Envirotex Blog – Page 15

Essential Reasons for Mold Removal at Homes in Northern, VA

Mold could be growing in unseen areas of your home in Northern, VA; oftentimes, behind walls, underneath flooring, behind tiles, and other hidden areas within your home. Mold can do destructive damage to your home and poses a significant risk to the health of you and your family members.

It is essential that homeowners are aware of all the dangers that mold can present to their homes in Northern, VA. So many times homeowners are not aware of mold growth until it has spread to a large area of their home and has caused tremendous damage. Knowing how to recognize the first signs of mold and take precautionary measures to prevent substantial damage is essential to avoid costly mold removal for your home in Northern, VA.

Mold removal should be done by professionals such as the group at Envirotex Environmental Services. Specialists have the experience to discover all the mold at your Northern, VA home, whether it is visible or hidden, and mold removal will be done efficiently and speedily. They have specialized equipment for mold removal and can find and eliminate the source that is causing the mold, such as leaks or moist materials.

An assessment of your Northern, VA home will be done first during the mold removal process to determine the location of the mold. The affected areas will be closed off from the rest of the home to avoid mold spores spreading throughout the rest of the house.

Walls, carpet, furniture, and personal items will be cleaned and disinfected to rid all mold. Some materials may need to be disposed of properly and replaced if the damage is excessive. Sometimes drywall and even the studs within your home in Northern, VA may need to be replaced because of severe structural damage. Replacing mold affected materials and applying special products will restrain any future mold growth.

Preventing any future outbreaks by removing all mold and fixing the source of your moisture that is causing the mold is the key to eliminating future mold growth.

Call the team at Envirotex Environmental Services for any mold removal assistance for your Northern, VA home. Keep your family safe by turning to the experts.

What Should Alexandria, VA Homeowners Expect During Mold Inspections?

If you suspect you have mold growth in your Alexandria, VA home, the best action you should take is to call the experts at Envirotex for a mold inspection. As a homeowner, you might be wondering what you can expect during a mold inspection, and this article will explain just that.

First of all, you should understand that the goal of a mold inspection should determine why you have a mold problem to begin with at your Alexandria, VA home. Without knowing the root cause, the source of moisture in your home will continute to grow. Once the cause has been identified, which might be a leaky pipe, leaky roof, or high humidity, the moisture problem must be fixed. Otherwise, once the mold has been removed, it will only come back if the moisture problem isn’t solved.

Next, the mold inspection at your Alexandria, VA home will determine just how bad your mold problem is. To what extent the problem is will decide the plan of action to remove the mold growth. All situations are different, so the mold remediation plan will be specific to your particular scenario.

The mold inspection will start out as a visual examination of your Alexandria, VA home to locate any visible mold. The outside of the house will be inspected for any seepage issues. The inspector will be looking to see if your drainage system is working properly to drain flowing water away from your home. The facia, eaves, and drain spouts are an essential part of mold inspections to make sure these aren’t your sources of water intrusion into the property.

Next, the mold inspector will be looking for any clues of moisture under your sinks, behind appliances, behind the baseboards, and any window condensation you might have present inside of the Alexandria, VA home . Thermal imaging testing may be used which can determine moisture behind the walls and under the flooring, because not all mold is visible to the naked eye.

Humidity levels and the temperature of each room will be taken as well as this could be a clue that there is mold in a particular place of your Alexandria, VA home.

Samplings will be taken to determine the type of mold that is present. These samples will be sent off to a third-party lab for analysis.

Once all the proper testing is finished and the results have been analyzed, a plan will be mapped out for you to determine the best route to rid your Alexandria, VA home of all mold.

The Proper Steps to Mold Removal for Homes in Manassas, VA

Whenever you are faced with mold growth in your Manassas, VA home, you need to take care of the problem immediately. Mold removal is essential for the structure of your home as well as for the health of your family.

Mold removal in Manassas, VA is an entirely different scenario for each home even though the removal process stays the same. Below are typical mold removal steps.

Assessment—A careful inspection of your Manassas, VA home for visible signs of mold will take place as well as various technologies used to detect unseen mold behind drywall and under flooring and the hidden water source that is causing your mold growth.
Containment—Various containment procedures will be used to avoid the spread of mold throughout the rest of your Manassas, VA home. Negative air chambers may be used to isolate the contaminated area with physical barriers and negative air pressure to keep mold spores from spreading throughout the cleanup process. Your fans and heating and cooling system will also need to be turned off during the mold removal process to prevent the mold spores from spreading throughout your Manassas, VA home.
Air Filtration—Specialized equipment such as powerful “air scrubbers” and HEPA vacuums are used to prevent mold from spreading during the mold removal process.
Removing Mold Damaged Materials—Special treatments are used to eliminate mold colonies and to help new colonies from forming. Porous materials, including drywall and carpeting that have become mold infested, may need to be disposed of at proper disposal sites.
Cleaning—Furniture, curtains, clothing and other items affected by mold will be cleaned and disinfected with special cleaners during the mold removal process at your home in Manassas, VA.
Restoration—Depending on the amount of damage, drywall and carpeting and other items may need to be replaced.

