Why You Need A Mold Inspection After A Flood

Water is one of the most amazing materials on the planet, and it has thousands of tremendous benefits. However, when water invades our home and or businesses, it can become a nightmare for any homeowner and/or business owner. An unfortunate event like flooding in your home or business can create a host of endless problems that can be extremely difficult to handle. The property damage that may come as a result of a flood can be devastating. 

A mold inspection can help set you on the right path to recovery.

In addition to property damage, we also need to be concerned with other threats that may challenge our quality of life. One of those threats you should consider after your home has been flooded with water is the possibility of mold.

Mold can give most people an uneasy feeling because it is usually associated with negative consequences. Once your home has been infiltrated with water, choosing a dedicated professional to conduct mold testing in your home is a necessity. Here are five good reasons why you need to have your home tested for mold as soon as possible. 

A Mold Inspection Can Give You Important Information

Did you know that a professional mold company can perform mold tests and mold inspections after a flood? The results can be very enlightening to help you determine the next course of action to get your home back to normal.

 Mold can pose a serious threat to your family’s health, so understanding the proper way to treat it is important.

You may be asking yourself why do you need a mold testing and inspection company when you could just go straight to a company to remove the mold.

There are several reasons to have a mold inspection, and mold testing, performed before you even consider calling a mold removal and remediation company. To determine areas that may be affected, potential cross contamination, once you know what you could potentially be exposed to you can take it to your doctor to determine how it may affect you.

Mold Can Do Serious Damage To Your Health

Mold can literally be found anywhere, and it can be abundant in a warm, moist environment. This is why your home is extremely susceptible to mold after a flood occurs. If you have severe flooding, mold can spread quite quickly and be an immediate danger to your family.

Mold shouldn’t be taken lightly because it can wreak havoc on your health. Mold is sometimes difficult to identify, so you may be getting exposed without even realizing it.

 A professional mold inspection should be completed as soon as possible if your home has experienced water damage.

Mold can be very Difficult To Get Rid Of

You have had the devastating impact of a flood, and you attempt to rebuild your life shortly afterwards. Many homeowners make the mistake of thinking that they are safe from mold formation after a flood because they don’t see it. This couldn’t be any further from the truth.

Mold can literally be found anywhere throughout our homes even in the tiniest places like air ducts. It may be weeks or even months for a property owner to realize that they have had mold present in the home. Realizing that your home is at risk quite quickly is important in preventing mold formation.

Once mold is in your home, it becomes extremely difficult to remove. One of the best ways to prevent a mold from taking over is to have a reputable company perform a mold test and full home mold inspection as soon as possible following a flood.

Identifying the smallest units of mold in the beginning stages can only be discovered with expert knowledge and equipment. Finding the problem early will save you financially in the long run.

A Mold Inspection Can Save Money

One of the major concerns that homeowners will have after a flood is getting assistance from their insurance company. This can truly be an overwhelming, stressful time for many people who may have lost everything that they own.

While many don’t want to add anything else to their plate after a flood, it is imperative that you get the mold testing done immediately. 

Here’s why: the insurance. Did you know that many flood insurance policies won’t pay claims if you are making one weeks or months after an incident?

As mentioned earlier, it may take weeks or even months following a flood for a mold colony to appear visually in your home. If you didn’t use a professional mold company to test and inspect for mold from the beginning, you could be out of luck for making any type of insurance claim.

Mold can be difficult to spot, but it will also be more money out of your pocket if you wait until the problem gets worse.

Mold Will Destroy Your Home

Even if you don’t have catastrophic damage from the flooding in your home, mold can create further damage that can wreak havoc.

You have enough to be concerned about once your home has been damaged by water. The last thing you want to deal with is adding more money to your costs to rebuild your home. Putting off having your home tested and inspected for mold by a professional could cost you more money in damage repairs to your home.

Why You Need To Hire A Professional Company

Knowing how to handle mold is not the easiest task in the world. Mold can be dangerous, and it can create myriad different financial concerns if you don’t get it handled quickly.

