​Mold remediation techniques
Richmond Mold Remediation Pros - When you are dealing with mold, only the most experienced removal specialists will do. The staff at Richmond Mold Remediation Pros has decades of experience in every type of environment and the finest state-of-the-art mold removal equipment. Call us at 804-409-9008 and one of our technicians will be glad to have a look at your situation and provide you with options.
Remediation Techniques
The DIY Home Mold Remediation Process
To reduce the risk of mold damage, you should consider the following tips: Ensure adequate thermal insulation, prevent thermal bridges. Avoid dead corners in the room that cannot be ventilated. Furniture on outside walls can be a risk. Make sure there is sufficient clearance from the wall. Regular and sufficient cross ventilation to remove the moisture released by humans, house plants, cooking fumes, showering / bathing, laundry drying etc. in winter. But: avoid constantly tilted windows. Diffusion- openable, storable plasters and wall coatings help to buffer high air humidity peaks. If there are signs of mold, the cause must first be determined. Immediate measures such as careful removal (gloves, mouth protection) of visible fungal infection by washing or scraping off are useful, but not always sufficient. Proven home remedies, such as salicylic alcohol, can kill the microorganisms in the short term. However, to permanently prevent the growth of mold again, the cause of the moisture exposure must be eliminated. Fighting with mold-killing (fungicidal) chemicals is only recommended in special cases, since some of these products are themselves suspected of being a health hazard. In the event of mold infestation, have experts check where the cause lies and which remedial options are suitable for you. It is strongly advised not to use kits for do-it-yourself measurement of mold spores available in drugstores, post offices, etc., since the application is extremely error-prone and does not provide meaningful results. If you are planning to deal with the problem yourself, here are a few cautions. 1) Mold can be unhealthy to breathe in. If you have any kind of health issues such as asthma or allergies you should not attempt it yourself. 2) You should wear gloves and goggles while working with it. 3) Clean contaminated areas with great care. Use only cleaning products specifically designed for mold and clean all tools and brushes very well after use. 4) Keep the area free of any other people, particularly those with issues in point # 1 or children. 5) If you are disposing of anything you had to remove during the cleaning process, such as pieces of sheetrock or carpet, be sure to wrap them tightly in plastic bags before transporting them through your house. Mold spores can blow off the contaminated surface and start growing again where they land if you are not careful. 6) Good air flow is crucial to insuring the problem does not return. Make sure the area is well aired and dry before using it again. |
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The Professional Mold Remediation Process
This section will provide detail as to what needs to happen for a professional to attack your mold problem. The technician will assess the problem and put a plan in place to deal with it. No two of these mold issues are the same, and each requires a careful analysis.
The first step in the process is to provide a safe area to work and live in while the work progresses. They might, for example, put up plastic, barricades, tape, and/or signs to keep anyone from the contaminated area. Since the health risks can be severe, safely is the number one concern.
Next testing must be performed to determine the severity and primary location(s) of the problem. It is possible the mold is plainly visible but this is rare.
NOTE - For mold removal, the typical vacuum filter will not work. Mold spores are extremely fine particles that a normal vacuum and filter would simply recirculate back into the air to contaminate new areas. To get these out effectively you must use special vacuums and filters, called High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, that can trap these particles properly. And just because the package says it is a HEPA filter does not mean that it is.
To truly be a HEPA filter, it must have been tested to meet a certain standard, and if it meets the standard it will have a serial number assigned that demonstrates it has met the requirements. It must have been proven to trap at least 99.97 percent of particles down to 0.3 microns. The test results should be displayed on the filter. These, as you might expect, are more expensive, but mold remediation is no place to cut corners. Richmond Mold Remediation Pros use only high powered vacuums with certified HEPA filters.
Most household allergens are 0.3 microns or larger., so these filters are very effective in cleaning up all kinds of contaminants.
The different stages of mold infestation are typically divided into five levels where level one is the lowest level of contamination and level four is the highest. Level five is used to mean that the mold is growing in the ductwork.
The trick is to determine the size of the contaminated area. This will determine the complexity of the fix.
If the area is in the 10 to 12 square foot neighborhood, it is considered a small infestation, also known as a Level 1 infestation, and can usually be addressed by killing the mold and cleaning the contaminated area. This is a best-case scenario and can often be dealt with yourself by using bleach or vinegar and keeping them well ventilated.
