Fraud Blocker Envirotex Blog – Page 17

The Pros of Mold Testing in Leesburg, VA

Some homeowners who can visibly see mold at their homes in Leesburg, VA wonder if they should still have mold testing. There are pros of mold testing which will be explained later, but for now it is strongly recommended that you do mold testing for any homes in Leesburg where these situations apply—

  • The home in Leesburg, VA is a rental property.
  • Whenever you buy or sell a home in Leesburg, VA
  • If you home smells moldy but you can’t see any mold.
  • If any of your family members are having unusual health concerns.

Mold is usually found in Leesburg, VA homes that have foundation leaks, roofing leaks, plumbing leaks, or humid basements. The pros about mold testing are that if you do it before any remediation, the testing will give you the type of mold in the home and where the mold is coming from. If you don’t find the water problem that is causing the mold growth and fix the problem, it will only come back at a later date.

Once the remediation is complete, a mold testing will determine if the job was done completely and no mold was missed and the air in the Leesburg, VA home has a normal level of mold spores.

If you are renting the home in Leesburg, VA, your mold testing report will protect you in court if you have a disgruntled tenant. The same applies when you sell your home. You have documented proof.

If you have any questions regarding mold testing or remediation, call the experts at Envirotex. Envirotex handles all your environmental needs including—

  • Mold testing and remediation
  • Asbestos testing and remediation
  • Lead paint testing and remediation
  • Meth labs and clandestine drum lab cleanup
  • Selective demolition

Never put off taking care of any mold issues in your home or having mold testing if you suspect any mold. Mold can cause serious illnesses for family members and can damage the structure of your home in Leesburg, VA if not taken care of immediately.

Finding Hidden Mold with Mold Inspections in Manassas, VA

Most strains of mold spread naturally throughout homes in Manassas, VA. Typically, if you see mold in one area of your home, there is a good chance it is elsewhere in the house as well. No doubt, if you see mold on your walls or the carpet, the chances are that mold is also behind your walls as well as under your carpet.

Finding hidden mold is difficult, and that is why you should hire the professionals at Envirotex Environmental Services for a mold inspection at your Manassas, VA home.

Hidden mold in your house that is overlooked, in time will spread; and eventually, you will be able to see it. By then, you will have a mold infestation that could have been avoided at an earlier stage. That is why it is imperative once you find any signs of mold in your Manassas, VA home, you have a professional mold inspection to determine if there is any hidden mold.

Hidden mold is generally found in places such as—heating, air conditioning and ventilation ducts, inside walls, and underneath flooring, above ceiling tiles, under wallpaper, in attics, chimneys, and crawlspaces.

Mold inspections are well worth the investment. So many times, homeowners will see a wall where there is noticeable mold growth and will do a home remedy to get rid of it. However, have they gotten rid of it? Probably not. It is always best to have mold inspections at first sight of any mold growth in your home in Manassas, VA.

Only ridding your home of mold that you can visibly see might be wasting time and money if there is other mold growing in your home. The mold will continue to grow and spread to other areas of the house.

With specialized equipment, mold inspections performed by the team at Envirotex Environment Services will find all hidden mold within your home in Manassas, VA and then map out a plan for you to rid the home of all mold.

The team at Envirotex can identify and remedy the moisture source that has been causing the mold growth or refer you to someone who can fix your moisture problem, depending on the cause. Once the mold growth has been located throughout your house in Manassas, VA during the mold inspection, addressing the water source is the first, next step; otherwise, removing the mold without fixing the water issue, is just prolonging another disaster down the road.

Step-by-Step Process of Black Mold Removal for Manassas, VA Homes

Black mold removal at homes in Manassas, VA should always be left up to the professionals such as Envirotex Environmental Services. Black mold releases lethal mycotoxins spores which can be extremely harmful and sometimes fatal to family members.

Before any black mold removal, the water intrusion problem at your Manassas, VA home, which is causing the black mold, needs to be fixed; otherwise, the black mold will only return.

There is a step-by-step process that involves using specialized equipment and cleaning agents for black mold removal to be done correctly. These steps include—

Protective Clothing—The black mold removal team will come prepared with special coveralls, shoe coverings, gloves, and respirator masks to protect themselves from airborne mold spores. Residents of the Manassas, VA home will be asked to leave until it is safe to return.

Containment—The work area where the black mold is growing will be contained to prevent cross-contamination of mold spores to other areas of the Manassas, VA home.

HEPA Air Scrubbing—Air scrubbing machines are used to clean the air. These air scrubbing machines are known as HEPA filters and are designed to capture 99.97% of all airborne and microscopic mold spores that pass through the filters. This step of the black mold removal process helps to improve air quality where the scrubbers are placed and prevent mold spores from shifting to other rooms of your home in Manassas, VA.

