Why to Call SERVPRO When You Have Mold Issues | SERVPRO® of Reno Southwest

12/20/2021 (Permalink)

If you suspect you may have a mold problem at home, contact SERVPRO of Reno Southwest.

Mold needs three things to grow: moisture, temperature and time.

Anytime there’s a water leak or standing water, or anytime an area of your home has relative humidity that rises above 50% (this happens most often in bathrooms or basements), there’s an increased chance of mold growth.

Mold grows best at temperatures above 77 degrees Fahrenheit, so when indoor temperatures reach that level, the odds of mold growth in damp areas are exponentially increased. This is why it’s even more important to keep humidity down during the warmer months of the year.

Mold removal is no easy feat, nor is it a safe one. If mold is handled improperly, it can spread, fling spores into the air and become an even greater danger. That’s why you need the thorough removal process only SERVPRO provides.

The SERVPRO Process

Our process starts with you. We don’t make assumptions about what you need or try to force solutions on you that your situation doesn’t require. We’ll work with you for a custom solution to your mold issue.

Once we know the specifics, we get to work finding every instance of mold and growth, using the best, most accurate techniques available to detect mold and hidden water sources. Then we move to contain the outbreak, using high-grade equipment to create negative air pressure, which keeps mold from spreading during removal.

We filter the air with powerful “air scrubbers” and HEPA vacuums, capturing microscopic spores to keep them out of your building’s airflow. We work tirelessly to eliminate mold colonies based on the specific growth your home is experiencing.

Restoration: The Secret Sauce

The work isn’t over when the mold is gone. Another thing that sets SERVPRO apart is our commitment to restoration and recovery.

We’ll clean and sanitize your belongings, furniture, decorative items, even your clothes, to make sure your house is completely mold-free and safe. Then we finish the job by restoring areas of the home that may have been damaged by the mold—we’ll handle anything from drywall and carpet to reconstruction of entire rooms and areas.

When you’ve got a mold issue, there’s only one call to make. SERVPRO will be on site fast, and we’ll make it look "Like it never even happened."

Mold is toxic and dangerous. If you suspect you may have a mold problem at home, contact SERVPRO right away.

MOLD!!!!! What do I do now?

1/23/2020 (Permalink)

Any mold in your home should be treated with caution – stay out of affected areas and don’t touch or disturb the mold.

What to do until SERVPRO of Reno Southwest arrives?

• Stay out of affected areas.
• Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
• Contact a SERVPRO of Reno Southwest for mold remediation services.

In as little as 48 hours, mold can quickly become a problem in your home or business when there’s a water intrusion, like a roof leak or leaking water line. Mold can cause health effects and can also cause significant damage to your property. SERVPRO Franchise Professionals have the training, protective gear, and specialized equipment necessary to handle your mold problem. 

If you have a mold problem in your home or business, your primary focus should be safety:

• Significant mold growth can occur in 48-72 hours.
• Mold may present a greater risk to children, the elderly, and anyone with respiratory problems.
• A strong, musty odor may indicate hidden mold behind drywall or under carpeting.

Local homeowner with Mold

5/11/2018 (Permalink)

Here's a story of a local homeowner who's home experienced a flood last year in Lemmon Valley.

http://www.kolotv.com/content/news/Lemmon-Valley-resident-left-with-few-options--482342681.html

There's a strong smell of mildew, and she says there's mold on the ceiling.

The home was in a state of renovation when the flood waters from Swan Lake came over their ten acre property--flooding the back yard, as well as their double-wide.

The septic went out, and the county declared their home unsafe.

“We call it the zombie house now. We have a lot of cracks in the wall. Our skylight shattered, it had to be from settling, but we aren't sure. Our doors don't shut. The front door has to be dead bolted or else it doesn't stay closed,” says Hall.

Of the many displaced, Hall is one of the more calm.

Tracy Hall opens the door to her home on Pompei Way.

She says she worked with the county and state and was able to get an apartment paid for her, her husband and granddaughter.

But now word that the subsidy is going away at the end of June.

It's just another slap in the face she says.

“We don't want to live in our front yard. We’re thinking because this is city water floating around our house, they should come up with some kind of funding to let us stay home, or stay there until we have some answers,” says Hall.

She says she was offered money from FEMA to buy her now flood prone home.

