Reasons To Trust The West Brevard Pros With Mold Remediation

1/17/2022 (Permalink)

Black mold spreading on walls and closet doors.

You may be tempted to try to handle a black mold infestation yourself. However, mold can cause health effects, which is why it is important for you to call a home mold remediation specialist.

If you hire SERVPRO, then you will be able to rest assured that your home is free of this toxic substance. This will give you peace of mind. Continue reading to find about how you can benefit by leaving mold remediation to a professional.

You Will Be Able To Get An Immediate Response

A West Brevard mold problem needs to be handled as quickly as possible. You can trust SERVPRO, you will get an immediate response. In many cases, professionals will be able to start the remediation process the same day that you request a service. A SERVPRO professional can work in an efficient and timely manner to restore the problem. Your home will be habitable in no time if you hire a SERVPRO of West Brevard.

You Will Have The Problem Taken Care of by SERVPRO Professionals Who Have Advanced Training

Not only does SERVPRO offer speedy service, but they hire highly-skilled technicians. People who want to work as mold removal specialists will need to undergo several hours of advanced training. This training teaches people how to use the best techniques and tools to cope with the West Brevard mold problem. Technicians are also taught how to safely remove mold. Proper care must be taken in order to ensure that the mold is removed properly.

Innovative Equipment
When you schedule a professional mold removal service, like SERVPRO of West Brevard, the remediation team will completely eliminate mold from your home by using innovative equipment. You will not have access to these services and tools if you make an attempt to take care of the West Brevard mold problem yourself. The right equipment must be used to take care of a mold problem properly. In order to make sure that the mold problem is properly taken care of, you will need to make a call and schedule remediation services with SERVPRO of West Brevard.

Understanding Mold

Microscopic mold spores exist almost everywhere, outdoors and indoors, making it impossible to remove all mold from a home or business. Some restoration businesses advertise “mold removal” and even guarantee to remove all mold, which is a fallacy. Consider the following mold facts:

• Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors.
• Mold spores are microscopic and float along in the air and may enter your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems or even hitch a ride indoors on your clothing or a pet.
• Mold spores thrive on moisture. Mold spores can quickly grow into colonies when exposed to water. These colonies may produce health effects.
• Before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed. Otherwise, the mold may return.
• Mold often produces a strong, musty odor and can lead you to possible mold problem areas.
• Even higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth. Keep indoor humidity below 45 percent.

Mold Can Grow in the Cleanest Areas

11/2/2020 (Permalink)

Mold growth behind wallpaper.

Did you know mold does not need to be visible to be growing? Even in some of the cleanest areas, it can be behind walls.

Most common places are bathrooms, closets, around the AC handler, kitchens, garages, even some exteriors.  

Here are some facts:

• Mold can grow both indoors and outdoors.
• It can start with just moisture and a food source.
• It can grow anywhere inside your area without you seeing it. 
• Some of the most common areas for mold are around the AC handlers, water heaters, bathrooms, closets, and garage. 
• Drying out the area after it has been flooded will not stop the mold from growing.
• There are several types of molds.

Think you got mold growing in your home, business, or offices? Call our team of experts at SERVPRO of West Brevard!

#Mold #MoldGrowth #Moldy #SERVPROmold #MoldCleanup

Four Important Things to Remember About Mold

9/28/2020 (Permalink)

Bathroom sink mold damage in West Eau Gallie, FL

There are many varieties of fungus that can grow in your West Eau Gallie, FL, home. One of these is black mold. While this is a common problem, many people do not know much about this fungus. Knowing more about it can help you to handle it better. The following questions and their answers may be useful to you.

1. What is Mold?

Black mold is a fungus that spreads through the growth of spores. These can travel through the air as well as on your clothing and shoes. Because they are so small, you will not know that they are there until they form a larger growth or colony. They are present in most locations and can be found in a variety of environments.

2. What Causes it To Grow?

While the exact cause can vary, the simple answer is moisture. When mold has enough moisture, it can spread very rapidly. Depending on the severity of the moisture problem, you can have a large growth in your home in only a few days. However, even small amounts of moisture can allow this fungus to spread.

