Hidden Mold In Your Home

Even the cleanest homes have dark, damp areas that are susceptible to mold. Mold literally feeds on the surfaces it affects, using organic substances found in wood, drywall, and other building materials as a food source. When left to grow, it can cause extensive damage to the building materials, even affecting the structural integrity of your home.

Inspect and identify signs of a hidden mold problem so you can call mold remediation experts like Alert Disaster to repair, avoiding more damage:

Refrigerator Drip Pans

The pan that collects moisture (and food spills) is a perfect environment for mold to grow. Persistent moisture, a lack of air circulation and low visibility can encourage mold to grow unchecked. So make an annual commitment to clean out the drip pan using water and white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. If you notice a lot of mold growth, increase the cleanings to twice per year.  Also, clean the floor beneath the pan to kill any remaining spores.

Behind Wallpaper

It is difficult to see mold spores are growing behind the existing wallpaper. If the paper has peeling edges, it’s possible that mold has begun spreading there. If you suspect you might have a mold problem, it’s best to just get the paper removed. If you know for a fact that there is a great deal of mold behind the paper, hire a trained professional to get rid of it and sterilize the area. Only a pro will know how to prevent huge amounts of spores from spreading airborne when the paper is removed.

Stored Papers And Files

Paper files and documents and file folders, even stored in metal file cabinets, can become quite moldy when left in a damp basement or forgotten closet. Even if the stacks or boxes were never wet, the floor beneath can get wet, leading to extensive mold growth. Procedures for cleaning and salvaging moldy books and paper files can be expensive, making it appropriate only in special circumstances: preservation of works of art, valuable books or historic papers.

Chimneys

Porous brick crevices collect water, dirt, and other organic debris. Depending on how well a chimney is capped off, rusty flashing might let in a good amount of water from rain and snow. Plus, it’s likely leaves and other organic materials create perfect conditions for mold to grow. Use a chimney sweep to give your chimney an annual inspection and cleaning.

Front Loading Washers

Everyone loves their new high efficiency (HE) washer until the laundry room begins to smell ?funky.? The gasket around the door on front-loading washing machines often stays wet because the door is usually closed when not in use. With lint and skin cells as a food source, the mold multiplies. So after every load, wipe the gasket before you 1) shut the door or 2) leave the door ajar. If you spot mold, run a hot water wash with some chlorine bleach to kill the fungi.

Built-In Cabinets And Drawers

Since mold loves moist, dark areas with minimal air circulation, your built-ins, bathroom and kitchen cabinets provide an excellent opportunity. If you have a damp, organic food source such as paper or fabric, odds are that you will have a mold problem. When you deep clean, remove all the contents and check for signs of mold and mildew. Address any moisture issues.

Window Sashes And Sills

Window sills are often inundated from moisture due to condensation, and seldom get air flow when closed. The dirt and leaves that accumulate in the grooves of the sills supply valuable food to spores. After heavy rains, open windows and wipe moisture from the bottoms of sashes and window sills. Be sure to wipe down windows when you see a lot of condensation and clean out the window tracks periodically to remove the mold food source.

Air Conditioners

Air conditioning units trap dust, pollen, and moisture from the air. House dust contains lots of skin cells and often other organic debris that can support fungal growth. When it is humid in your house, a mold may grow in AC ducts, drain pans, and on coils. So run your AC for at least 10 minutes every day to keep air circulating when it’s hot and humid outside, and keep the humidity in your home below 55%.

If your air handler equipment or ductwork that has been wet from leaks, condensate leaks, or other moisture sources such as building flooding, call an expert to inspect those hidden spaces.

ALERT Mold Solution In Bakersfield

Our immune systems were created to battle mold, but it is harmful in large quantities and through prolonged exposure to it.  Alert Disaster has created an ALERT Mold Solution to protect your family with a three-step solution:

Mold Inspection

• Identifying the mold types and quantity of mold spores is done by certified inspectors and then analyzed in the lab. A variety of inspection options are available.

Mold Remediation & Restoration

• The contaminated area is first contained to prevent the spread of mold spores to ?clean zones? and the mold is removed according to IICRC and AQI standards. Then air filtration devices are used to eliminate airborne spores and ALERT reconstructs if needed.

Re-Inspection of Mold Removal

• Following the restoration process, ALERT verifies a job well done through third-party re-inspection.

Alert Disaster Restoration is an independent firm serving California with branch offices and Partner Members. Call for a full-service disaster restoration contractor for your water damage, fire damage or mold contamination problems.