The San Diego region has experienced an unprecedented amount of rain so far this year. And as our surroundings dry out you may notice mold growing in and around your home. When is mold dangerous and what should you do? Clean Earth Restorations is a San Diego mold removal specialist, with years of experience in mold removal and remediation, including mold testing.
If your home or business experienced any flooding during the past rainfall or any areas of your home or business are still drying out from the water, it’s important to keep an eye on your property to watch for mold. Mold likes to hide – under carpets and flooring, behind drywall, inside of ductwork and in-between tiles and other areas that gather moisture.
Not all mold is dangerous, but mold has been found to exacerbate allergies and asthma, and can be dangerous to the health of some. Often, you can “follow your nose” smelling for areas that smell musty. But mold can also go completely undetected. If your health or the health of someone else seems to be affected by allergies and/or asthma, mold could be the cause. Mold infestations can also vary in size.
Having your property inspected for mold could be an important step toward getting answers about whether or not you have a serious problem. And sometimes a mold testing process is critically important to the process. At Clean Earth Restorations we use a third-party tester to come in and evaluate the type of mold and determine whether or not it is dangerous. We will then work with you to determine the best course or removing the mold and getting your property back to pre-mold condition.
The Centers for Disease Control offers tips on preventing mold after flooding here. According to the CDC, extensive water damage after a flood will increase the likelihood of mold contamination. They recommend the following process to assess the mold and its potentially harmful side affects:
- Exposure Assessment: Any structure that was affected by a flood is presumed to have materials contaminated with mold if those materials were not thouroughly dried within 48 hours.
- Visual Inspection: This is the most important step in identifying potential contamination. Inspection includes the inspection of ventilation systems and uses moisture meters.
- Sampling for Mold: Often a visual inspection is enough to assess for mold and determine what should be done, but sometimes the mold should be sampled to assess the microorganisms present in the mold.
The CDC goes on to recommend:
“Removing mold problems requires a series of actions (6,9,16). The order of these actions is sometimes important (6), but might vary on a case-by-case basis. Typically, the following actions are taken regardless of whether a problem is small and simple or large and complex:
- Take emergency action to stop water intrusion, if needed.
- Determine the extent of water damage and mold contamination.
- Plan and implement remediation activities.
— If needed, establish containment and protection for workers and occupants.
— Eliminate or limit water or moisture sources.
— Decontaminate or remove damaged materials, as appropriate.
— Dry any wet materials, if possible.
— Evaluate whether space has been successfully remediated.
— Reassemble the space to prevent or limit possibility of recurrence by controlling sources of moisture.
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For small, simple problems, the entire list of tasks can be done by one person. Large, complex problems might require many persons from different professions and trades. For circumstances that fall between those extremes, some combination of occupant action and professional intervention will be appropriate. In general, no single discipline brings together all the required knowledge for successful assessment and remediation.”
Worried? We can help! Callling a professional company who has experience with mold can give you the peace of mind you need. We will give you an honest assessment of the situation and find a solution that works for your situation.
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