Category: Mold

If you have found mold in your home in Northern, VA, you might be wondering if you should attempt to get rid of it or look into finding a reputable mold company in your area to handle the mold removal. Mold companies are specialized in removing contaminated mold from homes in Northern, VA, and restoring your home so that it is safe to occupy once again.

Most mold companies will want to come to your home first to look at the situation. You may want to have a thorough mold inspection first, but it is not recommended that you use mold companies to do both the mold inspection and mold remediation.

During the mold inspection at your Northern, VA home, the inspector should be able to determine the cause of the mold and recommend how to fix the problem so that once the mold has been removed, it doesn’t come back.

You should talk with several different mold companies and ask for references before signing any kind of contract. They should be able to provide you with an estimate for their services along with a detailed plan of their removal procedure for your particular situation at your home in Northern, VA, as all situations are different. Ask them how long it will take them to complete the job, and if you and your family will need to vacate the premises while the work is being done. This way, you can make other accommodations for where your family will stay during the mold remediation.

The mold company you choose should be able to sit down with you and explain the process they use when they enter your home. If there is no mention of setting up some type of containment so that the mold spores do not spread throughout the rest of the house, look for another mold company in the Northern, VA area.

The team at Envirotex Environmental Services will be glad to come to your home and discuss plans for mold remediation with you and your family and the steps that are involved in the removal of mold from your Northern, VA home. They have been in business since 2000 in the Northern, VA area and are well recommended by their previous customers. They offer a free, no–obligation indoor environmental consultation. Call them today for all your environmental issues in Northern, VA.

Mold in homes requires three ingredients to grow:

• Food, which consists of wood and wood products, paper, cardboard, and wallpaper, fabric, upholstery, leather, painted walls, cement, plaster, ceiling tiles, leather, insulation materials, and carpet, is needed for mold growth.
• An ideal temperature between 41 and 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit is necessary for mold to grow in homes.
• The key ingredient is moisture.

When moisture is present with the ideal temperature and there is ample food, mold in homes in Alexandria, VA will start to grow within 24 to 48 hours. It is imperative that homeowners in Alexandria, VA keep moisture and humidity under control to avoid mold growth.

Once mold in homes is detected, it needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. The mold growth in your Alexandria, VA home will need to be removed as well as the source of the moisture in the house needs to be addressed, or the mold will continue to come back. Failure to repair the underlying cause of mold in homes and removing the mold can cause significant structural damage, which can then lead to a substantial reduction in the property value to homes in Alexandria, VA.

Mold in homes in Alexandria, VA can also make your family members sick. Many physicians are not trained to treat or identify mold illnesses, so frequently, patients suffer because of being misdiagnosed. This leads to being referred to different specialists to get to the underlying cause of related illnesses.

Infants who are exposed to a moldy environment in Alexandria, VA are three times likely to become asthmatic than those who are not exposed to mold during their first year of life. Mold in homes can trigger family members who have already been diagnosed with asthma with severe asthma attacks.

Your family’s genes have a lot to do with how their body reacts to mold exposure. According to Dr. Richie Shoemaker, a physician and expert on biotoxin-related illnesses and the author of “Surviving Mold,” one in four people have a genetic predisposition to the mold illness, Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS).

It is challenging to diagnose CIRS because many symptoms are similar to other illnesses as well.

The key factor in mold prevention is controlling the moisture in your McLean, VA home. Once water intrudes into your home by way of a leaky pipe, roof, or possibly a flood or some type of accident, your best mold treatment is to immediately remove any wet items and allow the affected areas to dry out.

By taking extra precautions whenever your house in McLean, VA has an excessive moisture issue, if you can completely dry out the area within 48 hours, you can prevent mold treatments that would be necessary to rid your home of mold growth.

What does a mold treatment at your McLean, VA home include—

• Containment of the area should be made. Negative air machines should be HEPA filtered and exhausted outdoors. Plastic sheeting should be placed on the floor for any demolition work that might be involved.
• All workers should use Personal Protective Equipment.
• Waste materials should be bagged and disposed of following any mold remediation and disposed of at the proper disposal sites.
• Remove any contents that are not salvageable, which may include couches, chairs, and mattresses. These items may need to be replaced.

As part of any mold treatment for homes in McLean, VA, the excess moisture causing the mold must be addressed, or the mold will only reappear later. This may be done by a construction contractor or HVAC professional depending on where the moisture issue is located. Mold treatment for your home in McLean, VA will only be successful if all moisture issues are handled before the initial mold treatment or it will be an uphill battle and never end.

