Mold has the potential to be very dangerous to our bodies. It releases toxins into the air that can irritate our respiratory and immune systems. Luckily, mold can’t grow any time, anywhere. Certain environmental requirements need to be met for growth to occur. If we recognize these requirements, we can avoid mold growth all together. However, sometimes it’s impossible to avoid water damage and thus, mold growth and damage. Just like growth, there are certain requirements for mold removal. From the experts at Restore Pro, here are a few tips and things to look out for when dealing with mold growth and removal in your Sandusky home:
If you’ve ever grown a garden or planted flowers or trees, you know there are specific temperatures, precipitation, humidity, and other environmental levels that need to be met for that plant to prosper. Mold is very similar. There are many types of mold so there may be other factors that play into mold growth; however, most factors are similar among all mold growth.
One of the first requirements is temperature. Mold grows best in warmer temperatures. This is why we refrigerate a variety of food, because mold can’t grow at that temperature. Mold growth during summer months increases in relation to the increased temperature.
Secondly, mold thrives off of water. This water can stem from humidity, water damage, rain, or even a spilled glass of water that wasn’t dried up all create environments for mold to grow. This is why it’s important to keep carpets, walls, and furniture as dry as humanly possible.
Next, just like humans need oxygen, mold needs oxygen. Some molds can grow at very low concentrations of oxygen, so it’s difficult to prevent mold growth by cutting out oxygen. However, higher concentrations of oxygen results in a higher production rate of mold.
Lastly, mold requires nutrients to survive. Just like a fire needs wood, grass, or bark to keep going, mold needs a source of carbon. Unfortunately, carbon is found in almost any substance, so mold can thrive almost anywhere if food was the only requirements. Water brings more ‘food’ for the mold to survive on. That’s why water is a crucial requirement for mold to grow in.
Since there are a lot of potential ways mold can grow, it’s important to be thorough with the removal process. It must be specific to stop the growth of mold.
First, complete drying of the affected area. This is crucial since residual water is one of the main forces of growth. This step consists more than just putting fans in the room or opening the window. Some cases require complete water extraction.Next, removal of all the mold. Mold reproduces by the production of spores, which are incredibly small. In the early stages of production, mold will be invisible to the naked eye; however, it is still reproducing. Therefore, if you just remove the visible mold, chances of future growth due to left over spores are high. Mold removal experts will know how to properly remove all the mold from the affected area.
Lastly, disinfection will ensure mold growth stops. Wiping a Clorox wipe over the affected area won’t do it justice. Proper chemicals and techniques must be utilized to stop the production of mold.
All of the restoration steps require precision and exactness to ensure all the mold was removed and to avoid future mold growth. By taking these steps, you pose lots of health and structural risks. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to contact a mold removal professional, like the ones at Restore Pro to complete proper mold removal.
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