Envirotex Blog – Page 10

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.

Crawl Space Mold Removal in Virginia Beach, VA

Foundations for homes in Virginia Beach, VA are vital for your family’s safety and well–being. Sagging floors can result from falling floor joists underneath your house in the crawl space. This happens because of open space vents or doors, humidity, and excessive moisture causing wet wood and rotting.

Mold could be growing under your Virginia Beach, VA home in your crawl space, which eventually, if left unattended, could lead to excessive damage. Crawl space mold removal would be necessary, along with taking care of the issues causing the moisture.

Mold removal is pointless unless you fix the moisture problems; otherwise, the mold will keep returning, again and again, causing more damage to your foundation at your Virginia Beach, VA home.

Mold thrives in warmth and especially in humid climates. If you have standing water or any condensation in the crawl space, mold growth is bound to happen. Mold grows on organic materials, including drywall and wood. Mold feeds on these organic materials as it moves across these kinds of surfaces. Mold loves cellulose, and wood floor joists tend to be 40 to 50% cellulose making them highly vulnerable to mold.

Any mold you find in your crawl space in Virginia Beach, VA should be handled by a professional mold removal company such as the team at Envirotex Environmental Services. Mold removal without the proper equipment could be dangerous to your health and those around you. A mold removal company has the necessary equipment to handle mold removal safely and effectively to protect your family in Virginia Beach, VA as well as themselves.

Before the mold removal, you may encounter damage to your foundation and will need to make all the necessary repairs in your crawl space and a plan to fix the moisture issues causing mold growth and possibly wood rot. If you don’t fix the problems, mold removal will need to be done in the short future at your home in Virginia Beach, VA.

If you have mold growing in your crawl space, call the experts at Envirotex Environmental Services. Let these professionals come and look at your mold–related issues at your home in Virginia Beach, VA and make recommendations for a plan to rid your home of all mold.

Mold Removal in Bathrooms for Alexandria, VA Homes

Are you noticing brownish, greenish globs of slime in the corners of your bathtub or shower? Mold can lurk in nooks between your tile or in the deep corners of your shower or tub. Mold colonies may form if you have a small leak underneath one of your sinks.

Mold in bathrooms at your home in Alexandria, VA can occur due to the excessive moisture generated in the room on a regular basis. If you do not have the proper ventilation from either a fan or window, the moisture from showers, baths, and sinks will cause mold growth.

Mold thrives on moisture. When your bathroom becomes humid without any direct sunlight or artificial light, mold spores colonize and grow into toxic bathroom mold at which time you should hire a professional mold removal company such as Envirotex to assess the damage, and then remove the mold damage and recommend how you can prevent future mold growth in your Alexandria, VA home’s bathroom.

Although there are many mold removal products on the market, it is recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that any mold above 3 square feet should be left to a licensed and certified mold removal company. Mold exposure can cause allergic reactions and illness and should be left to professionals.

It is imperative to address the moisture problem at your home in Alexandria, VA; otherwise, the bathroom mold will most likely return again and again even once the mold removal is complete. Mold growth will start within 48 hours after excessive amounts of moisture.

If you have a busy household that takes numerous showers a day, without the proper ventilation, that moisture will linger, and eventually, you will see mold growth. But wait, there could also be a lot of mold growth behind your bathroom walls that you need to be aware of, so having a professional come into your Alexandria, VA home for mold removal will guarantee they find all the mold seen and unseen. They have special equipment to detect where you have moisture areas in your home in Alexandria, VA.

If you suspect mold, call the experts at Envirotex Environmental Services and have them come to your Alexandria, VA home, access your situation, and then remove any mold damage they find, and put your family’s health to ease.

Why Asbestos Testing in Washington, D.C. is Recommended

Once acknowledged as exceptional for fireproofing and insulating in Washington, D.C. homes, asbestos is widely known as a dangerous fibrous material. When its fibers become airborne and these fibers are inhaled, it can cause havoc on a person’s lungs possibly causing mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.

It is hard to tell where asbestos could be in your home in Washington, D.C because it has been so widely used for a variety of products, so it could almost be in any room of your home. Popcorn ceilings are famous for containing asbestos as is drywall joint compound, floor tiles, and vinyl flooring. If you suspect that you might have asbestos in your Washington, D.C. home, there are numerous at-home asbestos testing kits that you can purchase, take samples and send to a lab. However, asbestos testing by an accredited professional is recommended by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) instead of using at-home asbestos testing for homes in Washington, D.C.

