AN 8 STEP GUIDE TO PROFESSIONAL MOLD REMOVAL
Mold is an unwelcome sight in any home. Beyond the aesthetic impacts, mold can cause serious health effects and damage your property.
Many types of mold including black mold are especially dangerous to residents' well-being and should be removed promptly by a professional contractor.
While some people may take the internet's DIY mold removal hacks to heart, it is important to note that most of these techniques do not work and can make your situation worse. These tricks are quick fixes for what could be a bigger problem- as they only remove visible mold without addressing complete eradication process which requires more than just vinegar and elbow grease.
When you see a few small spots of mold, don't be fooled into thinking that household or normal cleaning products will work to remove the entire problem. Mold removal is much more complicated than just wiping away some dirt and grime from your surface!
It is almost always recommended to hire a professional mold removal service that can safely and effectively remove the dangerous conditions of molds from your home. It will also prevent it for coming back in future since you are not doing this on your own which might be very harmful or risky too.
If you’re going to the step of calling in professionals, it can be helpful to know how they remove mold and what steps are taken for protecting your health and property.
BEFORE THE REMEDIATION SPECIALISTS ARRIVE
First Contact
How To Prepare For Mold Remediation
You should prepare the area before you call mold removal technicians. Here are a few things to do:
- Resist the urge to touch, disturb, or try to clean mold, as this can spread spores further and make the job more difficult.
- Don’t move things from contaminated areas. While you may want to remove special items, this can also spread mold spores around and cause a bigger problem
- Turn off the HVAC system if it’s still running
- Wash any contaminated clothes in hot water and detergent and store in a plastic bag to prevent contamination
- Document the condition of your home by taking photos before and after the remediation process is finished. This serves as a safeguard in case the removalists miss something or damage any property during the removal process.
- Look for moist or humid areas that may be potential sources of growth (without getting too close to any potential mold)
- Ask for an air quality sampling report to identify the type of mold and its severity
HOW DOES PROFESSIONAL MOLD REMOVAL WORK?
After the professionals arrive, they will go through a check list and start their inspection. They will make recommendations and begin the mold removal process after this has been done.
Step 1 - Mold Inspection
Once the mold technicians arrive on-site, they'll inspect for visible signs of mold growth and determine its types. They also look for previous problems with moisture to see if there's been any past or potential future issues that may lead to further damage.
Mold technicians use a variety of tools and advanced technology to inspect for hidden sources of mold. They often rely on specialized equipment, such as thermal imaging cameras or moisture meters, in order to find where the water is entering from outside walls or windows.
Water leaks are often the cause of mold growth in your home. Identifying any water leaks or areas with high moisture levels is a critical first step to addressing this problem. Black mold, which can be dangerous if it comes from an unsanitary source like sewage leakage, is commonly found after flooding accidents and especially during periods where there's been heavy precipitation for extended periods of time-like winter storms.
The following areas may require special attention when it comes to mold removal: bathrooms, basements, attics windows and HVAC systems.
Furthermore, if you have experienced serious water damage from flooding or other sources you will need a combined service such as water damage restoration services so that the issue of mold can be resolved properly.
Step 2 - Isolation
Once one has located the source of water or moisture and repaired it, they should seal off the area to prevent mold spores from spreading. This containment is a critical step in avoiding cross-contamination with other unaffected areas that can happen if these precautions aren't taken.
Depending on how severe the mold infestation is, you may be required to seal off doorways and windows. You will need to lay down plastic sheets all over your flooring so that spores are unable to spread any further.
They use containment techniques such as negative air chambers and pressure to keep spores from spreading.
The fans, heaters, air conditioners and other HVAC systems must be turned off during the remediation process.
Step 3 - Protective Gear
Mold specialists often dress completely in protective gear even if the mold problem appears to be small. This is standard procedure, as removing toxic mold can pose a serious health risk for anyone nearby.
Mold removal's safety gear is complex and includes items such as full hazmat suits, goggles, booties, and face masks. The most dangerous time for a mold remover is during the process of actually removing the mold from its site in order to avoid contaminating other areas with spores that might be released while doing so.
To highlight the importance of hiring professionals to do work, above are listed some examples and reasons why it is important for those who aren't experts in a field should leave that job up to someone else. Some precautions include not sticking your head into a crawl space without protection as well as using ineffective cleaning agents like water or bleach wipes on visible mold growths.
Skilled professionals with the right knowledge about mold and tools can fix an emergency in a safe, effective way that minimizes damage.
Step 4 - Air Filtration
In order to effectively remove mold from a house, professional removalists will require the space be contained and air purification/filtration. The spores are inevitably disturbed during this process but it is important that they don't spread through the area or cross-contaminate other areas of your home.
To prevent the spread of spores, air scrubbing and negative-air vacuums with HEPA filters are used throughout the removal process. These machines remove over 99% of airborne particles in order to reduce cross contamination and improve indoor air quality.
Step 5 - Remove Contaminated Materials
The next step in professional mold removal is removing all contaminated materials. If there are some contaminants such as dry wall which could stay if sprayed with chemicals preventing future growth than it should remain where it was but for large sections like carpets this has to go because no matter how many times you clean them up new spore will keep coming back causing health problems over time .
Strict guidelines are in place to ensure all contaminated materials are safely bagged and disposed of, eliminating the risk of cross-contamination. Once bags have been sealed with a mold solution sprayed on outside to eliminate any spores that may remain there as well.
There are times when mold damaged or water damage items can be restored back to their original condition. Restoration services may also help restore belongings and property that have been affected by loss.
Step 6 - Scrub Areas & Mold Removal
Once contaminated materials have been removed, your team will use specialized tools and cleaning products in an attempt to eliminate additional growth and scrub delicate areas until they are healthy enough for a safe removal process.
Mold remediation specialists use a wire brush to scrub the infected areas. Using non-toxic, hospital grade cleaning agents that are both antimicrobial and antifungal ensures no mold will return after it's gone..
The areas are cleaned and then treated with an EPA-approved biocide for protection from future mold growth.
All contaminated equipment is disposed of with the same security precautions used to remove hazardous materials.
Step 7 - Drying The Area
Cleaning up the debris and drying out all of those wet items is hard work. After a full day, technicians will remove any sheeting or seals that were used to make sure everything was covered in plastic during clean-up and dry it off using industrial fans, dehumidifiers, scrubbers... you name it!
Step 8 - Final Inspection & Reporting
With the area completely dry, a final inspection is done to ensure that all mold was removed. It's difficult and time-consuming to remove it on your own because any left behind can quickly return requiring another process be conducted again.
Before they leave, your mold technicians will prepare a full report. This includes the type of mold found and removal strategies used to clean it up. They'll also detail which materials have been removed, cleaned, and restored before leaving.
To prevent mold from returning, you will be given easy-to-follow prevention techniques to reduce humidity levels and keep your home dry.
The keys to preventing mold are moisture control and management. Water leaks must be addressed immediately, so that they don’t escalate into a larger issue with damaging effects on the structure of your home or office space.
Have a mold problem or questions about mold remediation? Contact Mold Removal Calgary for quality removal and restoration services.