What Everyone Ought to Know About Mold Damage Remediation in Los Angeles

2/17/2019 (Permalink)

When you see visible signs of or smell mold in your home, contact team SERVPRO to investigate and then remediate the damage.

Mold Damage Remediation for Your Los Angeles Home

Mold is a kind of fungus which can grow in your Los Angeles home from spores. It is essential for the breaking down of animal and plant matter outside. Inside, it can commonly be found growing in bathrooms and showers, crawl spaces, basements, attics, and laundry rooms. Active mold growth is fuzzy or slimy and generally is black, green, purple, or orange. Mold which is inactive is usually white and dry and powdery.

When you suspect mold and mold damage in your Los Angeles home, you should contact our professionals at SERVPRO. We have the experience and training needed to clean your home from a mold infestation so that it does not keep spreading to clean areas of your home. Since mold can cause health effects and grows quickly, it is essential to let us know of the issue as soon as you find it.

Once we assess the damage, we need to contain the mold contamination to make sure it won’t spread to any areas of your home that are uncontaminated. We are careful not to introduce airflow to mold spores which haven’t been contained, so we avoid spreading the contamination to clean areas. SERVPRO technicians install plastic sheeting for containment barriers and establish negative air pressure in the affected area. We also seal HVAC vents to stop the duct system from being contaminated.

The method of cleaning up the mold depends on the surface it is on. Non-porous materials can usually be cleaned, but porous materials many times must be removed and discarded. Porous materials which are extensively contaminated are removed. The active mold growth on materials like drywall, fabrics, insulation, and carpeting is removed by getting rid of the actual material. Non-porous materials like metals, glass, and plastics can be HEPA vacuumed if the surface is dry or we damp wipe them using a detergent solution. If mold has been present for a long time, wood with mold growth might have to be removed if the structural integrity has been weakened by rot.

SERVPRO of Silver Lake/Echo Park can clean your home in Elysian Park, Echo Park, or Boyle Heights when you find mold and mold damage. It is essential that you call us at (213) 628-2000 as soon as you recognize there is an issue, as the mold continues to grow and cause more damage until we get it cleaned up.

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Don't Put Mold Into Your Own Hands Call The Professionals

12/21/2018 (Permalink)

Mold needs to be treated by the professionals.

Why Disinfectants are a Secondary Solution in Mold Remediation of Los Angeles Homes

Controlling the growth of microbial fungi is primarily about drying structures. Although a chemical cleansing agent may seem like a quick fix, professional services with qualified technicians can pay dividends in the long run. Mold has a nasty habit of returning particularly during wet or humid times of the year. By investing in a professional service now, you could save yourself several unpleasant situations over the year.

Working on mold remediation in Los Angeles properties is something we have done time and time again. It begins with a simple phone call to our 24-hour emergency line. From there, we can arrange a service within an hour of notification of loss. SERVPRO uses technicians with qualifications in both mold assessment and mold remediation from the IICRC. We all live and work here in this community which reduces our call-out times significantly. We can promise to arrive on-site within four hours of notification of loss.

The presence of moisture is the reason mold prospers which is why professional products should never be used as the primary method for removal. SERVPRO uses a two-step solution which is efficient and straightforward. The first step is to remove contaminated materials from the affected area. The second step is to dry the affected area using fast-drying methods.

Removal of contaminated materials requires a designated clean area. In large scale jobs, we may decide to use a clean room off-site. It is cost efficient to use a clean room on site so, where possible, we opt for this method. The fast-drying procedure involves deploying advanced equipment like rapid air-movers, desiccant dehumidifiers or water extraction units with heated wands that remove residual moisture fast.

Once a SERVPRO technician achieves both these steps, they use professional cleaning products. We use EPA-registered broad spectrum disinfectant to soak the affected area. In some cases, we may control the temperature and PH levels to ensure maximum effectiveness. Disinfectants do show some success in removing and preventing mold growth but, their impact is questionable, which is why removal and fast-drying is our priority.

Hiring a professional is the most critical step in remediation, Contact SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park at (323) 255-1000 today.

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How Does Soda Blasting Remove Mold From Your Los Angeles Home?

