24/7 Emergency Service
Mold Cleanup: Is It DIY or Should You Call in a Professional
At first your can detect a musty odor. As time goes by the odor gets stronger and stronger. Then you notice a dark, fuzzy patch on your wall or ceiling. You come to the realization that you have a mold problem. What to do next? Should you attempt to remove the mold yourself, or is it time to get the help of a pro?
If the problem is small enough, you may be able to handle the cleanup on your own. However, certain precautions must be taken to keep everyone in the household, including you, safe from being exposed to mold and mold spores. Mold spores are easily spread when disturbed. You need to make sure that you don’t accidentally allow that to happen. Bigger mold problems usually require a professional mold removal company.
Is the Mold Problem Small or Large?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the size of the problem determines whether you should consider doing the mold removal on your own. If the contaminated area is less than about 10 square feet (approximately an area 3 ft. by 3 ft.) it is considered small and you may be able to do the job yourself. That said, do you or any member of your family have mold allergies, sensitivities, or asthma? If so, it may be best to hire a professional. Any mold problem larger that 10 square feet should be referred to a professional mold remediation company.
How Mold Invades Your Home
old is found everywhere and it is in your home as your are reading this. Short of wearing a NASA space suit every minute of your life, you cannot avoid being exposed to mold. There are many ways that mold spores will enter your home:
- Through open doors or windows
- On things we bring into our homes
- On our clothes and shoes
- On the clothing and shoes of visitors to our home
- Even on our pets
For the most part, mold only becomes a problem when it reaches higher concentration levels, like when you see those dark patches growing in your home.
Mold reproduces by emitting spores that become airborne, then these spores settle in a new location that contains the right conditions for the mold to grow: moderate temperatures, an organic food source, and most importantly moisture. Since we all live in homes with moderate temperature ranges, and our homes are filled with organic materials, our only chance of avoiding mold growth is to eliminate sources of uncontrolled moisture.
Small Mold Problems: DIY
When mold covers less than 10 square feet the EPA says that you can attempt to handle the problem yourself. But that depends on the materials affected. Clothing or textiles can be machine washed in hot water. Non-porous, hard surfaces like metal, ceramic tile, or glass can be scrubbed with a good household cleaner (be sure to discard the sponge or towel that you use). When it comes to porous surfaces like drywall, wallpaper, or carpeting, the affected materials need to be cut out and discarded. The objective should not be not to kill the mold, but to remove it completely. Never attempt to solve a mold problem by painting over it or using a sealer and not removing it.
Chlorine bleach is not effective for removing mold from porous surfaces.
Mold grows deep into porous materials. Bleach will only affect the surface mold. It is not designed to penetrate any surface and it will not affect the mold’s roots. A few days after you use bleach, your mold problem will more than likely reappear.
Larger Mold Problems: Hire the Pro
If the mold covers more than 10 square feet you should go the professional remediation route by hiring Water Mold Fire Restoration. In these larger cases there is usually more mold than you can actually see. Hidden mold could be inside wall cavities, under carpeting or vinyl flooring, or in HVAC ductwork. A thorough mold inspection is called for to seek out and identify any mold in hidden locations. Many times evacuating the affected area or the entire home is recommended until the mold is remediated, especially if any of the residents is in one of the following groups of people:
- small children or infants have yet to fully develop immune systems and actually breathe twice as fast as adults
- seniors whose their immune systems can be weakened due to age or previous illnesses
- pregnant women’s bodies are more susceptible to allergies, which mold can cause
- individuals who have a naturally compromised immune system, having been diagnosed with problems such as asthma, Aids/HIV, and allergies, etc.
Water Mold Fire Restoration has helped thousands of people, just like you, to safely and completely eliminate their mold problem. Call us 24/7 at 800-905-0277 or at help@watermoldfire.net.