A flood can truly be a stressful time for anyone, but we go the extra mile to answer all of your questions. Contact us today for superior mold inspections in your local area. We can arrive to your home or business quickly, and we will help you resolve the situation as quickly as possible.



What To Do About Mold In Your Home

If you recently found mold in your home, you are probably searching the internet to figure out what to do. Don’t panic, it may take some time but you will get past this. The key is to educate yourself and do it right the first time so the mold does not return.

1. If you have been suffering any illnesses that wouldn’t go away like allergies, itchy eyes, sore throat, headaches, fatigue, etc., go see your doctor and explain to him that you may have mold in your home. Knowledge about the mold will help him to correctly treat you.

2. Have your home tested by a trained mold tester. Many people make the mistake of cleaning up the mold without testing. It is important to know the type of mold your dealing with, and how bad the problem is.

3. Identify the cause of the mold. Make sure during the cleanup that it is fixed so that the mold will not return. If there was a leak in the roof, make sure its repaired. If a pipe causes a water leak in a wall, make sure its fixed. If the humidity level on your home humidifier is set too high, make sure it is turned lower. You don’t want the mold to return.

4. Contact your insurance company and find out if mold removal is covered in your policy. In some cases it is, depending on the cause of the mold.

5. After getting your mold test results and speaking with the mold inspector, decide if Mold remediation is neccesary. If it is make sure you are hiring a company that specializes in Mold Remediation. Not just a handyman or a general contractor.

6. Have the mold in your home removed. Mold removal is a much more complex process than most people realize. You don’t want to spread the mold to other parts of your home. You also don’t want to make yourself sick from breathing in mold during the removal process. Personal safety is very important and you must be overly cautious.

7. If you are going to hire a professional mold remediation company, make sure you get a few estimates and choose a company that you believe will do a thorough job. Be sure to check with your local Better Business Bureau to make sure the company has a good reputation. Ask for recent references. Ask the mold inspector if they are familiar with them.

8. You may want to purchase a book on mold and the removal process such as Brian Turners A Homeowners Complete Guide To Performing Mold Remediation. It is important to educate yourself on the mold removal process so that you are sure everything is done correctly. This book is quite thorough.

9. After the mold in your home has been removed, have the Inspector come back to preform an air test for mold. They will be able to tell you if the levels of mold are acceptable. Remember it is impossible to remove all of the mold. The goal is to try to get the levels inside your home the same as outside your home.

10. Be proactive in the future about mold prevention.

11. If you have any questions about mold in your home, feel free to contact us 619-270-7253 / 619-971-0681

Damaged Foreclosure Home

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Leaking roofs cause major problems

                                     If your home has a leaky roof, it can open the door to a host of problems inside a home.One of the most hazardous side effects of this moisture accumulation is the growth of mold. When mold takes root inside a home, it can cause a number of serious health problems.

Roof leaks are noticeable as dark streaks on the boards that form the underside of the roof frame. They can be attributed to multiple causes. Leaks can start when shingles wear out with age and tear or curl up at the corners. Cracks in the sealing around chimneys or damaged flashing covering seams in the roof can also be culprits.

Replacing old roofing material with new material and fixing any cracks or holes can go a long way to stopping existing leaks and preventing new ones from springing up. An experienced professional roofer can help homeowners to get the job done right.

Mold can forms if moisture accumulates in a spot over a period of time. It can turn up virtually anywhere inside your house where moisture is present including wood, paper and carpet.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to mold can cause or aggravate serious health problems such as allergies, asthma and other respiratory ailments. The EPA recommends that homeowners enact several moisture control measures to curtail the presence of mold in their homes.

These moisture control measures include:

• Fix the source of leaks inside and outside the home.
• Cover all dirt in crawlspaces with a plastic covering.
• Use kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans to vent moisture outside.
• Run dehumidifiers and air conditioners to reduce moisture in the air.

