Black Mold Removal Information
Everything you need to know about black mold removal
Black mold removal can be done by yourself or professionally depending on the circumstances. In order to protect yourself and your family from health problems, it is critical that you know when to deal with the issue yourself with removal products or whether you should seek the professional help of a removal company. We will help you
• See the health risks black mold is associated with
• Determine if you have a problem with black mold growth
• Decide whether you will seek the professional help of a mold removal company or whether you should do it yourself.
What is Black Mold?
Black mold is a type of fungus that typically grows indoors whenever there is water damage. It has many different types and variations, but the most common is called stachybotrys chartarum or sometimes stachybotrys atra. It is also sometimes referred to as ‘toxic black mold’ because of the adverse health effects that exposure to the fungi causes. The mold typically accompanies a musty smell and is found in parts of the home specifically affected by water damage. It usually has a dark green, black color and can be located on any surface.
What are the Health Risks and Symptoms of Black Mold Exposure?
Some of the black mold symptoms to look for to see if your black mold problem has already had an influence on your health are headaches and fever. Occasionally the eyes can become irritated (similar to the reaction that those with allergies experience during the spring). Occasionally, severe coughing, nausea and internal bleeding in the lungs are present if exposure has been extreme. At times, excessive exposure can lead to psychological health hazards like memory loss or depression.
What are the Causes of Black Mold?
Black mold forms when there is unresolved water damage due to something like leaky pipes or when the relative humidity of a certain place in the household increases, such as shower curtains. Some homeowners attempt to avoid excessive moisture by installing a humidity sensor to detect dangerous levels that might trigger the formation of black mold. Some high-risk areas are vents, bathrooms, basements and attics. If there has been any recent flooding then it would be wise to check those areas.
Black Mold Removal – DIY or Professional?
It is important to recognize that the actual removal of black mold isn’t the difficult part of the job. You see, removal is fairly straightforward and can be done once you are equipped with proper mold removal products. You will need
• a heavy-duty sponge
• A cleaning agent – typically stores will have a retail brand of some sort that you can purchase, we suggest that you look at our black mold removal products page for more information.
• Gloves
• Eye protection
• A Respiratory mask
Once you are properly prepared for the task (and we do suggest that you use all of the equipment stated above), follow the instructions in applying the cleaning agent to the mold and then, after drying, remove the mold. It is important that when you remove the mold that you attempt to contain it in plastic bags so that it will not be spread through the rest of the home. Sealing off the mold from the rest of the home is very important. Failure to do so can actually make your black mold problems even worse.
Now the hard part is making sure that mold doesn’t come back. First you need to identify why the mold’s location has become a ‘hot-spot’. You need to take care of the moisture problem. Locate what is causing the moisture issue. Do you have leaky pipes? Do you have poor ventilation? Is there an issue with your outdoor landscaping that is causing pooling? Without dealing with the source of the problem, you will find that the black mold issue will be a recurring problem.
Professional Black Mold Removal or Do-It-Yourself?
You need to understand that in order to appropriately remove black mold by yourself, it still is going to cost you money in order to get the right products and eliminate the problem for good. If the problem is serious or you have no previous experience with problems like this, it would probably make sense for you to hire professionally.
