How to Keep Mold and Moisture Out of Your HVAC System

6/17/2022 (Permalink)

Tips and Tricks From SERVPRO to Keeping Mold and Moisture Out Of Your HVAC System

In the warm summer heat, it's easy to build up moisture; especially when it gets sticky, muggy and humid. When this happens, you naturally crank the A.C., reach for something cold, and kick back in your lazy chair. The problem is, when you're relaxing and enjoying the nice cold breeze, mold is spreading through your ducts, vents, and HVAC system, leaving a nasty haze of mold that you can smell all over the house. If you're running a business, your customers could smell it too- which is why you should always call our service professionals to deal with the problem as soon as possible. 

How Does Mold Get in The HVAC System? 

Mold damage is no laughing matter. Mold, fungus, and other bacteria are in their perfect environment when they're trapped in your HVAC system. It's dark, warm, moist, closed in, and humid, meaning that spores can grow practically unabated. You'll notice more and more scent as heat and humidity is generated from outside and pulled through your ducts. 

When this moist air gets in your air system, it collects within and above your HVAC units. At this point, the spores of mold and other fungi easily rise through the air, setting up colonies as your condenser forces them up through the duct system. These aren't the only cases of mold that we've seen at SERVPRO; we've seen mold stick to people's clothes or shoes, and it's all brought inside by excess humidity caused by rainfall. 

Here Are a Few Tips on How to Remove Mold From Your HVAC System 

1. Continue to clean and maintain your HVAC system, even when you aren't using it. Check the ducts for wet spots, and regularly check and maintain your HVAC filter. 
2. Double check the drainage systems on your HVAC for mold. Allow for "dry-out" areas where the drainage comes out to prevent excess moisture. 
3. Get dehumidifiers for your home. They are ideal for collecting excess humidity, and they help with the temperature inside your house, too. 
4. Always insulate your pipes, walls, and ceilings. Use caulking for cracks to control cracks and leaks. 
5. Contrary to common beliefs, keep your windows closed when it's hot outside. Humidity, dust, and dampness easily travel inside.

How Do I Get Rid of The Mildew on My Plants?

6/5/2022 (Permalink)

Whether flowering or fruit-bearing, bushy or prickly, plants can clear the air and generally bring personality to our homes. But when plant mildew takes hold, you may worry your plant’s days may be numbered. Fortunately, getting mildew doesn’t have to spell the end for your plant. With a little effort and some things you can likely find around your home, you can rid your plants of mildew in no time.

About Powdery Mildew

One of the most common fungi to show up on plants is called powdery mildew. It can look a bit like a fine powder you can simply dust off. But it comes back again and again, coating leaves and giving your plant a dull look. Powdery mildew often

• Looks like white or gray spots
• Prefers warm, dry environments
• Shows up when plant foliage is dry
  
  

While mildew growth won’t immediately kill your plant, it’s a good idea to clear it before it gets out of hand and becomes a real threat

Cleaning Powdery Mildew

Common grocery store items are your first weapon against plant mildew. Baking soda mixed with liquid soap and water sprayed on plants can neutralize mildew and be a preventative for new mildew formation while spraying plain mouthwash on leaves can kill mildew spores. Milk offers a surprising antiseptic effect on powdery mildew. Mix one part to three parts of water and rub on leaves to relieve your plants from fungal effects.

Watering your plants more is another easy solution for powdery mildew, erasing the dry environment the fungus loves.

Plant mildew is an unsightly menace that, if left alone, can eventually leach nutrients from your plants and cause them to wither. Look in your cabinet for tools to eradicate it or, in serious cases, talk to a mold specialist to learn about fungicides and other options to keep your plants at their beautiful best.

Is Mold Covered by Your Homeowners Insurance?

6/17/2021 (Permalink)

Most owners insurance comes down to the source of the moisture to where the mold damage started. If you are unsure if your homeowners insurance covers mold, go over your policy. Make sure you look for mold exclusions or limitations and call your agent if it still unclear.