3. How Do You Get Rid of It?

If moisture causes mold to grow, then you might think that removing the water will be enough to solve the problem. However, mold will not go away on its own and will need to be removed. Attempting to do so on your own can cause mold spores to spread throughout your house, so it is better to get a mold remediation company to perform cleanup for you.

4. Can You Prevent It?

Luckily, there are some methods you can use to prevent black mold from growing. Keep humidity levels in your house low, through the use of open windows, exhaust fans or dehumidifiers. Be sure to clean regularly and perform maintenance to check for and repair leaks.

The best thing to do if you find mold in your home is to have mold cleanup done as soon as possible. Do not ignore it, as it will only get worse. For the best results, this should be done by a professional.

Finding and Treating Mold in Your Commercial Property

9/2/2020 (Permalink)

Significant mold growth can occur in 48-72 hours

Did you know that your commercial building could have a mold problem without you even knowing it? Unfortunately, mold can grow in places that are not visible in a casual walk-through. Knowing what enables mold growth and common places it occurs can help you keep your business mold-free.

Where Mold Grows

Mold can grow anywhere it is warm and wet, but there are certain places that are more prone to mold infestations than others. Make sure you check the following areas in your building for mold:

• Ductwork
• Carpet
• Electrical equipment
• Paper-storage areas
• HVAC units (particularly drainage pans and terminal units)
• Ceiling tiles
• Masonry
• Walls (wallboards and inside cavity walls)
  
  

Mold can also result from high humidity, so be sure to keep the inside humidity low, ideally below 45%.

Mold Growth From Water Damage

Mold can begin growing as quickly as 24 hours after flooding, leaking or any other event that causes water damage to your property. Therefore, it is important to dry the water as soon as possible. Wet/dry vacuums, dehumidifiers and fans can all help with this process. Anything that cannot be fully dried should be removed from the area.

Treating Mold

Often the first indication of a mold problem is a musty smell. If you cannot see any mold, it may be best to call mold remediation experts to help you find the source of the mold. After the mold has been found and the water source addressed, it is important to contain the mold. This can be accomplished by turning off fans and the heating or air conditioning in the area. Professionals may use more advanced methods. Then an antimicrobial or antifungal cleaning solution should be used to clean the mold. Anything that cannot be fully cleaned of mold should be thrown out. After the mold has been brought back to normal levels, any needed reconstruction or repairs can begin.

Mold in your Suntree, FL, business can be a serious problem. However, routinely checking for mold growth and addressing it quickly can prevent a minor issue from becoming a disaster.

3 Steps To Banish Black Mold From a Shower

7/30/2020 (Permalink)

Bathrooms with a shower should be properly ventilated to prevent mold growth due to humidity

3 Steps to Prevent a Shower Becoming Moldy

Showers combine all of the elements mold needs to thrive. Heat, moisture and organic material can support many types of shower mold. Take these three steps to prevent a shower from becoming moldy.

1. Increase Bathroom Ventilation

Mold thrives in environments with limited air circulation. Ventilation promotes faster drying, which reduces residual moisture levels that support growth. Make sure the ventilation fan you install is rated for the square footage of a bathroom.

2. Regularly Clean Showers

Cleaning a shower can help to prevent shower mold from becoming a problem. Mold requires organic material for nutriment, and is less likely to grow if you regularly eliminate buildup from a shower. It can also be helpful to remove excess water from the walls or door of a shower with a squeegee.

It is a good idea to clean and scrub shower surfaces at least once a week, scrub grout once or twice a month, and periodically treat the shower with a fungicide cleaner or a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water.

3. Maintain Grout Sealant

Scrubbing grout is necessary to remove mildew or mold, but abrasion will also wear down the seal over time. When the grout between tiles or around the base of the shower wears out, this can lead to leaks that allow water to penetrate behind walls or spill out onto the floor of a bathroom. Check the condition of grout every few months and reseal when necessary.

These three preventative measures can help to stop the growth of shower mold. If you can still smell a musty odor after taking these steps, water may be leaking behind tiles and collecting in wall cavities. Do not search for hidden mold on your own. Black mold may be present, and some species are toxigenic. Contact a service that offers mold testing and remediation in Viera, FL.