Removal of Contaminated Materials—Any black mold-contaminated materials will be carefully removed so as not to stir up additional mold spores. These materials will be put in heavy plastic bags which will later be disposed of at a proper disposal facility.

Antimicrobial Cleaning—As part of the black mold removal process, contaminated areas in your Manassas, VA home are cleaned with antimicrobial cleaning agents which kill mold growth.

Vacuuming & Work Area Cleanup—The final process of black mold removal involves vacuuming with a special HEPA vacuum. Another antimicrobial wiping of surfaces where some of the mold spores may have settled in the work area will be performed again.

Call the professional team at Envirotex, and they will be happy to come to your home and give you a plan for black mold removal. Remember, black mold removal should always be left to the professionals.

When Should You Have Mold Testing in Manassas, VA?

Mold testing is the only way to locate all of the mold inside your Manassas, VA home. Mold can hide under carpet, inside walls, and in crawlspaces or it can be out in plain sight, either way, mold testing is necessary whenever—

  1. You notice a musty odor smell inside your Manassas, VA home. This is almost always a sign of some sort of mold growth.
  2. If you have recently had any flooding inside your home, it is best to have mold testing done.
  3. You see mold in one area of your house. Mold spreads quickly throughout a home so you should have mold testing done to the rest of the Manassas, VA house to see if the mold has spread to other areas.
  4. If you or members of your family are experiencing mold-related health issues such as chronic sore throats or sinus infections, coughing, headaches, or unexplained fatigue, rashes or hives. If a member of your family has asthma, it can be made worse with mold exposure and therefore, you should have mold testing done at your home in Manassas, VA.
  5. Anytime you suspect mold could be hidden within your Manassas, VA home, have mold testing done to be on the safe side.

Mold testing should be done by a professional environmental company such as Envirotex. They are trained to know where to look for mold and have specialized equipment that can tell if you have mold behind your walls or other areas that you cannot visibly see. They can also tell you what the safe levels of mold in the home are and inform you if your Manassas, VA home is unsafe.

Testing for mold is done in several different ways. A test can be done on surfaces, and another test can check for mold spores floating in the air. Sampling the air can help find hidden mold that might be in your heating and air conditioning ducts that you may not see. Air sampling shows when mold is present somewhere, and the Manassas, VA professionals at Envirotex will then know where to look.

What to Anticipate During Mold Removal in Manassas, VA

Once you find mold in your Manassas, VA home, you need to hire an environmental specialist such as Envirotex who will draw up a plan for mold removal. Most likely, you will not have access to certain areas of your home during the mold removal. This is for your protection.

Problems can arise once you have mold growing inside your Manassas, VA home. Mold spores can enter your home through open doorways, windows, and heating and air conditioning systems. Spores from the outside can also attach themselves to animals, shoes, clothing, bags, and much more. For mold to thrive and grow, it needs moisture and a food source. Food sources include wood, paper, cardboard, wallpaper, leather, fabric, upholstery, grout, drywall, insulation materials, carpet, and ceiling tiles.

What can you anticipate during mold removal at your home in Manassas, VA?

  1. Mold Containment—Plastic will be hung and sealed with tape to contain the areas of the home where mold resides. This keeps the mold contained from the rest of the house.
  2. Air Filtration Set Up—An air filtration device which is like a big fan with a HEPA filter is set up to remove any airborne mold particles. This device removes most mold spores and dust particles.
  3. Mold Removal—Materials that contain mold such as drywall and carpet typically will be completely removed from the Manassas, VA home and placed in trash bags and later disposed at the proper facilities.
  4. Cleaning—Mold contaminated surfaces are carefully scrubbed with specialized cleaning solutions. Walls, baseboards, and floors are vacuumed with specialized HEPA vacuums until all the dust is gone.

Any repairs such as replacing the carpet or hanging new drywall will need to be handled by a separate contractor.

An environmental company such as Envirotex will be able to tell you where your mold growth is coming from and advise you on what needs to be done to fix the problem so that once the mold removal is completed at your home in Manassas, VA, it won’t come back.

Call Envirotex at the first signs of mold growth inside your home in Manassas, VA and schedule mold removal as soon as possible. Mold growth can be hazardous to the health of your family and needs to be taken care of immediately.

Should You Have Mold Testing When Purchasing a Home in Fairfax, VA?

One of the most important and probably most expensive investments that you will make in your lifetime is purchasing a home in Fairfax, VA. The worst thing would be to discover after you signed the papers and moved in, you notice signs of mold growth. By all means, have mold testing before signing on the dotted line.

Mold removal or remediation can be quite pricey, and any added expense to a new homeowner can be devastating. Before purchasing any home in Fairfax, VA, you should most definitely have mold testing done because so many times you cannot detect it when you walk through to see if this is the home you want to purchase.

