Archive for the 'Black Mold Removal' Category
July 1st, 2011 by admin
Cleaning water damage can be a messy affair. You’ll need the right tools and equipment and training to get the job done right. Our technicians are trained and experienced in all kinds of water damage restoration and cleaning. 
We did this job a few days ago. The family that owned this rental property had just cleaned the place and were about to lease it out to new tenants when they discovered water in their basement. The line to the water softener had ruptured, shooting water everywhere in the basement.
Cleaning basement water damage can be tricky but fortunately we got the call soon enough from the owners of this property and were able to remediate the damage without incident. They had waited a few days to call us, which often ends in disaster because of the rapid growth of mold in warm environments like this basement.
We extracted the water from the carpet, discarded the saturated carpet pad, scored and cut out the damaged drywall, sprayed anti-microbial agents to prevent mold growth, and set out fans to dry the basement for a few days. The basement was easy to access because of the location of the garage. We made quick work of this job and were able to save the home from further mold damage.
Flood water damage and damage caused by leaky pipes can cause major headaches for homeowners. Always contact a professional immediately whenever you encounter water damage in your home. Letting it be for a few days is a big no-no! If you have any questions about water damage repair or black mold removal, give us a quick call and we’ll help save you a lot of time and money! Our trained water damage cleaning experts are always on-call and can help at a moment’s notice.
May 26th, 2011 by admin
If your home or business has ever experienced water damage any time during its lifetime, there’s a very good chance that you could have water damage mold risks just by occupying the property. Water damage mold typically starts with a very simple leak or accident but can end up causing serious health issues.
It is essential that water damage cleaning and mold removal be conducted by experienced professionals that have extensive training and experience in the industry. That’s because there are so many ways that the job can be botched! When water isn’t cleaned properly right after flood water damage, it is usually sealed back up under the carpet or behind drywall or furniture. That’s when the real problem starts for most homeowners.
Mold loves humid, stagnant environments where there’s an abundant organic food source. Drywall paper and carpet pad provide mold with ideal food sources. If water is sealed underneath, it can’t dry effectively and over time mold will grow unabated.
When we clean water damage in a home or business, we make 100% certain that the area is completely dry before any new building materials or furniture are re-introduced into the affected area. Our experienced water damage restoration professionals will apply the right anti-microbial agents and decontaminate affected areas using HEPA vacuums and other such industrial equipment.
By cleaning water damage correctly the first time, you avoid having to do black mold removal later. If black mold is already present, then doing mold removal correctly the first time will help ensure that you and your family aren’t exposed to potentially harmful microbial organisms. These organisms can affect your lungs and respiratory system and can be potentially fatal, particularly for young children and the elderly.
Contact us today if you need help to repair water damage in your home or business. We’re available 24/7, 365 days a year. Our technicians are very professional and thorough. Don’t let water damage destroy your peace of mind. Call us today!
March 25th, 2011 by admin
Most people don’t realize that fire and water damage usually go hand in hand. It’s not necessarily intuitive that something that’s on fire would also be wet. But as we know, even when a fire goes out of control, it still has to eventually be put out with water and possibly other fire-retardant chemicals.
Fires really are a dual threat because they almost always involve water damage in the end. Water damage after fire damage becomes a lot more complicated to fix. Charred debris must be removed from the property. Then there’s the issue of soot. Soot can leave a terrible smell in a home even long after the fire and water damage have been addressed. It takes a very special process of cleaning and re-cleaning combined with using effective ozone and anti-microbial treatments to eradicate the smoky smell in a home after fire and water damage.
A qualified water damage repair and black mold removal team can help prevent damage to a home after fire has gutted it. One issue we often tackle after fires is sealing up open roof areas where fire has damaged the ceiling. These apertures must be closed so that secondary water damage doesn’t occur from ensuing rains, condensation, snow, sprinklers, etc. Another water damage restoration issue after fire damage is that of ensuring that the water pipes are all checked before repair to drywall water damage occurs. Fires can create tons of secondary damage if homeowners aren’t careful with their plumbing.
We are experienced water damage cleaning professionals with extensive exposure to pretty much every kind of property damage you can imagine. When fire or water damage affects you and your family, trust your property to an experienced professional. You won’t be sorry! Call us at 1-801-717-7777 if you have any questions or concerns about water damage in your home or business.