12/19/2018 (Permalink)

Soda blasting and dry ice pellets are two of the methods that we use to remove mold from areas where scraping would mar the surface.

Scraping and Removal of Materials:  Two Parts of Mold Damage Remediation in Los Angeles

Microbial activity never stops completely. The absence of water significantly slows things down, and the majority of microbes become dormant. Dormant microbes do very little damage to homes in Los Angeles. However, it only takes a little bit of moisture to reactivate dormant mold and mildew.

The continued presence of moisture significantly increases microbial activity and can lead to large areas of your home succumbing to mold damage in your Los Angeles residence. When we find a home with mold damage, we first locate the place where the microbes are finding moisture, which requires the use of infrared thermal imaging cameras.  Materials that retain moisture show up as being cooler than surrounding materials that do not contain any moisture.  

The location of moisture-laden materials often reveals other areas containing mold, as well. We advise the property owner about the location of these additional areas as we find them. Different materials require different techniques to rid your home of mold damage and excessive spores.  

Many times, we find drywall to contain such extensive damage that we must cut the affected areas away from the wall, place the cut-up pieces in double bags, seal them, and then dispose of them safely. We cut away as little as possible to reduce the amount of waste, but often find mold growing on the inside of the wall, which requires that we remove additional drywall that may seem unaffected by mold on the exterior of the wall.  

Scraping materials to remove mold growing on the very top-most surface can succeed if we begin soon after the mold colony forms. Once hyphae penetrate the surface of a wall, ceiling, or other structure, more aggressive scraping might suffice, however, much depends on the texture of the surface. Textured materials or those with finishes like stained wood, painted walls, and paneling can become visibly marred by scraping techniques, even when mold growth remains very slight.  

When these two methods would produce unwanted results, SERVPRO technicians rely on blasting techniques. Dry ice pellets and soda blasting remove very little of the surface of the materials where mold grows while still removing the microbial population effectively. These two methods also work well to remove odors caused by mold.

SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park is ready to send out a mold damage remediation team to your Chinatown, Elysian Park, or Boyle Heights residence. We are always here to take your call, answer questions, and provide you with knowledgeable guidance. Call us at (323) 255-1000, day or night, any day of the year.

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Cleaning Up Mold Damage In Your Los Angeles Residence

8/28/2018 (Permalink)

Any color of mold can create substantial damage to materials.

Cleaning Up Mold Damage

Many people have heard about black mold and how much harm it can cause. One thing that this seems to downplay is that any overgrowth of mold in your home in Los Angeles can cause damage to your residence's interior regardless of the visible color.

When your home in Los Angeles sustains mold damage, a color other than black does not mean it is okay to ignore its growth. Any color of mold can create substantial damage to materials. Mold colonies give off spores to reproduce, and these can cause your home to smell musty and unpleasant. This process can also cause health effects in people.

Mold spores can travel anywhere in your home that contains air. Furnaces, air vents, heating and cooling ducts, crawlspaces, attics, and even the interior of walls can hold spores and mold colonies. One thing to know about where mold can grow is that this microorganism requires water. SERVPRO technicians use this requirement to find locations in your home that are the most likely to harbor mold and mildew.

Moisture detectors help us locate damp areas. We use these small but powerful tools to help us determine which areas hold mold damage as well as damage from water. Locating the source of this water can also help you find slow leaks from pipes or drains or breaks in your home's roof or other exterior locations.

Remediating the mold damage and leaving your home with a fresh start can make things feel cleaner, as well. Mold spores often feel dusty and cover everything when a heavy infestation occurs. We carry out the proper set-up and then quickly take care of the messy work. Our specialists are certified by the IICRC and stay up-to-date on recent developments and the newest techniques. We want to serve our customers to the best of our ability and provide them with the most value possible.

Residents of Chinatown, Echo Park, and Silver Lake can call SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park at (323) 255-1000, 24/7, every day of the year for assistance with mold damage and its related problems.

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Removing Mold Damage in Los Angeles

8/9/2018 (Permalink)

Finding mold lurking in any part of your home can be disconcerting. Contact SERVPRO to locate the source and remediate the damage.

