Archived Mold Remediation Blog Posts
The Dangers of Flood Damage Without Proper Mitigation
9/30/2024 (Permalink)
Proper mitigation not only saves you from costly repairs but also protects the health and safety of your family.
Flooding is one of the most devastating disasters a homeowner can face. When floodwaters invade your home, they don’t just damage the visible areas; they infiltrate walls, flooring, and even your home’s foundation. While cleaning up the water may seem like a big step, without proper mitigation, the problems caused by flooding can worsen over time and lead to significant, long-lasting damage.
Here’s what can happen if flood damage isn’t properly mitigated:
1. Mold Growth
Floodwaters create the perfect environment for mold to thrive. Within 24 to 48 hours, mold can start growing in damp, hidden spaces such as behind walls, under flooring, and in basements. Left untreated, mold not only damages your property but can also lead to health issues.
2. Structural Damage
Water weakens the structural integrity of your home. Wooden beams, drywall, and flooring can absorb water, leading to warping, swelling, and even rot. Over time, this can compromise the stability of your home’s foundation and framework, leading to costly repairs.
3. Electrical Hazards
Floodwaters can affect your home’s electrical systems. Water exposure to wiring, outlets, or appliances creates a risk of short circuits, electrical fires, and shocks. If water-damaged areas aren't properly dried and inspected, it can result in long-term electrical hazards.
4. Decreased Property Value
Homes with unresolved water damage or mold issues often lose value. Prospective buyers are wary of properties with a history of flooding, especially if there’s visible damage or lingering moisture problems. Proper mitigation ensures your home retains its value and is safe for future residents.
5. Lingering Odors
Floodwater often carries dirt, debris, and contaminants that can leave behind unpleasant odors. Without proper drying, cleaning, and deodorization, these odors can persist long after the water is gone, making your home uncomfortable to live in.
The Importance of Professional Mitigation
Proper flood mitigation goes beyond simply removing water. It involves thorough drying, moisture detection, mold prevention, and sanitization to ensure your home is completely restored. At SERVPRO®, we use advanced tools like dehumidifiers, air movers, and moisture meters to make sure every area of your home is dry and safe. We also handle mold remediation and disinfect the affected areas to keep your family healthy and your home intact.
Don’t let flood damage turn into a long-term disaster. Proper mitigation not only saves you from costly repairs but also protects the health and safety of your family. If your home experiences flood damage, contact SERVPRO immediately for professional, effective restoration. We're here to help you make it "Like it never even happened."
What Causes Mold In Longview Texas?
7/19/2021 (Permalink)
What can cause mold in Longview Texas?
Since microscopic mold spores exist naturally almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors, removing all mold from a home or business is impossible. Many restoration businesses advertise “mold removal” and even guarantee to remove all mold. This is a fallacy. We understand mold and mold growth. SERVPRO of Longview has the training and expertise to remediate the mold in your home or business.
Mold and mildew need only a damp, moist environment and organic material to establish themselves and thrive. Roof and foundation leaks, high interior humidity, overflowing washing machines, and more severe forms of flooding are common sources of moisture and are what causes mold in a house.
Locally Owned Company with National Resources
SERVPRO of Longview is locally owned and operated—so we live and work here too and are proud to be part of this community. We are also part of a national network of over 1,700 Franchises with special Disaster Recovery Teams placed strategically throughout the country to respond to large scale disasters.
Mold Cleanup in Longview Texas
7/30/2020 (Permalink)
We are your mold experts!
Contents Claim Inventory Service
When a water emergency strikes, the damage can often feel overwhelming. We can help ease the worry and confusion during the recovery process by offering our Contents Claim Inventory Service (CCIS), which provides a detailed and accurate list of your belongings. We take a room-by-room inventory of your contents, including digital photos, and in some instances, bar coding.
Our Contents Claim Inventory Service:
- Preloss list and value of contents
- Detailed and accurate report
- Better information to settle claims quicker
- Assistance with burden of proof for claims
- Peace of mind when you need it most
Electronic Cleanup
Water-damaged electronics can present a serious hazard. Do not attempt to turn on or operate any electrical device that you suspect has been damaged by water. We will coordinate the restoration of your electronics, including:
- Television sets
- DVD players
- Computers
- And more
The key to restoring electronics is taking prompt action to prevent further damage. We start by cleaning the exterior of electronic devices to help stop further corrosion and damage. Electronics will be cleaned and inspected by a qualified electronics technician.