Excess moisture can not only cause a mold issue, but it can cause structural damage to the walls, floors and roof of a home if nothing is done to stop it from collecting.

If the accumulation of mold is severe, it is a good idea for a homeowner to hire a professional Mold Consultant and/or Mold Removal Company to help remove it from their residence. 

For roofing repairs, homeowners should Contact a Licensed Roofing Contractor.

If you have any questions and/or concerns feel free to Contact 

Superior Mold Testing (619) 270-7253

www.superiormoldtesting.com

What Benefits Do You Get From Mold Removal Services

Molds, although they are microscopic in size, can be felt everywhere – inside and outside your home or office. Mushrooms, yeasts and other fungi are molds and they are responsible for the breaking down dead materials.  Their food sources include wood, leaves, paper, walls, floorings, cabinets, and clothing.  All these are factors that contribute to the mold’s growth and reproduction.

While mold is a natural part of the environment, consuming debris matters and dead plants, no homeowner would want toxic mold inside his home.  Not only that it can cause structural damage to your property, but can also result in symptoms of mold allergy.  When mold is found in your home, it is very likely that there is increased moisture.  Maybe there was natural disaster like typhoon and floods, or you’re not aware of a leak in pipe or roof and gutter.  Or, there was a crack on the foundation.

Some Molds Can Cause a health Concern

There are many types of mold.  Some molds can cause health concerns and should be removed immediately.  If you keep breathing in mold, you can experience health problems that include respiratory ailments, bleeding of the lungs, dizziness, nausea, headaches, and other serious health issues.  All types of molds, once found in your home, should be removed.

Mold Inspection Procedures

At the first sign of mold infestation in your home or workplace, it is important to get help from a mold removal service company.  First, an assessment will be made to confirm your suspicion.  Your premises will be examined, too.  And once it is found that mold is present, the mold remediation team will decide on the right approach to solve your mold problem.   The investigation and assessments done by mold removal Services Company will focus primarily in planning to treat your problem and having the molds removed safely and effectively.

Why Use Professionals

It can really benefit you if you use a mold removal services professional.  You should be provided with information about mold, their types, how to prevent the spread of Mold, how to have mold removed properly , and how to prevent mold from coming back to your home.  You may be advised on matters like improved insulation, air conditioning, ventilation, heating, etc.

You have to Act Fast

So, at the first sign of mold presence, you should act immediately.  Your quick action can protect the people that you love.  Don’t wait too long, because doing this can cause your property to be damaged easily and can cause serious problems on your health and those of others.  You can find these mold experts on the internet, most of them have their own websites offering to you their services with the promise of expertise and excellence.  You need to choose well and intelligently, as all of them will offer you the same thing.
Be sure that the company you are calling specializes in Mold Removal ONLY. You dont want to use a company that does testing and removal. You also want to make sure they are experienced.
ASk questions! Never be afraid to ask to many questions. You need to understand for your own protection

How Much Condensation is on your windows?

Can you draw smiley faces on your windows as outside temperatures drop?


 Condensation is a natural occurrence on all surfaces in the home and is caused by excess humidity in the air. Moisture from hot showers, cooking - even respiration can build up, causing not only condensation but potentially mold and mildew growth or even rot. Be sure to regularly use exhaust fans in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms to remove moisture.

 

Asthma Triggers

Asthma Triggers: Gain Control

 

Americans spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors. Indoor allergens and irritants play a significant role in triggering asthma attacks. Triggers are things that can cause asthma symptoms, an episode or attack or make asthma worse. If you have asthma, you may react to just one trigger or you may find that several things act as triggers. Be sure to work with a doctor to identify triggers and develop a treatment plan that includes ways to reduce exposures to your asthma triggers.

Asthma Triggers

MOLD

About mold and asthma

Molds are microscopic fungi that live on plant and animal matter. Molds can be found almost anywhere when moisture is present.

