Mold Removal

With all the media attention in recent years, the word MOLD brings an instant hesitation. Is it a real concern? Afterall, it's been around forever. The truth is, the effects of mold on our bodies are just now being understood. While rare, serious health effects from exposure to fungi, do occur. Too much exposure to certain types of mold could trigger asthma, cause allergic reactions, rashes and other respiratory complaints.

People are more susceptible to a fungus when it is in a building. Infants are more susceptible to infection because their immune systems haven't fully developed. The elderly tend to have weaker immune systems, too. Because of the potential harm, any water intrusion into a building should be handled quickly and professionally.

What are some of the signs of mold contamination?

	Visible Mold Growth
	Musty or earthy odor that is most noticeable when you first enter a structure or room (Your nose will become desensitized to it in about 10 seconds)
	High indoor humidity levels for extended periods.
	Headaches and allergic reactions when within the environment.

Mold can grow on virtually any substance, provided that moisture is present. Prompt attention to water damage or visible mold can often keep a minor problem from becoming major.

If I discover mold, what do I do?

First, don't panic, but do use caution. Make sure your actions won't aggravate the problem by making the spores airborne or spread them to uncontaminated areas. Call a Steamatic professional for an assessment; please use our global locator to the right. Testing can be done to determine the type of mold, but the bottom line is that the mold has to go, no matter what species.

You can call on Steamatic for all your drying and remediation needs. These include:

	Inspection and Assesment of the cause and extent of the damage.
	Health and Safety concerns including containment and removal of contaminated materials (Protective clothing and respirators may be required during the remediation process.
	Containment to prevent the spread of fungi to unaffected areas.
	Remediation, depending on the extent of damage.
	Cleaning of contents in affected areas.
	Clearance testing through an independent third party.

How can I be proactive in preventing mold in my home?

	Mold needs two main factors to grow -water and an organic food source.
	Check your water bill - if water usage has noticeably increased this could be an indication of a water leak.
	If you have had recent remodeling or construction - check roof, flashings, window seals, bathrooms, and humidifiers regularly for signs of excess water.
	Inspections on a regular basis - HVAC and appliance drip pans, appliance water line connections, water heaters, windows and attics.
	If you experience ANY flooding in your structure make sure the removal and drying is handled properly, professionally and promptly. Water can seep under baseboards and into wall cavities, resulting in undetected mold growth.
	If you have a small amount of visible mold that reoccurs after cleaning with a water and bleach solution, this could be an indication of ongoing water intrusion, which should be corrected immediately.

Steps for Microbial Remediation

Inspection & Assessment
Steamatic begins by consulting with you, your insurance company and indoor environmental professionals. An assessment is made of ambient conditions including moisture content and humidity levels. This will determine 1) is a loss indicated, 2) the cause of the loss, 3) remediation Scope of Work, and 4) a cost estimate for removal. Once the estimate is accepted, work can begin quickly.

Containments and Health & Safety
Containment barriers are constructed to prevent the spread of mold spores and mycelial fragments to unaffected areas of your home or office. To protect the health of Steamatic technicians, protective clothing and full-face respirators will be worn. The affected areas placed under negative pressurization with HEPA filtration to remove spores that become airborne during the remediation process.

Contents
Contents from affected areas will be sealed and removed to the Steamatic restoration facility for cleaning. All articles will be inventoried and recorded. Your items can be stored and returned to your home or office when the remediation and rebuild is complete.

Structure
Technicians will first stabilize the environment to control moisture levels if necessary. Areas with heavy mold growth will be cleaned, sanded, HEPA vacuumed or removed as necessary.

Air System
If microbial growth is on a non-porous surface within your air system, Steamatic technicians use our proprietary equipment to clean and treat the system with an anti-microbial solution.

Clearance Testing
Once the areas have passed environmental testing, your home or office is then ready to be turned over to the general contractor of your choice for reconstruction.