Category: Mold

Mold growth at homes in Northern VA can lead to various health issues, so it is recommended that you hire a mold company such as Envirotex Environmental Services. Some of the services that a mold company can provide include—

Locating Mold—Mold can be present in your home, and you may not even see it. Even if you do see mold, it may be worse than what you can actually see. A mold company can perform a mold inspection to locate exactly where you have mold growth in your Northern VA home.

Cause of Mold—Once the mold has been located, a mold company can figure out what is causing the mold growth at your Northern VA home. You might have a leak under one of your sinks. Poor ventilation can cause condensation and humidity to build up in one of your rooms, such as your laundry room or bathroom, which can cause mold growth. Leaving wet clothes lying around can cause mold to grow. Hiring a mold company will ensure you find the cause of the mold growth and fix the issues so that once the mold is removed, it will not return to your home in Northern VA

Mold Removal—Hiring a mold company to remove any moldy surfaces or materials is the safest way to handle mold growth inside your Northern VA home. Most likely, you and your family members will be asked to leave the premises during mold removal. This is for the family’s safety so that any mold spores released into the air will not be inhaled. Mold removal experts will wear protective gear during the mold removal process to protect themselves. Precautions will be taken so as not to contaminate other areas of the home in Northern VA. 

Mold can affect your family’s health depending on their age, allergy reactions, and the level of exposure to the mold. Once the mold removal is complete, a final mold inspection should be done to check if it was done correctly. The mold company will check mold spores in the air to ensure you are safe to reenter the home.

Envirotex is a Northern VA mold company that offers services to improve your environment, including mold, asbestos, and lead paint testing and remediation. Call them today if you suspect mold growth in your home.

The best way to prevent house mold at your home in Northern VA is through moisture control. There are several ways to curb moisture inside your home and prevent mold growth.

Take an Audit—Look for areas of your home in Northern VA that are prone to house mold growth. Does your basement flood? Are you noticing frequent condensation around your windows? Any stains on the ceiling from a persistent leak? In order to prevent house mold from growing or spreading, it may be as simple as ripping up carpet in a damp basement or replacing damaged house gutters. Preventions now will save you in mold remediation later.

Dry Areas Thoroughly and Immediately—House mold needs moisture to grow. Anytime you have a leaky pipe or a spill on your carpet, it needs to be dried within 24 to 48 hours to avoid house mold from growing. Avoid leaving wet articles of clothing lying around. You should hang any wet items up to dry either outside or in an area with good air circulation.

Proper Ventilation—Proper ventilation in your laundry room, bathroom, kitchen, or any other high– moisture area of your home in Northern VA can prevent house mold. Ensure proper ventilation for clothes dryers and cookstoves and use AC units and dehumidifiers during humid climates in Northern VA. When cooking, showering, or washing dishes, either open up a window or run an exhaust fan to rid your home of excess moisture.

Clean or Fix Gutters—Keep your gutters cleaned out and repaired as needed to prevent roofs from leaking.

Keep Water Away From House—Water can collect and seep into your basement if the ground around your home in Northern VA is not properly sloped away from the foundation.

Maintain Humidity Levels—Keep indoor humidity levels between 30 and 60 percent. You can measure humidity by purchasing a moisture meter from your local Northern VA hardware store. Pay attention to problem areas inside that have condensation, such as windows, pipes, and walls. Any time you notice any condensation, you should dry the surface area immediately and address the source of moisture.

If you have any questions or concerns about house mold, call Envirotex Environmental Services.

In Gainesville, VA, homeowners who experience mold growth inside their homes know firsthand what a nuisance it can be. You never know when it pops up until it is there, and by then, the mold can damage your drywall, your carpet, and personal items as well. Not to mention, it could be causing respiratory illness among family members. So when is it time to hire mold companies for Gainesville, VA homes?

How much mold growth do you have? Do you even know? Looking at particular areas of your Gainesville, VA home for mold growth doesn’t give you the full picture. Mold companies are experienced in knowing where to look and have special equipment such as thermal imaging to detect and identify moisture sources that are causing the mold growth at your home in Gainesville, VA. Not all mold growth will be visible.