Molds create tiny spores to reproduce, just as plants produce seeds. Mold spores float through the indoor and outdoor air continually. When mold spores land on damp places indoors, they may begin growing.

For people sensitive to molds, inhaling mold spores can trigger an asthma attack.
Actions you can take

• If you think mold could be a problem in your home, you should contact a professional to have the Mold Properly Removed and locate & eliminate sources of moisture.

• Use exhaust fans or open a window in the bathroom and kitchen when showering, cooking or washing dishes.
• Fix water leaks as soon as possible to keep mold from growing.
• Dry damp or wet things completely within one to two days to keep mold from growing.
• Maintain low indoor humidity, ideally between 30-50% relative humidity. Humidity levels can be measured by hygrometers, which are available at local hardware stores.

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DUST MITES

Dust mites are tiny bugs that are too small to see. Every home has dust mites. They feed on human skin flakes and are found in mattresses, pillows, carpets, upholstered furniture, bedcovers, clothes, stuffed toys and fabric and fabric-covered items.

Body parts and droppings from dust mites can trigger asthma in individuals with allergies to dust mites. Exposure to dust mites can cause asthma in children who have not previously exhibited asthma symptoms.

Actions you can take

• Wash bedding in hot water once a week. Dry completely.
• Use dust proof covers on pillows and mattresses.
• Vacuum carpets and furniture every week.
• Choose stuffed toys that you can wash. Wash stuffed toys in hot water. Dry completely before your child plays with the toy.

Common house dust may also contain asthma triggers. These simple steps can help:

• Dust often with a damp cloth.
• Vacuum carpet and fabric-covered furniture to reduce dust build-up using a high efficiency (HEPA) filter. People with asthma or allergies should leave the area being vacuumed.

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COCKROACHES and OTHER PESTS

Droppings or body parts of cockroaches and other pests can trigger asthma. Certain proteins are found in cockroach feces and saliva and can cause allergic reactions or trigger asthma symptoms in some individuals.

Cockroaches are commonly found in crowded cities and the southern regions of the United States. Cockroach allergens likely play a significant role in asthma in many urban areas.

Actions you can take

• Keep counters, sinks, tables and floors clean and free of clutter.
• Clean dishes, crumbs and spills right away.
• Store food in airtight containers.
• Seal cracks or openings around or inside cabinets.

Insecticides and pesticides are not only toxic to pests — they can harm people too. Try to use pest management methods that pose less of a risk.

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PETS & PET DANDER

Proteins in your pet's skin flakes, urine, feces, saliva and hair can trigger asthma. Dogs, cats, rodents (including hamsters and guinea pigs) and other warm-blooded mammals can trigger asthma in individuals with an allergy to animal dander.

The most effective method to control animal allergens in the home is to not allow animals in the home. If you remove an animal from the home, it is important to thoroughly clean the floors, walls, carpets and upholstered furniture.

Some individuals may find isolation measures to be sufficiently effective. Isolation measures that have been suggested include keeping pets out of the sleeping areas, keeping pets away from upholstered furniture, carpets, and stuffed toys, keeping the pet outdoors as much as possible and isolating sensitive individuals from the pet as much as possible.

Actions you can take

• Find another home for your cat or dog.
• Keep pets outside if possible.
• If you have to have a pet inside, keep it out of the bedroom of the person with asthma.
• Keep pets off of your furniture.
• Vacuum carpets and furniture when the person with asthma is not around.

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NITROGEN DIOXIDE


Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) is an odorless gas that can irritate your eyes, nose and throat and cause shortness of breath. NO₂ can come from appliances inside your home that burn fuels such as gas, kerosene and wood. NO₂ forms quickly from emissions from cars, trucks and buses, power plants and off-road equipment. Smoke from your stove or fireplace can trigger asthma.

In people with asthma, exposure to low levels of NO₂ may cause increased bronchial reactivity and make young children more susceptible to respiratory infections. Long-term exposure to high levels of NO₂ can lead to chronic bronchitis. Studies show a connection between breathing elevated short-term NO₂ concentrations, and increased visits to emergency departments and hospital admissions for respiratory issues, especially asthma.