But the money was so low, there would be nothing she and her family to buy in the area.

Then there is this.

Water being pumped across Lemmon Valley on the east side into Swan Lake.

The move she says has increased water levels on her side of the lake.

She says it's all for developers who she says are receiving more compassionate treatment from the county and city than local residents do.

“We can only raise the land under our home 24 inches no more. We can't expand that out at all to protect the property. But his Prada Development is raising their land 10 feet,” says Hall.

For now their RV parked on the side of her house will be her new home beginning in July.

That's if all goes as planned.

She says if the flood waters should rise again that could put the electric to the trailer in jeopardy.
:

“We pay taxes out here. You mind our own business do the right thing. Where does that get us? Homeless,” says Hall.

All reasons she says, she'll be joining the class action suit against the city who she says is responsible for the hardship she and her neighbors face.

Hoarder

3/27/2018 (Permalink)

Here is a great story about how to recognize and help a hoarder. Also some of the problems that could occur if the home is not cleaned.

https://www.budgetdumpster.com/blog/help-hoarder/

How to Identify Hoarding and Find Professional Help

First, take some time to learn about the disorder. Hoarding is a serious condition that can have emotional, social, financial and even physical effects on a person. The behaviors and situations below are hallmark signs of compulsive hoarding:

• Avoids throwing away possessions that have no value to them or anyone else.
• Experiences mild to severe anxiety about getting rid of anything.
• Repeatedly adding to the hoard without recognition that there is a problem.
• Rooms in their home can no longer be used for their intended purpose.
• Possessions are negatively impacting their safety, health or hygiene.

Hoarding tendencies can vary in severity, but if you recognize more than one of these symptoms in your loved one, you need to find professional assistance before moving forward.

The International OCD Foundation can help you find a local therapist who specializes in hoarding disorder.

Helping a Hoarder Clean Up and Organize Their Home

Once you’ve brought in professional help and addressed the underlying issues of their hoarding tendencies, you can start helping your loved one clean their home.

Assess the situation and decide if you can take this on without a professional organizer. Gauge the severity of the hoard, as well as how many people will help you with the cleanup. You should also consider your loved one’s personal progress. A professional organizer can be a huge help if your resources allow.

“A trained professional organizer with hands on experience working with large amounts of clutter will be able to provide sorting and organizing help as well as be able to provide structure to the clean out process,” says Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer at Collector Care.

If you decide to work with an organizing professional, they can guide you through the process. If not, use the steps below to get started.

Control Moisture after Flooding

3/7/2018 (Permalink)

Here is a link to a few ideas from the EPA about mold and moisture control after floods:

https://www.epa.gov/natural-disasters/flooding

Mold

• Mold cleanup: Mold can cause serious health problems. The key to mold control is moisture control. After the flood, remove standing water and dry indoor areas. Remove and discard anything that has been wet for more than 24-48 hours.
• Mold cleanup in schools and commercial buildings. Information for building managers, custodians, and others who are responsible for commercial building and school maintenance.
• Basic mold hazards. Cleaning up mold. What to wear
• More about mold from Centers for Disease Control

During a flood cleanup, the indoor air quality in your home or office may appear to be the least of your problems. However, failure to remove contaminated materials and to reduce moisture and humidity can present serious long-term health risks. Standing water and wet materials are a breeding ground for microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, and mold. They can cause disease, trigger allergic reactions, and continue to damage materials long after the flood.

Possible Cleaning Solutions

3/7/2018 (Permalink)

Here is a link to some ideas on what you can do to clean mold yourself or when to call in a professional:

https://www.epa.gov/mold/mold-cleanup-your-home

Mold Cleanup

If you already have a mold problem - ACT QUICKLY. Mold damages what it grows on. The longer it grows, the more damage it can cause.

Who should do the cleanup depends on a number of factors. One consideration is the size of the mold problem. If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch), in most cases, you can handle the job yourself, follow the Mold Cleanup Tips and Techniques. However:

• If there has been a lot of water damage, and/or mold growth covers more than 10 square feet, consult EPA guide Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings. Although focused on schools and commercial buildings, this document is applicable to other building types.

• If you choose to hire a contractor (or other professional service provider) to do the cleanup, make sure the contractor has experience cleaning up mold. Check references and ask the contractor to follow the recommendations in EPA guide Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, the guidelines of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygenists (ACGIH), or other guidelines from professional or government organizations.

