Mold Remediation
Recent media coverage has created great, and often unfounded, concern for many home and business owners. We’ve all heard stories about “Black Mold” driving people from their homes in fear of their lives. Should you be worried about mold?
What is mold?
It is important to understand that mold is ubiquitous, or everywhere. It lives inside and it lives outside and we are all exposed to mold, in one form or another, every day. There are literally millions of different types of mold, and only a small number of those are harmful. Most of us have forgotten to throw away that loaf of bread, only to find something green growing on it. Most of us have seen it on our bathrooms or basements and lived to tell about it.
Although it is everywhere, we want to limit its growth indoors. Here are the facts:
- Mold needs moisture, oxygen and an organic food source to grow.
- Active mold colonies usually emit a very unpleasant, musty odor.
- Because the job of mold is to digest, decay and recycle dead organic matter, it will eventually destroy whatever surface it grows on.
- Exposure to mold spores can cause mild to severe allergic reactions, depending on individual sensitivity.
How Should You Deal With Mold?
Prevention is the best method to deal with mold. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published a helpful guidebook for homeowners about the cleanup and prevention of mold problems in homes. This booklet, entitled A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home, can help you decide when you can handle mold cleanup yourself and when you should call a professional. The booklet is available on the EPA website at www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/moldguide.html.
If you think you have a mold issue, give the professionals at ServiceMaster For Quality a call for a free assessment.
