Mold is a nightmare most property owners hope never to experience. People who live in old houses are far more likely to experience mold, but that doesn’t mean you won’t find mold in refurbished or newly built structures. Every property is susceptible to mold damage. After discovering mold, most homeowners get thrown off balance, not knowing what to do or how to begin mold removal.
Mold remediation can be daunting and costly, depending on the damage’s extent. Ideally, your next course of action would be to contact mold remediation professionals. While it’s an excellent idea, you’d want to know a few things before dialing the phone. Thus, this article provides relevant information regarding mold remediation and things to know before hiring a mold remediation professional.
Essential Things to Know Before Starting Mold Remediation Services
Do I Need to Test for Mold on My Property?
No, you don’t have to test for mold, especially when you can see it. Mold remediation experts suggest that testing for mold when it’s visible might be a waste of time and money unless you need a record of mold damage for a sales negotiation when buying a property or an insurance claim.
Regarding mold, the saying “out of sight, out of mind” doesn’t apply unless you’re willing to spend a significant sum on mold cleanup. The fact that you can’t find any visible signs of mold doesn’t mean your home is mold-free.
Should I Handle It or Hire an Expert?
Regarding mold mitigation, seeking professional help is the best option. If you’re sure of a mold problem, a professional service will help you eliminate the damaging fungi while implementing measures to prevent mold growth later.
It’s also advisable to contact a professional for thorough mold testing; perhaps you don’t see any visible mold but observe signs of mold infestation.
Besides, mold issues often tag along with moisture problems like plumbing leaks, improperly sealed windows, and condensation. A mold mitigation expert understands the various locations mold often dwells and intensively addresses these areas to prevent reoccurrence.
Mold removal without handling your moisture problem is a waste of resources. Once mold spores reencounter wet spots, prepare for mold.
Is Mold Removal the Only Solution to My Mold Problem?
No, mold removal isn’t the only way to handle mold issues, especially if they’re recurrent. It’s one of the steps in the mold remediation process. While mold remediation and removal sound similar, they are different processes.
Removal focuses mostly on the short-term solution, which is getting rid of mold and mold spores from the affected areas. In contrast, mold remediation offers a lasting solution to your mold issue.
Remediation focuses on the problem source. The process involves inspecting and cleaning the HVAC system, removing and replacing absorbent or porous materials affected by the mold, eliminating airborne mold spores, etc.
Can I Do Mold Removal By Myself?
You can do this job yourself with some home remedies and ready-made mold removal products. But some cleaners, like bleach, only get rid of the mold that you can see, leaving the problem at its root.
Experts recommend hiring industry professionals to remediate mold infestations beyond ten square feet. Consider handling the removal if the growth only covers a small area on a hard surface. Perhaps you notice it on walls or ceilings; cleaning surface mold won’t solve the problem.
What Is the Duration for Mold Remediation?
There’s no specific duration for mold remediation, as many factors contribute to how long a typical remediation process would take.
For instance, cleaning minor mold spots on your bathroom wall won’t take as long as a basement covered in mold patches. Another factor affecting duration is the source of the problem and how quickly it can be fixed.
Overall, remediation takes a few hours for minor issues and a week or more for significant mold problems.
What Does the Remediation Process Entail?
Mold remediation is relatively straightforward but requires expertise and knowledge to achieve the desired result. The process involves:
Moisture Source Identification
Without a moisture problem, there can’t be mold growth. You’ll often find mold growing in areas previously exposed to moisture or near a water source. Areas like kitchens, basements, bathrooms, and laundry rooms are popular places you’ll likely find mold. Fairway Heating and Cooling, LLC technicians use state-of-the-art equipment to test for moisture levels around the house and fix the issues in needy areas.
Containment
Mold spreads quickly due to its microscopic nature. After addressing the moisture problem, our remediation specialists isolate the mold-infested areas to prevent spores from contaminating other areas.
Air Filtration
Mold spores get into the air quickly during mold removal. They can stay in the air in the contained area and spread to other parts of the home after the affected areas are no longer sealed off. Hence, the need to filter the air.
At Fairway Heating and Cooling, LLC we run negative air machines with high-efficiency particulate air filters throughout the project, ensuring the effective removal of spores, dust, and other airborne contaminants that could taint your indoor air.
We offer the absolute best mold remediation services throughout Tampa and can’t wait to assist you with your mold problem.
Removal and Cleanup
The best way to ensure proper remediation is to get rid of mold-affected materials. Don’t hesitate to dispose of furniture, carpeting, drywall, and other items affected by mold.
Repairs and Replacement
As mentioned earlier, disposing of infested items increases the chances of preventing mold growth in the future, warranting replacing or repairing damaged drywall panels, flooring, carpeting, and furniture.
Mold Remediation Costs
Remediating mold is not cheap, and prices vary based on several factors. The average cost of mold remediation ranges between $1,000 and $3,500. However, some companies exploit situations like this to extort homeowners, exaggerating the scope of work to pad cost estimates.
Let Fairway Heating and Cooling, LLC Help You!
Perhaps you need a reputable company to handle mold removal and remediation on your property. Fairway Heating and Cooling, LLC is a premier mold remediation company to consider. We prioritize customer satisfaction and offer exceptional services at competitive rates.
Aside from mold remediation, we are experts in AC repair, AC service, duct sealing, heating installation, duct repair, mold removal, etc. Contact us at 813-443-9439 to get the best mold mitigation service throughout Tampa.