Everything You Need to Know About Mold

3/3/2020 (Permalink)

Mold in a Brevard County home

Within as little as 48 - 72 hours mold can spread throughout your property and begin to produce allergens and irritants that can cause health effects. As your West Brevard disaster restoration professionals, we have the training, equipment, and expertise to handle your mold situation. Any home or business can become infested with mold from a simple roof or plumbing leak, which is why understanding mold and its potential effects on your home is important. 

Mold spores are microscopic and exist almost everywhere. Since these spores naturally exist outside and inside, it’s impossible to remove all mold from a home or business. These spores travel through the air which makes it easy for them to get into your home through windows, doors, air conditioning systems, or clothing. Mold thrives off of moisture and can quickly grow into a colony if left untreated and exposed to water.

Oftentimes, mold produces a musty smell that can help lead you to the source of the problem, which is the first step in mold remediation. “Black” or “toxic” mold can be an extremely dangerous type of mold, which is why any mold in your home should be treated with caution and you should contact a qualified mold remediation company before anything else. 

SERVPRO professionals are highly trained to handle any mold situation. Since water and mold restoration is a cornerstone of our business, our team includes an Applied Microbial Remediation Specialist, Water Damage Restoration Technician, and Applied Structural Drying Technician to efficiently and safely tackle your mold issues. Our team also has the equipment to detect the source of the water feeding your mold, isolate the area, and remove the mold to keep you and your family safe. 

As your West Brevard SERVPRO professionals, you can trust that we understand that each mold situation requires a unique solution, however the typical process will remain the same. Here’s what you need to know about the mold remediation process: 

Step 1: Emergency Contact

The process begins when you call our national call center (1-800-SERVPRO). A representative will talk with you to find out the necessary equipment and resources to tackle the job. 

Step 2: Inspection and Mold Damage Assessment

Your West Brevard SERVPRO professionals will then assess your mold damage and inspect your property. Oftentimes mold feeds on water and cellulose that’s hidden from plain view, which is why our team will use different technologies to determine the source of your mold. 

Step 3: Mold Containment

To prevent the spread of your mold, our team will use advanced containment procedures to isolate the area and keep the spores from spreading throughout the cleaning process. 

Step 4: Air Filtration

Specialized filtration equipment will allow your SERVPRO of West Brevard team to remove spores from the air in your home. 

Step 5: Removing Mold and Mold-Infested Materials

The mold remediation process depends on the scope and severity of your mold. Using antifungal and antimicrobial treatments to eliminate mold colonies, your SERVPRO team will prevent new colonies from forming. Removing certain surfaces such as carpeting or drywall may be necessary to prevent the spread or formation of new mold colonies. 

Step 6: Cleaning Contents and Belongings

Our team will use a variety of techniques to clean your personal items, such as furniture, clothing, or decorative items. They will also use fogging equipment to remove odors from your home. 

Step 7: Restoration

Depending on your mold situation, certain walls or materials in your home may be removed. In this case, your home may require minor or major repairs to restore your space to normal. 

If you have a mold issue in your Viera, FL home, don’t wait to contact your local SERVPRO professionals. Mold can cause serious property damage and health effects if left untreated, which is why our team is highly trained with the proper equipment and experience to handle your mold situation as soon as possible. If you suspect that your home is infested with mold, contact us today and we’ll have your home restored and repaired in no time!

Viera Mold Damage - The Most Common Places for Mold in the Home

12/5/2019 (Permalink)

Mold damage can occur in many different places in your home.

Of all the problems that a house or apartment can have, mold is one of the most common. People have dealt with mold growth as long as they've been living indoors. Homes get damp, water leaks in, and humid climates get the worst of mold growth. One of the worst things about mold is that it spreads if left untreated. It can start out on a wall or near a drain or window and spread into walls, floors, other rooms, windowsills, ceilings, or just about anywhere. If you want to keep your home as mold-free as possible and avoid mold damage, be sure to check the most common areas in your home where mold is likely to grow. Basements especially are a breeding ground for mold because of the dampness.