Conditions Could Be Right For Mold Growth
4/13/2020 (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 Longview 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 903-238-8100
What to Do:
- Stay out of affected areas.
- Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
- Contact SERVPRO of Longview for mold remediation services.
Conditions In Longview, Texas Might Be Right For Mold
3/10/2020 (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 Longview 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 903-238-8100
What to Do:
- Stay out of affected areas.
- Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
- Contact SERVPRO of Longview for mold remediation services.
Longview Residents: Follow These Mold Safety Tips If You Suspect Mold
3/5/2020 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Longview specializes in mold cleanup and restoration.
If you see visible mold, do not disturb it. You can inadvertently spread the mold infestation throughout your home. When mold is disturbed, the mold can release microscopic mold spores which become airborne and can circulate inside your home.
What to Do:
- Stay out of affected areas.
- Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
- Contact SERVPRO of Longview for mold remediation services.
What Not to Do:
- Don’t touch or disturb the mold.
- Don’t blow air across any surfaces with visible or suspected mold growth.
- Don’t attempt to dry the area yourself.
- Don’t spray bleach or other disinfectants on the mold.
About Our Mold Remediation Services
SERVPRO of Longview specializes in mold cleanup and restoration, in fact, it’s a cornerstone of our business. Our crews are highly trained restoration professionals that use specialized equipment and techniques to properly remediate your mold problem quickly and safely.
If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today – 903-238-8100
Mold Myth Busting 101 in Longview, Tx
10/18/2019 (Permalink)
Certified Mold Remediation
Its name evokes images of green rot. Mold is a menacing pollutant existing naturally in the environment. But it's the last thing you want growing in your Longview home.
Like most people, you probably know that indoor mold ruins homes and threatens health. And you might agree that the first step to eliminating mold is locating its sources.
But do you know where to look for mold? Or even that using a popular disinfectant to clean it can do more harm than good? Chances are, you've been duped by these mold myths that should be laid to rest:
- A Clean Home is Mold-Free.
A dirt-free home is no guarantee against mold infestation. Mold thrives in closets, dark corners, and drywall, a common construction material in homes today. It's microscopic spores sail through the air, so you can't see them or know where they land.
- Your home has no moldy odors.
It's true that gasses produced by mold give off a musty odor. But it's false to assume that having no odor means your home isn't infested. Not all molds produce smells. And if mold is lurking in a basement, its smell doesn't enter the air you normally breathe. It's there, and you never knew it.
Wet basements are a major source of mold. But they're just one of many in your home. Other mainsprings for mold are humidifiers, leaky pipes, dryers that vent indoors, bathrooms and cooking areas that aren't ventilated, even carpets in a basement.
A powerful disinfectant, bleach wipes away mold on glass, metal, or plastic surfaces. But while its chlorine component doesn't penetrate to the sources of mold in drywall and wood, the water contained in bleach does. And--you guessed it--that water lingers beneath the surfaces, providing more than enough food for mold to grow.
Conditions In Longview, Texas Might Be Right For Mold
4/15/2019 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Longview knows what to do if mold grows in your home.
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 Longview 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 903-238-8100
What to Do:
- Stay out of affected areas.
- Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
- Contact SERVPRO of Longview for mold remediation services.
Longview Residents: Follow These Mold Safety Tips If You Suspect Mold
3/28/2019 (Permalink)
If you see visible mold, do not disturb it. You can inadvertently spread the mold infestation throughout your home. When mold is disturbed, the mold can release microscopic mold spores which become airborne and can circulate inside your home.
What to Do:
- Stay out of affected areas.
- Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
- Contact SERVPRO of Longview for mold remediation services.
What Not to Do:
- Don’t touch or disturb the mold.
- Don’t blow air across any surfaces with visible or suspected mold growth.
- Don’t attempt to dry the area yourself.
- Don’t spray bleach or other disinfectants on the mold.
About Our Mold Remediation Services
SERVPRO of Longview specializes in mold cleanup and restoration, in fact, it’s a cornerstone of our business. Our crews are highly trained restoration professionals that use specialized equipment and techniques to properly remediate your mold problem quickly and safely.
If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today – 903-238-8100
Does Your East Texas Home Have A Mold Problem?
3/27/2019 (Permalink)
In Longview, mold can spread through a home in as little as 48 hours.
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 or 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 allergens and irritants.
- 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 and assess your property and use our specialized training, equipment, and expertise to remediate your mold infestation.
If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today – 903-238-8100
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