Black Mold – Envirotex Blog

Is Black Mold Removal Necessary at your Home In Alexandria, VA?

The answer is yes, black mold removal is necessary to keep your family safe and prevent any further mold from growing. Mold removal should be done at the first signs of any black mold you see at your Alexandria, VA home.

The longer you wait for mold removal, the more the black mold will spread throughout your house if the conditions are right. Mold needs moisture to grow; therefore, in areas of your Alexandria, VA home that tend to stay damp, you might think about how to ventilate the room so that it doesn’t progress into mold growth.

The most crucial part of mold removal is locating and eliminating its water source at your home in Alexandria, VA. Without moisture, mold can’t grow.

Alexandria, VA homeowners with only small areas of black mold can attempt to remove the mold themselves. If you try it yourself, follow these directions.

Use an N–95 face mask to protect you from breathing in black mold spores.
Wear protective gloves to protect your hands.
Wear goggles without ventilation holes to protect your eyes.
Use plastic sheeting to block the mold area from the rest of your Alexandria, VA home. This will keep the spores from spreading throughout other parts of your home.
Items that won’t dry quickly and show signs of mold or water damage should be discarded. Porous items, including padding, carpet, drywall, and paper, soak up moisture.
Never paint or caulk over moldy surfaces. If you do, it will peel. You should remove the black mold and dry the surfaces before painting.
Scrub moldy surfaces with detergent and water; allow them to dry thoroughly.
Any moldy items should be bagged to prevent mold spores from spreading.
Use HEPA filters in your furnace and air conditioner to capture mold spores that could be airborne in your Alexandria, VA home.

The safest way to keep your Alexandria, VA family safe from black mold is to call an environment company, such as Envirotex, which deals with black mold. They are equipped for mold removal and take precautions to keep you and your family safe.

Should you Be Concerned About Black Mold in Alexandria, VA?

If you are experiencing black mold in your Alexandria, VA home, then yes, you should be concerned. Black mold can play havoc with those sensitive to or allergic to mold. Black mold, or any mold, can cause symptoms in people allergic to them or those exposed for an extended period.

Some of the most common symptoms of black mold exposure include the following—

Sneezing
Postnasal drip
Nasal congestion
Itchy eyes, nose, or throat
Coughing
Dry, scaly skin

Black mold exposure may trigger an attack in Alexandria, VA family members with asthma. A mold–induced asthma attack could be any of these symptoms—

Coughing
Wheezing
Shortness of breath
Chest tightness

What is Black Mold?

Black mold grows on wood, paper products, and cotton inside your Alexandria, VA home. A common black mold is known as Stachybotrys chartarum or “toxic mold.” Black mold can also be a greenish color.

Sometimes it produces toxic chemicals found in its airborne spores and fungus fragments. These are called mycotoxins and, if ingested, are dangerous. Airborne spores, when inhaled, can wreak havoc on people with asthma, allergies, or other hypersensitivities.

What Causes Black Mold?

Mold grows and will spread quickly in the right conditions. The conditions inside your home in Alexandria, VA may include the following—

Humidity (moisture level) at or over 70%
Oxygen
Temperatures ranging from 40 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit
Adequate food sources, such as drywall

Mold can grow anywhere in your Alexandria, VA home with these conditions provided. You will find these conditions most likely in these places—

Basements that have high humidity
Wherever you have had a water leak
Wherever there has been any flooding
Areas with lots of water condensation
Damp rooms without proper ventilation, such as the bathroom

Always periodically do a visual inspection of your Alexandria, VA home for black mold and any other issues you might be having. A small water leak that goes unnoticed for a long time can cause an enormous amount of mold growth. It’s better to take extra precautions so your home in Alexandria, VA isn’t run over by black mold.

Any questions you might have, please call the team at Envirotex. They will be glad to help you.

What Does Black Mold Removal Involve in Alexandria, VA?

Black mold can be hazardous, depending on your level of exposure. A person with a weak immune system who inhales fungal spores from black mold growth may develop chills, fever, headache, nausea, or vomiting. People with asthma may experience asthma attacks when exposed to black mold. Alexandria, VA homes with black mold should consult a black mold removal professional.

If the affected area is less than 10 square feet, you may attempt the black mold removal independently, but hiring a professional is recommended. A professional such as Envirotex Environmental Services should handle black mold removal at your home in Alexandria, VA. Professionals will have the proper black mold removal equipment and expertise to safely and effectively remove the mold.