• If you suspect that the heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) system may be contaminated with mold (it is part of an identified moisture problem, for instance, or there is mold near the intake to the system), consult EPA guide Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned? before taking further action. Do not run the HVAC system if you know or suspect that it is contaminated with mold - it could spread mold throughout the building.

• If the water and/or mold damage was caused by sewage or other contaminated water, then call in a professional who has experience cleaning and fixing buildings damaged by contaminated water.

• If you have health concerns, consult a health professional before starting cleanup.

Mold

2/15/2018 (Permalink)

Any home or business can quickly become infested with mold with the introduction of a water source, like a roof or plumbing leak. Mold can spread throughout a property in as little as 48-72 hours, and can produce allergens and irritants that have the potential to cause other health effects.  

If you suspect that your home or business has a mold problem, SERVPRO of Reno Southwest can inspect and assess your property. If mold is found, we have the training, equipment, and expertise to handle the situation.

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 on a pet.
• Mold spores thrive on moisture. Mold spores can quickly grow into colonies when exposed to water. 
• 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.

A little info about Black Mold

2/15/2018 (Permalink)

What is Black Mold?

Stachybotrys chartarum is the type of mold often called “black mold” or “toxic mold”. Sensational news reports warn about the dangers of black mold and these stories can be alarming and confusing. Any mold in your home should be treated with caution – stay out of affected areas and don’t touch or disturb the mold.

What to do until SERVPRO of Reno Southwest arrives?

• Stay out of affected areas.
• Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
• Contact a SERVPRO of Reno Southwest for mold remediation services.

In as little as 48 hours, mold can quickly become a problem in your home or business when there’s a water intrusion, like a roof leak or leaking water line. Mold can cause health effects and can also cause significant damage to your property. SERVPRO Franchise Professionals have the training, protective gear, and specialized equipment necessary to handle your mold problem. 

If you have a mold problem in your home or business, your primary focus should be safety:

• Significant mold growth can occur in 48-72 hours.
• Mold may present a greater risk to children, the elderly, and anyone with respiratory problems.
• A strong, musty odor may indicate hidden mold behind drywall or under carpeting.

Some Mold Facts

1/19/2018 (Permalink)

This article is for information purposes only. We have found a good article with some facts about mold or mildew. I hope that you enjoy the info as we did.

https://www.medicinenet.com/mold_exposure/article.htm

Molds are various types of fungi (singular = fungus) that grow in filaments and reproduce by forming spores that can travel through the air. The term mildew is sometimes used to refer to some kinds of mold, particularly mold in the home with a white or grayish color or mold growing in shower stalls and bathrooms. Mold may grow indoors or outdoors and thrives in damp, warm, and humid environments. Mold can be found in essentially any environment or season.

Molds reproduce by forming tiny spores that are not visible to the naked eye. Mold spores are very hardy and can survive under conditions in which mold cannot grow, such as in dry and harsh environments. These spores travel through outdoor and indoor air. When the mold spores in the air land on a surface where moisture is present, mold can then start to grow.

For our dry area in Reno/Sparks we still can have mold. If you do believe you have mold please don't forget to call SERVPRO of Reno Southwest. We will make it "Like it never even happened."

Where can mold be found?

1/19/2018 (Permalink)

Here is a little more info of where homeowners can find mold in their home.

Although bathrooms (particularly shower stalls) and basements are typical moist areas prone to mold growth, any moist area in the home can be moldy. Drywall, ceiling tiles, carpets, furniture, ductwork, roofing, paneling, wallpaper, under sinks, and the areas around plumbing pipes are examples of areas in the home that can become infested by mold if the ideal growing conditions are present.

Mold spores from the outdoor air can enter the home through open doors, windows, and vents. It may also become attached to clothing, shoes, and pets and therefore be carried indoors.

Mold can have many different colors (including brown, green, and black) and sometimes appears as spots. Additionally, a musty odor may be present. Mold growth may also be hidden underneath carpeting, on the back side of wallpaper, and behind drywall or wall paneling. Saunas, greenhouses, and construction areas are places where mold is commonly found.

Again if you believe you have mold in your home, call SERVPRO of Reno Southwest so we can make it "Like it never even happened."