SERVPRO Technicians Follow a Proven Process When Remediating Mold Damage in Your Home

For Los Angeles residents and homeowners, mold is the quiet problem. It does not get underfoot like water or announce itself like a fire, but mold still causes millions of dollars in damage and restoration costs each year.
 
Many owners first notice mold damage in their Los Angeles home by the ‘musty’ odor. It is a good indicator, but not every mold has it. Since mold can rapidly grow before anyone sees it, SERVPRO restoration teams try to clean, dry and remove mold from each home quickly and thoroughly to prevent additional damage to each home.
 
They start by determining the origin point and extent of the infestation. Teams use air content meters as they perform visual inspections in each room, the garage, and attic. By using both, technicians can quickly find the origin point and trace the mold colony as it expanded through the home.
 
Next, SERVPRO teams isolate the infested areas. They seal off doors, windows, and air conditioning vents with plastic sheeting. If needed, technicians also create a separate area for tools and to change into protective clothing. They do this to prevent accidentally spreading mold spores to unaffected parts of the home during cleaning and removal operations.
 
Our teams start by wiping down every surface with dry sponges and cleaning cloths. This action removes most mold spores. Once completed, technicians vacuum all spores using special HEPA filters designed to catch and trap even a single spore. With the majority of the spores now removed, team members remove the cleaned property from the contaminated area to an unaffected part of the home.
 
After allowing any spores stirred by cleaning operations to settle, technicians repeat the process until testing with an air content meter shows mold levels at a safe level. They use a different meter to examine carpets for mold content and clean it with an anti-fungal agent mixed into a shampoo solution. If the mold penetrated most of the carpet surface, the team leader also gives the homeowner the option of removing the carpet for disposal.
 
The goal for SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park is to return every home to a clean condition without the threat of further mold growth. If you need our services, contact us today at (323) 255-1000 with any questions or to schedule a visit. We are here for you.

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What To Expect During The Mold Damage Restoration Process In Your Los Angeles Home?

4/3/2018 (Permalink)

Mold damage restoration is a job for the experts.

The Mold Damage Restoration Process

Mold damage restoration is a job for the experts. The damage can quickly spread to the uncontaminated area and mold can cause health effects as well. Restoration experts have the necessary safety equipment, training, and technical know-how to remedy the situation.

The remediation process for mold damage restoration to your Los Angeles home can be time-consuming. It can help if you know what to expect when the SERVPRO technicians arrive at your premises. Here is an overview of the remediation process that can help you prepare.

Establishing Containment
One of the first steps in mold damage remediation process is establishing a containment zone. The spores can become airborne during the cleaning process and can find their way to the uncontaminated parts of your home if the area is not properly sealed off. SERVPRO Professionals can install plastic sheets to create a containment zone before they begin cleaning. Negative air pressure is often used as well to keep the spores from going out of the containment zone. The professionals can also seal off your HVAC vents and can also establish areas for storage of equipment.

Removing The Contamination  
Once the damage is contained, the next step is to eliminate the contamination itself. The restorability of an item is determined by the extent of contamination and the type of surface. If the surface is porous and it is impossible to clean the damage within the pores, the item often needs to be eliminated. Drywall, fabric, and upholstery can be a few examples of porous surfaces that might need elimination. The non-porous and semi-porous surfaces are cleaned using a detergent solution and HEPA vacuuming. SERVPRO professionals can use a variety of cleaning agents to eliminate the mold as entirely as possible.

Cleaning The Settled Spores
It is also crucial to clean the settled spores once the cleaning has been finished. The airborne spores can quickly settle in favorable areas if not eliminated and start the damage again. SERVPRO professionals use HEPA filtration to eliminate these settled spores. The process is often repeated multiple times to ensure that there is the as complete elimination of the settled spores as possible.

Call SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park at (323) 255-1000 today to learn more about the restoration process from our experts.

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Skilled Mold Damage Technicians in Los Angeles

3/14/2018 (Permalink)

Mold can spread quickly and needs to be removed following industry standards. Contact SERVPRO for questions and remediation services.

