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Mold
FAQs
What is mold?
There are hundreds of thousands of types of molds. All are
fungi, which means they are many-celled organisms that
reproduce by sending tiny seeds called spores into the
air. Molds need four things to grow: food, air, the right
temperature and water. Although fungi grow naturally “outdoors",
molds are very common in buildings and homes and will grow
anywhere indoors where there is sufficient moisture. They
like dark, damp, warm environments, and can grow on anything
from basement walls to garbage pails to houseplants, and
many building materials. Moisture can come from water damage,
excessive humidity, water leaks, condensation, water infiltration,
flooding, leaking roofs, leaky plumbing, sewer backups,
and frequently overflowing washing machines. What
are the health concerns about molds?
Mold and its spores contain allergens, meaning that in
some people sensitivity to fungi (molds) can cause allergic
reactions such as allergic rhinitis or asthma. Certain
molds can cause infection, in the same way bacteria do.
Molds may also produce musty odors known as volatile organic
compounds that may cause irritation to the eyes, nose and
throat.
Where does Mold grow?
Mold seeks MOISTURE, WARMTH, and
FOOD, and all three conditions are necessary for it to
grow. Mold is most likely to find
a place to grow in a bathroom, basement or kitchen, but
it can grow in other rooms if conditions are favorable.
The climate where you live and the living habits in your
household can affect the ability of mold to grow.
How do I know if my home has a mold
problem?
If mold is growing in your home, you most likely
will be able to smell it. Have you ever walked into a room
that
has a musty or earthy odor? You probably are smelling mold.
Sometimes, you can see the mold on the surface of an object.
In such cases, the item may be discolored or look as if
it has smudges or blotches. Often, you will not be able to
see mold that is causing an odor. The mold could be growing
behind walls, underneath
carpets, or in other hidden areas. Mold growth is common
in areas of a home that are damp or have suffered water
damage. You should be especially concerned about the growth
of mold if your home has had:
- a flood
- a
sewer back-up
- an overflowing toilet
- leaking pipes
- a leaking roof
- leaking windows
- humidifiers
- any other serious water-related problems.
Will mold go away by itself?
No. Mold will continue to grow until it is completely killed
and removed.
Can I eliminate Mold by applying Bleach?
Bleach will only remove the visible mold. It will not completely
kill of the mold growth. If bleach is used, Mold will most
likely re-occur within 10-15 days. A special Anti-Microbial
solution must be applied to kill the mold.
What is involved in removing the mold from my house?
The process varies depending on the source of the mold and
its current infestation state. For mold to grow, it must
be in a moist setting. All moisture must be removed. The
source of the water must be found and repaired. The area
must be dried. The affected area must be scraped and treated
with anti-microbial agent. This could involve removal of
drywall and carpets. Call All Clear to inspect and advise
you what needs to be done.
How long will it take to remove the mold?
This depends on exactly what work will be necessary. The
usual drying time is a minimum of 2 days and could be as
long as 7 days depending of the source of moisture.
Is the cost of removing
the mold covered by my Homeowner’s
Insurance?
It depends on your individual policy and the source of the
moisture. All Clear professionals will discuss the coverage
with your adjuster at no cost to you.
Water Damage FAQs How
can I safely inspect my house after water damage?
Dangers are not over when the water goes down. Do not
endanger yourself or your family after a water event. Keep
children and pets away. Try to protect yourself and your
family from stress, fatigue, and water-related health hazards.
Follow these basic safety rules:
- Determine Structural Stability
- Cut off power
supply
- Turn off water supply
- Turn off gas supply
- Beware of animals
- Use protective gear
What
are the electricity related safety rules
after water damage?
There 3 basic safety rules:
- Turn off the power to your home or
business by disabling the main circuit breaker panel. Even
if the neighborhood
power grid is down assume all power lines are active
and functioning.
- Do not use regular household vacuums
to remove excess water.
- Do not use electrical appliances
while standing on a wet floor.
What do I do if a Water or waste pipe breaks in my house?
Call All Clear and have their certified technicians
have the leak repaired and then start to remove the moisture
before mold begins to grow. What should I do if
there is a sewage spill at my house/office?