The next level of damage, Level 2, is considered to be an infected area of 10 to around 30 square feet. It is possible this is just a bad Level 1 situation but could possibly involve a deeper underlying issue that can morph into a much bigger problem. If, for example, entire sheetrock panels are infected, there could be a water issue behind the sheetrock that must be investigated. If in doubt, get a professional.
If you sense the problem falls into one of these two Levels, and think you can tackle it yourself, be sure to look closely at the 6 items in the last section to be sure you can deal with it properly.
Level 3 is a much bigger problem involving a contaminated area in the 30 to 80 square foot neighborhood. This is a serious problem that demands professional intervention. If you insist on trying the do-it-yourself approach, be sure to go the extra mile with the precautionary steps listed above, but understand this is a serious problem whose source must be addressed as well as the cleanup.
The first thing you should consider in this case is having the house tested by a professional testing company who can really determine the extent of the problem. A mold inspection will help you understand the scope of what you are dealing with, and provide the remediation company with a better understanding of where to begin their work.
The remediation efforts that Richmond Mold Remediation Pros use to clean this up would involve:
- Determining the exact location of all the mold to be removed.
- Isolating the area from the rest of the house. This involves sealing the area with plastic and covering all ducts and vents to try to avoid contamination in pipes, ductwork, or any other part of the home.
- Executing all mold removal and remediation procedures.
- Repairing any damage associated with getting to and removing the mold.
- Removing and sanitizing all contaminated and potentially contaminated items including clothing, masks, shoe covers, hunks of sheetrock, tiles, and any other contaminated item removed from the home. This stuff must be carefully taken from the home to avoid spores blowing or falling from the newly contaminated items and growing elsewhere in the house.
Level 4 is a contaminated area of more than 80 square feet. While Level 3 is bad, you are now at risk of all kinds of safety and health problems. Workers in these areas must be trained in the handling of hazardous materials, such as mold, and wear protective clothing and equipment including respirators with HEPA cartridges.
For Level 4 remediation, the steps Richmond Mold Remediation Pros use are:
- Determining the exact location of all the mold to be removed.
- Isolating the area from the rest of the house. This involves sealing the area with plastic and covering all ducts and vents to try to avoid contamination in pipes, ductwork, or any other part of the home.
- Executing all mold removal and remediation procedures.
- Repairing any damage associated with getting to and removing the mold.
- Removing and sanitizing all contaminated and potentially contaminated items including clothing, masks, shoe covers, hunks of sheetrock, tiles, and any other contaminated item removed from the home. This stuff must be carefully taken from the home to avoid spores blowing or falling from the newly contaminated items and growing elsewhere in the house.
- Lastly, using air filtration devices equipped with HEPA filters (defined above), the room(s) are cleaned and air purification is provided and monitored before the room is occupied again.
As you might imagine, there is a lot of time and work involved in this process. Proper licensing, equipment and training is required for anyone involved in the process. When the job is complete, Richmond Mold Remediation Pros will leave you with a set of measures you can take in the future to help prevent the problem from recurring.
Level 5 - Contamination in the HVAC system. HVAC contamination is particularly important to get completely removed because air passing through the system can carry the particulates back into your home, risking new infestations to begin showing up in other places.
To deal with this, in addition to all the precautionary steps listed above, the HVAC system must be shut down and the infestation removed from the ducts and properly disposed of.
Then anti-microbial biocide products must be deposited on condensation pans, coils, and other parts of the system to kill spores throughout the duct system and to prevent new growth.
This section will provide detail as to what needs to happen for a professional to attack your mold problem. The technician will assess the problem and put a plan in place to deal with it. No two of these mold issues are the same, and each requires a careful analysis.
The first step in the process is to provide a safe area to work and live in while the work progresses. They might, for example, put up plastic, barricades, tape, and/or signs to keep anyone from the contaminated area. Since the health risks can be severe, safely is the number one concern.
Next testing must be performed to determine the severity and primary location(s) of the problem. It is possible the mold is plainly visible but this is rare.
NOTE - For mold removal, the typical vacuum filter will not work. Mold spores are extremely fine particles that a normal vacuum and filter would simply recirculate back into the air to contaminate new areas. To get these out effectively you must use special vacuums and filters, called High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, that can trap these particles properly. And just because the package says it is a HEPA filter does not mean that it is.
