Answers to Common Questions About Mold

8/1/2018 (Permalink)

If you see signs of mold growth, smell a musty odor, find evidence of water leaks, or know of any past flooding, you should take immediate action.

What does mold look like? 

Mold can appear in many colors and could appear as a dark spot on the wall or as black specks around the window. Mold in the crawlspace may look like chalky white growth or could be dark spots behind the sink. Many people in Kentucky, recognize black mold, but it could appear in several colors, beginning with the most common. 

• Black
• Brown 
• White
• Yellow
• Blue
• Green
• Orange
• Red
• Pink 

Any sign of mold should prompt you to contact a mold remediation expert, even if the growth spot only looks like hard water stains running below the knobs in the sink. 

How can you tell if it's bad mold?

Not all types of mold are dangerous, but black mold and other forms of mold in large amounts could lead to expensive repairs and mold cleanup efforts. The best way to prevent extensive damage and repairs is to treat any appearance of mold as if it were bad mold. The only effective and reliable way to tell what type of mold is in a building is to contact an indoor environmental professional. 

Who can safely remove mold? 

An IEP uses specialized equipment and testing methods to determine which types of mold are on the property, how widespread growth is, how high levels of contamination are, and where mold growth began. DIY tests tend to be inaccurate and could lead to ineffective mold remediation efforts. 

When should you act?

If you see signs of mold growth, smell a musty odor, find evidence of water leaks, or know of any past flooding, you should take immediate action to prevent further growth and to begin mold cleanup. Mold remediation experts in Kentucky, can get you started. Any time you suspect the presence of mold in your building, you need to act quickly for the protection of your property and those people who live or work in the building. 

Managing the Mold Remediation Process

7/25/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® of Breckinridge, Grayson, Meade & Hancock Counties 270-580-2200

When there’s a water intrusion, like a roof leak or leaking water line, mold can quickly become a problem in your home or business. Mold can cause health effects and can also cause significant damage to your property. Fortunately, your local SERVPRO® of Breckinridge, Grayson, Meade & Hancock Counties Franchise Professionals have the training, protective gear, and specialized equipment necessary to handle your mold problem. Although every mold damage scenario is different requiring a unique solution, the general mold remediation process stays the same. The following steps illustrate a “typical” mold removal process.

Call: 270-580-2200

The mold cleanup and restoration process begin

 when you call SERVPRO® of Breckinridge, Grayson, Meade & Hancock Counties. A representative will ask a series of questions to help determine the necessary equipment, resources, and personnel needed.

Inspection and Damage Assessment

Your property will be carefully inspected for signs of mold using technology designed to detect

mold and hidden water sources. Mold feeds on cellulose and water and can be hidden from

plain view.

Mold Containment

Various containment procedures will be placed to prevent the spread of mold and isolate the

contaminated area with physical barriers and negative air pressure to keep the mold spores

from spreading during the cleanup process.

Air Filtration

Specialized filtration equipment captures microscopic mold spores out of the air. SERVPRO® technicians utilize powerful air scrubbers and HEPA vacuums to prevent the spread of these mold spores while the mold remediation is in progress.

Removing Mold and Mold-Infested Materials

The mold remediation process depends on the amount of mold growth and the types of

surfaces on which the mold appears. Antifungal and antimicrobial treatments will be used to

eliminate mold colonies and help prevent new colonies from forming. Removing and disposing

of mold-infested porous materials, like drywall and flooring, may be necessary to remediate

heavy mold growth.

Cleaning Contents and Belongings

SERVPRO® of Breckinridge, Grayson, Meade & Hancock Counties Franchise Professionals clean your furniture, decorative items, curtains, and other restorable items affected by mold. We use a variety of cleaning techniques to clean and sanitize your belongings. We are also trained to remove odors and deodorization using

fogging equipment. SERVPRO® of Breckinridge, Grayson, Meade & Hancock Counties Park Franchise Professionals understand mold and mold growth and have the training and equipment to remediate mold in your home or business.

Summer is here! Time to go for a dip in the pool to cool off for a bit!

6/18/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® of Breckinridge, Grayson, Meade & Hancock Counties 270-580-2200

Now that swim season is in full swing it’s time to take a closer look at those spots around you pool. If a pool is left untreated or without some sort of chlorine product algae and or mold can start to set in quick.

While algae is not hard to get rid of and is relatively harmless, mold can be a huge pain and massive ordeal if not taken care of quickly and efficiently! Not to mention mold could become hazardous to your health.

If you happen upon a spot that might be algae or mold when cleaning your pool give it a few sprays with a water/bleach mixture and attack it with a scrub brush. If the stains do not go away it is probably mold and you should call SERVPRO® of Breckinridge, Grayson, Meade & Hancock Counties 270-580-2200 to come look into a proper mold remediation service before you fill that pool back up.

