Call SERVPRO of Lynchburg/Bedford & Campbell counties for mold remediation.

10/28/2024 (Permalink)

If you look on the internet, there are scores of DIY mold test kits. Before you invest in one of these kits, here are things you ought to know about mold:

• Mold is everywhere and every single house has some form of “mold.”
• Most self-test mold kits only tell you if your home has mold, but often provides false negatives and positives. It also does not tell you what kind of mold or how to kill it.

A true mold test can only be conducted by a Professional Environmental testing company; they determine the type of mold, the source of the moisture, and how to kill the mold at the core. They create a protocol, which can be read by an IICRC professional like SERVPRO of Lynchburg/Bedford & Campbell Counties.  It’s best to use a testing company that does not do cleaning themselves because their assessment will be unbiased.

• Mold is more often hidden, sometimes under the floor or in the walls, or in your air ducts

Where the mold is located, often dictates where the moisture is affecting the building

• Untreated water damage may result in mold growth within 24-48 hours of the event

Wood, insulation, fiberglass, carpet and other organic substances become a thriving environment for mold once there is moisture present for more than 24 hours. After a week, it is almost guaranteed.

Free estimates or removing mold yourself cost homeowners more in the long run!

Be wary of companies who advertise free mold testing. Free mold tests are often offered by people who are uncertified or inexperienced and if they do the mold testing themselves, they are using these kits mentioned above. Unless they are a certified Environmental Hygienist and have a PhD in microbiology, they do not have the knowledge or resources to truly diagnose the mold condition in your home.

• The source of the mold is never addressed, so the problem is reoccurring.
• They use the “self-test” kits mentioned above instead of environmental testing with diagnostics
• Remove only topical mold instead of killing it at the source
• They often remove more walls and floors than needed which increases the price to rebuild.
• They do not remove enough, or don’t use the right materials which brings the mold back.

This means you have to pay to have it removed again, and have more sanitation and demolition performed, which increases the price to rebuild and replace tremendously.

What you should do instead

Having mold can be scary, especially if anyone in your home is prone to getting sick (people with asthma, low immune systems, allergies, babies and the elderly). We recommend the following course of action if you need to have mold removed from your home.

1. Measure the area affected and check for moisture.
2. Call your insurance company to check for coverage.

Now that you’re armed with knowledge, it’s time to start making some calls!

SERVPRO of Lynchburg/Bedford & Campbell Counties' technicians are qualified to help you with your mold clean up, and have the following certifications:

• IICRC, Water Restoration Technician
• IICRC, Mold restoration
• IICRC, Applied Structural Drying

Proper Ventilation for mold prevention

8/15/2024 (Permalink)

Mold can spring up very quickly in humid environments and many homes have areas that are prone to mold growth for this reason. Bathrooms, kitchens, attics, and basements all have the highest chance of developing mold because humid air often circulates in these rooms.  Proper ventilation can help to significantly reduce the chance of mold growth in these areas of your home. It is important to take steps to ensure that each room is well-ventilated and that the air is circulating well.

Some of the most important areas to vent are the bathrooms and the attic. Bathrooms are usually quite small with a lot of warm, moist air circulating within them regularly.  This makes them very susceptible to rapid mold growth.  Investing in vents and fans that push the humid air outside of the home will help to keep mold growth to a minimum.  Attics often have poor ventilation and many homeowners are tempted to quickly ventilate bathrooms by placing vents in the bathrooms that push the humid air into the attic.  This will result in mold growth in the attic, which could then spread into the ducts as well as tight, difficult-to-reach spaces.

Avoid these potentially costly problems by investing in quality fans and vents that will draw humid air out of the rooms, sending it outside of the home, rather than into the attic.

If you see mold, call SERVPRO of Lynchburg/Bedford & Campbell Counties 434-525-9559.

Call SERVPRO of Lynchburg/Bedford & Campbell counties for mold remediation.

