While mold remediation falls outside the scope of our ethical mold inspection service, it is helpful to let you know that we understand the measures needed to correct mold problems. With that in mind, the information below is not meant to be an instruction manual for homeowners or non-professionals to remediate their own particular mold issues, but to let you know when we perform your mold testing and inspection, our inspectors are over trained in this area.
You've probably heard the saying, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Well, that's saying certainly rings true when dealing with mold. Mold can be very difficult to eradicate once it has established itself inside a home.
Therefore, doing simple things like cleaning up moisture spills, fixing leaks, and correcting drainage problems will help stop the mold from growing in the first place and save time and money in the long run.
Some molds may be cleaned up by homeowners while more serious mold problems may need to be cleaned up by a professional mold remediator which can be expensive.
The treatment of mold and the repair of its damage can be difficult and expensive depending on the severity of the infestation. Repair could range from simply washing down the area with a cleaning agent to having to remove the infested material and replace it, which could cost thousands of dollars.
There are five levels of mold remediation depending on the size of the infestation:
Level 1-10 ft.² or less
Level 2-10 to 30 ft.²
Level 3-30 to 100 ft.²
Level 4-greater than 100 ft.²
Level 5-air conditioners and HVAC systems
Methods of Mold Removal
Mold sometimes can be cleaned off surfaces with water mixed with chlorine bleach, diluted 10 parts water to one part bleach. This treatment should be promptly made following flooding or discovery of moisture accumulation (i.e. emergency situations). Mold that can create health problems is not always visible.
However, large infestations can usually be seen or smelled. A dark, powdery substance visible all in a wall or other surface is one example of visible mold, which can effectively be treated with a water/bleach solution. Any situation that is conducive to mold growth should be promptly corrected.
There are various ways to kill mold. In addition to the bleach method, there are a few other ways mold remediation can be accomplished. If the mold is contained to one component of a house for instance such as an air-conditioning vent, the easiest and least expensive method of treatment may be too carefully remove the vent, seal it in a container such as a plastic bag, take it outside the home and clean it with bleach.
It is a good idea to try to do the cleanup outdoors so that you do not inadvertently spread more spores throughout the home and cause more mold to grow in different spots.
Another method used to kill mold is blasting ozone into unoccupied rooms which will effectively kill the mold and remove or reduce the mold the odor.
Remove as much of the moisture and humidity in the room as possible.
Turn up the heat and make the area as dry as possible using a dehumidifier.
Once moisture is removed, all visible mold and mildew should be removed. Surfaces should be cleaned with a solution of bleach and water. Protective clothing should be worn at all times.
The amount of ozone and length of treatment depends on the size of the room, and the level of mold contamination. The more mold, the higher the ozone concentration must be in order to kill the mold. It is important to use as much ozone as possible to shock a room.
Note - Do not touch mold with your bare hands. Mold and fungus can be toxic, therefore, you should always wear gloves and protective clothing when working with mold
Mold Remediation Techniques
Remediation generally requires more than simple cleanup. The goal is also to prevent the mold from reoccurring. This involves fixing the water problem, drying the excess moisture, cleaning the area, and removing the mold. The true extent of the mold and mold damage is often not determined until the visibly inaccessible areas are opened up.
In many cases, mold intrusion is caused by defective materials, design, or installation. Replacing materials or altering a structure to fix a mold problem can be time-consuming and very expensive. There are various ways to remediate mold depending on the circumstance. The guidelines for mold remediation are as follows:
Guidelines for Mold Remediation
Contain the mold from spreading
Kill the mold
Remove the dead mold
Protect the cleaned area against future mold infestations
If the mold problems are contained to a relatively small area of the home, remediation can be a quick and easy task. Other times however, mold remediation can be a major task and cost thousands of dollars. Toxic mold remediation should always be performed by trained and certified mold professionals since there are health risks associated with toxic mold. Post remediation testing is also necessary for this type of infestation.
Containing and Killing Mold
Containing the mold from spreading
Containment is the first step in mold remediation. Containment involves sealing off the affected area and airspace from the rest of the home. Containment is important for health reasons and is important to stop mold contamination from spreading.
Containment involves sealing all air-conditioning vents, ceiling, doorways and walkways with plastic air containment walls.
Doing this will prevent the toxic mold spores from escaping and colonizing other areas of the home.
It is important that furniture, clothing, drapery or other items that are present in the area affected by toxic mold are not removed and are kept in the containment area. Mold spores could attach themselves to these items and escaped from the containment area.
Killing the Mold
The next step is to effectively kill the mold. This can be done with biocides/fungicides. Biocides and fungicides can be a spray that you apply to the mold directly or a type of fog that you introduce into the affected area's airspace.
Never paint over mold with regular household paint. Paint is ineffective at killing mold and may actually act as a food for the mold to feed on. For a non chemical alternative to biocides and fungicides, a superheated dry vapor technology can be used to both kill and remove mold growths and mold spores from moldy walls, floors, ceilings, heating/cooling ducts and coils, furniture, and other personal possessions.
All chemical applications should be performed by trained mold professionals wearing protective clothing and respirator at all times.
Removal and Protection
Removing the mold
After killing all the mold in the affected area, it is important to remove the mold growths, stains, and mold odors. Even after the mold is dead, toxic mold can cause allergic reactions and illnesses in some people.
Whenever possible, mold affected materials should be removed and discarded. Porous materials such as ceiling tiles and insulation can be nearly impossible to clean and in most cases will need to be removed and replaced.
Using a HEPA filter equipped vacuum cleaner is a good way to eliminate mold spores from the air and from furniture, carpets, clothing, draperies and in the air. Whenever you remove mold affected materials, it is important to place the materials in sealed bags or containers so that mold spores cannot contaminate other areas of the home.
Protecting the cleaned area
Since mold can be costly and time-consuming to remove, it is important to protect the cleaned area from future contaminations. This involves fixing moisture problems that may have led to the contamination, drying any materials or fabrics that have been affected by moisture, and spraying a fungicide on all re mediated surfaces.
The fungicidal coating will protect the materials from future contaminations. It may also be necessary to spray clean wood surfaces with a clear, liquid, plastic coating to repel water and prevent penetrations.
Once the remediation efforts are complete, it is wise to perform Post remediation testing to test the effectiveness of the remediation efforts. This is commonly done by air sampling the area to test for high levels of mold spores.
Ongoing cleaning, maintenance, and inspection on a regular basis, including HVAC equipment and ventilation systems, plumbing, roof, siding, windows, and water supply/sewer lines, are necessary to help prevent the reoccurrence of toxic mold infestation problems.
