Envirotex Blog – Page 11

Mold in Home in Alexandria, VA: How to Tell

Mold is part of the fungi family which releases tiny spores that float through the air. The spores from mold in homes in Alexandria, VA can enter your home in several different ways, such as—

Windows
Doors
HVAC systems
Clothes and shoes
Pets

The conditions have to be just right for mold spores in homes in Alexandria, VA to grow. These spores may latch on to different materials such as carpet, paper, wood, and fabrics. Mold in homes in Alexandria, VA prefers areas with lots of moisture and very little light, including places such as sinks, showers, bathtubs, close to leaky pipes, around windows, and in basements, crawl spaces, and attics.

There is a variety of mold in homes in Alexandria, VA. The only way to know which type is growing inside your home is with mold testing, where samples will be taken and sent away to a lab for analysis. Regardless of the type of mold, you should hire a professional mold removal company such as Envirotex Environment Services to rid your home of all mold and the source causing the mold in home.

How to Tell if There is Mold in Homes in Alexandria, VA

Mold will start out in little spots, but it can spread very quickly. It can be black, white, spotted, and almost any other color. It may appear to be cottony, velvety, or powdery. So if you notice any spots and you aren’t sure what it is, here are some ways to tell if the spot may be a sign of mold—

The spot has a musty, earthly smell to it.
The spot is located near a source of moisture where there is little light.
If you drop bleach on the spot, it will lighten its color in a few minutes.
If the spot goes unchecked and it still continues to grow. Stains and dirt will not grow.

Mold in homes in Alexandria can put your family at risk. Mold spores that could be floating inside your home are easily inhaled, causing a whole lot of health issues. Call the experts at Envirotex for any mold problems you might have at your home in Alexandria, VA.

Mold Treatment for DIY Homeowners in Virginia Beach, VA

Mold treatment by a professional Virginia Beach, VA environmental company is recommended because trying to remove mold on your own could make matters worse and cause potential health risks. If you do decide to do it on your own, some common mistakes to avoid include—

Bleach Should Not Be Used as Part of Mold Treatment

Using bleach for mold treatment is a widely believed myth. Although bleach may change the color of the mold to a clearer or whiter shade, unfortunately, it will only create an environment for the mold to continue to grow at your home in Virginia Beach, VA. Not to mention, you could ingest bleach fumes and airborne mold spores, neither of which is healthy. Normally after three or four months of using bleach, the mold will return.

Products to Use for Mold Treatment at Homes in Virginia Beach, VA

Borax is a white powder you can purchase at most Virginia Beach, VA grocery stores in their laundry detergent section and should be used in home mold treatments. Mix a cup of borax to one gallon of hot water and apply the solution to the moldy area. This mold treatment should not be used on porous materials such as drywall because it will absorb water easily and exacerbate your mold issue by keeping the drywall moist.

Once you apply the borax solution, scrub the moldy area with a rag or wire brush until all mold is removed. Wipe the site and allow it to dry thoroughly. If need be, you can repeat the application of the borax solution. Mold treatment with borax prevents any new mold growth, so there is no need to rinse it away fully. Afterward, run a dehumidifier or a fan to help dry out the area within 24–48 hours.

Avoid Mold–Resistant Paint

Mold–killing paint may look like it solves the problem, but it does not eradicate the mold. It can still grow beneath the paint, and eventually, it will come back. Painting can make mold removal more difficult, and the health problems that mold can cause will continue because the mold is still there in your Virginia Beach, VA house.

Once you get rid of the mold from your home in Virginia Beach, VA, take care of any moisture that is causing the mold growth, and the area is thoroughly dry, you can apply a mold–resistant paint.

Do–it–yourself mold treatment should only be for smaller mold growth areas at homes in Virginia Beach, VA. On a safer note, it is best to leave any mold treatment to the professionals such as at Envirotex Environmental Services. Using a professional service will guarantee a cleaner environment for your family.

Mold Company Services for Homes in Northern VA

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.