10/6/2023 (Permalink)

If you look on the internet, there are scores of DIY mold test kits. Before you invest in one of these kits, here are things you ought to know about mold:

• Mold is everywhere and every single house has some form of “mold.”
• Most self-test mold kits only tell you if your home has mold, but often provides false negatives and positives. It also does not tell you what kind of mold or how to kill it.

A true mold test can only be conducted by a Professional Environmental testing company; they determine the type of mold, the source of the moisture, and how to kill the mold at the core. They create a protocol, which can be read by an IICRC professional like SERVPRO of Lynchburg/Bedford & Campbell Counties.  It’s best to use a testing company that does not do cleaning themselves because their assessment will be unbiased.

• Mold is more often hidden, sometimes under the floor or in the walls, or in your air ducts

Where the mold is located, often dictates where the moisture is affecting the building

• Untreated water damage may result in mold growth within 24-48 hours of the event

Wood, insulation, fiberglass, carpet and other organic substances become a thriving environment for mold once there is moisture present for more than 24 hours. After a week, it is almost guaranteed.

Free estimates or removing mold yourself cost homeowners more in the long run!

Be wary of companies who advertise free mold testing. Free mold tests are often offered by people who are uncertified or inexperienced and if they do the mold testing themselves, they are using these kits mentioned above. Unless they are a certified Environmental Hygienist and have a PhD in microbiology, they do not have the knowledge or resources to truly diagnose the mold condition in your home.

• The source of the mold is never addressed, so the problem is reoccurring.
• They use the “self-test” kits mentioned above instead of environmental testing with diagnostics
• Remove only topical mold instead of killing it at the source
• They often remove more walls and floors than needed which increases the price to rebuild.
• They do not remove enough, or don’t use the right materials which brings the mold back.

This means you have to pay to have it removed again, and have more sanitation and demolition performed, which increases the price to rebuild and replace tremendously.

What you should do instead

Having mold can be scary, especially if anyone in your home is prone to getting sick (people with asthma, low immune systems, allergies, babies and the elderly). We recommend the following course of action if you need to have mold removed from your home.

1. Measure the area affected and check for moisture.
2. Call your insurance company to check for coverage.

Now that you’re armed with knowledge, it’s time to start making some calls!

SERVPRO of Lynchburg/Bedford & Campbell Counties' technicians are qualified to help you with your mold clean up, and have the following certifications:

• IICRC, Water Restoration Technician
• IICRC, Mold restoration
• IICRC, Applied Structural Drying

Indoor Air Quality

8/17/2023 (Permalink)

Indoor air quality/environmental professionals evaluate the quality of the air inside a structure. Some specialize and are skilled in testing buildings for the presence of molds. Using various testing devices, these professionals collect air and surface samples to compare the indoor mold spore count to the outdoor environment.

If you have concerns about mold, SERVPRO of Lynchburg/Bedford & Campbell Counties can assist you in locating a qualified indoor air quality/environmental professional. 

SERVPRO cares about proper restoration of your structure. In most water damage situations excessive mold growth is not a problem and SERVPRO of Lynchburg/Bedford & Campbell Counties can safely restore your building to preloss condition.

The need to address the presence of mold can be determined by an on-site, indoor environmental inspection.

Have Mold in your Business or Home

10/4/2022 (Permalink)

If you have a mold problem in your home or business, your primary focus should be safety:

- Significant mold growth can occur in 48-72 hours.

- Mold may present a grater risk to children, the       elderly, and anyone with respiratory problems.

- A strong, musty odor may indelicate hidden mold behind drywall or under carpeting.

Mold can be visible or hidden and will almost always occur in areas that have recently been affected by excessive moisture or humidity. If you suspect that there is a mold problem in your home or business, there are several steps you can take to get help and resolve the problem as quickly as possible.

Call SERVPRO of Lynchburg/Bedford & Campbell Counties if you see mold. 

