Mold Cleanup Steps

4/10/2019 (Permalink)

Mold cleanup can be a complicated process. If you have house mold in Studio City, CA, you will likely need to enlist the help of mold remediation specialists. If your problem covers a space smaller than 10 square feet, however, you may be able to address it yourself. To do so, you will still need to follow certain steps. If at any point in the process you discover that the problem is bigger than you can resolve, contact the professionals immediately.

1. Wear Personal Protective Equipment

Before experts start a mold remediation job, they will don several items:

• Protective coveralls
• Goggles
• Face mask with ventilator
• Gloves
• Rubber boots
  
  

If you are going to take on a cleanup job yourself, you must also wear protective gear. Try to avoid direct contact with the mold growth.

2. Use Detergent to Scrub

Getting rid of mold requires some elbow grease. Most surfaces can be cleaned with detergent, water and a scrub brush. If an item cannot be scrubbed or if you don’t know how to clean it, leave it to the professionals.

3. Dry Area Completely

It doesn't do any good to get rid of house mold if you leave the moisture that attracted it behind. After the surface is clean, make sure it is also completely dry.

4. Replace Unsalvageable Items

Mold tends to root itself into the pores of the surface on which it grows. If the fungus has infested an item too deeply, that item will need to be thrown out. Mold experts can help you distinguish between items that can be saved and those that must be replaced. If unsalvageable areas are part of the structure, such as walls or ceiling tiles, the work must be done professionally.

No matter the size of the problem, these four steps are essential to getting rid of house mold. If the problem is small, you may be able to clean it, but when in doubt, call the professionals.

Understanding Mold Growth in Commercial Property

4/10/2019 (Permalink)

Understanding mold in your commercial property is key

Upon noticing the smell or sight of black mold in your Studio City, CA business, you probably wonder what caused it to appear. Despite so many different varieties, molds have a single process of growing and spreading. Knowledge of how and why these fungi infest businesses teaches how to prevent them from taking over yours.

Knowing the Water Where Mold Often Grows

Mold needs time, temperature, food, and moisture to thrive. A moisture problem is often the cause of mold growth. Water that gets into building materials, utilities or flooring comes from plenty of sources:

• Burst or leaking pipe
• Flooding from nearby overflowing bodies of water
• Humid weather
• Broken supply line
• Defective sprinkler systems
• Clogged gutter drainage systems
• Defective HVAC systems accumulating condensation

Once identified, any broken utility or component should be fixed by an appropriate professional. This prevents additional water damage and the mold that comes with it.

Preventing Spores From Finding Ideal Conditions

Microscopic spores float through the air looking for a suitable place to settle. Even if the spores are floating in the air of a room, no mold species will grow without a place to settle that has food and water. The parasitic nature of black mold and other organisms means that they can be stopped from being a problem by denying environments they desire.

Treating the Mold That Grows

Proactive water cleanup can prevent the need for mold cleanup. Fixing any existing water damage stops the airborne mold from ever finding a place to survive inside your property.

Contacting a professional water cleanup crew with mold expertise is advised to make sure any water is completely removed with the power of their industrial-grade tools. Additionally, experts can find mold and water hiding in unnoticeable locations that most people miss. This prevents mold from quickly recolonizing.

Getting a Hold on Mold

Black mold may seem daunting at first, but prevention can make it seem like a nonissue. Even if mold does take advantage of a water accident at your property, there are ways to remove it without much hassle.

Which Types of Mold Grow in Houses?

4/10/2019 (Permalink)

There are many different types and subspecies of mold that may grow in a house. If you have found mold in your home or smell an odor that leads you to suspect the presence of hidden mold, you should contact a certified service that provides testing, clean-up, and restoration services. Skilled professionals can determine whether mold growth poses a risk to any member of the household and limit your family's exposure. 

• Aspergillus is a common genus of mold found on food such as bread or potatoes and in HVAC systems. This type of mold is highly aerobic and depends on the presence of oxygen in order to thrive.
• Cladosporium is black or green mold growth that often forms on air ducts, toilets, or painted surfaces in high humidity or when excessive moisture is present.
• Black mold is a type of mold that is known to cause problems for residents in homes with substantial growths. The scientific name for black mold is stachybotrys chartarum. This type of mold should be identified and handled only by mold experts. 
• White mold tends to be in the early stages of growth. A reputable service should be able to prevent this type of mold from continuing to grow into mature colonies. White or light grey molds on plants are mildew – a related type of fungus.

These are just a few of the major types of mold growth that you may see in a home in the wake of water damage. You may attempt to identify visible mold in your home, but when it comes to determining the real risk posed by mold and eliminating its presence, you should rely on trained hygienists and remediation experts in Studio City, CA. These specialists can provide accurate results with either microscopy or culturing and determine the type or subspecies of mold and the best way to eliminate it from your home.

Studio City/Valley Village Residents: Follow These Mold Safety Tips If You Suspect Mold

10/3/2018 (Permalink)

Be careful! Without proper training, you could be spreading microbial growth throughout your home.

If you see visible microbial growth, do not disturb it. You can inadvertently spread the microbial infestation throughout your home. When microbial growth is disturbed, it can release microscopic 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 Studio City/Valley Village for microbial growth 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.

About Our Mold Remediation Services

SERVPRO of Studio City/Valley Village specializes in microbial growth 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 microbial growth problem quickly and safely.

If You See Signs of Microbial Growth, Call Us Today – (818)508-7282

Does your Studio City/Valley Village Home Have A Mold Problem?

9/25/2018 (Permalink)

In Studio City/Valley Village, mold can spread through a home in as little as 48 hours.

