If your home has recently had water damage because of a leaky pipe or roof leak, there might be mold growing in your home as a result. It only takes mold a few days to start growing in moist conditions as long as it has a food source. Mold can spread fast once it starts, and your home may be unsafe until the mold is cleared.
It's a health hazard to deal with large amounts of mold yourself unless you know how to keep yourself safe from breathing in the mold and keep mold spores from spreading through your house. Instead, you'll need the help of a mold removal company. Here are some important steps they take for mold removal.
Isolate The Mold
Preventing the spread of mold spores is an important part of the process. The company may put up thick plastic sheets over doors to contain the mold spores. They may also set up a ventilation system that pulls air from the space to the outdoors so air with spores won't waft through your home. When they bag materials to take to the dump truck, they'll probably double-bag them to make sure no spores escape the bags.
Remove Moldy Materials
Some surfaces and materials can be cleaned and sanitized, but porous materials may need to be thrown out. The company determines what needs to be disposed of and bags the materials so they can be safely transferred to a dump truck and removed from your property.
Materials that need to go include drywall, carpet, curtains, wallpaper, upholstered furniture, and books. You may also want to get rid of other types of furniture and belongings rather than try to save them. If something of value is covered in mold, the company may set it aside and try to restore it later rather than toss it out right away.
Kill Mold That's Left Behind
The mold that's left behind needs to be cleaned up, but simply wiping mold away isn't the best solution. Instead, the mold has to be killed. A mold removal company will use products that kill mold and remove musty odors so there is no trace of mold left behind when the cleanup is finished. This greatly reduces the risk of mold growing back once the area is dry and sanitized.
Seal Mold When Needed
If mold is growing on the wood structure of your home, the mold removal company may remove as much of it as they can, sanitize the area, and then seal the wood where the mold was growing. The seal ensures the mold won't spread or release spores.
Neutralize Odors If Needed
Mold-killing cleaners can reduce moldy odors too, but if your house has a sour or musty odor due to the water leak, it may need to be deodorized. This can be done with odor-neutralizing products or machines. This will probably be the last step in the process, and once finished, the moldy area and your house should have a fresh smell and be free from mold.
Contact a local mold removal service to learn more.
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