Mold is Serious Business. Hire a Restoration Company
First, let's go over a quick primer on what mold is. Every kind of mold is a fungus, and share biology with mushrooms and athlete's foot, for example. The mold that is toxic to you and your family is relatively uncommon in the fungus world, meaning most kinds you find in your house or business aren't harmful. However, some toxic molds are dangerous, so any mold you find indoors must be cleaned up and completely removed.
Government experts recommend that you contact a black mold remediation Chapin SC company for cleanup help if the mold you discover takes up more than 3 square feet. If you see mold, there is probably hidden mold behind walls, in attics and elsewhere.
Before you contact mold damage repair technicians, the first step is to stop the mold from growing. Do this by turning off any HVAC systems. Next, work to stop the dripping or condensation that brought the mold in the first place. For example, clear standing water and fix plumbing problems if you can. Next, contain the problem. You might tape off the area in question with plastic sheeting, for example.
Next, you're ready to figure out whether to get mold damage removal help. Think about not only the mold area, but also any exacerbating health issues you have. People who already struggle to breathe, for instance, should not perform mold mitigation activities.
Once you've decided, there are vital things to do in either direction. To do the mold removal yourself, gather items such as long mold-approved gloves, coveralls and a mold-safe mask and sealed eye protection. You will probably also need something to trap mold from reaching the floor and a saw to cut out and replace drywall, if that's where you found the mold. Health officials agree that you should not leave unpainted drywall that is moldy anywhere because it can't be cleaned well enough. A note on cleaning with bleach: Don't. Bleach doesn't work as well other alternatives and often doesn't remediate mold thoroughly and all its spores completely. Bleach-based cleaners is bad to breathe, especially if it's ever mixed with substances such as Windex, which contains ammonia. You can get better cleaners at the hardware store.
Chances are that if you're concerned enough about mold problems to look for solutions on the web, you need certified a professional mold removal company. If you choose to hire a mold mitigation company, look for one local to your area because various molds thrive in different geographic locations and you need people who know the best mold damage mitigation strategies to remove the ones you came upon in your home or business. The more local, the better.
Check credentials before you hire a mold damage cleanup service. The State Business Licensing Division is a good place to start, and you should check for affiliations such as as the Restoration Industry Association, the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration and Contractor Connection. You might also make sure the company knows and follows federal mold cleanup recommendations whether your mold is in a business or a residence.
Mold that is allowed to grow sends off spores, which fly like dandelion seeds and can harm your possessions very quickly. If you don't, mold damage will keep eating on your home or business and can destroy your things. Some types of mold, those that release mycotoxins, can also cause major health risks ranging from neurological damage to breathing problems and mold-related infections and generally poor health. Mold in the environment can be particularly harmful to infants, children, and anyone with a compromised immune system such as people with AIDS/HIV or lupus.
The ideal way to handle your mold problem is to get professional mold damage cleanup assistance. Don't wait another minute.