March 22nd, 2011 by admin
Cleaning water damage can be a very difficult problem to solve for the average homeowner. Water damage can strike very quickly. When basements, carpet and drywall are involved, matters can become even more complicated.
Water damage is just one of those things that people don’t want to think about. We all hope it never happens to us. But the odds are that it will happen to each of us at one point in our lives. When flood water damage affects you or your family, remember to keep a level head. Responding appropriately to a water damage disaster can make all the difference in minimizing damage and getting your property back into good working order as quickly as possible.
Mold removal and mildew removal are sometimes required after water damage has affected a property. This is because unless water removal is performed quickly and correctly, saturated building materials and contents will create an ideal breeding ground for fungal and bacterial growth. Mold and mildew need a water source, a food source (organic matter) and the right combination of temperature and stagnant air flow in order to grow. Your water damaged property needs to be fixed quickly since mold and mildew can grow in less than 2-3 days, depending on the environmental factors in the affected areas.
If you or someone you know has been affected by water damage, whether in a residential, commercial or industrial property, remember to contact a qualified water damage restoration professional. A qualified professional will help you conduct water removal and, if needed, black mold removal so you and your family won’t be adversely affected. Mold can cause serious health issues, particularly for those who already have compromised immune or respiratory systems, such as the elderly, small children and anyone with asthma.
Get the help you need when water damage strikes. Call us anytime with questions or concerns.
March 11th, 2011 by admin
Why do we devote so much time and energy to repair water damage? Why is water damage restoration such a big industry in the United States and worldwide? It’s because water contamination poses very real threats to our health. Anyone who watches the news lately can tell you all about the devastating effects of tsunamis and avalanches and floods. These natural water damage events can be catastrophic.
What many people don’t know is that the effects of natural water damage events such as tsunamis and floods can be even more devastating after the water recedes. That’s because when water infiltrates our homes and businesses, if not cleaned up immediately and properly, it will often quickly bring diseases and infections.
Bacteria and fungi love water. Just give them a water source, food source (see drywall water damage) and the right ambient conditions and you’ll soon discover how out of control these growths can get. We deal with water damage mold everyday. Sometimes it just takes a simple fix. Most of the time, however, it takes a keen eye and the right equipment to know which areas — and people — are most at risk for water damage contamination.
If you or your family have been recently affected by water damage, call us. We are water damage cleaning experts. Our black mold removal experts and water removal teams will be on the job within 60 minutes of receiving your call to make sure that you and your loved ones are protected. Black mold and flood water damage are serious issues. Don’t take them lightly. Let us help you assess the water damage situation so you can get your life and property back to normal as quickly as possible.
January 17th, 2011 by admin
If you are currently experiencing a water damage or mold problem in your home or business, you will want to talk with a certified water damage restoration professional about the steps that can be taken to restore your property to its pre-loss condition. Water damage can strike very quickly and extensively. Mold generally starts growing in just a few days. If conditions are right and the primary water damage has not been fixed properly and thoroughly, mold can become a serious problem for your property and your health in less than 72 hours.
Mold removal (also black mold removal) is the process of removing mold from a property. This includes removing mold from the structure, all surfaces (visible and hidden), contents (including personal belongings and furniture) and most importantly the air. Removing mold from the air helps ensure that you and your family will not breathe in harmful microorganisms that can cause serious respiratory and other health issues.
The general process water damage repair professionals follow when conducting black mold removal is as follows. We first make sure that the property is dry and clean. We use water removal (extraction) and specialty drying / dehumidifying equipment to thoroughly clean the property. Saturated contents and building materials are removed from the property, to be discarded or cleaned and repaired off-site. We take surface and air samples from the property and test them in a laboratory through an independent industrial hygienist, who gives us a detailed report indicating the level of contamination by area of the property.
If mold is present in elevated levels inside the property, we section off the building into zones using plastic sheeting and specialty tape. Each zone is highly contained to prevent the spread of mold from one zone into another. We apply anti-microbial agents to every surface in the property. We run HEPA vacuums continuously to filter ambient air while simultaneously HEPA vacuuming every surface in the home. After thoroughly vacuuming the home, we re-apply anti-microbial agents to encapsulate and kill any remaining mold spores. Any contents that have been removed from the property are thoroughly cleaned (same process) of mold spores before they are returned. Finally, the industrial hygienist returns to conduct a clearance test. Any zones that do not pass are re-cleaned and re-tested. Once the property is cleared, any remaining water damage restoration work is completed as quickly as possible so the owners or tenants can re-occupy the property as soon as possible.
