York Residents: Follow These Mold Safety Tips If You Suspect Mold

7/5/2024 (Permalink)

If you see visible mold, do not disturb it. You can inadvertently spread the mold infestation throughout your home. When mold is disturbed, the mold can release microscopic mold spores which become airborne and can circulate inside your home.

What to Do:

• Stay out of affected areas.
• Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
• Contact SERVPRO of York, James City County, and Poquoson for mold remediation services.

What Not to Do:

• Don’t touch or disturb the mold.
• Don’t blow air across any surfaces with visible or suspected mold growth.
• Don’t attempt to dry the area yourself.
• Don’t spray bleach or other disinfectants on the mold.

Call About Our Mold Remediation Services

Basic Mold Information

• The key to mold control is moisture control.
• If mold is a problem in your home, you should call a professional in like SERVPRO® clean up the mold promptly and fix the water problem.
• It is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.

SERVPRO of York, James City County, and Poquoson specializes in mold cleanup and restoration, in fact, it’s a cornerstone of our business.  Our crews are highly trained restoration professionals that use specialized equipment and techniques to properly remediate your mold problem quickly and safely.

If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today – 757-229-3442 or toll free at 1-800-889-5002

4 Places Mold May Hide

7/5/2024 (Permalink)

Mold is a disaster! Unseen mold can be even worse. These three places are often forgotten about, but are very common for mold growth in homes.

Underneath or behind refrigerators.

Most people do not think about their fridge as anything more than a place to store food. This goes to show that it is very unlikely that anyone is checking behind or even under there refrigerator for anything. Here at SERVPRO we get several calls a week regarding water lines to refrigerators that burst. Sometimes these calls are regarding huge amounts of water coming out, but there is still a percentage that face smaller leaks. These smaller leaks can go undetected for days if not weeks. That constant moisture is a breading ground for mold.

Household plants.

Overwatering indoor plants is a huge cause of mold growth. Not all household plant pots have the proper drainage that is important to keep that plant healthy.

Window Air Conditioner Units.

As the weather in Virginia decides that it is ready to transition into the cold, many residents in New Kent, Williamsburg, and Northern Neck beginning to take their air conditioning units out of there windows to put into storage. There may be a horrid surprise waiting. Air conditions can grab moisture from the air and trap it until it possibly grows into mold that may be seen around ducts and drain pans and potentially on coils.

Window Sills

We don’t often spend a lot of time examining our window sills, but they are a prime place for mold to start and spread. Window sills are frequently exposed to moisture from condensation, and they only get decent air flow during the summer months if the windows are open. The dirt that accumulates in the grooves of the sills supply valuable food to spores and they can grow quickly.

If you see any visible or suspect any mold in your home give SERVPRO of York, James City County, and Poquoson a call 757-229-3442 or toll free at 1-800-889-5002. Schedule your mold estimate today!

SERVPRO® is only a call away in your time of need

Condition in Poquoson Might Be Right For Mold

7/5/2024 (Permalink)

It’s estimated that more than 1 million types of mold exist, yet less than 10 percent have actually been named. This means mold is very common in both indoor and outdoor environments. While mold and humans can sometimes co-exist without issue, there are certain species of mold that can cause health effects for some people.

If the right conditions exist, mold will grow.  Those conditions include:

• Water - Different mold types require varying amounts of liquid before growth begins.   
• Temperature - Normal indoor temperatures will promote mold growth.
• Time - Initial mold colonizers can take hold within one day after being exposed to an adequate water supply.

Mold growth can occur in any home, so it’s important to keep an eye out for situations that might promote mold activity. Roof/chimney leaks, wet basements, or condensation from ducts that dampen surrounding insulation are just a few examples of issues that make a house a prime target for mold growth.

If you suspect mold in your home, call SERVPRO of York, James City County, and Poquoson to assess the situation. We have the knowledge, tools and track record to effectively remediate mold in your home or business.

If you suspect mold, call us today at 757-229-3442 or toll free at 1-800-889-5002

What to Do:

• Stay out of affected areas.
• Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
• Contact SERVPRO of York, James City County and Poquoson for mold remediation services. 

When in doubt stay out! Call SERVPRO® the professionals for any and all mold need.

