Mold is unsightly and can cause damage to your home and health if not properly treated. Mold develops after water damage such as a burst pipe or unexpected flood. Read on to learn about the dangers of mold (and why mold restoration is important).
Structural Damage from Mold
Although it might not seem like it from first look, mold eats organic materials like paper, fabric, wood, and even kinds of glue. This causes them to rot. When it comes to your home, mold can eat things like carpet, drywall, ceiling tiles, floorboards, wooden studs, and wallpaper.
While these are serious things to consider, it does take a while for mold to cause this much damage. Don’t worry: if you spot a little bit of black mold in your basement, don’t think your house is ready to fall apart. Treat mold as soon as you spot it. Even if it’s not at a stage to do serious damage, it can become a problem if you wait too long.
Mold Damage In Your Vents
Mold is common in moist, humid areas, so it makes sense that it would be pretty common in your ventilation system. If mold is in your HVAC system, it can damage your home. Not only is mold in your HVAC system difficult to remove, but the setup of a ventilation system allows mold to spread all over your home and grow in even more spots. This causes health issues for you and your loved ones since you’re constantly inhaling it.
It’s been recommended by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that if you think there might be mold in your ventilation system, you should refrain from turning on your heat or air to prevent the spread. At this point, you should have a professional inspect your vents to see if you need to have them cleaned and have the mold removed.
Mold Restoration
Removing mold from your home can be a difficult and involved process. If mold has damaged part of your home, reversing that damage can be nearly impossible – if it even IS possible. Some materials, if damaged by mold, need to be completely replaced, including wallpaper, insulation, and carpet. Sometimes, drywall with mold damage will need to be removed and replaced as well.
When it comes to disposal of these moldy materials, you must be sure to dispose of them in a way that doesn’t accidentally spread to the rest of the home. Even during the process of cutting out moldy portions of carpet or drywall, spores can make their way into the air and circulate through your home.
If you catch mold early enough, you can repair wooden studs and floorboards. However, if you don’t, you may need to replace these items. For example, wall studs can’t be removed. Instead, they have to be sanded and sealed to prevent further mold growth.
There are other materials that are much easier to clean, such as glass and concrete. Regardless, it’s still a lengthy process, which is why you want to hire a trained professional to help.
Call PNW Restoration for Your Mold Restoration Needs
Call PNW Restoration at (971) 247-2470 if you need someone to take care of mold damage in your home. Our IICRC-certified team specializes in mold removal and mold remediation. PMW offers a free inspection and estimate to provide you with an analysis, cause of the issue, and detailed recommendation for mold removal. We don’t just “clean and cover.” We get to the root of the problem for a permanent solution.
PNW Restoration offers onsite mold inspections, 24/7 rapid response, identification of problem sources, and a complete estimate for remediation plan including mold removal and prevention. We will work with your insurance and we offer a 36-month guarantee.
Call PNW Restoration today at (971) 247-3470. We’re available to take your calls 24/7.
