my House or Business

How Can I Keep Mold from Growing in my Home?

As mold remediation experts, we frequently hear questions like this. Mold has been on Earth before us and will exist long after we’re gone. It can grow anywhere and everywhere. In humid,  dark environments or dry and cold, the key is to keep it out of our living areas.

What is the Easiest Way to Keep Mold from Growing?

Control the moisture. So much depends on the climate and your specific home or property. Mold forms when a commercial property or house experiences water or flood damage, Mold also forms around high humidity due to an inefficient or oversized HVAC system. Sometimes the AC is turned off, moisture runs rampant and mold forms. Trigger events include:

• Heavy rains
• Leaky pipe or garbage disposal
• Broken ice maker line
• Supply line break
• Water heater leak
• Roof leak
• Toilet overflow
• Tub overflow
• Washer hose break
• Toilet supply line break
• Natural disasters
• HVAC system not working properly

Mold can grow anywhere. An office manager once discovered the industrial coffee maker leaked water into a cabinet below. No one knows how long it had been leaking but when it was discovered, mold had already started to grow.

Why is it Important to Address Water Damage and Mold in my House or Business Quickly?

Not addressing water damage quickly gives mold the head start it needs to begin its growth.  Given the right conditions, mold growth starts in as little as 72 hours. Once the dryout process has started, it greatly reduces the conditions for mold growth. Tip: When water damage happens, start the dryout process quickly.

What’s the Difference Between Mold Removal and Mold Remediation?

The short answer is, very little. Some people use the term “remediation” to mean “cleaning.” Some use the terms remediation and removal interchangeably. It’s important to have a mold expert because there are a lot of misperceptions, even among providers.

Mold “remediation” from one group simply means they cleaned the area and now you can’t see the mold anymore. In some cases, like non-porous surfaces, mold can be cleaned away.

The majority of water damage strikes porous surfaces and soaks through drywall. If someone cleans the inside, how do you know what’s happening on the inside where you can’t see?

President of Amerestore Mike Adams knows. In business for more than 30 years, Adams established one of the first restoration companies in the country to remove mold from building materials properly. He’s also spent several years traveling the U.S., Canada and Australia teaching proper techniques for mold removal.

Adams also contributed to the first mold remediation standard published by the I.I.C.R.C., a certification agency for restoration professionals.

Mold may be cleaned, but it’s crucial to get the root of the mold spore. This may mean removal of the building materials in order to fully complete the task. Painting over mold does not mean it’s gone.

Will Mold in my House Make Me Sick?

Maybe. Some people are more sensitive than others. They might experience congestive cold symptoms or a rash. For those allergic to particular mold spores, they’re vulnerable to more severe reactions.

There are thousands of mold varieties so, it’s hard to broadly define. Scientists have determined, however, continued exposure, especially for children, often leads to respiratory illnesses, such as asthma.

Is Black Mold the Only Mold in my House to Worry About?

This is a question we hear a lot. The truth is, black mold, or Stachybotrys, is the mold with all the bad press. It is the most toxic mold known to man at this time but you may not be allergic to Stachybotrys but another type of mold. Because mold affects people differently, there are no official federal regulations on “safe mold levels” or ones to avoid.

Some black molds are toxic and if another mold makes you sick, it’s toxic too, no matter what kind, color or shape. It should be remediated.

Call Mold Removal Pros Amerestore When There’s Mold in your House or Business

In conclusion, call mold remediation and removal experts Amerestore if you have mold in your home or commercial property. We’ve served people in their time of need for more than 30 years. We’ll be there for you with a quick and discreet response. As mold removal experts, trust us with your mold removal.

We take our work seriously and give every job 100 percent, whether a home or business. When you have restoration needs because of flood or water damage, smoke and fire damage, storm or hurricane damage or mold, call Amerestore, America’s Restoration Team. We’re available 24/7 and travel as needed.