Whatever issues you are having with mold, you can call the experts at Envirotex for all your environmental needs. We will be glad to come and take a look and explain to you in full detail what is involved during the mold removal process for your specific home in Manassas, VA.

Interesting Facts About Mold in Homes in Alexandria, 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.

Prevention and a Mold Remediation Plan for your Home in Northern, VA

Mold needs moisture and food to grow inside your Northern, VA home. Moisture is a key factor that influences mold growth. By controlling the indoor humidity at your home in Northern, VA, you can limit mold growth from attacking your home and destroying its structure. Once mold growth takes over your home in Northern, VA, mold remediation will be necessary.

The goal of mold remediation is to find the source of the moisture issue, fix it, and then to clean up the mold damage. The highest priority in any mold remediation is to protect the health and safety of the family members living in the house in Northern, VA, where mold is a concern. Part of the mold remediation plan should include—

A plan to fix the moisture problem so that the mold does not come back?
Workers should wear protective clothing at all times during mold remediation at your Northern, VA home.
The mold growth areas of the home should be contained.
A wet vacuum designed to collect water should be used to remove water that has accumulated on floors, carpets, and other hard surfaces. Carpets need to be pulled up and allowed to dry before reinstalling. The pad underneath must also be dried. Dehumidifiers and fans should be used to accelerate the drying time
Hard surfaces should be wiped or scrubbed with special detergents and dried to prevent further mold growth. Porous materials most likely will have to be discarded.
A HEPA vacuum should be used in the final cleanup during any mold remediation after the areas have been allowed to thoroughly dry and contaminated materials have been removed.
Contaminated materials should be appropriately bagged to prevent the mold spores from spreading through the rest of the Northern, VA home and then taken to a waste site to be disposed of.

Mold remediation should only be performed by qualified, licensed environmental companies such as Envirotex. If you have any questions about mold growth in your Northern, VA home, call the experts at Envirotex and they will be glad to help you.

What to Know About Mold Testing for Homes in Burke, VA

Do you see discoloration on your walls, and does it is seems to be spreading? Do you smell a musty smell that never seems to go away?

Mold looks kind of like cotton and may be gray, black, green, or white in color. Black mold is particularly hazardous, so you should always be on the lookout. But not all black molds are dangerous. That’s where mold testing will answer any concerns you might have about mold being in your Burke, VA home.

Although homeowners in Burke, VA may choose to use a home mold testing kit, what you need to know is not revealed in any home mold testing kit. The only sure way of telling just how bad the mold may be in your home is to have mold testing performed by a professional such as the team at Envirotex Environmental Services, serving the Burke, VA area.

What you Need to Know

What type of mold is present in your Burke, VA home?
Where is the mold located?
Where is the source of moisture in your home in Burke, VA that is causing the mold?
What needs to be done to rid your home of mold?

A mold testing professional will test for mold using the latest technology available, including infra-red equipment, borescopes, which view inaccessible areas, moisture meters, and hygrometers, which measures the moisture content in the Burke, VA home.

To be assured of an accurate and unbiased assessment, never hire the same company to do both mold testing and mold removal for your home in Burke, VA. A mold inspection should—

Find out where and why excess moisture is coming into your home.
Conduct air sampling, bulk sampling and air monitoring and compare the results with normal mold levels.
Send samples to an independent lab.
Determine whether the family’s health is at risk.
If mold remediation is necessary, once completed, a final mold testing should be done to guarantee your mold is gone.

For all your environmental issues, consult the team at Envirotex.

The Best Mold Treatment is Prevention for Homes in McLean, VA

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.

Dangers of Black Mold Removal in Alexandria, VA

Black mold, scientifically known as Stachybotrys chartarum and Stachybotrys chorohalonata, affects homes of all sizes in the Alexandria, VA area. The toxic spores from black mold can contribute to various health issues and significantly reduce the air quality inside your Alexandria, VA home.

What should you do when you find black mold growth inside your home? Call the professionals. Black mold removal is dangerous to try to do on your own. You can make the problem worse and put your family at great risk when trying the remove the mold yourself.

Even though there are serious health effects from black mold exposure, enough to avoid DIY black mold removal, there are other reasons to call in the experts such as Envirotex Environmental Services. Mold specialists such as the ones at Envirotex are trained in advanced methods of black mold removal to eliminate all mold in your Alexandria, VA home, as well as identify any hidden problems that you may not be aware of.