How to Prevent House Mold in Northern VA

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.

Protect Your Family by Hiring an Asbestos Contractor in Washington, D.C.

When you hire an asbestos contractor for your home in Washington, D.C., you are protecting your family against harmful materials that could contain asbestos. Removing asbestos–containing materials from your home should never be attempted by Washington, D.C. homeowners.

Because asbestos was used in so many common building materials years ago, if you have an older home in Washington, D.C., you and your family members could be at risk. Some of these building materials that you should be aware of include—

Roofing shingles and siding
Vermiculite installation, ceiling tiles, and coatings
Popcorn ceilings
Plaster, putties, and caulking
Drywall and cement sheets
Vinyl floor tiles
Pipe and duct coverings
Plumbing fixtures
Electrical switchboard panels
Thermal boiler and fireplace insulations

If you suspect any asbestos in your Washington, D.C. home, hire an asbestos contractor. They can inspect the premises of your home and send samples off for analysis. Once the analysis is complete, and you have been told you have asbestos–containing materials at your home in Washington, D.C., a plan to either remove or encapsulate the asbestos materials will be mapped out for you by the asbestos contractor.

Why is hiring an asbestos contractor critical? Inhaling or ingesting asbestos can develop into serious health issues, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and asbestos lung cancer. Professionals who handle asbestos wear special protective clothing and respirators to protect themselves against harmful fibers that may release into the air.

Sometimes asbestos can be encapsulated by covering it up with a protective barrier to reduce risks of exposure. Most often, your asbestos contractor will need to remove the asbestos–containing materials from the home in Washington, D.C.—

HVAC and electrical systems are disabled
Decontamination enclosure systems are put in place
Negative air pressure units are installed
Openings are sealed with plastic sheeting and duct tape
Wet wipe or the use of a HEPA vacuum is used to keep asbestos from becoming airborne
Removeable materials are placed in seal–tight containers and transported to a safe disposal site for asbestos

For any questions about asbestos at your home in Washington, D.C., call the experts at Envirotex, an asbestos contractor serving your area.

Asbestos Removal from Historical Homes in Winchester, VA

Winchester, VA is known for its many historical homes. Homes built prior to the 1980s most likely contain some kind of asbestos materials. Years ago, many building materials used in the construction of homes and other buildings contained asbestos. For this reason, asbestos removal may be necessary if you plan on renovating your home in Winchester, VA.

Common materials that may be present in your Winchester, VA home today and may contain asbestos include—

Plasters
Sheetrock
Roof shingles/felt
Siding
Textured popcorn ceilings
Vinyl floor tiles
Cement sheeting
Caulking
Concrete
Millboard
Ceiling Tiles

If you suspect any of these materials are present in your older historical home in Winchester, VA, call the experts at Envirotex Environmental Services to come and identify exactly which materials in your home are asbestos–containing materials. Asbestos removal or any handling of asbestos in any way should only be done by professionals to prevent asbestos exposure.

Depending on the condition of the asbestos–containing materials, asbestos removal is not always required. Asbestos–containing materials that are in good condition and completely intact are generally safe but should be watched carefully; however, asbestos removal should be done if they become disturbed in any way.

Asbestos removal at your home in Winchester, VA may look something like this—

A professional asbestos removal team will come into your home and turn off your HVAC units and seal vents, which will prevent asbestos fibers from circulating throughout your Winchester, VA home. They will seal off the work area with plastic sheeting. Wet cleanup tools and HEPA filter vacuums are used to clean the workspace. Any asbestos materials removed from your Winchester, VA home will be placed in leak–tight containers, clearly marked, and later taken to the proper landfill for disposal.

Homeowners in Winchester, VA should never attempt asbestos removal on their own. Illegally dumping asbestos materials could result in fines and penalties and even jail time.

For all your environmental concerns, call the team at Envirotex. They will be glad to come to your Winchester, VA home and assess your situation and advise you of the next step to take to remove any asbestos from your home that could be causing potential harm to your family.

