Mold Remediation & Removal
b>At DryHero, our objective is mold prevention by promptly mitigating water damage in Lincoln & Omaha Nebraska. However, when water damage goes undetected and untreated, mold can grow inside your home. We are nationally trained and certified to remediate mold contamination. Since mold growth is simply water damage that has gone untreated, we utilize our training and experience to locate the source of your water intrusion, limiting the potential for future water damage and subsequent mold growth.
We field numerous inquiries about mold so we try to take a common sense yet professionally responsible approach to topic. This page is not intended to be a do-it-yourself reference for black mold removal, rather it’s simply intended to provide some very basic information to help demystify how mold can grow in your home. If you have specific mold questions about your home we urge you to call for an on-site inspection.
MOLD TESTING
DryHero provides clients with mold detection and testing services. Follow the above link to learn more.
LIFETIME WARRANTY
Hiring a mold removal and remediation company can be a stressful process. Like every industry, the mold remediation industry has its share of unscrupulous contractors. So how do you know who you can trust?
DryHero eliminates the risk of hiring a mold removal contractor with our lifetime warranty. There is no better warranty in Nebraska and we don’t just remove mold for our clients, we give them peace of mind! They know that mold will no longer be an issue in their lives ever again and that there will be no further mold remediation expense for the property, even if there is a change of ownership!
Mold removal should be a one time expense. If mold does return on a property we remediated, we’ll remove it at our expense. We’re able to offer this mold removal warranty because we have complete confidence in our methods and expertise.
CATEGORIES OF MOLD
Mold is divided into three basic categories:
Allergenic Molds do not usually produce any life-threatening issues, and will normally be a threat mainly to those who already suffer from some form of allergies or asthma. The physical responses are relatively mild, usually scratchy throats, eye and nasal irritations, and skin rashes.
Pathogenic Molds can produce some level of infection. People with depressed immune systems are usually the hardest hit, and high levels of exposure can result in hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
Toxigenic Molds are the ones everybody naturally fears. Commonly known as Black Mold or Toxic Mold, they can cause serious health effects for almost everyone. Toxic Molds can cause cancer, lung disease, and in rare, high exposure cases, even death.
MOLD IS NORMAL
Mold spores are naturally occurring and ubiquitous in the environment with the reality being that it isn’t feasible or even possible to keep a structure “mold free”. Therefore, all structures contain some level of settled and aerosolized mold spores. If you have dust, you have mold spores. This is perfectly normal and these fungal spores pose no real threat to indoor air quality for most occupants as long as the building materials are kept dry.
When materials are wet for a prolonged period of time, it is possible for mold growth to occur. Mold growth is not normal and should be promptly addressed when it’s discovered. We are always willing to look at your uniqe situation and help determine if you require professional remediation or if you can remove your own mold.
ATTIC MOLD
Attics are not intended to be occupied spaces and are by their very nature prone to have poor air quality due to dust, mold, fiberglass, etc. Attics are therefore designed so that the attic air doesn’t mix with the air in the occupied portion of the structure. There is minimal risk of attic mold filtering its way into the rest of the house. However, if the conditions that are allowing the mold to grow are not corrected, significant structure damage and air quality issues can result.
HOW MOLD GROWS
Generally speaking, all mold needs to grow is:
1) food source – virtually any organic material
2) temperature – any temperature humans can survive in
3) moisture – generally at and above 16% wood moisture (or equivalent*)
4) time – given the proper conditions, mold will eventually grow
5) actual mold spores must be present to seed colonization
REMOVING MOLD
In simplest terms, the best and primary means for mold remediation is to physically remove it from the structure, systems and contents to return them to a “normal” mold condition. This can be achieved by exclusively removing the mold or the surface it’s growing on. For materials that cannot feasibly be removed or can be safely restored, HEPA vacuuming, cleaning and treatment with an EPA registered chemicals and coatings is normally sufficient to remediate the mold contamination. This mold removal should be permanent as long as the structural materials remain dry (and clean). Keep in mind that these processes are complicated by the use of proper industry protocols, personal protection, containment, engineered controls and critical barriers.
Attempts to kill, encapsulate or inhibit mold instead of proper source removal generally are not adequate. Remediated structures, systems and contents can be considered clean when contamination, unrestorable contaminated materials and debris have been removed, and surfaces are certified as clean. Also, remediated areas should be free of malodors associated with microorganisms. After a post-remediation evaluation, the remediated structures, systems and contents are ready for postremediation verification.
Using household chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite) to remove mold is not an industry recognized method of remediation. One of the drawbacks of chlorine bleach is that it’s 99% water, the very thing that caused the mold to grow in the first place. Another drawback to household bleach is it’s ionic structure. Bleach is a very poor surfactant, which prevents the chlorine from penetrating into porous materials such as drywall and wood. Instead, it stays on the outside surface of the material, missing the enzyme roots growing inside the porous materials. Therefore, it’s possible that bleach’s high water content can actually feed the mold.
MOLD CONTAMINATION PREVENTION
To prevent mold recontamination or future contamination, the moisture problem that contributed to the mold growth needs to be identified and corrected. Affected salvable materials should be dried to acceptable moisture content. In theory, preventing mold growth is simple; keep things dry. The ONLY component for mold growth in our homes that we can control is moisture. According to the IICRC S520, “when the moisture content of wood products exceeds 16%, it is more susceptible to mold growth”. So, the real trick to controlling mold growth is to keep materials well below 16% relative moisture content.
According to the USDA Forest service, the average moisture content for interior wood components in Nebraska is about 8% (depending on the season). Average moisture content for exterior wood components is 12%, well below the 16% threshold. Under normal conditions, mold growth should not occur inside our homes unless an additional moisture load is introduced form an outside source (water vapor, roof leak, dryer vent, bathroom exhaust fan, flooding, prolonged and extreme high humidity, etc.)
The conditions for mold growth can occur in an attic when insulation or ventilation is deficient or moisture sources vent directly into the attic space. As water vapor enters the attic from the main living space, relative humidity can increase to a level where the attic roof decking achieves dew point, the temperature at which water will condensate out of the air. Whenever possible, bathroom exhaust fans, kitchen exhaust fans and clothes dryers should not be vented into the attic.
How to Protect Yourself from Mold
Whenever a building suffers water damage, it’s important to promptly mitigation that damage by removing the excess water and dry the structure with dehumidification. Otherwise, excess moisture and standing water contribute to the growth of mold. If your home has been flooded, be aware that mold may be present and may be a health risk for your family.
If your home has suffered water damage, promptly clean and dry out the water damaged portions of the building. At DryHero, we highly recommend that a certified water damage restoration professional inspect your home to perform moisture testing and structure drying services if wet materials are discovered. If chronic water damage and subsequent mold growth is found, professional mold remediation services may be necessary.
People at Greatest Risk from Mold
People with asthma, allergies, or other breathing conditions may be more sensitive to mold. In addition, people with immune suppression (such as people with HIV infection, cancer patients taking chemotherapy, and people who have received an organ transplant) are also more susceptible to mold infections.
Possible Health Effects of Mold Exposure
People who are sensitive to mold may experience irritated eyes, stuffy nose, wheezing, or even skin irritation. People allergic to mold may also have difficulty in breathing and shortness of breath. People with weakened immune systems and with chronic lung diseases may develop mold infections in their lungs. If you or your family members have health problems after exposure to mold, contact your doctor or other health care provider.