Basement

Unlike the rest of your home, basements tend to harbor dampness because they're the area where most of your water drains through. Pipes run throughout most basement areas and they also tend to have sump pumps, sinks and other fixtures where water can leak, overflow, or just generally collect and lead to mold growth or mold damage in your home in Viera. In addition, any moisture or water in the ground also seeps into your basement walls, making them a breeding ground for mold spores. Home builders typically also put up drywall over the concrete walls in basements. Since drywall is made from wood, it also can provide mold with the perfect environment to grow.

Bathrooms

In addition to basements, bathrooms are another place in the home where mold is likely to grow and cause unsightly and destructive mold damage. Bathrooms are typically warm, damp and humid because people shower and bathe in them and also because they contain sinks, toilets, pipe, bathtubs and shower fixtures. Bathrooms usually have porous surfaces where mold can take root. Allergens as well as mold can begin to permeate a bathroom in a relatively short amount of time. This is one reason why a lot of people use tiles in their bathrooms. Even with tiles, however, mold can still get into drywall.

Kitchens

Because of sinks, water and food preparation, kitchens also tend to be one of the places where mold can take root in a house or apartment. Kitchens tend to promote the growth of microtoxins, which can include mold. Despite people's best efforts to keep the kitchen clean and sanitized, mold can grow just about anywhere there is water. Leaking sinks, drains and faucets can lead to mold growth as can spills left uncleaned or standing water.

Any spot in the home where water may run or collect creates the perfect place for mold to grow. Although these areas are just a few locations in your home where mold can grow, they are the most likely and the most common. If you want to prevent mold damage and the spread of mold in your home, be sure to check these common areas for mold and clean them regularly with a cleaning agent designed to kill mold and prevent it from coming back.

Call the Professionals

SERVPRO of West Brevard is a 24/7 emergency water removal & flood clean up repair service company, Our technicians are highly trained and experienced with every water damage situation

Mold Mitigation and Remediation Process

4/11/2018 (Permalink)

Removing mold is not easy... but it can be, when you call SERVPRO, the leaders in the industry.

When a water damage occurs, mold can quickly become a problem. If you live in a state of high humidity, like Florida, mold can begin to start growing within 24-48 hours. You usually are not contacted back by your insurance company in the small amount of time. Take the following steps to get your mold problems solved. 

Call SERVPRO of West Brevard

The mold process begins when you contact our office at 321-953-8600. Our administration team will take down your information and ask you a series of question to determine resources, equipment, and personnel needs.

Inspection & Mold Assessment

Our SERVPRO assessor will schedule an appointment with you to inspect your property and/or area of concern. We will carefully check for any signs of mold or hidden water sources. Because mold feeds on water and cellulose, water or moisture had to be present at one time or another.

Mold Containment

To prevent the spread of mold spores, our technicians will place various containments. The containment procedures will isolate the contaminated area with physical barriers and negative air pressure during the removal process. 

Air Filtration

When mold is disturbed, microscopic mold spores enter the air. Therefore, SERVPRO technicians utilize specialized filtration equipment to capture the spores in the air. While the mold remediation is in progress, air scrubbers and HEPA vacuums are on continuously to prevent the spread of mold spores.

Removing Mold & Mold-Infested Materials

The mold remediation process is determined on the amount of mold growth and the type of surfaces the mold appears on. To eliminate the mold colonies and to prevent future colonies from forming, we perform antifungal and antimicrobial treatments.  Heavy mold growth any sporous surfaces, such as drywall, wood, or flooring, may result in removing and disposing of the mold-infected material.  

Cleaning Contents & Belongings

After the mold-contaminated surfaces are treated or removed, our SERVPRO professionals will clean any restorable contents, such as furniture, decorative items, linens and clothing. We use a variety of cleaning techniques to clean and sanitize the belongings. All the chemicals we use are SERVPRO made and branded at our corporate office.

Restoration

Depending on the level of mold damage, building materials may need to be removed. Restoration may involve minor repairs, such as small drywall and carpet replacement and painting, or it may require larger repairs such as the reconstruction of several walls or rooms of the home or building.