SERVPRO Technicians Follow the Highest Standards When it Comes to Mold Remediation

Anytime water gets inside a building; mold growth becomes a possibility. If water spills into your Los Angeles home and it does not get dried out quick enough, fungi growth is inevitable. Sometimes a fungus develops due to a slow water leak that goes unnoticed for a long time.
 
Whenever mold is present in your dwelling, it is crucial to get the issue mitigated because it sometimes causes health effects. SERVPRO's team of mold damage experts in Los Angeles are IICRC certified and have experience in fungi remediation procedures. Our crews always follow strict industry guidelines and standards when dealing with mold inside a structure.
 
As soon as our technicians arrive at your house, we develop a work plan based on industry mold remediation guidelines and standards. All SERVPRO technicians use resources that come from the EPA and IICRC. The two resources put out by these organizations relating to fungi are the EPA Mold Remediation Guidelines and the IICRC S520 Mold Remediation Standard.
 
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has guidelines set for mold remediation projects in schools and commercial buildings. The guidelines used for these properties also get followed by restoration crews working on residential buildings. The EPA's guidelines provide a flowchart with critical steps to remediating mold that our specialists follow during any project.
 
The EPA suggests three main steps when dealing with fungi-infected areas. First off, we clean and dry any moldy materials present. We use anti-microbial chemicals that get rid of a fungus and the spores it creates to prevent future growth. Then we discard any mold-infested items that cannot get clean. Lastly, we dry out any materials that are wet but not affected by mold within 48 hours.
 
The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) came out with the first standard for mold remediation. The IICRC published the S520 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation that guides restoration professionals in both large and small projects. The IICRC standard provides detailed principles for our experts to follow when restoring mold-contaminated structures.
 
Anytime a fungus develops inside; it is essential that the restoration process gets completed correctly. To ensure the remediation of your mold problem is completed by the book, contact SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park at (323) 255-1000 for assistance 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

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Preventing Small Mold Damage In Los Angeles From Spreading Further

1/30/2018 (Permalink)

One of the first tasks we undertake in most mold damage restorations in Los Angeles is to sanitize the area and kill off any living spores.

Preventing Mold Damage

While all mold damage in Los Angeles has the potential to cause permanent and costly damage to your home, larger and more mature colonies typically pose a far more significant threat than younger ones. Calling SERVPRO helps to ensure that a fledgling infestation never gets the chance to bloom into a much larger problem. We institute a rigorous set of treatments, machines, and safeguards to protect your mold from present and future mold growth.

Sanitization
One of the first tasks we undertake in most mold damage restorations in Los Angeles is to sanitize the area and kill off any living spores. We stock an extensive array of tools for this purpose that allows us to sanitize infestations large and small in short order. For more extensive patches of growth, we use ultraviolet light generators to fry the fungus off without the use of chemicals or other cost-intensive options. For smaller spot colonies where large UV arrays would be inefficient, we can use chemicals and other sanitization options in limited amounts.

Air Filtration
While sanitization prevents a colony from producing additional spores or spreading across a single surface, it can still grow around the home unless existing spores are filtered from the air. We use advanced air filtration technology to catch mold spores of all common sizes and species, simultaneously improving air quality within your house and eliminating any additional risk of mold spreading out.

Preventative Measures
We can also help you to implement some preventative measures around your home to ensure that no further damage occurs in the near future. We offer mold-resistant paints and finishes that can help to protect many materials from mold growth on their surfaces. Also, we repair and improve any lagging water lines and systems in your home to reduce excess moisture in the area and stop further mold colonies from appearing.

SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park provides expert care for local homes afflicted with mold damage. Call us 24/7 at (323) 255-1000.

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Removing Mold Damage In Echo Park

1/4/2018 (Permalink)

Mold damage in Echo Park is not possible unless spores come into contact with enough moisture to allow them to expand and become active.

Removing Mold

Almost every structure in Echo Park contains mold. It is almost as common as dust and just about as harmful when its spores are in their inert state.

