How to Stop Mold

Mold goes dormant when there is not enough moisture to sustain its growth. Hurricanes can cause huge mold outbreaks just like leaking pipes or other excessive water situations can. The problem with dormant mold is that you dont always see it.

For individuals who are hypersensitive to mold, just the smell of mold, dormant or otherwise, is enough to make them sick. The worst mold problems are those that are hidden behind wall paper and in sheet rock. You can also find mold hiding in out of the way areas of your home like basements, crawl spaces, attics, and in HVAC equipment.

Steps to Take to Stop Mold

Before you decide if you have a mold problem, you probably will want to get a professional out to do some testing. Mold testing involves the testing of the indoor and outdoor air and comparing the amount of mold spores in each sample. The indoor sample should not exceed the mold count of the outdoor sample. If it does, this indicates a mold problem.

To get rid of the mold problem, you can either use a DIY kit or hire mold removal specialist. No matter which method you choose to eradicate your mold problem, there are several steps that need to be taken.

First, keep the mold from spreading. This usually involves correcting the moisture problem. Then, kill and remove all visible mold using either a bleach solution or detergent. Finally, completely dry out the area in order to prevent further mold outbreaks. Always be sure that you have corrected the moisture problem that caused the mold issue in the first place.

Tips to Stop Mold

If a building has tested positive for mold or if the building's occupants are experiencing mold related symptoms, they should not go back into the building until the mold situation is corrected. This may require relocating people temporarily until all mold is removed and the building comes back with a clean mold test.

It is possible to solve a mold problem. First, you have to locate all areas of mold infestation, both visible and hidden. A physical inspection of the building can help you determine which areas are most likely to have mold problems. An air quality test for mold will also help determine if there is a hidden mold issue.

Other indications of a hidden mold problem are strong odors and a high rate of respiratory ailments among the building's occupants. If mold is found, it is always a good idea to get it tested to determine what type of mold it is.

After testing and determining the type of mold present, mold removal and cleanup can begin. If the problem is in the HVAC system, replacing the infested ducts is the best course of action. This will insure that all mold is removed and there is no further chance of spreading it to other areas of the building.

If duct replacement is not an option, the inside of the ducts can be sprayed with a fogging machine using either a home remedy or fungicide. Running the fan on the HVAC system while doing this is important to be sure that you get rid of all of the mold. Afterwards be sure to replace all of the filters.

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Do I Have Mold?
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