If you have mold, we can help.

5/22/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® of Breckinridge, Grayson, Meade & Hancock Counties 270-580-2200

Mold is no match for SERVPRO® of Breckinridge, Grayson, Meade & Hancock Counties, we have been its number 1 enemy since 2013. Our team of dedicated professionals who have years of experience in the industry use advanced water detection equipment to locate the source of the problem. Saving you time and money as we remediate any mold or water damage from losses like a dishwasher leak, pipe break, sprinkler head malfunction, toilet overflow or your washing machine that is on the second floor and was a huge selling point when you bought but now is your least favorite part of your home. Our team of technicians help walk with you through the process of having a disaster happen in your home or office, through speaking with insurance and supplying them with the documentation that they need to complete the claim process. We empower you to make decisions that are right for you, your family or business. We have been helping customers like you since 2013 make it “Like it never even happened.

Understanding the Science Behind Molds and Mold Remediation

5/22/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® of Breckinridge, Grayson, Meade & Hancock Counties 270-580-2200

Understanding the Science Behind Molds and Mold Remediation

The microscopic mold spores that eventually spread like a conflagration bringing about a mold infestation can be found pretty much everywhere. Their common spreading grounds include homes and business premises with plumbing or roof leaks.

All it takes for mold growth from the microscopic spores to a palpable infestation or the massive mold growth behind walls is a damaging water incidence and a 48 to 72 hours’ time-stretch. During this time you may arrange for the water to be removed so as to circumvent the mold in home problem that’s about to blow up.

Alternatively, you may get a licensed mold in home removal professional to help you inspect it and suggest the right course of action to tackle commercial mold damage.

Understanding Molds

The spreading of mold fungus mostly occurs as a result of water intrusion into a property or dry rot. No home is completely safe from the mold growth behind walls; considering they shoot from microscopic mold spores that often float about in the air or dry rot and are likely to enter your home through any available opening, including your windows, AC/heating system, and the door.

Mold growth thrives in the presence of moisture, not dry rot as many people love to assume. Meaning, they’ll be growing into colonies within two to three days whenever they’re exposed to water.

Mold in home or mold growth behind walls is detested for a number of reasons, among them is the fact that they tend to produce a very strong smelly odor. This is particularly the case with black molds. Speaking of which, mold remediation and restoration company often use the musty odor they produce to identify infested areas.

Also worth noting is that mold in home growth can also be supported by a higher-than-normal indoor humidity; to wit, anything above 45 percent.

Prior to any mold remediation process, it’s recommended that you make sure the humidity or moisture problem you’re facing in your home is properly addressed. Otherwise, it would just be a matter of time before the problem gets you back to square one.

Steps to Tackle a Commercial Mold Damage

• Use bleach and water solution to clean up the infested area. Read this bearing in mind that NO other household disinfectant can destroy black molds. It’s also important that you try to keep any member of your family or office staff away from the affected area.
• If the mold damage is contained within a room, then try to keep the door closed to prevent it from spreading further. The same can be said about mold growth behind walls.
• Never use a fan to dry the affected area. This will only disturb the spores, the result of which you’ll be spreading them somewhere else.
• In the event of a gigantic mold growth behind walls, you might want to call a mold mitigation or restoration company to come and help you tackle the problem.

You might also want to notify your insurance company. If your mold in home insurance policy happens to also cover mold removal and mitigation, you might want to notify them as soon as it’s reasonably possible to avoid creating up unnecessary complications.

Molds, Fungus and Mildews

While many people can’t tell the difference between molds, fungus and mildew, the difference between them is so striking to go unnoticeable. Of course, all the three are closely related.

First, be reminded that fungus is neither an animal nor plant. Neither does fit in the bacterium basket. If anything, it has its own unique kingdom of classification, and in which both mildew and molds happen to be subsets.

Both molds and mildews spread easily and thrive in the presence of water. They also have an almost similar smelly odor. But despite these common features, the two have their fair share of differences.

While molds feature multiple identical nuclei that tend to form black or green patches as they grow, mildews on the other hand have a flat growth with a tendency to lightly hang on surfaces as they grow.

Mildews can be found growing on paper, fabrics, damp surfaces and other organic materials in the house, whereas molds tend to grow on food, dry rot and permanent structures such as crawl spaces and walls.

Black Mold in home

As hinted by the sinister name, black mold is the most dreaded mold growth species. Its name alone is enough to strike fear in the hearts of many homeowners.

Easily identified by its black color, removing the black mold is even more problematic as opposed to the removal of its gray and green equals with a NOT so bad smelly odor.

