Reducing the Need for Mold Removal in Alexandria, VA Homes
With fall approaching, you might want to look for signs of mold at your Alexandria, VA home during your fall cleaning. Often times in the humid summers that Alexandria, VA is known for, homeowners fail to pick up on noticeable signs of mold growth. Things get tossed inside a closet up against a wall that could be damp, or the wall itself may contain a sufficient amount of moisture to facilitate mold growth.
During the winter months, condensation can be a problem. Windows will collect water thanks to the interaction of the cold air on the outside of your windows and the warmer air on the inside, and this too can lead to mold growth. Anytime you find signs of mold growth call the experts at Envirotex to come and assess your situation and give you a plan for mold removal and to prevent its regrowth in the future.
While there are a number of household projects that do it yourselfers are capable of handling, mold typically isn’t one of them. It’s dangerous and requires specialized equipment and years of experience to handle properly and completely remove.
If it isn’t dealt with decisively, so that all traces of the mold colony are eradicated, mold can play havoc with the structure of your home. It can completely ruin drywall causing you to have to completely tear out sections and replace. Carpet can be infected with mold causing you to have to replace the rug along with the flooring underneath, depending on the severity of mold growth and the recommendations by your mold removal professionals.
Black Mold – Your Worst Nightmare
While there are many different species of mold, Black Mold is far and away the worst. Also known as Stachybotyrs, it is extremely toxic and deadly. Among other things, it can cause:
- Headaches
- Respiratory infections
- Asthma
- Memory loss
- Dizziness
- Urinary tract infections
- And even death
Even if you’re tempted to try your hand at removing other types of mold without the aid of a professional, if you’re dealing with Black Mold, you should definitely put in a call for help. Mishandling it can lead to tragic consequences.
Not all types of mold are dangerous, and some are even used in medicines; you just need to know which type you are dealing with. It should be noted, however, that even if you’re not dealing with a species as dangerous as Black Mold, many other species can also cause serious health problems, including:
- Asthma
- Skin rash
- Itching
- Runny nose
- Irritated eyes
- Fits of coughing or wheezing
- And nasal congestion
If you or a member of your family has an existing respiratory condition, the presence of mold in your home can make those conditions worse and increase your risk of infection.
Whatever type of mold you’re dealing with, it can be an incredibly destructive force, ruining everything it comes in contact with. That means a lot more than just your walls and flooring, but your clothing, furniture, paper goods and any type of organic material the colony latches onto.
How to Reduce Humidity in the Bathroom
- Spread out towels when hanging so they can dry faster.
- Wipe down the shower after each use with a clean towel.
- Use shower curtains that dry fast and are easily cleaned to avoid soap residue that can foster mold growth.
- Limit containers such as shampoo and conditioners and bottled bath soap in the shower. This allows for better circulation to avoid mold growth.
- Run exhaust fan or open a window.
Implementing these preventive measures can help reduce mold growth in your bathroom in your Alexandria, VA home. Failing to do so and allowing mold growth to get out of hand could see the issue escalate to the point that you’ll need to get a professional involved. If the problem is bad enough and the mold colony is deeply entrenched, it may require the tearing out of walls and the removal of ceramic tiling to be sure the colony is completely eradicated.
We utilize a comprehensive mold remediation strategy that addresses the mold outbreak itself, and also include recommendations for the “building biology” of your whole house through furniture placement and other adjustments to your home ventilation and energy efficiency patterns. That way you eliminate the conditions that feed the development of mold in your home. If you even suspect you have a mold issue in your home, don’t delay. Call us right away.