December 20th, 2010 by admin
Today we gave a bid for a common occurrence these days — basement water damage and mold damage that occurred as a direct result of an angry homeowner or tenant who sabotaged the property during foreclosure eviction. In this case, the owner was so angry about being evicted from his home that he turned on all the faucets and let the water run in the middle of winter in the greater Salt Lake area in Utah. To complicate matters, the utilities were eventually shut off and the pipes froze before the re-possessing bank reclaimed the property. 
This is an unfortunate scenario — one we see all too often as water damage restoration professionals. This property will cost the new owner tens of thousands of dollars to fix. Let’s walk through the process of restoring the property to its pre-loss condition before the water damage occurred.
Cleaning water damage starts with stopping the source of the water damage. We turned off the water at the main valve since many of the pipes were compromised due to freezing and expansion. Next, any water in the property is extracted so it can begin drying. Next, the property is tested for mold to determine how bad the damage is and to understand the level of black mold removal that needs to be conducted. Next, the drywall water damage and carpet water damage is addressed. This means removing all the affected materials from the property and disposing any that cannot be salvaged. Technicians wear personal protective equipment to minimize exposure to any harmful contaminants. 
Fortunately, this property was vacant and empty when the water damage occurred. This made removing the damaged materials much easier. Once the drywall and carpet are out, exposing the framing, the mold remediation process begins. The house is divided up into sections to facilitate containment of the mold spores. All exposed surfaces are treated for mold using antimicrobial agents and HEPA vacuums. Air is vented outside the house using a technique called negative air flow. Finally, the house is re-tested to ensure that the mold removal has been successful. Once cleared, the reconstruction process starts and the home can be quickly restored to its pre-water damage condition.
December 17th, 2010 by admin
Everything is bigger in Texas. Even water damage. Dallas, the third largest city in Texas and ninth-largest city in the United States, is known for big rain storms. Furthermore, since Dallas was originally founded on the Trinity River, many areas of the city also have a high water table. Flood water damage is common in the city and suburbs of the greater Dallas area. We talked to our Water Damage Dallas restoration team about some of the unique considerations for the city.
Water damage Dallas? Talk to an experienced water damage repair and restoration professional. Call our 24/7 Water Damage Emergency Hotline at 1-801-717-7777.
Water Damage Dallas Tip #1: Seal your basement to prevent flood water damage.
Our Water Damage Dallas team tells us that one of the biggest problems in the Dallas involves basements. Basements that have not been properly sealed may allow ground or flood water to seep or spill into the home. You can prevent basement water damage in Dallas by ensuring that the exterior walls of your basement have been back-filled for proper water drainage, that surface water always flows away from the foundation using a slope of earth, and that the interior walls of the basement have been properly sealed to prevent water damage.
Water Damage Dallas Tip #2: Call a professional water damage restoration company before water damage strikes.
Of course, you can’t always prevent water damage. Dallas has big rain storms. When streets are flooding, it is inevitable that some homes and businesses will be affected and will need water damage cleaning. If your Dallas home is currently or has recently experienced water damage, call us. Call us if you live in a high risk area of Dallas or even if you just want to learn a little more about what you can do to prevent water damage before it strikes. You might be surprised that there are a lot of steps you can take today to stop water damage. Save yourself the stress and hassle. An ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of care!
Water Damage Dallas Tip #3: Get that water out!
Dallas water damage can quickly lead to black mold. Black mold removal is expensive and time-consuming. After you have stopped the source of the water damage, make sure you get the water out of your property as soon as possible. This doesn’t mean just extracting water. Perhaps more importantly, it means getting all the hidden water out of your property — the water that often does the most damage. You’ll want to completely dry out carpet, behind drywall, personal belongings and dehumidify the air within 48 hours to prevent mold and bacterial growth — especially in a humid city like Dallas!
Water damage Dallas? Call us today at 801-717-7777 for a FREE water damage repair consultation and/or estimate.