As long as asbestos is not disturbed, it will not harm you. However, any home built in Washington, D.C.before 1980 stands a good chance of having asbestos-containing materials and should have an asbestos testing performed before doing any remodeling. Asbestos fibers are odorless, tasteless and something you cannot really see.

Asbestos testing by a professional will safeguard your family against further exposure to asbestos. Once tested and confirmed by an asbestos testing professional that your home does have asbestos-containing materials, removing asbestos from homes in Washington, D.C. should also be done by a professional asbestos abatement contractor who is trained to properly seal off areas to avoid spreading asbestos dust throughout the house. These professionals in Washington, D.C. have the proper equipment to clean the air during the removal process. They also wear protective gear which is required by OSHA to keep themselves safe.

Before you put your family at risk, call an asbestos testing professional to check your home in Washington, D.C. if you are uncertain that a particular material contains asbestos. It is better to be safe than sorry. You should never take it upon yourself to remove asbestos. This should be left to an environmental service company who is experienced in asbestos removal and who knows how and where to properly dispose of asbestos-containing materials.

Asbestos Removal Rids your Washington, D.C. Home of Asbestos

Asbestos is a natural silicate–based mineral that has been mined and used in thousands of products for centuries. When asbestos is added to products, the mineral increases durability and has fire–resistant properties. Asbestos fibers were used in the manufacturing of—

floor tiles
roofing shingles
pipe insulation
adhesives
ceiling tiles
insulation
siding

Suppose your home in Washington, D.C. was built prior to 1980. In that case, the chances are that you have asbestos in some of the construction materials. Making home improvements to your home could be dangerous if you don’t know if any of the materials contain asbestos. Before sawing, cutting, hammering or removing any construction materials from your home, you should first have an asbestos inspection to see exactly what materials in your home do indeed have asbestos in them. Once you know, you should have asbestos removal and rid them from your Washington, D.C. home.

Asbestos–containing materials usually are not dangerous if they are in good shape and undisturbed. If you have any products that are wearing because of age, fibers could become airborne and cause exposure. Anytime you go to renovate an area of your home in Washington, D.C., you want to be aware of any possible asbestos–containing materials. Disturbing these materials will release asbestos fibers into the air where you and your family members could inhale and cause significant health issues, some even fatal.

Having your home checked for asbestos–containing materials is a safe way of protecting your family. If any asbestos is detected, asbestos removal may be necessary and should not be avoided.

Asbestos removal should be done by professionals such as Envirotex, who have the knowledge, experience, talent, and resources. Envirotex has over twenty years of experience and offers cost–effective and quality work, keeping your safety their first priority at your home in Washington, D.C.

The professional team will completely clear any asbestos–containing materials from your Washington, D.C. home during the asbestos removal process and then properly dispose of the materials. The area will be cleaned and ready for your family to come back home to your Washington, D.C. house.

Asbestos–containing materials that might be disturbed in any way should be removed. Asbestos removal is the only sure way of getting rid of the problem altogether. Sometimes asbestos encapsulation may be recommended, which is when asbestos–containing materials are sealed off and contained. Encapsulation doesn’t last forever, so asbestos removal is preferred for homes in Washington, D.C.

How to Pass a Mold Inspection in Fairfax, VA

Anytime you go to sell your home in Fairfax, VA you will have to go through a home inspection which will include detecting for mold growth. If you have musty odors in your home, it is best to have a mold inspection done before the home inspector comes. Any signs of mold should be removed or cleaned completely before home inspections because it will be noted and a potential buyer may be turned off, and you might lose a sale for your home in Fairfax, VA.

Small amounts of mold or mildew can be wiped away with special cleaners. A musty smell might possibly mean it could be hiding behind your walls or under your flooring. Your best bet is having a mold inspection for your home in Fairfax, VA.

Reasons for a Mold Inspection

Noticeable signs of mold such as musty smell or mold symptoms.
Identify the type of mold in your Fairfax, VA home.
Find out where the mold is growing.
To test indoor air quality by measuring the amount of spores in the air.
To retest to be sure all mold has been fully removed.