Mold damage in Echo Park is not possible unless spores come into contact with enough moisture to allow them to expand and become active. The spores then extend hyphae, which resemble root structures that seek out more moisture and a food source to increase the size of the mold colony. SERVPRO technicians are trained to trace the source of a mold growth and take steps to stop it and prevent more.

Most spores grow in a range from 68 to 86 degrees. Since this is the range for nearly every home in Illinois, stopping mold by raising or lowering temperature is just not possible. Spores feed on common building material, so it also not possible to remove all drywall, ceiling tiles, wood trim, or insulation from the home. The best way to stop mold is to concentrate on removing the source of water which forces the spores back into an inert state.

SERVPRO inspectors use visual inspections and air content meters to find mold concentrations. The highest levels are usually the beginning point of the growth, which means the source of moisture is nearby as well. In most cases, the source is a minor leak from a pipe. We have also found pools of water under a pipe that was improperly insulated, and changes in the outside temperature resulted in condensation which dripped down from the attic into the home. We can usually dry up any standing water and fix the water source in a single morning or afternoon.

If the mold we find is on the surface, our restoration specialists clean and remove it using dry cloths and sponges. If the layer is fairly thick, we use an anti-fungal cleaner to break it up and then wipe it off. For thicker amounts, we deploy commercial vacuums with HEPA filters. These filters are specially designed to capture and trap even a single spore, which by itself is too small to be seen unaided.

If the hyphae penetrated the surface of the building material to use a food source, the only option is to remove it. Drywall and other building materials are cheaper to replace than it is to attempt to clean them or cut out the affected sections.

If you suspect mold in your home, you need to have a professional service examine your home. For any questions about what SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park can do for you and your home, call us today at (323) 255-1000. We are here to help.

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Removing Mold Damage in Los Angeles

10/25/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO technicians follow procedures to thoroughly remediate mold damage found in your home.

Four Steps of Mold Remediation

Every Los Angeles home has mold. Spores are in the air and on nearly every surface from attic crawlspaces to garage floors. Mold only becomes a growing problem when the right mixture of food, moisture, and temperature occurs.

When mold damage in a Los Angeles home goes undetected for an extended period, then it becomes a threat. To stop this threat and remove the effects, SERVPRO has developed some procedures over the last thirty years which return a family to its residence while keeping the cost as affordable as possible.

First, we contain it. The goal is to prevent mold spreading to areas of the home still mold-free. Technicians seal in the mold to the affected areas using plastic sheets across doors and windows. We also cover the HVAC vents to prevent mold from getting in or if mold is found in them, to prevent accidental transfer to a clean area of the home.

Next, we remove it. While we try to clean everything on site, some items are often heavily infested and require a larger area to clean them without spreading the mold or accidentally causing secondary damage to the home with our equipment. Depending on the weather, we might relocate the sofa or another large piece to the backyard for cleaning and restoration. If the weather is poor or the item needs a unique cleaning device, SERVPRO restoration specialists transport it to our offices.

Third, we clean it. Moving property around disturbs spores, so we wait until they have settled out of the air onto the now clean counters and other surfaces. Technicians wipe everything down and repeat the process until our air content meters show levels are back to normal.

Finally, we dry everything. To prevent mold returning, we measure the moisture content in the surrounding air. If it is too high, we use dehumidifiers to remove up to 25 gallons of water daily. For a damp property like kitchen or bathroom cabinets, we use air movers to blow warm, dry air carefully across surfaces without damaging them.

Returning a home to normal and removing mold means getting a professional. At SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park, we have been helping our Los Angeles neighbors get their homes and lives back in balance for over two decades. If you suspect a problem or have questions, call us at (323) 255-1000 today.

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Poor Installation of Equipment on the Roof can cause Mold Damage in Your Los Angeles Residence

10/2/2017 (Permalink)

If amenities are incorrectly installed on your roof, mold damage can develop and easily spread to other parts of your home.

Mold Remediation Services for Improper Installations on Your Roof

Modern living calls for the amenities available to most of us. Television programming is available from around the world if only a satellite existed on your roof. Additional power is easily generated in sunny climates like Los Angeles when you equip your home with solar panels. Other amenities that require installation on the uppermost parts of your residence increase both the worth and the risks placed on your home.

