Mold Abatement: Some Important Tips You Should Follow

Posted by Michael Griffin on February 17th, 2020

If you’ve been getting sick lately but don’t know why then you might want to test your home for mold, especially if you notice a musty odor and bubbling wallpapers. If left unchecked, mold may damage your health so you need to call professionals for mold remediation in Clearwater FL as soon as possible. In some cases, the growth may cover a small area that you can clean yourself with the right equipment. After getting rid of mold, you need to take steps to prevent future growth by preventing moisture from building up in those spots.

Mold Remediation Tips

Identify Cause Of Moisture

Moisture is the main reason why fungus grows in some parts of the house. The moisture comes from leaky pipes, poorly sealed windows and doors, cracks in the foundation, damaged roof, poor ventilation and humidity. Some common areas where moisture tends to develop include the bathroom, kitchen, attic, basement, storage room and crawl spaces. You should check these areas for mold growth.

Look For Signs Of Mold

You know your house has mold when you notice black spots on your walls. Other than the visual confirmation, you can also look for signs like bubbling wallpaper or paint, damp/earthy/musty odors, condensation on the walls, deformed floors, water stains and discolored walls.

Get A Mold Test

While you may know that you have mold, you may not know what type of mold it is or how much of it is floating around in the air. You need to test your home to confirm its presence and build a strategy to remove it. You can use a DIY tool kit if the problem seems minor but you may want to call a professional for more reliable results. Professionals have better equipment and can build an effective strategy for mold abatement.

Pay Attention To Your Health

The effects depend on the fungus species, exposure type and your immunity to it. Symptoms include coughing, difficulty eye/nose/throat irritation, breathing, shortness of breath, headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and worsening of allergies or asthma.

Clean It Yourself If It’s Minor

You don’t have to hire a company if it covers a very small area. Put on a face mask, gloves and glasses and DIY. Baking soda effectively cleans the fungus and prevents further growth. Bleach is ineffective, it just removes the top layer but doesn’t seep into the layers below.

Call A Professional

You should call professionals for mold remediation in Clearwater FL if you aren’t confident in your ability to remove it completely or if it covers more than just a spot in your home. Professionals are better equipped to remove the infestation completely without spreading it to other areas. They can disinfect the area and dispose of contaminated materials safely. Some firms provide additional services related to mold removal like water damage repair or reconstruction.

Know Your Budget

The process of removing mold can cost anywhere between 0-00 depending on the size of your house, the extent of growth, the fungi species, etc. A small job costs 0-00, a medium job costs 00-00 and a large job costs 00-00.

Know Your Home Insurance Policy

The typical homeowner’s insurance policy excludes damage from mold, like rust, mildew and rot. It usually covers growth if it occurs due to a damage that the policy covers. E.g. Your policy may cover mold growth due to burst pipes but leaves you responsible for growth due to humidity or flooding. You may need to pay a premium to get coverage to remove it from your house. You should check your policy to be sure.

Prevent Recurrence

Once the mold abatement in clearwater fl is over, you need to take precautions to prevent the fungi from growing again and prevent costly damages in the future. You can prevent growth by taking care of its main cause; humidity and moisture. Fix leaky pipes and faucets in your home. Install a dehumidifier if your home’s humidity exceeds 50%. Switch on the exhaust fan when you shower or cook. Ventilate your house by opening the doors and windows often.