When you hire professional mold companies such as Envirotex Environmental Services, they will be able to locate your source of moisture that is causing the mold growth, any structural damage, what needs to be done to fix moisture issues and plan out a path forward to rid your home of any mold damage. Without taking care of the initial problem that is causing the mold growth, once mold removal is done by mold companies, the problem will only come back.

The procedures of mold companies are different depending on your home’s affected areas in Gainesville, VA. Special equipment and safety clothing is needed to avoid mold from entering the nose, eyes, and mouth and preventing it from coming into contact with the skin. Mold companies have the necessary equipment such as goggles, respirators, gloves, and disposable clothing and shoe coverings for the job.

Most mold companies use negative air machines along with other equipment to ensure safety. The molded areas will be contained so that any mold spores released during the removal will not drift into other areas of the Gainesville, VA home. Once the mold removal has been completed, the site will be tested to ascertain all mold spores are gone and safe for family members.

Call Envirotex for any questions you have regarding mold growth or other environmental issses you might be having at your home in Gainesville, VA.

Everyone is exposed to mold spores every day. These mold spores are in the air both inside and outside your home in Gainesville, VA. Although most of the time there is no reason for alarme, you might be asking yourself . . . when should you be concerned? When will mold companies need to be called for homes in Gainesville, VA?

• If you smell a musty odor, but you cannot find any mold or moisture issues at your Gainesville, VA home.
• If you see so much mold that you can’t remedy the issue without difficulty.
• If you can see structural problems caused by moisture.
• If anyone in your Gainesville, VA home has respiratory conditions such as allergies or asthma, have a weakened immune system caused by HIV, organ transplant, or chemotherapy. These individuals are highly susceptible. Young children and the elderly are more vulnerable to mold-related health problems as well.

When looking to hire mold companies, start by asking neighbors in Gainesville, VA if they have ever used a mold company. Also, friends and co-workers are other good sources to ask.

Once you have decided on a few different mold companies in Gainesville, VA, inquire about their experience, training, and accreditation. Do they have professional licenses or certifications? Do they use accredited labs and testing equipment for mold testing?

Have each of the mold companies in Gainesville, VA give you a quote and be sure the estimates from each company are for the same exact work. Never accept a quote over the phone.

Ask for references and be sure to call and make sure each was satisfied with the work and if their price remained the same as they were initially quoted. Did the mold company show up on time? Did they clean up afterward and haul all materials safely away? Would they hire the same mold company again if ever needed? Did the mold company make suggestions about the underlying issues of what is causing the mold and how to fix the problems?

Call Envirotex for all your environmental issues. Envirotex Environmental Service is a mold company that services the Gainesville, VA area. They specialize in Mold Remediation, Asbestos Abatement, and Lead-Paint Removal.

Homes in Haymarket, VA sometimes may have water damage that can go undetected for long periods of time, leading to a severe mold infestation in which case you will need to find a reputable mold company. When hiring a mold company to come to your home in Haymarket, VA be sure and discuss the following—

• Mold companies should understand the potential hazards of mold and how essential proper mold remediation is for homes in Haymarket, VA with mold growth.
• Mold companies should advise you that before and after mold removal, testing should be done to see if the mold remediation was done correctly. Testing should be performed by another outside source and not the mold company doing the mold removal as this could present a conflict of interest.
• Some mold companies document their work with digital photos, especially any work related to the removal of building materials. These should be available to the Haymarket, VA homeowner.
• The mold company you hire should be able to explain to you their complete plan to remove the mold and what needs to be done to rid the cause of mold growth.
• Mold removal technicians must wear protective gear. They should be outfitted with respirators, safety glasses, and proper hazmat suits along with disposable shoe covers. Foot traffic is a significant cause of cross-contamination.
• Proper containment of the mold infected area. Family members will be asked to stay off the premises in Haymarket, VA until the job is completed.
• The mold company is responsible for bagging and properly disposing of waste material. These materials should never be left on the premises at homes in Haymarket, VA. 
• During the remediation process, the mold company will use air scrubbers and HEPA vacuums. This equipment should be freshly wrapped before entering your home. If not, it could make your situation worse because of contamination from a previous job.

Make sure you understand completely the plan of your mold remediation from your mold company. The team at Envirotex Environment Services will be glad to help you with any mold related issues you might have at your home in Haymarket, VA.