What to Do If you Spot Mold

8/18/2022 (Permalink)

Mold is an invasive fungus that grows in wet or humid environments and can spread rapidly in only a few days. Mold can be very dangerous to the health of those living in the home, especially if it spreads into air ducts or grows in an area of the house in which the family is frequently present. Mold can be visible or hidden and will almost always occur in areas that have recently been affected by excessive moisture or humidity. If you suspect that there is a mold problem in your home, there are several steps you can take to get help and resolve the problem as quickly as possible.

Step 1: If you suspect that you have a mold problem but the mold is not visible, you must call a certified professional to conduct Indoor Air Quality Testing on your home (SERVPRO does not provide Indoor Air Quality Tests). Do not attempt to use a self-test kit to test for mold as these are highly inaccurate.

Step 2: Call SERVPRO of Lynchburg/Bedford & Campbell Counties! SERVPRO personnel will be on site within four hours of receiving and processing your notice of loss.

Step 3: Do not attempt to remove or treat any affected areas. Attempting to do so will only cause the mold spores to spread further within the affected area and can even spread into other areas of the property. Instead, isolate the area by turning off any air units and fans that could be blowing air into or out of the area. Do not touch the mold; wait patiently until a SERVPRO crew arrives to take care of the situation.

Once our team of highly qualified SERVPRO technicians arrives on the scene, they will take several steps to mitigate the situation and take care of the mold as quickly as possible.

Proper Ventilation for Mold Prevention

8/14/2018 (Permalink)

Mold can spring up very quickly in humid environments and many homes have areas that are prone to mold growth for this reason. Bathrooms, kitchens, attics, and basements all have the highest chance of developing mold because humid air often circulates in these rooms.  Proper ventilation can help to significantly reduce the chance of mold growth in these areas of your home. It is important to take steps to ensure that each room is well-ventilated and that the air is circulating well.

Some of the most important areas to vent are the bathrooms and the attic. Bathrooms are usually quite small with a lot of warm, moist air circulating within them regularly.  This makes them very susceptible to rapid mold growth.  Investing in vents and fans that push the humid air outside of the home will help to keep mold growth to a minimum.  Attics often have poor ventilation and many homeowners are tempted to quickly ventilate bathrooms by placing vents in the bathrooms that push the humid air into the attic.  This will result in mold growth in the attic, which could then spread into the ducts as well as tight, difficult-to-reach spaces.

Avoid these potentially costly problems by investing in quality fans and vents that will draw humid air out of the rooms, sending it outside of the home, rather than into the attic.

If you see mold, call SERVPRO of Lynchburg/Bedford & Campbell Counties 434-525-9559.

What To Do If You Spot Mold

7/20/2018 (Permalink)

Mold on Ceiling.

Mold is an invasive fungus that grows in wet or humid environments and can spread rapidly in only a few days. Mold can be very dangerous to the health of those living in the home, especially if it spreads into air ducts or grows in an area of the house in which the family is frequently present. Mold can be visible or hidden and will almost always occur in areas that have recently been affected by excessive moisture or humidity. If you suspect that there is a mold problem in your home, there are several steps you can take to get help and resolve the problem as quickly as possible.

Step 1: If you suspect that you have a mold problem but the mold is not visible, you must call a certified professional to conduct Indoor Air Quality Testing on your home (SERVPRO does not provide Indoor Air Quality Tests). Do not attempt to use a self-test kit to test for mold as these are highly inaccurate.

Step 2: Call SERVPRO of Lynchburg/Bedford & Campbell Counties! SERVPRO personnel will be on site within four hours of receiving and processing your notice of loss.

Step 3: Do not attempt to remove or treat any affected areas. Attempting to do so will only cause the mold spores to spread further within the affected area and can even spread into other areas of the property. Instead, isolate the area by turning off any air units and fans that could be blowing air into or out of the area. Do not touch the mold; wait patiently until a SERVPRO crew arrives to take care of the situation.

Once our team of highly qualified SERVPRO technicians arrives on the scene, they will take several steps to mitigate the situation and take care of the mold as quickly as possible.

Indoor Air Quality

7/7/2018 (Permalink)

Mold on walls? Call SERVPRO of Lynchburg/Bedford & Campbell Counties!