When installing equipment on roofs in Los Angeles, mold damage can develop if the installer performed the job poorly. Rainfall does not need to occur in copious amounts to seep into openings in a roof caused by poor installation work, and mold can begin to grow when only a minuscule amount of water enters any given area.

Hiring a professional and experienced installer to perform the work you need around your home can prevent such a problem from developing in your attic, which can then spread easily to the rest of your home. However, even the best installation professionals can make mistakes when drilling holes in your roof.

SERVPRO technicians can remediate any mold damage that your home sustains. The fact that mold already exists everywhere is behind both why complete and total elimination of mold cannot occur and why mold multiplies whenever water enters an area. Understanding these two principles and many others helps our technicians perform mold damage remediation that restores your home to its previous state.

Removing damaged material happens only when necessary. It is always less expensive to restore than it is to replace those same items. SERVPRO employees understand that while each job should follow basic protocols, creativity and ingenuity can also help resolve many issues. Sealing your attic with Concrobium, an antimicrobial agent, can help keep any future growth from occurring. It can also kill any remaining mold that escaped because it remained hidden in cracks or grooves within the attic's materials.

SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park trains our employees, resulting in certificates from the IICRC. Mold damage can affect every area of your home after mold spores spread out from one focal point. Contact us today at (323) 255-1000 to help regain control of microbes in your home before they can cause more damage.

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Know How Mold Grows To Help Reduce Mold Damage In Your Los Angeles Home

7/10/2017 (Permalink)

Mold is a type of fungus, and like most things that grow, it requires water and a food source to thrive.

Let SERVPRO Tackle The Mold Damage For You

Mold is one of those things you read about everywhere online. There are lots of scare stories about fungus and plenty of tips for how to deal with it. Mold looks unsightly, frequently smells musty and unpleasant, and has the potential to cause damage to your walls or furnishings and even cause health effects. It is easy to see why homeowners want that fungus gone and why they call on SERVPRO for help.

The unfortunate truth is that you cannot completely eradicate mold from your home because it is present in many environments and so even if you clean it thoroughly there is a good chance of it coming back. The good news, however, is that by understanding how mold grows, you can reduce the number of potential breeding grounds in your house and decrease the risk of mold damage in your Los Angeles home.

Mold is a type of fungus, and like most things that grow, it requires water and a food source to thrive. There are many potential food sources in your home – organic materials on the buffet include carpets, drywall, clothes, drapes, wood, and even the food in your kitchen.

It is not possible to remove all food sources from your home. However, it is possible to cut down on the other thing fungi needs for growth: Moisture. There are many sources of moisture in any home, including leaking faucets, condensation, leaky pipes, and poor ventilation. Cut down the moisture sources, and you give mold less chance to grow. It is important to get those leaks fixed, get rid of that condensation, and get better ventilation if possible. Consider investing in a dehumidifier to bring down the humidity of rooms, especially damp areas such as laundry rooms, bathrooms, and even kitchens.

It is helpful to be aware that visible mold is not the end of the story. Damp patches on walls, or under or inside carpets are hidden places where fungus can grow. That is why we recommend you get in touch with SERVPRO. Our mold remediation experts have hi-tech testing equipment on hand to assess the moisture levels in your home and give you advice on what to do. We handle mold infestations on your behalf with careful cleaning and powerful antibacterial agents, and we reduce the humidity and dry out any wet areas or furnishings.

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

For help with fungal growth in your house, give SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park a call at (323) 255-1000 today.

For more information regarding the city of Los Angeles, click here: https://www.lacity.org

Mold Damage In Echo Park

4/27/2017 (Permalink)

Mold growth is not as obvious as fire or water damage.

Professional Mold Remediation And Restoration

Mold growth is not as obvious as fire or water damage. Unless you smell that telltale ‘musty’ odor or see a line of black splotches in the bathroom or laundry room, you will not even know it is there until it has spread throughout your home.

Why does SERVPRO care so much about preventing and stopping mold damage in Echo Park? Three major reasons make getting into your home quickly so important. First, mold slows down restoration work. Second, it raises the cost to you and your insurance company. Finally, mold can have adverse health effects on you, your family, and our technicians.