If you are concerned about mold growth within your home in McLean, VA, call the professional team at Envirotex Environmental Services. They have years of experience in dealing with all things environmentally. Whether your home has been invaded by mold growth, you suspect certain building materials contain asbestos, or maybe you are concerned about lead paint; whatever your concerns, the team at Envirotex are here to help.

House mold is a type of fungus whose sprouts form tiny spores and float about in the air. Unfortunately, these spores choose to make their home in moist places within your Northern, VA home causing house mold growth in those areas.

Another common type of house mold found in Northern, VA homes that generally sits on the surface of damp walls and shower grouting and doors is mildew. This looks like tiny black spots and can usually be cleaned with a brush and mold killer.

Other house molds in Northern, VA can be more damaging from increased infestation within the home and do quite a bit of damage. Damp walls, carpets, and other flooring can be a breeding ground for house molds. Once this happens, you should call in a professional environment company such as the team at Envirotex.

Letting professionals deal with any house mold issues you have reassures you that once they come and remove the mold from your home, test for air quality, and advise you of any moisture problems that you need to address, you should be good to go after that. Not taking care of moisture problems such as leaks, no ventilation, or cracks in your foundation can guarantee that any mold removal will only last for a limited time, and the house mold will eventually come back.

House mold in Northern, VA homes can be dangerous for your family. Many health issues come from house mold. Breathing in mold spores that are in the air can make any person in your family who has respiratory problems that much worse. People who have asthma who are around damp basements are bound to have more asthma attacks than living in a well-ventilated, dry home.

Some house mold is not detectable by the human eye because it starts to grow in behind walls. Typically, you will notice a musty smell in your basement, attic, or bathroom at your home in Northern, VA. This is a sure sign that you have a mold problem, and you need to address it as soon as possible. Never put it off because it doesn’t take house mold long to grow throughout your home, causing a lot of damage and not to mention a lot of health issues for your family members.

When in doubt, call the team at Envirotex Environment Services for any mold concerns you have at your Northern, VA home.

There are basic things you should know about mold, which will help you understand the problem of mold in homes and how to prevent it from growing. Mold in homes in Alexandria, VA needs three things to grow—spores, water, and food.

• Mold spores are everywhere at homes in Alexandria, VA. Your immune system handles them like anything else when the spores are in small quantities, but when there is a concentration of spores in the air inside the home that gets too high, then you have a problem.
• Mold grows on cellulose which is the most abundant organic material on earth, and many of the materials in your Alexandria, VA home are made up of cellulose including: Drywall, wallpaper, wood framing, wood trim, wood floors, plywood subfloors, cabinetry, and ceiling tiles.
• Mold spores need moisture to grow, and once it is available, mold can grow extremely fast. When it starts to grow, it produces a gas which causes a “moldy” smell. Even if the smell goes away, it just means the mold is no longer growing. A plant will die without moisture, but mold does not die, it just goes dormant.

Children, the elderly, and asthma or allergy sufferers are at greater risk when exposed to mold in homes in Alexandria, VA. Here are some easy steps to follow to prevent mold in homes.

• Condensation that is created from high relative humidity can be controlled with a properly functioning HVAC and exhaust systems in your bathrooms and kitchen at your Alexandria, VA home. Having your HVAC serviced yearly will not only prevent leaks and ensure its working order which will prolong its life, but this can greatly reduce mold in homes in Alexandria, VA.
• Keeping your basement dry is extremely important. This can be done by making sure your downspouts and sump pump discharge is at least 10 feet from the foundation. The soil around your Alexandria, VA should be graded so that the water flows away from its foundation, and you should keep gutters free of leaves and debris. Taking these easy steps can save you thousands of dollars in waterproofing your basement and will also prevent mold in homes.
• Anytime you have wet materials in your home such as wet clothes lying around or a leak that hasn’t been fixed, the result will lead to mold in homes. Always keep a close eye on your plumbing to make sure you have no leaks and never leave wet clothes lying around.

Following these simples steps can help homeowners in Alexandria, VA eliminate mold growth at their home.

Many homes in Woodbridge, VA have some sort of moisture problems resulting from high humidity levels, condensation, leaky pipes or possibly from a recent flooding disaster. All homes in Woodbridge, VA have plenty of organic materials such as paper, wood, fabric, leather, drywall, insulation materials, and grout. Mold in homes in Woodbridge, VA needs moisture to grow and mold colonies can start to grow on these organic materials within 24 to 48 hours. Mold can spread and cause costly structural damage and severe health issues for both humans and their pets.

Mold in homes affects pets more virulently than humans because dogs, cats, and other small pets have less advanced immune systems making them more susceptible to mold-related illnesses.