Alexandria, VA homeowners do not have the advanced technology to locate mold that can’t be seen with the naked eye. You may only address a small area of mold, while other black mold lurks behind walls and underneath flooring that you can’t visibly see. Using a professional will ensure that all mold will be found and removed from your Alexandria, VA home.

During black mold removal, the area in your Alexandria, VA home with mold infestation will be isolated to avoid cross–contamination and spores spreading to other parts of the home. Professionals use a High–Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter to filter the air and clean mold spores.

All the contaminated surfaces are vacuumed with a HEPA vacuum which traps mold spores while releasing clean air. Mold–infested items are discarded when necessary in disposable bags and later taken to the appropriate dump sites.

Contaminated surfaces will be sprayed and wiped down with microfiber cleaning cloths. The area will be treated with an antimicrobial applied with an electrostatic sprayer, ensuring even application and maximum efficiency.

You and your family, including pets, may be asked to leave until the removal of black mold. This is for the safety of your family members.

If you have any questions about black mold removal for your home in Alexandria, VA, call the professionals at Envirotex, and they will be glad to answer your questions.

Gainesville, VA Homeowners Want to Know, ‘Who Does Black Mold Removal?’

Black mold is toxic and can be harmful to Gainesville, VA homeowners and their families. Many health issues can develop from living in a Gainesville, VA home with mold growth. Black mold can gradually destroy whatever it is growing on, such as furniture, carpet, drywall, grout, and wood. An out–of–control mold problem can be extremely nasty to get rid of. Black mold removal is a must when you first see any signs of mold inside your house in Gainesville, VA.

So you might ask yourself, “Who should do the black mold removal from your Gainesville, VA home?” It all depends. There are some factors you need to consider before making up your mind; rather you want to do black mold removal or bring in the professionals who do this daily for a living.

Consider the size of the mold infestation area. If the moldy area is less than ten square feet which is roughly a three feet by three feet area, you should be able to handle the job of black mold removal yourself as long as you follow specific guidelines, including—

Respirators. To avoid breathing in mold spores and limit your exposure to airborne mold during the black mold removal process, please wear an N–95 respirators available at your local Gainesville, VA hardware store, or you can order them online. For it to be effective, the respirator must fit properly, so follow the instructions carefully.
Gloves. Wear long gloves which extend to the middle of your forearm during the black mold removal. When using a disinfectant, select a biocide such as chlorine bleach or a strong cleaning solution, and select gloves made of natural rubber, nitrile, neoprene, polyurethane, or PVC. If you are using a mild detergent, household rubber gloves can be used. Avoid touching the mold items with your hands.
Goggles. To avoid getting mold in your eyes during the black mold removal process at your home in Gainesville, VA, please wear goggles that do not have ventilation holes.

Black mold removal isn’t for everyone. More often than not, black mold may not be where you can see it, so to ensure your and your family’s safety, you might want to consider hiring professionals such as the team at Envirotex Environmental Services.

Black Mold Removal for Alexandria, VA Homes Should be Left to Professionals

Black mold within your home in Alexandria, VA, is dangerous and can be toxic and highly unhealthy for family members. Once you have signs of black mold, the best thing you can do for the structure of your Alexandria, VA home and family is to hire professional black mold removal experts. You must rid your home of the mold and take whatever steps are necessary to prevent it from coming back to keep your family safe and keep your home’s structure sound.

State–of–the–art equipment, along with the necessary technical skills from an environmental company such as Envirotex, is the best way to handle black mold removal from your Alexandria, VA home. Homeowners should never perform black mold removal. It is much too dangerous. An environmental company has all the updated equipment, training, and experience in dealing with black mold removal and will take all the necessary steps to keep you and your family safe.

When you hire a professional environmental company, they will first access your mold problem and then map out the best plan for black mold removal. They will also identify your moisture source and recommend what needs to be done to remedy your moisture issues. Without fixing the moisture issues within your home in Alexandria, VA, any black mold removal will eventually need to be done again.

Hiring a professional such as Envirotex is your guarantee that your Alexandria, VA home will be environmentally safe for your family to return to once the black mold removal is complete. It could be that the drywall or carpet is infested with mold and will need to be removed and replaced.

Let the experts be your guide to rid your home of any mold–related materials so that your family will be kept safe from breathing any mold spores released into the air from handling these materials. These materials will be safely removed from your home by trained professionals and disposed of at the proper facilities.

Most likely, you and your family members will be asked to leave the premises of your Alexandria, VA home until the black mold removal has been completed.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call the team at Envirotex Environmental Services. They will be happy to answer any of your questions regarding mold or any other environmental issues you have at your home in Alexandria, VA.