If our inspectors find mold using an air content meter, see it, or smell it, everything else stops. Our technicians now check for the extent of the growth. Water restoration tasks, such as pumping out water from a living room or basement, now only happen to determine if there is mold behind a wall or underneath a carpet. Carpets, floors, walls and other property with mold require additional cleaning and perhaps even removal. Dry spores can be wiped off surfaces with a relatively small, increased amount of labor. If the mold is wet, a chemical cleaner must be used to ensure removing all of it. If it has grown into drywall, ceiling tiles, or other structural property, then the replacement costs can grow as well into a bill for an entire room instead of just the bottom rows that were absorbing standing water. If the mold growth went unnoticed for a long time, then the sheer amount of spores in the air requires our team to wear breathing gear and our inspector may determine it is unsafe for anyone to be in the structure.

The faster SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park can get into your home and get to work, the sooner we can get you and your home back to normal. As a locally owned franchise, this is our community, and we take great pride as Californians to help our neighbors. If you need our help, or maybe just suspect mold from the previous flooding, call us today at (323) 255-1000.

Mold Damage In Your Los Angeles Residence

3/3/2017 (Permalink)

Mold damage to a home only begins when three conditions are right for growth; temperature, an available food source, and moisture.

Mold Damage And Your Home

There are two major mistaken beliefs when it comes to mold. Any mold is dangerous, and only people who keep a dirty home (e.g. Hoarders) have a mold infestation. Both are completely false. Mold spores are everywhere, outside and inside most homes and other buildings. Mold damage to a Los Angeles home only begins when three conditions are right for growth; temperature, an available food source, and moisture. SERVPRO has decades of experience in changing those circumstances to stop further loss of property.

Most molds grow between 68 and 86 degrees and temperatures above or below those numbers are uncomfortable for most people. Adjusting past that range is only temporary at best and does not stop put a permanent stop to the problem. Raising the temperature is most useful in conjunction with lowering moisture levels.

The organic materials in building materials are excellent food sources for molds. The cellulose in carpet fibers is easily fed upon as are the wood pieces in wall frames and floors. The paper material that makes much of drywall is exceptionally vulnerable. After only a few days of hosting an infestation, affected panels begin to break down.

When the mold growth is this bad, our technicians may remove and dispose of the materials. Particular care is taken with drywall panels as they sometimes disintegrate in the hands of the removal crew. Removing all affected material is expensive and time-consuming, however.

The best, permanent option to halt mold growth is to eliminate the source of moisture and lower the humidity level. Our technicians accomplish this using pumps, extractors, heaters and dehumidifiers. First, we remove standing water. Our technicians can pump out most homes in less than a day and then extract remaining moisture from floors and carpets in another day or two. Next, we use air moisture meters to determine where to set up dehumidifiers and space heaters to dry the surrounding air and structure. Drying is of particular importance to stop mold growth in drywall. Lowering moisture levels below 40 percent returns mold to a dormant state and prevents the need to remove and replace drywall or other building materials.

The sooner we can get into a house or apartment means the sooner SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park can remediate the effects of mold and put you safely back in your home. As a locally owned franchise, each residence is not just a job; it means helping our neighbors. Call us at (323) 255-1000 to get started.

An Education In Mycotoxins Created By Mold Damage Found In Los Angeles

1/20/2017 (Permalink)

Mold Driveway in LA Needs a Pressure Washing and Topical Spray

Remediate the Mold and Reduce the Effects of Mycotoxins

Mold or Microfungi produce secondary metabolites called Mycotoxins. Some of these toxins become airborne and have a chance to affect the health of loved ones. Among them, Aflatoxin, Citrinin, Ergot, Fumonisin B1, and Ochratoxin A, are known to exist. Unless you have experience dealing with these types of fungi specifically, you should get professional help.

We have many technicians who specialize in mold damage remediation living near your home in Los Angeles. We are a single phone call away, easily arriving at your property within four hours of your initial call. We can go to work immediately providing you the services to help provide a safe, healthy environment for you and your family. We can inspect, test, use negative pressure equipment, air scrubbers, and a product specific inventory to combat mold proliferation in your home or place of business.
 