Its smelly odor is also so intense and no kind of deodorization is enough to rid it off completely.

It’s for these reasons that it’s recommended that you reach out to a mold damage restoration and deodorization company for help every time you experience commercial mold damage.

Difference between Mold removal and Mold Remediation

As already mentioned, the mold grows from the tiny microscopic spores that naturally exist almost everywhere—both indoors and outdoors. Meaning it’s literally impossible to completely remove them from your home or premise.

This is to say any mold deodorization or Restoration Company claiming to also offer mold removal services is only selling a fallacy to clueless clients.

If you’re planning to have the problem tackled professionally, then you might want to pick on a restoration company that completely understands the science behind molds growth and their mitigation.

Suffice it to say that the best mold damage mitigation or deodorization company to settle for is one that offers mold remediation services and nothing about mold removal services. So by definition, mold remediation or mitigation focuses on reverting mold damage levels to manageable, natural levels instead of selling false hope to clueless consumers experiencing commercial mold damage.

How To Tell Mold From Mildew: 3 Key Identifiers

5/21/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® of Breckinridge, Grayson, Meade & Hancock Counties 270-580-2200

Battling mold and mildew in your home can be a year-round housecleaning challenge. From preventing costly mold damage to scrubbing away mildew in the shower, fighting household fungi can take time and a considerable amount of elbow grease. However, trying to clean up mold on your own may cause the further spread of spores and increase the risk of a severe infestation. Knowing how to tell the difference between mold and mildew can help you save time, money and let you know whether you need the services our service for mold remediation 

1. Texture 

Although mold and mildew are both part of the fungi family, they have different textures that are usually visible to the naked eye. Mildew growth is typically thin and slimy, while mold is usually fuzzy or wooly. You can perform a quick test by adding a few drops of bleach to the suspect area, as mildew grows lighter on contact while mold retains its color. 

2. 
   Color

You may be able to tell mold from mildew by the color of the growth. Mildew is usually grey or light yellow as it spreads, while mold growth comes in a variety of colors, from green to white to black. If you suspect what you see is black mold, it is a good idea to avoid touching the area and call in mold damage specialists to treat the problem instead, as this type of fungus can be aggressive and will likely need professional intervention. 

3. 
   Growth Pattern

While both mold and mildew have a few similar qualities, the way each grows and spreads can help you tell them apart. Mildew is a surface fungus that can be wiped away easily, as it develops in flat, thin patches. Mold spores, however, penetrate the surface of any material they attach to and grow into wide patches that can be difficult to remove. 

It can be difficult to tell mold from mildew when you encounter either in your home. However, knowing the characteristics of each can help you prevent mold damage and keep your home clean and sanitary.

Mold is no match for us

5/15/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® of Breckinridge, Grayson, Meade & Hancock Counties. 270-580-2200

Our professionals use advanced water detection equipment to locate the source of the problem and remediate any mold or water damage. SERVPRO® of Breckinridge, Grayson, Meade & Hancock Counties has been serving the community since 2013. We are dedicated to helping our customers when disaster strikes and helping to make it “Like it never even happened,” We are ready 24/7, 365 at 270-580-2200 to help you. #SERVPRO #LikeItNeverEvenHappened #HereToHelp #ReBuildingStories #2705802200

A disaster in a home or business can be a very traumatic experience for people. We have a team of trained crew members who are experienced to help walk with you during the process and see what can be cleaned up and made like new. We love helping you make it “Like it never even happened." 

Thank you for choosing SERVPRO® of Breckinridge, Grayson, Meade & Hancock Counties. Give us a call at 270-580-2200 We are ready 24/7

Follow These Mold Safety Tips If You Suspect Mold

3/8/2018 (Permalink)

Mold damage in Brandenburg KY

If you see visible mold, do not disturb it. You can inadvertently spread the mold infestation throughout your home. When mold is disturbed, the mold can release microscopic mold spores which become airborne and can circulate inside your home.

What to Do:

• Stay out of affected areas.
• Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
• Contact SERVPRO of Breckinridge, Grayson, Meade, & Hancock Counties for mold remediation services.

What Not to Do:

• Don’t touch or disturb the mold.
• Don’t blow air across any surfaces with visible or suspected mold growth.
• Don’t attempt to dry the area yourself.
• Don’t spray bleach or other disinfectants on the mold.

About Our Mold Remediation Services

SERVPRO of Breckinridge, Grayson, Meade, & Hancock Counties specializes in mold cleanup and restoration, in fact, it’s a cornerstone of our business.  Our crews are highly trained restoration professionals that use specialized equipment and techniques to properly remediate your mold problem quickly and safely.

If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today – 270-580-2200