Actions you can take

If possible, use fuel-burning appliances that are vented to the outside. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to use these appliances.

• Gas cooking stoves: If you have an exhaust fan in the kitchen, use it when you cook. Never use the stove to keep you warm or heat your house.
• Unvented kerosene or gas space heaters: Use the proper fuel and keep the heater adjusted the right way. Open a window slightly or use an exhaust fan when you are using the heater.

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CHEMICAL IRRITANTS


Chemical irritants are found in some products in your house and may trigger asthma. Your asthma or your child's asthma may be worse around products such as cleaners, paints, adhesives, pesticides, cosmetics or air fresheners. Chemical irritants are also present in schools and can be found in commonly used cleaning supplies and educational kits.

Chemical irritants may exacerbate asthma. At sufficient concentrations in the air, many products can trigger a reaction.

Actions you can take

If you find that your asthma or your child's asthma gets worse when you use a certain product, consider trying different products.
If you must use a product, then you should:

• Make sure your child is not around.
• Open windows or doors, or use an exhaust fan.
• Always follow the instructions on the product label.

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OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTION


Outdoor air pollution is caused by small particles and ground level ozone that comes from car exhaust, smoke, road dust and factory emissions. Outdoor air quality is also affected by pollen from plants, crops and weeds. Particle pollution can be high any time of year and are higher near busy roads and where people burn wood.

When inhaled, outdoor pollutants and pollen can aggravate the lungs, and can lead to chest pain, coughing, digestive problems, dizziness, fever, lethargy, sneezing, shortness of breath, throat irritation and watery eyes. Outdoor air pollution and pollen may also worsen chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma.

Actions you can take

• Monitor the Air Quality Index on your local weather report.
• Know when and where air pollution may be bad.
• Regular exercise is healthy. Check your local air quality to know when to play and when to take it a little easier.
• Schedule outdoor activities at times when the air quality is better. In the summer, this may be in the morning.
• Stay inside with the windows closed on high pollen days and when pollutants are high.
• Use your air conditioner to help filter the air coming into the home. Central air systems are the best.
• Remove indoor plants if they irritate or produce symptoms for you or your family.
• Pay attention to asthma warning signs. If you start to see signs, limit outdoor activity. Be sure to talk about this with your child's

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WOOD SMOKE

Smoke from wood-burning stoves and fireplaces contain a mixture of harmful gases and small particles. Breathing these small particles can cause asthma attacks and severe bronchitis, aggravate heart and lung disease and may increase the likelihood of respiratory illnesses. If you're using a wood stove or fireplace and smell smoke in your home, it probably isn't working as it should.

Actions you can take

• To help reduce smoke, make sure to burn dry wood that has been split, stacked, covered and stored for at least 6 months.
• Have your stove and chimney inspected every year by a certified professional to make sure there are no gaps, cracks, unwanted drafts or to remove dangerous creosote
  build-up.
• If possible, replace your old wood stove with a new, cleaner heating appliance. Newer wood stoves are at least 50% more efficient and pollute 70% less than older models.
  This can help make your home healthier and safer and help cut fuel costs.

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SECOND HAND SMOKE

Secondhand smoke is the smoke from a cigarette, cigar or pipe, and the smoke exhaled by a smoker. Secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 substances, including several compounds that cause cancer.


Secondhand smoke can trigger asthma episodes and increase the severity of attacks. Secondhand smoke is also a risk factor for new cases of asthma in preschool-aged children. Children's developing bodies make them more susceptible to the effects of secondhand smoke and, due to their small size, they breathe more rapidly than adults, thereby taking in more secondhand smoke. Children receiving high doses of secondhand smoke, such as those with smoking parents, run the greatest relative risk of experiencing damaging health effects.

Actions you can take

• Don't let anyone smoke near your child.
• If you smoke — until you can quit, don't smoke in your home or car.