Aflatoxin - A chemical produced by certain molds that grow in soils, decaying vegetation, hay, and grains such as chili peppers, corn, peanuts, rice, sesame and sunflower seeds, tree nuts, and wheat, along with a variety of spices.
 
Citrinin - A secondary metabolite often produced by fungi that develop in long-stored foods, generally grain, and grain-based products. However, it can grow in fruits and other plant products as well.
 
Ergot - A fungus that grows on rye and rye-related products. Various versions of this fungi develop in different land grasses such as moist forests, marsh grasses, and mountain habitats.
 
Fumonisin B1 - A toxin produced by mold found in maize (corn), wheat and cereal products. Slowly affecting areas where corn products are a dietary staple.
 
Ochratoxin A - One of the most abundant food-contaminating mycotoxins in existence. Frequently found in water-damage houses and heating ducts, normally affecting grain and pork products, as well as, coffee and grapes.
 
SERVPRO technicians share this information with you to help educate you on the seriousness of properly handling a mold infestation found in your home. While these microscopic spores may play a significant role in our environment, they have no place in our living spaces, and any growth found, no matter how large, should be handled immediately.
 
The primary purpose of SERVPRO's mold remediation or cleaning services when dealing with mold damage is to remove the conditions that exist in your home that is allowing the infestation to spread. We can help you learn how to prevent these types of events from happening at all.
 
Contact SERVPRO of Silver Lake - Echo Park today, for more information. (323) 255-1000

Mold Damage in Echo Park

11/26/2016 (Permalink)

Moisture Leads to a Problem in this Echo Park Home with Mold Growth

Your Home or Property Gets Remediated from SERVPRO When Mold Shows Up

An element of the natural environment, mold, when outdoors plays an important part in nature by breaking down any dead, organic material like trees and fallen leaves. Indoors, however, you will want to avoid mold growth. Mold expands by means of tiny spores which are invisible to the naked eye and float through the air. When spores land on surfaces which are moist, mold can start growing indoors.

Since common building materials are capable of sustaining the growth of mold and mold spores, leaky roofs, flooding and general maintenance or problems with indoor plumbing can lead to mold damage in Echo Park. Mold can be virtually extant anywhere, and it can grow on just about any surface where there is moisture present. Many times, mold growth can go unseen, so if you suspect you have a problem, contacting our professional staff at SERVPRO is a must. Water vapor condenses on surfaces which are cooler than the air, letting mold grow. This moisture vapor will pass through walls and ceilings, condensing as temperatures fluctuate. With our special equipment, moisture sensors, infrared cameras, and traps we can find the mold so that we may begin remediation of affected zones.
 
Mold growth that is significant will require food and moisture sources and a substrate to sustain growth. Building materials that are common like drywall, plywood, furring strips, carpet padding, and carpets give food to mold. With carpeting, invisible dust and cellulose are also sources of food.

Hidden Mold
Our technicians at SERVPRO can help you find this hidden mold behind paneling or wallpaper, inside ceiling tiles, the back of drywall or underneath carpeting. Plumbing lines in walls could also be a source of moisture since they could leak.

Three things are needed for mold spores to grow and proliferate:  
Nutrients – a common food source for indoor spores is cellulose.
Moisture – this starts the decaying process caused by mold.
Time – mold growth starts between twenty-four hours to ten days after the right growth conditions are present. These fungi also prefer secreted areas away from direct sunlight.

Assessment
Our first step in assessing your mold damage is to non-intrusively determine if you have mold present in your home by examining the building visually. Mold patches can readily be treated. Sometimes, intrusive observation will be needed to assess the level of mold. This can include raising or removing carpeting, shifting furniture, checking behind paneling or wallpaper, inspecting ductwork and opening wall cavities. A detailed visual inspection will be used to find any problems and efforts will be focused on areas where any signs of water vapor or moisture are present.
 
If you suspect you have mold damage in your home, you should contact us right away at SERVPRO of Silver Lake/Echo Park. Dialing (323) 255-1000 will get you a quick response and visit to your property.