If mold results from a sudden and accidental damage, like a pipe bursting, the cost of mold remediation would be covered. Now, if it mold shows up because of neglecting home maintenance then most claims would be rejected.

Here is sample of damage done by an inch of flood water:

• Replace carpet, flooring: $2,700
• New baseboard molding: $2,250
• Replace drywall $1,350
• Cleanup, materials: $1,000
• Bookshelves, lamps: $500
• Total: $7,800

Source: National Flood Insurance Program - https://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program

You could also buy a mold rider as an add-on to your existing policy for extra coverage. If your insurance carrier doesn’t provide a rider, specialty companies might sell you a stand alone mold policy. Just to warn you, there will be a big price tag for that route.

If your insurance does not cover mold at all, moisture prevention is the key.

To help prevent mold growth, take the following steps:

• Lower indoor humidity with air conditioners, de-humidifiers, and exhaust fans
• Inspect hoses and fittings on appliances, sinks, and toilets
• Use household cleaners with mold-killing ingredients like bleach
• Opt for paints and primes that contain mold inhibitors
• Clean gutters to avoid overflow and check roof for leaks
• Avoid carpet in wet areas like basements and bathrooms
• Remove and dry carpet, padding, and upholstery within 48 hours of flooding

Source: House logic https://www.houselogic.com/finances-taxes/home-insurance/homeowners-insurance-mold-covered/

Prevent the Spread of Mold In Your Home

6/16/2021 (Permalink)

Homeowners everywhere will most likely face the horror of spreading mold at some point. You probably won’t escape it, no matter how clean your home is. Black mold can be especially worrisome. If you find it, what should you do to stop it from getting worse?

How Does Mold Spread?

Mold is a type of fungus. It reproduces via microscopic airborne spores which are invisible to the naked eye until they start breeding a colony. So, mold exists wherever there is air and is attracted to moisture. It also thrives in warmer temperatures, usually between 77 and 86 degrees. Mold grows as multicellular filaments called hyphae which give it a fuzzy appearance and emit a distinct musky odor. Spreading mold can cause structural damage to your home if left unchecked. Some common types of mold are:

• Black mold — Stachybotrys chartarum
• Blue/green mold — Penicillium
• Pink mold — Aureobasidium
• Yellow mold — Serpula lacrymans

What Not To Do

If you discover mold damage in your home, do not attempt to remove it yourself. If you do so, you are more likely to contribute to its spread rather than getting rid of it. There are specific steps to follow for the removal of mold, so it’s best to leave this process in professional hands.

What You Should Do

Your home can never be completely free of mold because of its nature as a microscopic airborne particle, but growth can be stopped and removed, and appropriate spore levels can be managed. Your first step is to set up a mold damage assessment. There are many specialists that offer mold remediation processes that include containment, removal of infested materials, air filtration, cleaning of belongings and restoration of the area. These techniques all follow strict protocols and professional standards.

Mold is an especially tough obstacle to overcome for the average homeowner. To avoid accidentally spreading mold and making it worse, don’t be afraid to turn to the experts.

Mold Located Within A Bathroom Vanity

5/21/2020 (Permalink)

Mold within a bathroom vanity

This is a photo of mold damage inside a bathroom vanity in Winter Haven, FL. Mold can be found in any part of your home that has been affected by water and has not been properly dried or any area that has a substantial amount of humidity. With the right conditions mold can potentially become a problem for a homeowner. If you or someone you know has a mold issue, give us a call. We are always here to help! 

SERVPRO of Haines City/Polk City is a Florida State licensed Certified Building Contractor, Mold Remediator, and Mold Assessor. We are IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification) certified in Fire/Water/Mold clean-up & restoration. Call us at 863-236-3553, we are always here to help.

Haines City/Polk City SERVPRO, Licensed Mold Remediater

4/1/2020 (Permalink)

There are many different types of mold, knowing what type you are dealing with can answer many questions and help you decide if a professional re-mediator is right for you. SERVPRO of Haines City/Polk City is a Florida State licensed Certified Building Contractor, Mold Re-mediator, and Mold Assessor. We are IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification) certified in Fire/Water/Mold clean-up & restoration. We do everything from testing, to re-mediating and to putting everything back to the way it was. Mold is nothing to play with, if disturbed the spores can spread. Do not hesitate to ask us some questions.