Should Black Mold Removal in Alexandria, VA Be Left to the Pros?

If black mold infestation found its way into your Alexandria, VA home, do you remove the mold yourself or hire a professional black mold removal company to do it for you? That would all depend on the severity of the mold infestation. If mold has spread to over 10 square feet, you should hire a black mold removal company to remove the mold at hand from your Alexandria, VA home.

Any type of mold can lead to health problems, but black mold is more hazardous and destructive. Black mold removal can put your health and those around you in danger. It is best to leave black mold removal to professionals with years of experience and the proper equipment to ensure that the black mold is completely removed from your home in Alexandria, VA.

Removing a large area of black mold growth requires complex mold remediation. Trying to remove large amounts of black mold and prevent it from spreading throughout the rest of your home in Alexandria, VA is complicated without the proper knowledge and equipment, especially when mold could be hidden behind your walls and under your flooring.

Mold can also be in your HVAC system, which spreads mold spores throughout your Alexandria, VA home and increases the risk of health problems for your family and the spread of mold growth. Wood is porous and is most commonly affected by mold.

With advanced techniques, a professional black mold removal company may be able to salvage wood surfaces and can also tell when mold growth has penetrated surfaces of your attic and crawlspaces.

Hiring a professional black mold specialist may be covered under your home insurance policy. If you had any kind of flood damage to your home in Alexandria, VA and mold developed, check with your insurance company to see if the damage is covered.

If you have any questions regarding black mold removal at your home in Alexandria, VA, or any other environmental issues, call the professionals at Envirotex. They will be glad to help answer your questions.

Eliminate Health Problems with Black Mold Removal in Alexandria, VA

Black mold removal is more common than you might think at homes in Alexandria, VA. Toxic black mold, known to scientists as Stachybotyrs chartarum can release spores while it feeds on household materials including carpet, drywall, insulation, and sub-flooring that have been exposed to moisture. When these spores are ingested or inhaled, they can cause mold illnesses and diseases which include:

Fibromyalgia
Chronic Stress
Disorientation
Forgetfulness and Poor Memory
Mood Swings
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Depression and Anxiety
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Abnormal Reflexes
Poor Organization Skills
Panic Attacks

Mold can cause unpleasant odors, damage to walls and floors plus a host of health problems. Black mold removal should be performed at the first signs of mold. Understanding the most common areas for black mold growth, is your first start in eliminating mold from you Alexandria, VA home.

Black toxic mold grows in damp, warm, and humid environments with common areas being basements crawlspaces, showers and around heating and cooling appliances. It can occur in ventilation ducts and carpets. Anytime you see mold or if your home in Alexandria, VA smells musty, contact an environmental service company to have a professional inspect your home and test the air quality at your home.

Depending on these findings, you might need to have a black mold removal done at your home. You will also need to find where the source is coming from. If you have any leaks or areas where moisture is collecting on a regular basis, these areas will need to be fixed, or you will never completely get rid of your mold. The black mold removal will only be a temporary fix.

Once these areas have been repaired, and your black mold removal has been completed at your home in Alexandria, VA, areas that are more prone to mold can be kept dry by running a dehumidifier. An attic fan can pull moisture from the air in the winter, and foundation vents should be opened in the winter and closed in the summer to help with moisture control. Always use vent fans in your bathroom and kitchen.

Anytime you have a black mold removal done by a professional environment service company, you should always have your Alexandria, VA home retested to make sure all mold has been removed and the quality of your air has been restored.

Symptoms That Signal a Need for Black Mold Removal in Alexandria, VA Homes

Black mold removal can be a problem for many homeowners in Alexandria, VA and predominately in high humid climates. Alexandria, VA with its extremely humid temperatures during the summers can play havoc to black mold growth.

The worst problem with mold growth can be black mold poisoning. This is something to avoid at all costs so you can protect your family. Envirotex Environmental Services are the experts in identifying all types of mold and in black mold removal as well as other environmental services including asbestos removal and remediation and lead-based paint removal.

Some common symptoms that might be signaling you that black mold removal is necessary for your home in Alexandria, VA could be –

Headaches can appear after inhaling black mold. You might begin to feel your head throbbing. This is your body’s way of telling you it is trying to fight off the spores entering the room.
Watery eyes and itchy throat are another warning that you have black mold growth somewhere at your house in Alexandria, VA which needs to be taken care of with a black mold removal.
Excessive coughing and mucus is another symptom that can be the result of black mold spores in your home.
A more severe problem of black mold poisoning is when your lungs begin to bleed.This can happen if you have been exposed to black mold for quite some time and your system can no longer fight it off. Black mold attaches itself to the lungs and begins causing inflammation and irritation, and if not treated properly or without having a black mold removal to rid your Alexandria, VA home of its mold infestation, severe damage to your lungs can result in your lungs bleeding.

