Does your Story County home have a mold problem?

10/17/2024 (Permalink)

Microscopic mold spores naturally occur almost everywhere, both outdoors and indoors. This makes it impossible to remove all mold from a home or business. Therefore, mold remediation reduces the mold spore count back to its natural/baseline level. Some restoration businesses advertise “mold removal” and even guarantee to remove all mold, which is a fallacy. Consider the following mold facts:

Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors.
Mold spores are microscopic and float along in the air and may enter your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems or even hitch a ride indoors on your clothing or a pet.
Mold spores thrive on moisture. Mold spores can quickly grow into colonies when exposed to water. These colonies may produce health effects.
Before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed. Otherwise, the mold may return.
Mold often produces a strong, musty odor and can lead you to possible mold problem areas.
Even higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth. Keep indoor humidity below 45 percent.
If your home or business has a mold problem, we can inspect your property and use our specialized training, equipment, and expertise to remediate your mold infestation.

If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today – (515) 233-4544

3 Reasons - Why Bleach Doesn’t Work for Mold

10/16/2022 (Permalink)

Chlorine Bleach is often regarded as the answer for stopping mold growth and removing the mold. However, this is a myth. Bleach does not exonerate mold. Here are three reasons why bleach is not the answer to mold, and should never be used to sanitize or clean an area in the name of mold remediation.

1. Bleach Loses Effectiveness Over Time

Chlorine bleach can dissipate rapidly, causing the bleach to be less effective. Over time this occurs because chlorine can evaporate and even faster in areas that are above room temperature. When the chlorine disappears, the bleach bottle turns into a bottle of salt water.  

2. Bleach can actually contribute to mold growth

Chlorine bleach was made to clean surfaces, therefore can only kill surface bacteria and mold. This is due to bleach’s ion structure, which prevents the chlorine from penetrating porous material such as wood and drywall. When mold grows in porous areas, the enzyme’s roots grow deep within the material, rendering the bleach ineffective of exterminating the mold. The bleach can only remove the green stain from the mold, allowing surface to appear clean. But underneath the surface, the water component of the bleach penetrates and helps the internal roots to continue to grow, causing mold to reappear.

3. Bleach is Toxic

Bleach emits harmful fumes that pollute the air we breathe and can become harmful to humans and even pets. Over a period of time, inhaling the gases bleach emits can deteriorate the lungs and esophagus lining in addition to the scarring of the respiratory tract, which occurs in earlier stages. Also research shows that household bleach is one of the leading causes of accidental poisonings in the United States.

About Us

SERVPRO of Ames is a proud member of the Ames community and actively serves residents of Story, Boone, Hamilton, and Greene county. For further information about the wide array of mold remediation services offered by SERVPRO of Ames, contact us 24/7 at (515) 233-4544 or you can find us on Facebook at SERVPRO of Ames. SERVPRO of Ames is truly faster to any size disaster!

Commercial Mold Remediation

10/11/2022 (Permalink)

When mold becomes an issue for your business, it becomes an issue in regards to your bottom line. SERVPRO of Ames is here to remediate those mold worries away.

Mold Cleanup and Restoration for Your Business

Time is the most important aspect when dealing with mold removal in your business. In a timeframe lasting as little as 48-72 hours, mold can begin to grow and spread throughout your property, causing allergens and other irritants to rapidly reproduce. This can have negative effects on the health of your employees, customers, and your overall business. Mold issues can also potentially cause alarm among employees susceptible to allergens. Some may develop such severe symptoms from workplace mold, the term “sick building syndrome” was coined to describe it.

SERVPRO of Ames’ certified mold technicians respond quickly to any call in order to accurately and efficiently assess your mold cleanup situation. We use advanced equipment and professional experience in mold mitigation to determine the source of your mold problem. Our goal is to safely complete the mold removal, cleanup and mold remediation process with minimal disruption to your business operations.

About Us

For further information, or to find out about our full list of mold remediation services, give us a call anytime at (515) 233-4544 or you can always find us on Facebook at SERVPRO of Ames. Proudly serving the Ames community!

What is Black Mold?

9/18/2022 (Permalink)

Within this blog you will find numerous suggestions and informative facts relating to what we call “Black Mold”. By definition, Stachybotrys chartarum is the type of mold often known as “black mold” or “toxic mold”. Sensational news reports warn about the dangers of black mold and these stories can be alarming and confusing. Any mold in your home should be treated with caution – stay out of affected areas and don’t touch or disturb the mold.

How to Know it’s Mold?

