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The Importance of HEPA Filtration for Mold Removal
If you have a mold problem in your home, and someone in your home is especially sensitive to the presence of mold or mold spores, you and they would greatly benefit from HEPA filtration during any mold remediation. In fact, HEPA filtration is a must in any mold removal project, whether it is a large mold problem or a small one. Let’s examine why HEPA filtration is so necessary.
The Characteristics of Mold and Mold Spores
Mold is a fungus that spreads by releasing spores into the air. Picture a dandelion in your mind as an example, but on a much smaller scale. Mold spores are much like dandelion spores, but where you can see the dandelion spores, mold spores are too small to see with the naked eye. Because you can’t see them, you don’t realize that you breathe them in every day.
Mold is everywhere, inside and out. When there is a mold problem in your home, everyone in the home will be exposed to a higher concentration of mold spores than they usually encounter in their normal daily life. This means that irritation of their respiratory system becomes a greater possibility, especially if they are more sensitive to mold and mold spores.
Mold Needs to Be Removed; Not Just Covered Up or Killed
No matter what type of mold is present, it needs to be removed, not covered over or killed. Painting or sealing over mold won’t solve your mold problem. The mold is still there and all you have done is to prolong the problem. Eventually the mold will reappear and you will be back to square one. In fact, if you used latex paint to cover the mold, you have actually provide an organic food source for the mold. The latex in the paint is an organic substance.
The same thing can be said about killing mold. The mold will still be there. Consider a skunk living under your backyard deck. That can be a stinky problem! If you kill the skunk, but leave it under your deck, you still have a problem, just a slightly different, yet still stinky one. The same can be said for mold and mold spores. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
“Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Mold does not have to be alive to cause an allergic reaction. Dead or alive, mold can cause allergic reactions in some people.”
Allergic Reactions to Mold
Allergic reactions to mold vary from person to person, based on the individual’s sensitivity. These reactions can occur with a single exposure, or can become more severe due to repeated or prolonged exposures. These are some common allergic reactions to mold exposure:
- Headache
- Sneezing
- Eye irritation
- Skin rash
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Aggravated asthma symptoms
Groups of People Most Susceptible to Mold and Mold Spores
- Infants and younger children
- Seniors
- Pregnant women
- Chemotherapy patients
- Individuals with compromised immune systems (for example people suffering from Aids/HIV
HEPA Filtration During Mold Removal
Even the slightest air moment can cause mold spores to become airborne. Once airborne they can be accidentally inhaled easier, and they can also float to unaffected areas of the home. If the slightest air movement can disturb mold spores and cause them to become airborne, what will happen to them during the physical removal process involved in the mold remediation work?
All mold removal should be done with the affected area under containment, isolated from the rest of the dwelling. Containment can be achieved by various means, the most common method is by installing a 6 mil plastic barrier. Once the barrier has been set up, negative air pressure should be used to keep any airborne spores from accidentally leaving the contained area. This negative pressure is established by using a negative air machine or an air scrubber. Both of these machines utilize HEPA filtration to process, or scrub the air, to remove any mold spores before the air exits the containment area. Doing this protects workers, residents, and also prevents the cross-contamination of the rest of the home.
Even for small mold remediations, it may be best to let the mold professionals from Water Mold Fire Restoration tackle the work. Our nationally certified mold experts have the tools, knowledge, and experience to do the job right the first time. Call us at 800-905-0277 or help@watermoldfire.net and let our mold removal team safely and completely eliminate your mold problem. Our inspection is free and you will be under no obligation.