Not all black mold is visible for you to see. Normally there will be a musty smell that will also warn you of mold that is growing in your home.

Now that you are aware of these common flu-like symptoms that could be signaling you that your home could have a mold problem, you should call the experts at Envirotex. Envirotex specializes in black mold removal, and they will also advise you on how to avoid mold growth from growing back once you have black mold removed from your home in Alexandria, VA.

You should never attempt black mold removal on your own from your Alexandria, VA home. To avoid health issues, call the professionals at Envirotex.

Black Mold Removal for Small Areas in Alexandria, VA

When you hear the term “black mold,” this refers to a type of mold called Stachybotrys chartarum, also known as Stachybotrys atra. Because everyone has different tolerance levels to allergens such as mold spores, people who have asthma, respiratory allergies, or immune suppression may feel the effects of mycotoxins from black mold more so than others who don’t have these health issues. Black mold removal should be done once it is noticed at homes in Alexandria, VA.

Black mold is usually found around water–damaged areas in Alexandria, VA homes. Plumbing issues with leaky pipes or previously flooded areas are prone to black mold growth. Drywall, gypsum board, and carpet soak up water and are a perfect breeding place for a black mold colony. Before any black mold removal, remove any affected materials to prevent mold from continuing to grow.

Any black mold removal in Alexandria, VA of more than 10 square feet, roughly 3 feet by 3 feet, should be left to the professionals such as the team at Envirotex Environmental Services. Using a professional service will guarantee the safety of your family members.

If you have a small area of black mold, and you are doing the black mold removal yourself, take precautionary measures and wear non–vented goggles, rubber gloves, and an N–95 respirator. Old clothing that you either discard or wash separately should be worn for the black mold removal process.

Before the black mold removal process, fix the problem or water source causing your black mold in your Alexandria, VA home; otherwise, the black mold will continue to come back.

Containing the work area with plastic sheets will help illuminate mold spores from spreading throughout the rest of your home in Alexandria, VA. Clean with a HEPA vacuum and wipe surfaces with special mold cleaners and allow to dry. Bag up and discard any damaged materials caused by the mold. Bag and tie tightly the cleaning towels you used during the black mold removal and discard them with your regular household garbage.

If you don’t feel comfortable with black mold removal of a small area, call Envirotex and leave it to the professionals.

Risks of DIY Black Mold Removal in Alexandria, VA

If you have signs of mold growing inside your Alexandria, VA home, you should seek out an environmental company such as Envirotex for immediate mold removal. Mold can grow at a fast rate, and you don’t want to let it get any worse. Mold removal is not for the do–it–yourselfers.

There are many types of mold, the worst being black mold, known as Stachybotrys chartarum, also as Stachybotrys atra. Black mold releases mycotoxins which can cause health problems. One such health concern is mycotoxicosis which is mold poisoning. Other health concerns are—

Changes in mood
Aches and pains
Memory loss
Nosebleeds
Headaches

Symptoms from mold exposure are higher at risk for—

Infants and children
Older adults
People who have a weakened immune system
People who have allergies or asthma

Black mold removal on your own can lead to dangerous health issues. Black mold removal specialists are trained in methods to eliminate mold and, with advanced techniques, can identify any hidden mold that you can’t visibly see in your Alexandria, VA home.

If you attempt to do black mold removal on your own, you may release mold spores throughout the rest of your home in Alexandria, VA, which would make the mold problem that much worse.

Mold can hide in places in your Alexandria, VA home that you might not be aware of, such as air vents. You could miss vital areas that are infected with mold growth. Black mold removal of all mold is necessary for complete remediation.

Without the high–tech equipment to handle toxic black mold, you are putting yourself and your family in harm’s way. Professionals use personal protection gear, air filters, and containment systems for black mold removal in Alexandria, VA.

Calling in a professional team like Envirotex will guarantee your black mold removal is done effectively and safely at your home in Alexandria, VA. Once the team is completely finished, all mold–related items will be disposed of properly.

A professional environmental company will also recommend that you repair the issues that are causing your home’s moisture resulting in mold growth at your Alexandria, VA home. Without fixing the problem, it will only return.