Indoor air quality/environmental professionals evaluate the quality of the air inside a structure. Some specialize and are skilled in testing buildings for the presence of molds. Using various testing devices, these professionals collect air and surface samples to compare the indoor mold spore count to the outdoor environment.

If you have concerns about mold, SERVPRO of Lynchburg/Bedford & Campbell Counties can assist you in locating a qualified indoor air quality/environmental professional. 

SERVPRO cares about proper restoration of your structure. In most water damage situations excessive mold growth is not a problem and SERVPRO of Lynchburg/Bedford & Campbell Counties can safely restore your building to preloss condition.

The need to address the presence of mold can be determined by an on-site, indoor environmental inspection.

Call SERVPRO of Lynchburg/Bedford & Campbell Counties for Mold Remediation!

1/17/2018 (Permalink)

If you look on the internet, there are scores of DIY mold test kits. Before you invest in one of these kits, here are things you ought to know about mold:

• Mold is everywhere and every single house has some form of “mold.”
• Most self-test mold kits only tell you if your home has mold, but often provides false negatives and positives. It also does not tell you what kind of mold or how to kill it.

A true mold test can only be conducted by a Professional Environmental testing company; they determine the type of mold, the source of the moisture, and how to kill the mold at the core. They create a protocol, which can be read by an IICRC professional like SERVPRO of Lynchburg/Bedford & Campbell Counties.  It’s best to use a testing company that does not do cleaning themselves because their assessment will be unbiased.

• Mold is more often hidden, sometimes under the floor or in the walls, or in your air ducts

Where the mold is located, often dictates where the moisture is affecting the building

• Untreated water damage may result in mold growth within 24-48 hours of the event

Wood, insulation, fiberglass, carpet and other organic substances become a thriving environment for mold once there is moisture present for more than 24 hours. After a week, it is almost guaranteed.

Free estimates or removing mold yourself cost homeowners more in the long run!

Be wary of companies who advertise free mold testing. Free mold tests are often offered by people who are uncertified or inexperienced and if they do the mold testing themselves, they are using these kits mentioned above. Unless they are a certified Environmental Hygienist and have a PhD in microbiology, they do not have the knowledge or resources to truly diagnose the mold condition in your home.

• The source of the mold is never addressed, so the problem is reoccurring.
• They use the “self-test” kits mentioned above instead of environmental testing with diagnostics
• Remove only topical mold instead of killing it at the source
• They often remove more walls and floors than needed which increases the price to rebuild.
• They do not remove enough, or don’t use the right materials which brings the mold back.

This means you have to pay to have it removed again, and have more sanitation and demolition performed, which increases the price to rebuild and replace tremendously.

What you should do instead

Having mold can be scary, especially if anyone in your home is prone to getting sick (people with asthma, low immune systems, allergies, babies and the elderly). We recommend the following course of action if you need to have mold removed from your home.

1. Measure the area affected and check for moisture.
2. Call your insurance company to check for coverage.

Now that you’re armed with knowledge, it’s time to start making some calls!

SERVPRO of Lynchburg/Bedford & Campbell Counties' technicians are qualified to help you with your mold clean up, and have the following certifications:

• IICRC, Water Restoration Technician
• IICRC, Mold restoration
• IICRC, Applied Structural Drying

Does your house have mold?

9/9/2015 (Permalink)

Water and Mold Damage

How do you know if your home has mold? 
Mold can be a very dangerous problem for your home and your family. Here are some steps to follow, to find out if you have mold in your home.

Smelling a Mold Odor
When you have mold growing hidden away in your house, often a musty smell might be the only clue that it's there. Don't ignore mold odors if you can't see any mold. You should thoroughly inspect your home before any mold problems get worse.

Seeing Signs of Mold Growth
Sometimes you might not realize there is mold in your house, especially if it is unusual looking mold. Some mold growth looks white and thread-like. Other mold appears as clusters of small black spots. Mold can be black, gray-brown, gray-green or white in color. Mold growing behind wallpaper made of vinyl can even appear orange, pink or purple.