About Our Mold Remediation Services in Brevard County, Florida

SERVPRO of West Brevard specializes in mold removal, in fact, it’s a cornerstone of our business. Our highly trained technicians are restoration professionals that utilize specialized equipment and proven techniques to properly remediate your mold concerns swiftly and securely. We service the residents of Rockledge, Viera, Palm Shores, and the Suntree/North Melbourne Area. Contact your SERVPRO office if you think your home or business may have mold issues and schedule a FREE Mold Assessment at 321-953-8600

Mold: Inside & Outside a House

3/2/2018 (Permalink)

Is there mold inside your Viera, Florida house and you don't understand how it could have got there. Picture: the mold came from high humidity.

Outside your Home

Mold naturally occurs in our environment and can produce useful results, such as yeast, blue cheese, and the lifesaving medication penicillin. Even though some forms of mold can add value to our lives other forms can be harmful. Excessive amounts of mold and different types of mold, and/or exposure to mold may present health concerns for some people.

Inside Your Home

The growth of mold is produced by a source of water, which acts as its food source. When water intrusions are not addressed right away, the resulting damage can present increased risk of harmful mold growth. The intrusion of water in your home or place of business can result from storm damage, plumbing, or equipment failures, long-standing leaks, and poor humidity control. If humidity and moisture levels in a water-damaged environment are not promptly returned to normal, mold spores will thrive and multiple rapidly. The organic, sporous material found inside building, such as wood, paper, drywall and insulation are where mold flourishes and roots itself. Extreme mold development can lead to poor indoor environmental conditions that can pose a threat to anyone in the vicinity for a long period of time.

About Our Mold Remediation Services

SERVPRO of West Brevard specializes in mold cleanup, removal, and restoration. Our highly trained technicians are IICRC restoration professionals that use specialized equipment and techniques to properly remediate your mold problem quickly and safely. We service the residents of Viera, Rockledge, Suntree, and Palm Shores, Florida. Don’t hesitate to contact your local SERVPRO mold professionals if you think an area in you home may contain mold. Schedule a Mold Assessment at 321-953-8600

Think You May Have Mold, But Can’t See Any

1/31/2018 (Permalink)

Is there no visible signs of mold, but you think there may be mold somewhere behind the drywall or baseboards. Here is how you can find out!

Do you think you have mold in your Florida home, but you cannot see any visible evidence anywhere? In this kind of situation, I would recommend hiring an Industrial Hygienist or more commonly known has mold inspectors.

How They Detect Mold

Industrial Hygienist are equipped with highly sensitive air testing equipment which will count the number of mold spores inside and outside of your house. If the mold spore count inside is higher than outside, than the air samples have confirmed your suspicion of mold inside your home. To consider your house to be a safe and normal environment, the mold counts inside your house must be lower than outside. Not only can the industrial hygienist find out if there is mold present but can also discover the area that is infected and the specific types of mold.

After the air samples are taken, they are sent off to a lab to be processed. The industrial hygienist will receive the results and provide you with a mold report and mold protocol. The mold report provides the information of the kind of mold and the affected area. The mold protocol explains the specific procedures needed, the types of protective equipment required, and tools.

Not every mold issue requires air sampling. If you can see mold, sampling is not necessary. Instead you should take the proper steps towards removing the mold including calling your homeowners insurance company and find out if you have mold coverage and start filing a claim. Once you have determined if insurance will or will not be involve in the mold remediation process, it is now time to hire a mold remediation company like SERVPRO.

When the mold removal process is complete, the industrial hygienist will return to take air sample again. This will insure that the mold issue has been eliminate from your house, and that the restoration company has returned your house to preloss condition.

Warning: Do not try to diagnose your mold problems with a home testing kit. The kits are not accurate and typically don’t work. They’ll probably reveal some mold, but only because spores are always flying in the air. (NOTE: It is impossible to eliminate ALL mold spores in the air.)

Home kits can’t:

• Guarantee a statistically significant sample of air.
• Confirm the presence of dead mold spores (which also cause health problems).
• Determine baseline levels of mold in your home to compare results with other non-mold-infected areas.