Have you found mold growing at your home in Northern, VA? You might not realize it, but mold is a common condition that is found in many Northern, VA homes. Summers can be quite humid in Northern, VA, and with humidity comes moisture where mold is likely to grow.

The best way to handle mold is to call a mold company. They are the experts and should be able to explain the steps involved in dealing with your mold issues. If they can’t explain in layman’s terms and try to confuse you, tell them thanks, but no thanks. Or better yet, call the team at Envirotex Environmental Service, a local mold company that will be more than happy to answer all your questions.

Here are a few things that you should be able to expect when you hire a mold company—

• The professional team should wear proper safety gear when handling mold at your home in Northern, VA. They should be equipped with a high filtration face mask, neoprene or vinyl gloves, a full disposable protective suit, and shoe covers.
• The professional mold team should seal off the work area with plastic sheeting. This is to keep the mold spores from floating throughout the rest of the home.
• Professional equipment such as HEPA air scrubbers, HEPA vacuums, and commercial-strength dehumidifiers may be used.
• After physically removing all the mold particles from the Northern, VA home, the air should be cleaned of any airborne mold spores. This is done with HEPA air scrubbers and air exchange replacing the moldy air with clean, fresh air.
• A special chemical is then used to clean any remaining mold and stains that weren’t physically removed.
• Sometimes a professional mold technician may use a sealer or encapsulant, which makes the treated area resistant to water damage and mold growth. This also helps control the odor.

Mold companies have the experience and proper tools so that all the mold in your home is located. Once located, mold companies can lay out a plan to rid your home of all mold growth.

Your body could be telling you there is mold in your Alexandria, VA home. Mold, which produces mycotoxins, is toxic and can be quite poisonous. Stachybotrys chartarum is one of the more alarming varieties of mold and is normally found where moisture has been present for a long time, such as in a basement. This can trigger health problems, including headaches, trouble breathing, diarrhea, and many more issues.

All types of mold in homes in Alexandria, VA should be treated as a potential for health risks and needs to be removed. Some of these signs include—

Weird Chimney Smells—Having a chimney sweep not only removes dangerous creosote buildup, but it can also clean out toxic mold. Moisture may accumulate in the porous bricks and mortar of your chimney at your home in Alexandria, VA. If you have rusty chimney caps or flashing that needs to be repaired, this can allow rain and snow to seep inside and create an environment for mold to grow. Your chimney cap and the flashing will need to be repaired and the chimney sweep to prevent mold in home.

Watery and Stinging Eyes—Some people can have allergic reactions to mold including coughing, itchy, watery eyes, and nasal congestion when there is mold in homes. You may notice these signs when in specific areas of your home. To check to see if its mold in homes, go to an allergy specialist, and they can do a blood or skin test to confirm allergies.

Tingling Skin—People who are allergic to mycotoxins will usually experience a tingling, itching, or burning sensation when they come in contact with mold in homes. The body reacts by releasing histamines, and the result may be itchy, dry, scaly skin, possibly even hives. If this condition continues, see an allergy specialist and locate mold in home and have it professionally removed.

Asthma Acting Up—When mold spores find their way into the lungs, it triggers asthma symptoms. If your asthma symtoms seem to get worse, it may be from mold in home at your Alexandria, VA residence. Mold in homes in Alexandria, VA can cause more severe conditions such as allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, which is a dramatic allergic and inflammatory reaction that leads to severe coughing, sneezing, and shortness of breath.

Whenever you notice any difference in a family members health or you notice any signs of mold in home at your Alexandria, VA residence, call the team at Envirotex. They can help you with all your environmental issues at your Alexandria, VA home.

Mold treatment in Northern, VA can rid your home of any mold contamination, which is commonly found in areas where moisture is prevalent such as basements and bathrooms. Because mold can cause dangerous health issues, mold treatment by a professional should be done at the first signs of mold in your Northern, VA home.

If you see black or green areas, possibly even fuzzy looking, at your Northern, VA home in your basement or any other areas where you might have a leak or excess moisture, you will need mold treatment for your home. The area could smell musty and quite possible, you may not even see it. You should have a mold inspection if you notice a musty smell in your house.

