Learn How to Detect and Prevent Mold in Your Home

6/3/2021 (Permalink)

Phoenix homeowners don’t consider mold to be a threat to their homes, assuming those issues are more likely to happen to those living in damper climates. However, mold is still very much an issue even in a drier climate like Phoenix. It’s important to learn how to detect and prevent mold in your home.

How mold damage starts

Mold damage to Phoenix homes usually starts in areas where homeowners don’t spend much time, or in a room they infrequently enter, such as attics, basements, and laundry rooms. Mold needs dampness to grow, so these spaces are ideal, as are bathrooms and kitchens. If there is a slow or undetected leak, over time mold will grow. Depending on how long the situation has been in play, the damage can be significant; more than a homeowner should try to clean up themselves.

Calling in experts to deal with mold

SERVPRO technicians know to look for the source of moisture as one of the first steps to addressing mold damage. Our specialists do this because mold cannot grow without enough moisture to cause dormant spores to expand and begin seeking out more water and a food source. It’s a common misperception to think mold can be completely removed from a home. Since microscopic mold spores exist naturally almost everywhere, indoors, and outdoors, removing all mold from a home or business is impossible. However, eliminating nearby sources of water forces the spores back to an inactive state, stopping mold growth. SERVPRO specialists can repair minor plumbing leaks that often lead to mold growth and fix small tears in the roof or siding on a home that allows water inside.

How SERVPRO addresses mold damage

 
As the mold grows inactive, it dries out, and SERVPRO techs can use vacuums with specially designed HEPA filters to trap mold spores off surfaces and even from the surrounding air. If the mold layer is very thick, they can also use water or a cleaning agent to break it up and then vacuum or wipe off the mold with a sponge. In areas where it is difficult to reach every surface, we can spray an anti-fungal agent to help eliminate all active spores or use a fogger to generate a cloud of chemical agent to stop growth. The fogger device is particularly useful in small, enclosed areas like attics, or even garages. Our trained technicians follow a very specific mold remediation process to ensure mold is addressed and damage is repaired.

How homeowners can prevent mold damage to their home

One action a homeowner can take to prevent mold or stop it before it becomes a significant problem. Is to look around your out-of-the-way spaces at least once a year. Mold can grow almost anywhere, but a simple, visual inspection can quickly stop it. Address small leaks quickly, and don’t allow any area damaged by water in your home to go unaddressed. Remember also to use your nose; if you detect that musty odor, which mold produces, you likely have a mold issue. Learning to detect and prevent mold can save you time and money. If you do have mold issues, contact  SERVPRO of Phoenix at (480) 503-2090 to do a thorough check and address the problem.