About Our Mold Remediation Services

SERVPRO of West Brevard specializes in mold cleanup and restoration, in fact, it’s a cornerstone of our business. Our technicians are highly trained restoration professionals that use specialized equipment and techniques to properly remediate your mold problem quickly and safely. We service the Florida residents of Rockledge, Viera, Suntree and Melbourne. Don’t hesitate to contact our West Brevard, Florida office staff to start getting your home back to the way it was, and our technicians and contractor will have your home look “Like it never even happened.” Schedule a mold assessment at 321-953-8600

What Causes Mold and How Can You Prevent It?

2/10/2016 (Permalink)

Being exposed to mold indoors can cause health effects, so it’s important that you know what causes mold and how to prevent mold from building up in you home, school, or office building. 

What Causes Mold?

Mold can be found almost anywhere and it can grow on virtually any organic substance so long as moisture and oxygen are present. It can grow on wood, paper, carpet, food, and insulation. The cause of indoor mold is excessive moisture accumulating in buildings or on building materials especially if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or unaddressed for an extended period of time.

It’s impossible to eliminate all mold and mold spores in an indoor environment but indoor mold can be controlled by limiting the amount of moisture in the building. Moisture requires water to grow so preventing moisture problems from occurring inside buildings is of the utmost importance.

There are many causes of moisture problems including uncontrolled humidity. Some moisture problems have led to changes in building construction practices in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. In some situations they’ve resulted in buildings being tightly sealed but this can cause problems too. A building too tightly sealed may lack adequate ventilation, which could potentially lead to additional moisture buildup.

Moisture problems could include roof leaks, landscaping or gutters directing water into or under the building and unvented combustion appliances. Delayed maintenance or insufficient maintenance has been associated with moisture problems occurring in schools and large buildings. It’s easy to accumulate moisture in less insulated buildings like portable classrooms and other temporary structures so these types of buildings are more susceptible to having mold problems.

Prevention

Since mold can grow almost anywhere and on just about any organic substance, it’s very difficult to prevent mold from growing. However, there are preventative steps you can take that will decrease your chances in having mold in your building.

Because moisture is the cause of mold, fixing leaky plumbing or any other leaks as soon as possible in the building will go a long way toward preventing the appearance of mold. Also watch for condensation spots or wet spots around the building. Make sure to fix the source of this moisture as soon as possible to reduce the chances of it turning into mold.

The best way to prevent mold from building up in your building is to prevent moisture from accumulating in the building. You can do this by increasing the surface temperature or reducing the moisture level, the humidity, in the air. To increase the surface temperature in the building, insulate or increase the air circulation throughout the building. You can reduce the moisture level in the air by repairing any leaks in the building, increasing the ventilation if the air is cold and dry outside, or dehumidifying if the air is warm and humid outside.

Make sure to keep heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) drip pans clean, flowing properly, and unobstructed as this is another potential cause of mold growth in the building.

Hidden Mold

In some cases you could have hidden mold or indoor mold that may not be obvious. It’s possible that mold may be growing on hidden surfaces throughout the building such as the backside of drywall, wallpaper, paneling, the top of the ceiling tiles, or the underside of carpets and pads.

Possible locations where you could find hidden mold may be pipe chases and utility tunnels with leaking or condensing pipes, walls behind furniture where condensation can form, condensate drain pans inside air handling units, porous thermal or acoustic liners inside ductwork, or roof materials above the ceiling tiles which can be caused due to roof leaks or insufficient insulation.

There are some building materials like drywall with vinyl wallpaper or wood paneling that can act as vapor barriers that trap moisture underneath its surface providing a moist environment where mold can grow.

If your building smells moldy or you know there’s been water damage in the building, you may suspect mold is in the building even though you can’t see the source. If you start looking into hidden mold, it’s important to remember that investigating hidden mold may be difficult and will require caution. Be sure to always use personal protective equipment when investigating a potential mold problem.

If you think you have mold in your home, school, or office building, call the trusted professionals at SERVPRO to remediate the problem.