To truly be a HEPA filter, it must have been tested to meet a certain standard, and if it meets the standard it will have a serial number assigned that demonstrates it has met the requirements. It must have been proven to trap at least 99.97 percent of particles down to 0.3 microns. The test results should be displayed on the filter. These, as you might expect, are more expensive, but mold remediation is no place to cut corners. Richmond Mold Remediation Pros use only high powered vacuums with certified HEPA filters.
Most household allergens are 0.3 microns or larger., so these filters are very effective in cleaning up all kinds of contaminants.
The different stages of mold infestation are typically divided into five levels where level one is the lowest level of contamination and level four is the highest. Level five is used to mean that the mold is growing in the ductwork.
The trick is to determine the size of the contaminated area. This will determine the complexity of the fix.
If the area is in the 10 to 12 square foot neighborhood, it is considered a small infestation, also known as a Level 1 infestation, and can usually be addressed by killing the mold and cleaning the contaminated area. This is a best-case scenario and can often be dealt with yourself by using bleach or vinegar and keeping them well ventilated.
The next level of damage, Level 2, is considered to be an infected area of 10 to around 30 square feet. It is possible this is just a bad Level 1 situation but could possibly involve a deeper underlying issue that can morph into a much bigger problem. If, for example, entire sheetrock panels are infected, there could be a water issue behind the sheetrock that must be investigated. If in doubt, get a professional.
If you sense the problem falls into one of these two Levels, and think you can tackle it yourself, be sure to look closely at the 6 items in the last section to be sure you can deal with it properly.
Level 3 is a much bigger problem involving a contaminated area in the 30 to 80 square foot neighborhood. This is a serious problem that demands professional intervention. If you insist on trying the do-it-yourself approach, be sure to go the extra mile with the precautionary steps listed above, but understand this is a serious problem whose source must be addressed as well as the cleanup.
The first thing you should consider in this case is having the house tested by a professional testing company who can really determine the extent of the problem. A mold inspection will help you understand the scope of what you are dealing with, and provide the remediation company with a better understanding of where to begin their work.
The remediation efforts that Richmond Mold Remediation Pros use to clean this up would involve:
- Determining the exact location of all the mold to be removed.
- Isolating the area from the rest of the house. This involves sealing the area with plastic and covering all ducts and vents to try to avoid contamination in pipes, ductwork, or any other part of the home.
- Executing all mold removal and remediation procedures.
- Repairing any damage associated with getting to and removing the mold.
- Removing and sanitizing all contaminated and potentially contaminated items including clothing, masks, shoe covers, hunks of sheetrock, tiles, and any other contaminated item removed from the home. This stuff must be carefully taken from the home to avoid spores blowing or falling from the newly contaminated items and growing elsewhere in the house.
Level 4 is a contaminated area of more than 80 square feet. While Level 3 is bad, you are now at risk of all kinds of safety and health problems. Workers in these areas must be trained in the handling of hazardous materials, such as mold, and wear protective clothing and equipment including respirators with HEPA cartridges.
For Level 4 remediation, the steps Richmond Mold Remediation Pros use are:
- Determining the exact location of all the mold to be removed.
- Isolating the area from the rest of the house. This involves sealing the area with plastic and covering all ducts and vents to try to avoid contamination in pipes, ductwork, or any other part of the home.
- Executing all mold removal and remediation procedures.
- Repairing any damage associated with getting to and removing the mold.
- Removing and sanitizing all contaminated and potentially contaminated items including clothing, masks, shoe covers, hunks of sheetrock, tiles, and any other contaminated item removed from the home. This stuff must be carefully taken from the home to avoid spores blowing or falling from the newly contaminated items and growing elsewhere in the house.
- Lastly, using air filtration devices equipped with HEPA filters (defined above), the room(s) are cleaned and air purification is provided and monitored before the room is occupied again.
As you might imagine, there is a lot of time and work involved in this process. Proper licensing, equipment and training is required for anyone involved in the process. When the job is complete, Richmond Mold Remediation Pros will leave you with a set of measures you can take in the future to help prevent the problem from recurring.
Level 5 - Contamination in the HVAC system. HVAC contamination is particularly important to get completely removed because air passing through the system can carry the particulates back into your home, risking new infestations to begin showing up in other places.
To deal with this, in addition to all the precautionary steps listed above, the HVAC system must be shut down and the infestation removed from the ducts and properly disposed of.
Then anti-microbial biocide products must be deposited on condensation pans, coils, and other parts of the system to kill spores throughout the duct system and to prevent new growth.