A mold inspection will pinpoint where you have mold growth and where the moisture is coming from, causing the mold growth inside your home. A mold company such as Envirotex Environmental Services will come to your home in Northern, VA, do a visual examination, and take surface and air samples, which will then be analyzed by an independent lab.

Once the mold has been located, you will then need to set up a mold treatment plan to remove all mold from your home in Northern, VA, and the issues that are causing the moisture, which is triggering your mold growth, needs to be repaired. Otherwise, once the mold has been removed, it will come back in the future.

During your mold treatment, the crew will come in wearing protective gear such as disposable coveralls, respirators, goggles, and shoe coverings. The area where the mold is located will be contained so that the mold spores will not contaminate the rest of the home in Northern, VA.

Special equipment such as a HEPA (High–Efficiency Particular Air) air scrubber and air exchange that replaces mold air with clean air are used to clean the air. A HEPA vacuum to clean floors and other surfaces are used to remove spores still lingering.

Any moldy porous materials such as drywall or insulation will be placed in heavy–duty plastic bags and disposed of properly by the mold treatment company.

Once the mold treatment has been completed, another mold inspection should be done to ensure the mold treatment was done correctly. 

House mold can grow on almost anything that is moist enough. Inside your home in Great Falls, VA, house mold can grow quickly on damp surfaces such as your bathroom walls and the trim around your windows. This house mold may look like black stains, furry growth,  specks of black, white, orange, green, or brown.

When these mold growths appear, invisible bits of mold can float through the air causing infections, asthma, allergies and other breathing issues. To avoid these health issues, keep your Great Falls, VA home as mold-free as possible.

Moisture is released into the air when you take long hot showers, cook with uncovered pans, using an indoor clothesline to dry your clothes, and using humidifyers. Storing vegetables such as potatoes and sqash can increase chances of house mold growth.

The key to avoid house mold at your home in Great Falls, VA is to keep your home as dry as possible. Some things you can do to avoid house mold include—

• The ground around the foundation of your Great Falls, VA home should be sloped away from the house to avoid your basement from flooding.
• Anytime you have a leaking roof or other plumbing pipes, fix these issues as soon as possible to avoid house mold.
• Use bath fans when showering and kitchen fans when cooking. If you do not have fans, open up a window when you shower or cook. Cover your pans when cooking and take a shorter, cooler shower. Use a clothes dryer that vents to the outdoors or a clothes line outside to avoid extra moisture in your Great Falls, VA home.
• If your basement is prone to be damp, use a dehumidifier to remove the moisture from the air. In the summertime, you can use an air conditioner which will remove some of moisture as it cools the air. Don’t keep your windows open if it is damp outside.

If you have any questions, call the environmental experts at Envirotex and they can guide you with a plan to avoid house mold at your home in Great Falls, VA.

Have you noticed a musty odor inside your Northern, VA home? How about areas of your drywall? Has any of it turned black? Has the grout in your bathroom turned black? Have you had any plumbing leaks? Are any of your walls warped or bowed? Do any of your walls feel damp? Any of these signs could be mold growth inside your Northern, VA home and will require mold treatment to rid the mold colonies from your home.

Once you discover a mold problem inside your Northern, VA home, you may be impatient and try and clean it up yourself with some sort of home remedy mold treatment. Everyone wants to save money, but sometimes having a professional mold treatment to rid mold from your home is the best way to go about it.

Mold professionals such as the team at Envirotex are equipped to test your home for any mold growth, some of it you may not even be able to see, but they will find it with their specialized equipment. Once they do find the mold, they will layout a complete mold treatment plan so that your home will be mold-free once the removal has been completed.

Most homeowners make the mistake of using bleach for their mold treatment. Although it might change the color of the mold to either a clear or white shade, you have not stopped the continued growth of the mold. It will come back.

Some things that are out of your personal expertise should be left up to the professionals. A small amount of mold for the average homeowner may not impose a real problem for mold treatment. The question is . . . is there mold where you can’t see it?

Don’t make the mistake of taking on this dangerous task yourself. Envirotex will evaluate your particular situation and advise you on what all needs to be done to rid your Northern, VA home of its pesty mold growth so that it won’t come back in the future.

Call Envirotex today if you are suspicious of mold growth at your home in Northern, VA. Leave the rest up to them.