Dangers of Handling Black Mold Removal on Your Own Can Lead to—

Exacerbate the situation—If not properly contained, when black mold releases spores, it can spread to other areas of the home, making the situation that much worse.
Hidden Mold—Black mold can be hiding in places you are unaware of, such as air vents, which require proper treatment for complete black mold removal at your Alexandria, VA home.
Improper Equipment—Black mold removal professionals will use an array of high-tech equipment to remove black mold from your home in Alexandria, VA, such as air filters, containment systems, and personal protection gear.

Anytime you are faced with black mold at your home in Alexandria, VA, never attempt black mold removal on your own; always call in the professionals.

Leave it to the experts at Envirotex Environmental Services who have years of experience in dealing with black mold removal and other environmental issues. Trying to remove black mold on your own can do more damage and put you and your family in great danger. Don’t take that chance.

What to Know About Mold Remediation for Homes in Manassas, VA

Now that you’ve seen mold, what do you do? Or maybe you don’t see any mold, but your house has an unpleasant musty smell. How do you tell if you have mold if you can’t see it? Call in the professionals at Envirotex Environment Services, and they can help you.

A mold inspector is sent to your home for a visual inspection and then a more advanced technology to find mold that could be lurking behind your walls and floor may be used. If our mold inspector recommends mold remediation for your home in Manassas, VA, Envirotex can help you there too. They will map out a plan with a written estimate for mold remediation, if needed, explaining what all needs be done to rid your home from any and all mold problems within your Manassas, VA home.

Mold remediation is a careful, step-by-step process that involves using specialized equipment and cleaning agents. Although there are many details involved in mold remediation for homes in Manassas, VA, the overall process can be broken down along these lines—

Containment. The work area for homes in Manassas, VA will be contained to prevent cross-contamination of mold spores to other areas of the building which have not been affected.
HEPA Air Scrubbing. A commercial-grade and industrial-strength air scrubbing machine will be used to clean the air.
Material Removal. Impacted building materials and any personal items are carefully removed from the home in sealed containers and later taken to a proper waste site.
HEPA Vacuum. The contaminated area is vacuumed with HEPA filters, designed to capture 099.97% of all microscopic and airborne mold spores passing through the air.
Antimicrobial Cleaning. The contaminated areas are cleaned with cleaning agents used to kill mold growth.

The mold remediation will also consist of recommending the proper steps in ridding the source causing your mold. Rather it be too much condensation, high humidity, or water leaks somewhere in the Manassas, VA home; if this problem source is not resolved, the mold will only return.

Call the team at Envirotex for mold remediation or any other environmental issues you have with your home in Manassas, VA.

Health Issues Caused by Asbestos in Arlington, VA Homes

Asbestos-containing materials are still oftentimes found in older homes in Arlington, VA. Asbestos fibers, when released into the air, are then inhaled or ingested. These fibers become trapped in the mucous membranes of the nose and throat, which can be removed; however, some pass deep into the lungs and if swallowed, into the digestive tract. Once these asbestos fibers are trapped within the body, these fibers cause health issues.

When asbestos is friable, it is easily crumbled and releases fibers into the air. Asbestos insulation that is sprayed on is highly friable, whereas asbestos floor tile isn’t. Ceiling tiles, floor tiles, shingles, siding shingles do not release fibers into Arlington, VA homes unless you disturb them or damage them in some way. For instance, if you drill into floor tiles or they become broken, this can release asbestos fibers into your home in Arlington, VA. But if you leave them alone, you should be safe.

Aging and physical impact by drilling, cutting, sanding, sawing, grinding, or buffing can break down these asbestos-containing materials at your Arlington, VA home, causing the fibers to release into the air more prevalent.

What Health Effects are Caused by Asbestos Exposure?

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that occurs in the thin membrane lining of the lungs, abdomen, chest, and sometimes even the heart. Those who are at risk are miners and textile workers in Arlington, VA that work with asbestos.
Lung Cancer is the most significant related deaths amid asbestos exposure. People who work in mining, manufacturing, and milling in Arlington, VA who use asbestos in their products, are at higher risk. Symptoms include persistent chest pains, hoarseness, anemia, and shortness of breath.
Asbestosis is a chronic, non-cancerous respiratory disease. Lung tissues are aggravated when asbestos fibers are inhaled, which causes scarring. Symptoms include shortness of breath and a dry crackling sound in the lungs when inhaling. Advanced stages can cause cardiac failure.

If you suspect any asbestos-containing materials at your Arlington, VA home, call in the experts at Envirotex Environment Service to handle the situation. Never attempt to handle asbestos on your own.