Asbestos Contractor Should Handle Asbestos at Homes in Washington, D.C.

Mishandling asbestos at homes in Washington, D.C. may lead to exposure to asbestos; therefore, only an asbestos contractor should handle, remove, and dispose of any asbestos–related materials. An asbestos contractor can handle asbestos safely by following proper regulations. Individuals who are exposed to asbestos may develop mesothelioma and other asbestos–related diseases.

When asbestos is mishandled by Washington, D.C. family members at home, the fibers may become airborne, causing the individual to be exposed to asbestos. Asbestos fibers can be inhaled and become lodged in the linings of the lungs, abdomen, or heart causing diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis or lung cancer.

Homes in Washington, D.C. built prior to the 1980s could still contain asbestos–related materials. Because asbestos fibers are not visible to the human eye, it can be difficult to identify. Homeowners should treat any potential asbestos–containing materials as hazardous. Until an asbestos contractor can verify these materials, these areas of the home in Washington, D.C. should be avoided.

An asbestos contractor will perform a visual inspection and remove pieces of any questionable materials and send off to a lab for analyses. If the samples from your home in Washington, D.C. contain asbestos, then your asbestos contractor will recommend the removal or encapsulation of the asbestos materials.

The condition of the asbestos materials depends on whether it will be removed or encapsulated. During an encapsulation at your home in Washington, D.C., an asbestos contractor will coat the asbestos materials with a sealant which will prevent fibers from becoming airborne.

If the asbestos needs to be completely removed, your HVAC units and seal vents will be turned off to prevent asbestos fibers from circulating into the air, the work area will be sealed off with plastic sheeting, wet cleanup tools and HEPA filter vacuums will be used to clean up the workspace and materials will be removed from the home in Washington, D.C. in sealed containers clearly marked and discarded at proper landfill sites.

During the removal or encapsulation, the crew will wear protective clothing and respirators for their protection against any asbestos fibers that are released into the air.

If you have questions about materials in your home in Washington, D.C. which may contain asbestos, give the professionals at Envirotex a call and set up an appointment for them to come to your home and assess the situation.

What Front Royal, VA Homeowners Can Expect During Asbestos Remediation

Asbestos–containing materials commonly found in older homes in Front Royal, VA include flooring, insulation, fireproofing, roofing, wall and ceiling materials, and adhesives. Asbestos remediation is the process of removing or mitigating the effects caused by asbestos.

The first step is to have an inspection if you suspect asbestos materials in your Front Royal, VA home. Not all materials may be removed during asbestos remediation if the materials are intact and undisturbed and are kept in place with a low risk of exposure.

Any handling of asbestos should be left to a professional environmental service company such as the team at Envirotex. They can inspect your Front Royal, VA home and then map out a plan for asbestos remediation if necessary.

What should you expect during asbestos remediation? The team at Envirotex will lay out a direct plan to rid your home of any harmful asbestos materials. The hazardous areas will be clearly marked. All members of your family will need to vacate the Front Royal, VA home until the asbestos remediation has been completed and a clearance test is performed.

Air ducts should be sealed off, the HVAC system must be disabled, and any areas not being treated should be sealed off with thick plastic sheets, along with air pressure differential and filtration.

Special hand tools and wet methods will be used to remove or repair the asbestos–containing materials from homes in Front Royal, VA. Protective clothing and respirators will be worn by the crew doing the remediation to protect themselves. Materials will be placed into disposal bags, sealed and removed properly from the premises, and later transported to a proper waste facility.

Special vacuums with HEPA filtration are used for asbestos removal work to minimize the dispersing of asbestos fibers during the cleaning of surfaces and other work involved in the process.

After the asbestos–related materials are removed and all surfaces cleaned with wet methods and HEPA vacuuming, an independent inspection should be conducted to confirm the asbestos remediation was successful.

You should receive a report containing permits, site logs, and copies of all licensing by the environmental company performing the asbestos remediation, as well as copies of the inspection results and laboratory analysis. These records must be kept for your own protection that you complied with environmental regulations.

