Expert Mold Technician
Like it or not, mold is all around us and can infest any warm, moist area. In the forest, mold breaks down organic material (particularly wood) and turns it into a kind of mulch for new plant growth. You can detect mold in any building by the foul, bleach-like smell usually found in the dark and damp areas of forgotten storage areas. There is no place where mold will not grow, given the right circumstances.
Removing mold from a facility is rarely a simple task. You can throw out all the infected material and clean the room with a mixture of water and bleach. This, unfortunately, will not solve the mold problem if it is hidden behind the walls, floors, and drywall. When the problem is in the structure, the repair of the mold infestation is going to be a lot of work and it will be costly.
The EPA and other health organizations have declared mold a very real health hazard. No one can ignore this problem because it will only get worse. People with allergies and compromised health will be more seriously affected, but it will have a negative impact on all residents of the building. Remember, the HVAC system circulates the air throughout the building. Mold is an invisible health hazard that will not go away without direct action to remove all infected areas.
A professional mold inspector knows that mold is always the product of too much humidity problem or water invasion. A major mold infestation cannot be completely remediated unless the water source is found and eliminated. Neglect of the water problem will guarantee that the mold problem will return. A water leak requires that a physical repair must be applied before the mold cleaning project can fix a mold issue.
Consumers are advised to avoid mold remediation services that simply apply a special cost of paint or spray the area with a fungicide. Unfortunately, far too many mold services that charge a large fee to do a poor clean up of the mold infested area. Mold remediation is almost always a bigger job and more costly than anyone might imagine, and this calls for trained professionals to inspect and remediate the problem.
If you are impacted by mold, you will discover that most insurance policies do not cover mold damage. You might, however, be able get the insurance company to pay for the repair under the “Water Damage” clause of the contract. If the mold is the result of a flood, broken pipes, and storm damage, your policy may be required to pay the bill. Therefore, do not treat mold as a separate issue if it is actually the result of water invasion. Insurance companies prefer to treat mold as a separate issue and refuse to pay for the repair. This is another reason you will need a professional inspection to investigate and support your claim.
Finally, do wait to clean out a flood, sewer back-up, or broken pipe problem. Mold starts to grow in 24 to 48 hours, and that will make the clean up worse. If you can’t get a service out right away, pump out the area and remove all wood, cardboard, and fiber materials from the area. Once the water is out, force fresh air into the area to dry the room as quickly as possible.
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