Mold could be lurking behind the drywall or under the carpet, and that can get quite expensive to replace. By having a professional mold testing done by an environmental company such as Envirotex, you can rest assured that there are no signs of mold or if there are and you still want to purchase the home in Fairfax, VA, you can renegotiate the price of the purchase to include the cost of removing the mold and any repairs that might need to be done.

Whenever purchasing a home in Fairfax, VA, always stipulate that your offer is contingent upon an acceptable mold testing. Having mold testing will let you know how elevated the mold spore count is and what type of mold you are dealing with. There are health issues that are involved with different types of mold.

If mold testing turns up positive, as a purchaser, either request that the seller rectifies the situation or renegotiate for a lower price for the home in Fairfax, VA so that the new purchase price will allow monies for you, the purchaser, to fix the mold problem. The mold testing company can give you an estimate on the cost of cleaning up the mold and what repairs would need to be done.
Mold testing is a MUST when buying a foreclosed property in Fairfax, VA.

In selling a home in Fairfax, VA, a clean bill of health with no mold problems will help you sell your home faster and get your asking price or close to it providing there are no other obstacles.

How Homeowners in Alexandria, VA Prevent Mold in Homes

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.

Mold in Home? Health Problems for Pets in Woodbridge, VA

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.

How Black Mold Can Be Hazardous to Dogs in Leesburg, VA

We often hear about how extremely dangerous black mold can be to humans, but exposure to mold can be just as bad for your pet dog. Just like infants and the elderly, dogs tend to be more susceptible to illnesses related to mold than their owners in Leesburg, VA. If your dog has been exposed to mold, you may notice some of the following symptoms and signs—

Symptoms and Signs of Mold Exposure to Dogs

  • Sneezing
  • Coughing
  • Loss of fur in little areas
  • Licking excessively, particularly on their paws
  • Noisy or labored breathing
  • Discharge from the nose and eyes
  • Listlessness and lethargy
  • No appetite
  • Changes in behavior

What to Do if You Notice These Signs

Your dog needs to be treated by your veterinarian in Leesburg, VA. Your veterinarian may give your dog antibiotics if the dog is showing signs of a bacterial infection in the lungs or if the skin is infected. Sometimes even steroids or other drugs may be prescribed depending on the length of time the dog was exposed to black mold or how sick your dog is.

Your veterinarian will also recommend that you do not take your dog back to your home in Leesburg, VA until the mold has been removed. The treatment will not help if your dog will continue to be exposed to the mold.

Because of the seriousness of black mold exposure to both dogs and humans, a mold inspection should be done by a company such as Envirotex to determine where the black mold is located inside your home in Leesburg, VA. Sometimes it can be hidden behind walls and under your carpeting.

An environment company such as Envirotex has specialized equipment that can locate hidden black mold. Once it is located, a mold removal must be done to rid your home of all mold.

With that said, something is causing the black mold within the Leesburg, VA home, and that too will need to be fixed. It may be a leaky pipe or lack of ventilation. Whatever the case, Envirotex can help recommend the necessary steps to deal with your black mold issue at your home in Leesburg, VA

Get Accurate Results by Using a Mold Testing Company in Northern, VA

Although there are do-it-yourself mold testing kits available on the market, it is highly recommended that homeowners in Northern, VA use a mold testing company, like Envirotex, when testing your home for mold growth. A professional mold testing company will have all the necessary equipment needed to check for toxic mold and the safety gear needed to protect themselves such as latex or vinyl gloves, respiratory masks, protective clothing, hair cover, and shoe covers.

Mold samples taken by a mold testing company in Northern, VA will be sent to a lab for analysis. These mold samples may include surface sampling, which means testing various surfaces in your Northern, VA home for mold as well as air samplers, which test the mold in the air. Typical air sampling is done by a calibrated air pump which is used to force any mold spores in the air onto prepared slides or culture dishes. Most mold testing companies will test several areas of the Northern, VA home and then outside and compare the results.

A professional mold testing company has the experience to handle the equipment carefully and conduct the tests accurately, whereas by doing it yourself, samples may be contaminated with dirt which would nullify the test results.

The mold testing company may use other equipment such as a hygrometer which measures the relative humidity or how much moisture is in the air at your Northern, VA home. Mold grows best with humidity above 60 percent so by using a hygrometer, the mold testing company can determine where they should test for mold. Some homeowners purchase hygrometers for their Northern, VA homes to measure the humidity in their homes. This way you take steps to adjust the relative humidity in your home yourself to prevent mold growth. It works similar to a thermometer, which helps to adjust the temperature in your home to make it more comfortable.

A particle counter may be used for testing also. It is a device that counts particles that are floating around in the air, including mold particles but also other particles such as dust and dirt. The information from the results will tell you about the air quality in a room.

Moisture meters are often used as well. This device will tell you how much moisture is on or in household materials such as wood. When high amounts are found, it could indicate potential mold growth.

Using a mold testing company such as Envirotex is the best way to get the accurate results you want for testing your home in Northern, VA for mold.