Microscopic mold spores naturally occur almost everywhere, both outdoors and indoors. This makes it impossible to remove all mold from a home or business. Therefore, mold remediation reduces the mold spore count back to its natural or baseline level. 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 allergens and irritants.
• 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.

If your home or business has a mold problem, we can inspect and assess your property and use our specialized training, equipment, and expertise to remediate your mold infestation.

If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today (818)508-5600

Hotel Mold

6/21/2018 (Permalink)

Mold forming on the hotel walls.

We think it won't happen to the best of us but then it does, mold attacks! Over the last month and a half our Large Loss Response team has worked around the clock to get this hotel back up and running to fill rooms with visitors. It started when they had a massive water damage through out several floors and since it was so big and the conditions were perfect microbial growth began to form on the walls, in the carpet, and other various places. The hotel could not allow guests to stay because microbial growth is not good for respiratory system when exposed to it. All of our supervised technicians wore proper PPE to clean up the water, get rid of the mold, and remediate the damage.

What Is Microbial Growth? AKA Mold

4/27/2018 (Permalink)

Without realizing it this home quickly became affected with microbial growth in every room.

You may not be able to see or smell it, yet it may be growing in your home and the reason you feel sick.  So, what is mold? Molds are multiple types of fungi that grow in filaments and reproduce by forming tiny spores that sprout and fly away, invisible to the naked eye. Mold grows in damp, warm, and humid locations, inside and outside. Mold can grow in your bathroom, in the showerhead, or in the corner near your shower, especially if the room is not well ventilated. Mold can attach to your shoes, pets, clothes, carpets, furniture, books, and papers. Mold can circulate in your air system. Overall, water-damaged buildings create a complicated mixture of contaminants present in the air and dust, resulting in a toxic chemical stew. Additionally, mold produces toxic chemicals called mycotoxins, present on spores and fragments of mold released into the air. Would you believe that half of buildings in the United States are water damaged, leading to the growth of mold? Which means you should always call SERVPRO if you suspect microbial growth in your home or place of business. We have expert technicians and trained office staff prepared to deal with all mold emergencies.

5 Places Where Mold Is Comfortable

4/27/2018 (Permalink)

Always check places you would never assume microbial growths to thrive.

We all know microbial growth in your home is not wanted but do you know where to even begin looking? Mold definitely has it's favorite places to thrive, if you were wondering where they are here are the 5 top places that our technicians have recorded. 

1. Basements and cellars after water damage

2. Kitchen and bathroom sinks

3. Your refrigerator

4. Air conditioning units

5. Water Heaters

Now, mold can grow anywhere that gives it a cozy home such as environments that are moist and cellulose. All homes have the key ingredients to house microbial growth, and if you suspect there is mold in your home you should always call the experts at SERVPRO. We have highly trained technicians that are qualified to deal with any and all mold. 

Mold Attacks

4/23/2018 (Permalink)

This mold was hiding behind a cabinet and could only be found when moved.

This company experienced two water leaks in their roof within a month of each other during a really bad rain season recently. With water damage comes mold, especially in a situation like this where they were hit hard with water in their offices. The mold came quietly and was hard to find, mostly hidden behind cabinets and on the walls behind decorations. It wasn't until our technicians started the water mitigation they realized the bigger problem at hand, mold. SERVPRO of Studio City/Valley Village was able to handle the extensive process and remove all the mold that was encasing the office. This before picture shows the mess left behind after all the water damage, we were able to work through the entire process and get the office ready for reconstruction. 

Hidden Microbial Growth: In The Closet

4/19/2018 (Permalink)

Mold hidden in this dark closet was unseen by the home owners for quite some time.

Mold can be sneaky, and sometimes goes unnoticed much longer than it should and you cannot get rid of it easily. If you think mold is growing in your home trust your nose and your gut, if you start to feel sick you should always call a specialist, precisely SERVPRO of Studio City/Valley Village to get the job done quick. All mold needs is food, water and a dark, stagnant environment with steady temperatures that neither freeze nor swelter to grow. By trusting SERVPRO to use high-tech equipment and modern methods to conduct our remediation services you will find that mold has no chance! With mold you want to make sure that it is cleaned up properly and have no lingering microbial growth. Which in turn prohibits any health risks that come with mold. Call SERVPRO of Studio City/Valley Village today with any mold requests.

After Mold Remediation

4/19/2018 (Permalink)

Family den after demo.

Recently, SERVPRO of Studio City/ Valley Village completely gutted this den of the mold that had taken over every square inch. Mold like this family had needed to be "demoed" out and removed from the home. The husband tried to clean and remove the mold himself but it came back fiercer and all at once, they had but no choice to call out the professionals of SERVPRO. By containing the mold area we were able to prevent other mold spores from travelling to other places in the home and contaminating there as well. Mold can also cause serious health issues, which is why containment is so important and necessary, all mold situations should be treated as an emergency. When demolition was completed SERVPRO completed a final wipe down of everything to prohibit the mold from growing back and allowed the family to open back up the space and continuing living their lives. 

Mold Remediation: West Covina, CA

4/17/2018 (Permalink)

An entire department store affected heavily by microbial growth

In our industry it is common that when water damage occurs and it is not remediated properly, this can lead to microbial growth. 

Our company, SERVPRO of Studio City/Valley Village was called to inspect a 16,000 square foot commercial building that had obtained water damage from the recent Los Angeles rains. The leaks in the roof, went undetected and moisture got trapped in the walls and ceilings. With no way to dry itself out, mold began to grow. A commercial roofer came out to do an inspection and to his surprise there was mold growth. Because the moisture in the roof went undetected for so long, major damage occurred and cost them not only lost revenue but major out of pocket expenses as well.