Since many types of mold can produce allergens and irritants, you should contact a qualified mold remediation company regardless of the color or type of mold. In many instances, multiple types of mold can exist in the same house or structure. If you suspect that you have a mold problem, contact SERVPRO of Ames for emergency mold remediation services at the earliest time in order to ensure efficiency in stopping the spread of spores.

Additional Knowledge About Mold

When water intrudes into your property, invasive mold growth can start in as little as 48 hours. Consider the following mold facts:

• Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors.
• Mold spores are microscopic, float along in the air, and they also may enter your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems or even hitch a ride indoors on your clothing or a pet.
• Mold spores thrive on moisture. Mold spores can quickly grow into colonies at a rapid rate when exposed to water. These colonies may produce toxins that are harmful to not only humans, but pets as well.
• Before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed. Otherwise the mold may return.
• Mold often produces a strong, musty odor, and that odor can lead you to possible mold problem areas.
• Even higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth. Keep indoor humidity below 45 percent.

If you or someone you know runs into trouble with mold, and needs emergency services, contact SERVPRO of Ames at (515) 233-4544 for professional inspections and readings. SERVPRO of Ames provides services for both residential and commercial properties, 24/7. 

Conditions in Story County might be right for mold

10/4/2021 (Permalink)

It’s estimated that more than 1 million types of mold exist, yet less than 10 percent have actually been named. This means mold is very common in both indoor and outdoor environments. While mold and humans can sometimes co-exist without issue, there are certain species of mold that can cause health effects for some people.

If the right conditions exist, mold will grow.  Those conditions include:

• Water - Different mold types require varying amounts of liquid before growth begins.   
• Temperature - Normal indoor temperatures will promote mold growth.
• Time - Initial mold colonizers can take hold within one day after being exposed to an adequate water supply.

Mold growth can occur in any home, so it’s important to keep an eye out for situations that might promote mold activity. Roof/chimney leaks, wet basements, or condensation from ducts that dampen surrounding insulation are just a few examples of issues that make a house a prime target for mold growth.

If you suspect mold in your home, call SERVPRO of Ames to assess the situation. We have the knowledge, tools and track record to effectively remediate mold in your home or business.

If you suspect mold, call us today at (515) 233-4544

What to Do If You Suspect Mold:

• Stay out of affected areas.
• Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
• Contact SERVPRO of Ames for mold remediation services.

Keep Mold From Forming in Your Home

8/3/2020 (Permalink)

You can prevent mold from growing in your home like this by following some helpful tips from SERVPRO of Ames.

If you have any kind of water leakage or water damage in your home, it’s very common to develop a mold problem as well. We see it all the time. However, mold remediation is usually not covered in a homeowners insurance policy. Here are 15 tips from SERVPRO of Ames for preventing the development of mold in your home:

1. Add mold inhibitors to paint before painting areas likely to have mold, such as bathrooms, kitchens or basements.
2. Use mold-killing cleaning products when cleaning your bathroom or kitchen, two areas with a lot of moisture.
3. Don’t lay carpet in basements or other areas that have a lot of moisture.
4. Make sure the ground around your home slopes away from the foundation to prevent water from entering your home or collecting around it.
5. Remove or replace wet carpets that cannot dry properly.
6. Keep the humidity in your home between 40 and 60 percent. (You can buy a fairly inexpensive humidity meter from your local hardware or home repair store.)
7. Cover cold surfaces, such as water pipes, with insulation to keep condensation and mold from forming. 
8. Use air conditioners, dehumidifiers and fans can help to remove excess moisture and condensation in your home.
9. Check under indoor plants to make sure water is not accumulating beneath the pots.
10. Clean your roof and roof gutters frequently and repair them immediately if you notice leaking or damage.
11. Clean the drip pan below your air conditioning unit regularly and check that all of your drain lines are flowing properly.
12. Leave air conditioning on when you leave your home unattended to keep airflow moving.
13. If your basement or any other part of your home floods, thoroughly clean and dry everything and call SERVPRO of Ames to check for mold growth.
14. Vent appliances that produce moisture, such as dryers or stoves, outdoors.
15. When you shower, cook, or run the dishwasher or clothes dryer, use an exhaust fan or open a window to let excess moisture escape.

Keep in mind that condensation can be a sign of excess humidity, which can cause growth. If you do suspect mold, don’t try and clean it yourself. Call SERVPRO of Ames (515) 233-4544, and we’ll come out right away to determine if it is mold and what needs to be done if it is - at no charge for the initial evaluation.