If you have any questions about asbestos at your home in Front Royal, VA, call the experts at Envirotex Environmental Services.

Guidelines for Mold Remediation in Manassas, VA

Mold exposure can cause a variety of health issues. The following are guidelines for the remediation of mold and moisture problems for homes in Manassas, VA. Mold can be found wherever moisture is growing on paper, wood, carpet, insulation, and food. If excessive moisture is present, mold growth will most likely occur, particularly if the problem hasn’t been found or addressed.

Mold can be controlled by controlling the moisture inside your home in Manassas, VA. Uncontrolled humidity in homes without adequate ventilation can lead to moisture buildup causing mold growth. Roof leaks, gutters, and landscaping where direct water goes into or under your home can cause mold growth.

How to Prevent Mold Growth

Fix any leaky plumbing as soon as possible
Increase ventilation, keep heating, ventilation, and HVAC drip pans clean and flowing properly, vent dryers to the outside of homes in Manassas, VA
Maintain low indoor humidity
Clean and dry any wet or damp areas within 48 hours
Properly drain and slope ground away from the foundation

Plan for Mold Remediation

Professional mold remediation is required from a licensed environmental service company such as Envirotex.
They will assess the size of your mold or moisture problem and the damaged materials at your Manassas, VA home and then plan mold remediation.
Wet Vacuums will be used to collect accumulated water.
Nonporous (hard) surfaces will be wiped or scrubbed with special detergents and dried quickly to discourage further mold growth.
Porous materials that are wet and have mold growing on them may require to be discarded.
For final cleanup during mold remediation, a HEPA (High–Efficiency Particulate Air) vacuum is used to clean up areas after materials are dried and contaminated materials are removed from the Manassas, VA home. Any dust that has settled outside the mold remediation area will also be vacuumed.
Damaged materials are sealed in plastic bags to avoid dispersing mold spores throughout the Manassas, VA home and taken to appropriate landfills to be discarded.

If you are experiencing any mold growth at your home in Manassas, VA, call the experts at Envirotex for mold remediation so your home will be safe for your family.

What Washington, D.C. Homeowners Can Expect from an Asbestos Inspector

Exposure to asbestos at homes in Washington, D.C. poses health complications for family members. Depending on the age of your Washington, D.C. home, homeowners need to be aware of the possibility of asbestos–related materials still in the home. Asbestos was widely used in building materials prior to the 1980s. Having an asbestos inspector come to your Washington, D.C. home and do an on–site evaluation will inform you of any asbestos in the house, and they can map out a plan for asbestos removal so that your family will no longer be in danger.

The asbestos inspector will do a thorough visual inspection. Sample extraction and laboratory analysis will be done as well. Depending on the results, if asbestos is detected, recommendations will be made to rid your home of this unwanted material.

The asbestos inspector may take these samples from many different materials within your home. These professionals are familiar with the types of materials that may contain asbestos, including—

Floor tiles
Adhesives
Ceiling tiles
Plaster
Gypsum board
Joint compound
Grout
Caulking
Thermal insulation
Siding
Roofing
And many other products

Sometimes the asbestos inspector may recommend removing the asbestos–related materials from the Washington, D.C. home. Other times, if the materials are in good condition, they will be left alone. However, these materials will require the homeowner to keep an eye out for future damage. As long as these materials have not been damaged in any way, they should not be a threat to the family.

Homeowners in Washington, D.C. need to be aware that anytime you choose to renovate a certain area of their home where asbestos materials are located, even if in good condition, it will require professional asbestos removal. Your asbestos inspector will give you a report of the location of any asbestos–related materials that are not necessarily a threat unless you cut into, drill, nail, or damage in any other way. Once this happens, it sends asbestos fibers into the air where family members can breathe into their lungs, which can be detrimental to their health.

Call the team at Envirotex Environmental Services for one of their asbestos inspectors to come to your home in Washington, D.C., and help determine if those materials in question contain asbestos and how to make your home a safer place for you and your family.