If you have mold in your home and have it professionally removed and fixed any issues related to mold growth, document all repairs. Keep a copy of the mold inspection for proof that a mold inspection was performed and your home in Fairfax, VA is free of mold. This will provide the homebuyers documentation if it becomes a problem later on.

A mold inspection in Fairfax, VA will give you the assurance you need that once you find a prospective buyer and the home inspector comes to inspect your home, it will be free of any mold issues. Buyers with small children for sure do not want to take any chances on the health of their loved ones if there is even the slightest suspicion of any mold.

Even if you are not selling your home and you suspect mold, call a profession mold inspection company so they can come and inspect your home and if mold is found, advise you of a plan to have it removed from your home in Fairfax, VA.

How are Mold Inspections in Washington, D.C. Conducted?

When properly diagnosing a mold or indoor air quality problem, a mold inspection company in Washington, D.C. should always ask a homeowner about any current or previous issues including moldy odors, plumbing leaks, past or present roof leaks, humidity or condensation problems or if there is any visible mold present.

Visual Inspection for Mold

Mold inspections consist of a complete visual inspection of your home conducted to search for visible mold growth or possible water penetration and other problematic conditions. Moisture meters for detecting moisture, hydrometers for measuring indoor humidity, boroscopes for viewing inside the walls, and laser thermometers to check surface temperatures and the operation of AC units may be used during mold inspections at homes in Washington, D.C. Also, digital photographs might be taken to document the condition of your Washington, D.C. home.

Mold Sampling

Sometimes a mold condition cannot be visually seen but can be detected by taking air samples. As part of conducted mold inspections, samples are taken indoors and outdoors to determine if the mold spore count filtered through the air inside is higher in comparison to the mold spore count filtered from the air outside the home. It can tell you which types of mold are on the property.

Surface-lifted samples of mold are taken by scraping mold from building material surfaces with the aid of swabs or clear tape. Bulk samples may be taken by cutting samples from building materials that are contaminated with mold.

Analysis of Mold Samples

A professionally trained analyst analyzes these samples collected by the mold inspector at a specialized lab. A mold inspection report is provided with the results of the samples taken at your home in Washington, D.C.

Mold Report Information

A written report of the findings from the mold inspection will include color digital photos, spore levels and types of mold. This report will be sent to you with a recommendation of the procedure that needs to be conducted to remove the mold from your Washington, D.C. home. At that time, you should call an environmental service company and immediately have all mold removed from your home in Washington, D.C.

Some molds can be toxic and cause health issues for you and your family, so you want to get rid of all molds as soon as possible. Once the mold has been professionally removed from your Washington, D.C. home, you should have another mold inspection conducted to verify all mold is gone.

Mold Inspections in Fairfax, VA—What to Know and When to Get

It would be best if you always consider having a mold inspection whenever you purchase a new home. A mold inspection is totally different from your typical housing inspections. Your cost will be based on the house’s size in Fairfax, VA that you are purchasing. You might be wondering, is a mold inspection worth the cost?

Mold thrives in moist spaces, and it spreads by emitting spores which float around inside your house in the air until it lands on a surface area. These mold spores are outdoors as well as indoors. Fortunately, if you keep the interior of your home in Fairfax, VA dry, you should be able to prevent mold growth. How to do this?

Repair any leaks with your HVAC system, plumbing, or roof.
Ensure your kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room are well vented to take the moisture out of your Fairfax, VA home.
Clean up any spills; it only takes 48 hours or less for mold to set in.

When you see mold, you are aware of the problem and can take care of it. However, what about mold that could be growing in spaces that you can’t see, such as between your walls, inside your ducts, or under your carpet?