December 3rd, 2010 by admin
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about mold and mold removal. Let’s discuss briefly the hard facts about health issues associated with mold and why mold removal is a crucial aspect of water damage cleaning and restoration.
Is mold harmful?
Mold is a fungus that feeds off of organic matter and grows when activated by water and water vapor within a temperature range that varies by species. Thus, mold is more prevalent in warm, humid environments such as in Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Los Angeles. Research on the health effects of toxic molds is still ongoing and therefore not conclusive. However, it is generally understood and accepted that when present in unusually high concentrations, toxic molds such as black mold can pose a health hazard to humans.
Mold-related Health Symptoms
Unless mold removal is conducted properly in home and office environments, concentrated toxic mold can cause allergic reactions by producing mycotoxins and/or fungal infections. These reactions can lead to asthma episodes, sinus congestion, irritation to eyes, throat and lungs, and other respiratory problems. Individuals who are exposed to toxic mold over long periods of time have heightened risk for contracting bronchitis and other more severe respiratory infections. These infections can become serious health hazards and lead to death in extreme cases. Small children, the elderly and anyone with a pre-disposition to respiratory infection may be particularly susceptible to mold-related health issues.
Mold Removal
For these reasons, it is highly recommended that mold removal — especially black mold removal — be conducted by a skilled professional who has been properly trained and certified in mold removal and remediation. The primary challenge we face as water damage restoration professionals is helping our clients understand that the health risks associated with mold are not only real but also vastly heightened if mold removal is not conducted properly.
Mold removal that is performed improperly or incompletely means that mold has been left in the affected water damaged property after remediation. This is the worst case scenario for mold disasters, since the unabated mold will continue to grow potentially for years without anyone realizing that it needs to be removed. As noted, prolonged exposure to toxic molds like black mold creates the mold-related highest health risks. We encourage our clients to always work with a qualified water damage and mold removal specialist when dealing with flood water damage, basement water damage, carpet water damage or drywall water damage. Cleaning water damage is a critical task that may prevent serious health problems for your family.
December 1st, 2010 by admin
Water damage is the primary cause of remediation-level mold growth in residential homes. Mold removal is a highly-skilled endeavor that requires substantial training. The process of removing mold from a home entails various procedures, supplies and equipment that range widely depending on the specific situation encountered by the water damage restoration professional involved. Let’s walk through an abbreviated example of what might happen if you had a water damage event and needed professional black mold removal assistance, for instance.
Water Damage Mold Remediation Step #1: Water Removal
The professional inspecting your property would first verify that the root cause of the water damage has been properly addressed and, if possible, fixed to prevent recurrence of the problem. Any remaining water would be extracted from the property using a portable or truck-mounted water extraction unit.
Water Damage Mold Remediation Step #2: Demolition and Dry-Out
As part of the water damage mold remediation process, after the water has been safely extracted from the property, demolition of any saturated walls would begin. Don’t worry; that sounds worse than it is! In short, the water damage mold restoration crew will remove any walls or materials that can’t be salvaged and that would otherwise accumulate mold or mildew if left in your home. The crew would also remove any furniture or belongings from the affected areas. If already affected by mold, some personal effects may need to be “scrubbed” for mold at an off-site location. The crew should take extra care to remove any personal effects in carefully marked and numbered boxes. They should provide you with a list of everything that was removed from the home so you can be sure it was all returned properly. After demolition and item removal is complete, the crew will set fans and let them run typically for a few days to make sure that the property dries out.
Water Damage Mold Remediation Step #3: Test for Mold
If the water damage mold restoration crew notices any evidence of mold, they should bring in an industrial hygienist to take samples for laboratory testing. The hygienist should provide a written copy of the report to you verifying the property’s interior and exterior test results. If an elevated level of black mold, for instance, is discovered inside the home (relative to the outside of the home, which establishes the “normal” baseline for your area), it may be necessary to start black mold removal procedures.
Water Damage Mold Remediation Step #3: Mold Removal
Mold abatement starts by partitioning off sections of the affected structure so that each section can be treated like an independent “clean room.” The water damage mold removal team will then HEPA vacuum every surface and item in each room, sometimes two or three times, and apply an anti-microbial agent or sporicide. The crew should wear Tyvek suits and respirators. You as the property owner should not be allowed into the property without the same protection. Once each section of the house has been cleaned, the industrial hygienist will return and conduct a clearance test, which will certify the water damage mold remediation process. If one or two sections of the property fail the clearance test, only those rooms will need to be cleaned.