SERVPRO of Haines City/Polk City is a Florida State licensed Certified Building Contractor, Mold Re-mediator, and Mold Assessor. We are IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification) certified in Fire/Water/Mold clean-up & restoration. Give us a call to find out more about the services we offer at 863-236-3553

SERVPRO of Haines City/Polk City makes it "Like it never even happened."

Mold Discovery

5/29/2018 (Permalink)

Mold Damage

This is a photo of mold that was discovered under the carpet of a home in Lakeland, FL. In the photo notice the discoloration of the flooring. This was caused by a leak in the roof that went undetected for a substantial amount of time. The homeowner called SERVPRO out to take care of the problem. The customer was thrilled to know that all the mold was gone, and his house was back to the way it was before the mold.

SERVPRO of Haines City/Polk City is a Florida State licensed Certified Building Contractor, Mold Remediator, and Mold Assessor. We are IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification) certified in Fire/Water/Mold clean-up & restoration. Call us at 863-551-5004, we are always here to help.

Suspect Mold?

4/27/2018 (Permalink)

If you suspect mold in your home give SERVPRO a call. We will be able to assist you in determining if you have mold even If you don’t see it. Our tests are accurate and to the point. It will tell you what kind of mold you have and how many spores, after that we will take it from there. We are always here to help. Don't hesitate to call and ask questions, we are certified mold remediators. 

SERVPRO of Haines City/ Polk City is a Florida State licensed Certified Building Contractor, Mold Remediator, and Mold Assessor. We are IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification) certified in Fire/Water/Mold clean-up & restoration. Call us at 863-551-5004, we are always here to help

Dealing with Mold?

4/27/2018 (Permalink)

If mold is a problem in your home give SERVPRO a call. We are always here to help. Whether it is a small spot that you noticed at the bottom of your drywall or a very large spot at the top of your drywall. No matter the place or the size, we will be able to set up an appointment for you with one of our certified managers, to come out and inspect the area. Don’t hesitate to call, we are always here to help.  

SERVPRO of Haines City/Polk City is a Florida State licensed Certified Building Contractor, Mold Remediator, and Mold Assessor. We are IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification) certified in Fire/Water/Mold clean-up & restoration. Call us at 863-551-5004, we are always here to help.

We Are SERVPRO

4/27/2018 (Permalink)

There are many different types of mold, knowing what type you are dealing with can answer many questions and help you decide if a professional remediator is right for you. SERVPRO of Haines City/Polk City is a Florida State licensed Certified Building Contractor, Mold Remediator, and Mold Assessor. We are IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification) certified in Fire/Water/Mold clean-up & restoration. We do everything from testing, to remediating and to putting everything back to the way it was. Mold is nothing to play with, if disturbed the spores can spread. Do not hesitate to ask us some questions. SERVPRO of Haines city/Polk City makes it like it never happened. Give us a call to find out more about the services we offer.

Mold Remediation in Florida

3/16/2018 (Permalink)

Mold Damage

Mold remediation licensing laws now are established in the states of Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Maryland, New York and Washington, DC. In Florida mold remediation has two certifications dictated by state stature. The steps are as follows

1. Have a FL State Certified Mold Assessor evaluate & write a protocol for remediation

2. Contract with a FL State Certified Mold Remediator to perform work per protocol.

3. Have Mold Assessor that wrote protocol verify and provide clearance examination to insure that mold has been re-mediated.

SERVPRO of Haines City/ Polk City is proud to have both FL State Certified Mold Assessor & Mold Remediator on staff.

SERVPRO of Haines City/ Polk City is also a Florida State Licensed Contractor CBC-1259536, so we can truly make it "Like it never even happened."

Call us, we are always here to help. 863-236-3553