How Does Mold in Homes Affect Pets?

• When your pet inhales mold spores, it causes fever, lethargy, and different respiratory issues. The most typical symptoms can include coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, rapid breathing, and bleeding from the mouth and/or nose.
• If the mold in homes in Woodbridge, VA is digested, it can lead to digestive problems and can damage the gastrointestinal tract. These symptoms include vomiting, stool changes, and loss of appetite.
• When pets have been in contact for extended periods to mold in homes in Woodbridge, VA, this may result in various allergic reactions and neurological issues, including tremors and seizures.

Some molds in homes are more dangerous than others, such as black mold. This type of mold in homes in Woodbridge, VA produces mycotoxin, which can cause cell damage and liver damage to your pets. Pets that are exposed to these spores may suffer pulmonary hemorrhage, which is a deadly condition known for heavy bleeding in the pet’s lungs.

Pets who develop mold sickness that are not treated effectively and quickly may lead to organ damage or even failure and can seriously affect their nervous system. If you believe your pet has come in contact with mold and any of these symptoms develop, take them immediately to your Woodbridge, VA veterinarian—

• Coughing, wheezing, and/or sneezing
• Runny nose and/or eyes
• Excessive scratching and licking
• Skin sores and rashes
• Labored breathing
• Loss of fur
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Bleeding from nose and/or mouth
• Convulsions
• Seizures
• Lethargy
• Lameness
• Trembling
• Behavior changes

Signs of mold in homes should be dealt with immediately. Call the professionals at Envirotex. We will come to your Woodbridge, VA home, and give you recommendations to rid your home of any mold growth that is breeding within your home.

Don’t wait until a family member, either human or a pet, faces critical health issues. Call us today. We can help eliminate all mold in homes in Woodbridge, VA.

Homeowners should educate themselves on house mold so that they can be aware of any signs or symptoms of house mold growth at their Great Falls, VA homes. House mold can pose health hazards when it begins growing indoors. It can enter your home in Great Falls, VA through open doorways, windows, ventilation, heating, and air conditioning systems. Even mold spores outside can attach themselves to pets, shoes, bags, clothing, and much, much more!

The key ingredient that house mold needs to thrive is moisture. Sources for moisture may include—

• Flooding
• Leaky roofs
• Water pipe leaks
• Damp basements or crawl spaces
• Humidifiers that are not cleaned regularly or disinfected
• House plants
• Steam from cooking or showering
• Leaving wet clothes hung to dry indoors
• Excessive humidity
• Condensation
• Inadequate air exchange

House mold needs these things to survive—

• Food sources such as wood and wood products, paper and paper products including cardboard and wallpaper, fabric and upholstery, leather, grout, painted walls, cement, drywall, insulation materials, ceiling tiles, and carpet.
• Moisture from the list above.
• Temperature of 70⁰F or more but can grow in less.

With ample food, moisture, and the ideal temperature, house mold will begin to grow within 24 to 48 hours.

In some cases, you may have house mold and not even realize it, because house mold can grow behind drywall and shower stalls, in leaky roofs and in crawl spaces that have poor circulation. If bad enough, sometimes you can smell the musty or mildew odor that comes with the dampness that causes house mold in Great Falls, VA. Once you start smelling the odor in your home in Great Falls, VA, you will need to determine where the smell is coming from.

The most common places you might find house mold in your Great Falls, VA home are under your kitchen or bathroom sink where you might have a leaky pipe; behind appliances such as dishwasher, refrigerator, freezer, or washing machine; around your window sills where condensation accumulates, in your basement and in closets. House mold also likes those dark out of the way places to breed.

Mold can be a tricky subject. Even though homeowners may see no visible mold within their Northern, VA home, they still might smell a musty odor, and this should be looked at by a mold company to protect homes and families.

Mold companies in Northern, VA have the experience and proper equipment to detect and identify moisture sources that can trigger mold growth within your Northern, VA home. Not all mold growth is visible, and any symptoms should be looked at by a professional mold company such as the team at Envirotex.

With an infrared camera diagnostic system, a mold company can detect critical water damage and existing structural issues that may be contributing to your mold problems so that you can make a better-informed decision about a plan to make your home mold free and a more healthy environment for your family in Northern, VA.

With advanced thermal imaging, mold companies can perform a more comprehensive, non-destructive inspection for mold in a lot less time than without this advanced technology.

Make sure the mold company you deal with has the latest technology, such as the team at Envirotex who services the Northern, VA area for all environmental issues within homes, business buildings, and schools.