FACT There are thousands of known species of molds, it loves moist areas.

REF:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mold

Mold Estimate

7/5/2024 (Permalink)

When you contact our franchise about mold we usually start with an estimate. This means we schedule for a certain day and an estimator will come out to your building or home to see where you think there is mold. The estimator always tries to identify what is causing the mold to form if there appears to be any.

Some causes of mold can be high humidity, moisture in the walls, leaking pipes, or etc. We trust our highly certified estimator AJ to make the call on where the mold is coming from, as he has been with the company for several years. AJ also holds the IICRC certification for mold. This means he has taken and will continue to take classes related to mold in order to keep his certification valid.

Once our estimator comes out and finds the source of the mold growth and has an idea of what is happening in the space, he'll come back to the office to form an estimate for the property owner. This estimate details line item by line item what our SERVPRO® will do to rid the property of mold. The total cost for job is also then disclosed to the paying party.

After the estimate is reviewed and approved for work our technicians are scheduled. During the mold remediation process the property owner is updated regularly to make sure that they don't have any questions.

Call SERVPRO of York,James City County, and Poquoson today at 757-229-3442 or toll free at 1-800-889-5002!

Mold Reactions

7/5/2024 (Permalink)

Not only does the thought of having mold scare most people, due to the fact they think it’s toxic. For some people it can be harmful unsafe to breath in mold. Mold comes is different strains, colors, textures, and growth rates. That's why you should leave it to the SERVPRO® Professionals to come in and decide the best plan of action if you think there is a possibility of you having mold.

We’ll send an estimator out for a $225 fee to tell you where the mold is coming from if you do in fact have mold. Also our SERVPRO professional estimators will draw up a detailed plan to rid the structure of mold.

If you think have mold in any part of your house or place of business, DON'T FEAR SERVPRO IS HERE TO HELP, give our office a call at 757-229-3442 or toll free at 1-800-889-5002. 

Can Mold Grow On Any Surface?

7/2/2024 (Permalink)

Yes! If the conditions are right mold can grow on any surface.

How to know if you have mold in your home

• smell

If mold is present, you can smell it, if the smell is worse in a certain room, then mold growth is present.

If you only smell mold when you use your HVAC unit then the mold source could be inside of the vents, ducts or the unit itself.

Mold growth in your home may cause some  issues. 

Places to look in your home for mold

• Laundry Room
• Window Seals
• Refrigerator drain pans
• Chimneys
• Basements
• Attics
• Bathrooms
• Dishes
• Under Carpets
• Toothbrush holder
• Potted Plants
• Outdoor/Indoor rugs/mats

Fact: There are thousands of known species of molds, They all require moisture for growth.

If you suspect there is mold in your home but are unable to locate it, have a professional inspect your home. Call SERVPRO of York, James City County & Poquoson today  at 757-229-3442 or toll free 800-889-5002!

Reference Fact: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mold

Be Prepared, Know The Signs Of Mold In Your Home or Business

7/1/2024 (Permalink)

As summer weather continues to heat up in our area, you may begin to notice signs of mold in your home. Read below to get a step ahead of these signs and stop mold growth before it becomes a major, and costly problem.

Leaks or Past Water Damage
If you have experienced recent or past water damage, or if you notice there is a current leak in your home, mold growth may have taken place. Mold grows in dark; moist environments and a leak can provide enough moisture for mold growth. Additionally, past floods can contribute to mold growth. To prevent water damage from turning into mold, act quickly to dry up any leaks or spills and if it is major damage, contact a professional remediation company, such as SERVPRO®, to clean it up fast.

Smell
If you notice a musty odor, especially one coming from a basement, crawlspace or an area with limited circulation, this is a very good indicator of mold. Even if you can’t see any discoloration, the smell could be coming from under the flooring or behind walls where you can't see it. By the time you can smell it, steps should be taken to inspect for mold and then clean or remove and affected materials.

Remember, sometimes elevated humidity can be enough to support mold growth in an area with un conditioned air.  

SERVPRO of York, James City County & Poquoson is here to help.   Contact us today at 757-229-3442 or 1-800-899-5002 to schedule a Mold Inspection to help get your home or business back.