There are several reasons why you should get a mold inspection, including—

Water Damage—If you have experienced any water damage to your home in Fairfax, VA, such as a pipe broke and leaked into the ceiling or down your walls, and all you could see to clean was the water on the floor, you should get a mold inspection. Any place that has gotten wet and not cleaned up and dried within 48 hours is prone to be contaminated by mold and should be inspected.
Buying a New Home—You will never know if the previous owners dealt with any water damage leading to mold growth, and quite possible, when builders leave materials outside in the damp and then use them in the construction inside, it’s likely mold could be growing behind the walls of a newly constructed home. The only way to be sure is to have the Fairfax, VA home go through a mold inspection process.
Unoccupied House—Whenever a house has been vacant for long periods, humidity may have built up, causing mold growth. This is especially problematic for warmer areas where there is higher humidity.
Previous Mold Remediation—Once you’ve had mold remediation at your home in Fairfax, VA, you might want to have regular mold inspections to be sure you got rid of all the mold.
Visual Mold—Anytime you notice mold growth, a mold inspection will ensure that you find it all.

If you have any questions or concerns about mold, call the experts at Envirotex Environmental Services, and they will be glad to help.

Why Mold Removal is Essential for Homes in Manassas, VA

Mold grows easily in places where it is dark and damp. Mold growth in your Manassas, VA home can put your family member’s health at risk. Because mold is a fungus, it will create spores that reproduce, which subjects family members to inhaling high concentrations of these spores. This can be extremely harmful, which is why mold removal is essentials for homes in Manassas, VA that have mold growth.

Since sunlight does not directly hit the interior of your Manassas, VA home, mold growth can be widespread, particularly in spaces such as your bathroom, wardrobes, cupboards, and such. Wherever there is moisture, mold can grow. Oftentimes ceilings, carpets, floors, and clothes lying around can be the victims of mold growth. Mold removal is the only way to rid your home of this harmful fungus.

Not all types of mold are dangerous for your family members in Manassas, VA. Some molds never affect people; however, there are many different mold types, and you can’t tell just by looking at the mold if it is harmless or dangerous. The only way to tell which kind of mold you have is with mold testing, where samples will be taken and sent to a lab for analysis. Mold removal at your home in Manassas, VA from a professional such as Envirotex is the safest method of ridding your home. It is best to be safe than sorry and protect your family from the dangers of mold.

At the first signs of any mold growth inside your Manassas, VA home, you should contact a professional mold removal company. These companies use special gear, including gloves, respirators, goggles, and protective clothing. This is for your safety as well as theirs during the mold removal process.

During the mold removal process, you and your family members will be asked to relocate until the job is complete. The professionals will follow a similar process––

Containment of the damaged areas of your home
HEPA vacuuming of all infected surfaces
Anti–microbial cleaning of hard surfaces
Removal of infected materials when necessary
Negative air machine scrubber operation
Proper disposal of contaminated materials

If you have any questions or concerns about mold removal, call the experts at Envirotex, and they will be glad to help you.

Mold Remediation and your Pet’s Health in Manassas, VA

Most homeowners in Manassas, VA are aware of the dangers that mold growth can cause for our family members. Did you know mold can affect other family members, such as your pets? Mold spores can be just as harmful to your pets as your other family members. With that said, if you are noticing mold growth at your Manassas, VA home, you might need mold remediation from the experts at Envirotex Environmental Services.

When pets are exposed for long periods to mold, it can be devastating to your fur babies. It is extremely important at the first signs of mold inside your home in Manassas, VA that you take the necessary steps to prevent it from spreading, you are aware of the signs to look for in your pet, and you call in mold remediation experts to rid your home of harmful mold.

Airborne mold spores find many different ways of entering your home, such as windows, doorways, HVAC systems, and air vents. They can become attached to your shoes, clothing, and even your fur babies and bring into your home in Manassas, VA.

Common areas that are more susceptible to mold are your kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, and basement because these areas are prone to excessive moisture where mold growth thrives. These specific areas may require more mold remediation because of their damp and humid environment.

Some of the most common symptoms of mold infection of your pets include—

Wheezing
Coughing
Sneezing
Lethargy
Difficulty in breathing
Nasal discharge
Bleeding from the nose or mouth

Pets can also have an allergic reaction to mold and show signs of non–stop scratching, licking, and excessive biting. Normally pets can recover fully from mold exposure. They need to be seen by their veterinarian immediately if they have any of these signs. Furthermore, mold remediation is essential to remove the mold sources from inside your Manassas, VA home so it will not recur.

The importance of mold remediation to stop the environmental damage mold can do to your home in Manassas, VA cannot be stressed enough. To protect your family members, including your fur babies, call the experts at Envirotex Environmental Services for all your mold–related issues.