November 30th, 2010 by admin
Black mold removal isn’t as simple as spraying household bleach on it and walking away. Black mold removal involves a meticulous, highly-detailed remediation process that should only be conducted by a trained water damage professional who specializes in projects like water damage repair and black mold removal.
Black mold removal starts with isolating and addressing the root cause of the problem. In homes, the root cause is typically a broken pipe that froze during the winter or leaked over time. Another common cause is flooding where water entered through a basement window well. It is critical that property owners address this problem, whatever the cause, so that it won’t recur in the near or distant future. Once the root cause is addressed, black mold removal can begin in earnest.
Any damp building materials or furniture must be removed from the affected area or allowed to dry. Certain materials like drywall typically can’t be dried once saturated. Therefore, materials such as wet drywall and carpet pad must be removed from the property and discarded. Carpet can stay in the property as long as black mold hasn’t accumulated on the surface. Black mold removal from carpet can be challenging depending on the type of carpet and extent of the mold damage. Wet carpet should be dried in place (once the pat has been removed) using a commercial-grade water extraction unit and high-power commercial air movers provided by a water damage restoration specialist.
Removing cabinets, furniture and any saturated drywall from the affected water damage areas allows air to circulate. While air circulation is critical to drying out mold-affected areas, it can also cause another problem: spreading mold. Black mold removal means extracting mold both from surfaces as well as from the air. A HEPA vacuum is needed for removing black mold from these two areas. There are two primary types of HEPA vacuums used by water damage restoration companies — backpack vacuums for removing black mold from surfaces and air scrubbers for filtering airborne mold.
Your water damage repair professional will need to HEPA vacuum every affected surface (including household items and furniture) and the air in every affected room of your property, so the more black mold can be contained, the better. Black mold removal is no simple task and should therefore be handled by a trained black mold removal and water damage restoration specialist.
November 30th, 2010 by admin
Black mold is a dangerous form of fungus called Stachybotrys atra or Stachybotrys chartarum. 
It grows in humid and damp micro (behind the drywall after your basement flooded, for instance) and macro (humid cities like Dallas, Atlanta and Miami) environments.
Black mold may be caused by a variety of environmental conditions, including relative humidity of the air, presence of water in enclosed areas or structures, temperature, type of materials exposed to the water source, etc.
Exposure to the mycotoxins in black mold can cause numerous health issues, including but not limited to fever; eye irritation; irritation to mucous membranes of the nose, throat and mouth; sneezing; chronic fatigue; headaches; asthma; urinary tract infections; bronchitis; rashes and chronic coughing. Some severe cases have, particularly when exacerbated by allergic reactions, caused symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and bleeding in the lungs and nose. Respiratory bleeding can be fatal to infants.
Black mold removal should only be done by a qualified water damage restoration professional. Black mold can be spread through the air and across surfaces. Mold is highly aggressive when it has a water source. Furthermore, black mold doesn’t die but rather hibernates when the water source runs out. Once the water source returns, for instance after your basement floods for a second time or that suspect kitchen faucet leaks again or you experience a natural disaster which re-exposes a previously-affected area, the mold starts growing again.
A highly-trained black mold specialist has the tools and equipment to conduct thorough water damage remediation to eradicate the mold permanently from your residential or commercial property. The black mold removal and water damage restoration process will involve laboratory testing to be conducted by an industrial hygienist. An industrial hygienist will take surface and air samples from inside your property and compare them to exterior samples, both before and after the remediation process, to make sure that the property is cleared for future occupation.
Remember that black mold loves warm, damp environments — particularly areas that are impossible to see without the proper tools or possibly a small degree of demolition. Cabinets, drywall, furniture can potentially all mask the real problem lurking behind or underneath them!
Flood water damage and damage caused by leaky pipes can cause major headaches for homeowners. Always contact a professional immediately whenever you encounter water damage in your home. Letting it be for a few days is a big no-no! If you have any questions about water damage repair or black mold removal, give us a quick call and we’ll help save you a lot of time and money! Our trained water damage cleaning experts are always on-call and can help at a moment’s notice.