Mold growth can cause health issues such as hay-fever type symptoms, runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, and a skin rash (dermatitis). Family members in the Northern, VA home who have asthma that are allergic to mold can experience asthma attacks. Exposure to mold can irritate the eyes, skin, throat, nose, and lungs of family members.

Mold companies can develop a plan to rid your home of all mold and guide you on which repairs that need to be done to your home so that you get rid of any mold sources that are allowing the mold to grow within your Northern, VA home.

A Northern, VA mold company can protect your home. Call the team at Envirotex for all your environmental needs rather it be for a mold inspection and remediation, asbestos testing and abatement, lead-based paint removal, air duct cleaning, or demolition for homes in Northern, VA.

Mold can grow in any moist, warm climate indoors and outdoors around your home in Northern, VA. House mold can grow in wet towels, drywall, around your windows and under your carpet. It can also be found in food thrown outside in the garbage and rotting tree stumps and in the soil. Mold can be inhaled wherever it grows as well as licked by pets at your Northern, VA home.

Mycotoxins are produced by toxic mold which can damage you and your family’s health, including your pets. Some symptoms that your pet has been exposed by house mold at your Northern, VA home include—

• Inhaled house mold shows signs of difficult or rapid breathing, coughing, wheezing, sneezing, nasal discharge and in more severe cases even bleeding from the nose and/or mouth.
• Ingested house mold can include loss of appetite, stool changes, and vomiting.
• Allergic reaction to mold may include chewing, licking, scratching and biting itchy areas of the body. This can progress to skin sores and fur loss.

Some house mold can also affect your pet’s nervous system causing seizures and tremors. Whenever you sense your pet might have been exposed to toxic mold, get them to a veterinary immediately. House mold at your Northern, VA home can cause damage to your pet’s kidneys, liver, bones, brain, and spinal cord.

Most pets that get immediate attention after house mold exposure will make a full recovery. It is imperative that you prevent further expose and keep your pets safe and healthy going forward. Eliminating the sources of mold in your home and having mold remediation if necessary by a reputable company such as Envirotex will help to protect you and your family members which include pets.

Some extra precautions for you to take at your Northern, VA home regarding pets include—

• Wash your pet’s water and food bowls once a day and never use plastic.
• Keep your pet’s food in a sealed container in a dry, cold area.
• Wash your pet’s bedding regularly and if it becomes damp, immediately.
• Wash your pet’s toys frequently.

Keep an eye on your pets when they are outside doing their business and playing. Keep trash in a sealed container where pets can’t easily get into it until your trash has been collected or you take it to a dumpster. Always look out for any signs of house mold at your home in Northern, VA and call Envirotex when you notice any signs.

Indoor mold in homes in Alexandria, VA requires moisture to grow, and it can be on visible surfaces, or it can hide behind drywall, under your carpet, and in your attic. Mold in homes may be unsightly and smelling damaging the materials that it lives on and impairing your homes structural integrity. In addition, mold also is a concern for health risks for you and your family members. Mold allergies have similar symptoms to other allergies affecting the upper respiratory tract including—

• Runny nose
• Itchy nose
• Itchy throat
• Sneezing
• Watery eyes

Family members who have asthma have an increased risk of having their asthma symptoms triggered by mold in homes in Alexandria, VA. Some mold species can cause serious lung infections and scarring. Inhaling the mold spores of a mold species called aspergillus can develop into allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis which impacts breathing.

Mold can be found outdoors as well as indoors. It can enter your Alexandria, VA home through windows, vents, open doorways, and heating and air conditioning systems. Mold that is in the air outside can attach itself to clothing, shoes, bags and even pets and can then be carried indoors.

Mold in homes can grow anywhere there is a lot of moisture such as around windows, leaks in roofs or pipes or if you have experienced any flooding in your Alexandria, VA home. It can grow on ceiling tiles, wood products, cardboard, and even paper products as well as in dust, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, upholstery and fabric.

Homeowners in Alexandria, VA can control mold growth by taking these added measures—

1. Ventilate your shower, cooking, and laundry areas. Use exhaust fans when taking a shower and when cooking. Vent your clothes dryer to the outside.
2. If you experience any flooding, clean and dry areas thoroughly within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold in home from growing.
3. Fix any leaky roofs, pipes or windows promptly.

A humidifier or air conditioner can help keep your humidity levels low in your Alexandria, VA home. Keep the humidity levels as low as possible, preferably no higher than 50%.

If you have noticed mold in homes in Alexandria, VA, call the experts at Envirotex. They have been in business since 2000 and are the ones to call for any environmental issues you have in your home.