Call All Clear immediately. The sewage could cause serious health problems
for you and your family the longer it remains in your house. All Clear’s
trained technicians come prepared with all the sanitation equipment needed to
clean and sanitize your residence or business. Our crews are trained to isolate
the spillage from the remainder of the property and clean the affected areas.
The crews will remove the sewage from your property leaving your property in
its pre-sewage condition.
What dangers are contained
in the sewage?
This depends on the nature of the sewage itself. These are some of the disease
causing organisms in Sewage: Hepatitis A, Respiratory Disease, Bacteria, Bacillary
Dysentery, Salmonella and Balontidiasis.
Can damaged carpets
be cleaned and re-used?
Sewage-saturated carpets can be “saved.”- No. This is a Myth and
it is not true. Porous materials, such as carpet, pad, upholstery, bedding,
wicker, paper goods, or fabrics that can’t be washed in hot water, they
must be disposed of safely.
Is
it safe
to remain in my home while the sewage is being cleaned?
No it is not safe. The sewage could contain the agents listed above plus others
all of which are not healthful. Our technicians wear protective clothing and
use respirators. You have no such equipment and why would you want to expose
you and your family to the air born agents that could hurt you?
Fire/Smoke Damage FAQs
How can I safely inspect my house
after fire damage?
Dangers may still exist even when the fire is extinguished. Do not endanger
yourself or your family after a fire event. Keep children and pets away.
Try to protect yourself and your family from stress, fatigue, and fire-related
health hazards such as smoke and dust particles.
Follow these basic safety rules:
- Determine Structural Stability
- Check Power Supply
- Recheck The Property
- Wet Down Debris
- Discard Hazardous Material Safely
- Use protective gear
What fire/smoke damage services
does All Clear provide?
All Clear’s certifies technicians
will wipe down all surfaces, place negative air machines
to remove odors, clean all A/C ducts. The wipe down allows
the homeowner to repaint over a clean painted surface and
not the soot that is left form the fire. Negative air machines
and HIPPA Machines removes the odor that remains after
the fire have been extinguished. Cleaning the A/C
ducts removes the residual soot and odor that finds its
way into
your A/C ducts.
What are the best ways to secure my property after fire
related damage?
Lock and secure your property when not occupied to prevent looting. Keep
in mind that alarms may malfunction if the electricity or telephone service
has been interrupted.
Why is it important to wipe down the walls?
If the soot from the fire is allowed to remain on the walls,
it prohibits a fresh coat of paint from attaching to the
wall surface. The soot is also acidic, and if permitted
to remain on porous services it can destroy the material
it is on causing much more damage that the fire caused. Why must a Negative Air Machine/HIPPA Vacuum be used?
A Negative Air machine removes contaminated air and filters
it before returning it to the room. It will remove the
odor and the fine particulate from the air in the room.
A HIPPA vacuum will filter the air to even a greater degree
than the Negative Air Machine. If the fine particulate
matter is not removed from the air, it could cause breathing
difficulties for even a healthy person and the particles
in the air are acidic and could damage your respiratory
system.
Why do I need to have the ducts cleaned?
The ducts need to be cleaned for the same reason as given
above. Soot and other particles from the fire will travel
into the ducts and settle there. When you’re A/C
is turned on, it will blow into the rooms of the hours
and 10 settle on the furniture, carpet and walls. It will
also be suspended in the air you breathe and could cause
respiratory problems for you and your family.
Do I have to throw
food away after a fire?
No. however, you will have to be very careful when dealing
with food. Throw food if it is burnt or if it has been
exposed to heat, smoke or soot. In addition, do not use
any canned foods if the can has bulged, is badly dented
or has rusted.
You can keep refrigerated food if your
refrigerator was not damaged in the fire. Your refrigerator
will keep cold
for 4 hours if it is well sealed. In case that the power
was turned off during the fire and the refrigerator was turned
off for more than 4 hours, discard the food.
Frozen food can be used if it still has ice crystals on
it and if it still feels cold and hard. Whenever in doubt,
discard the food.
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