Recent Mold Remediation Posts

SERVPRO Now Doing Mold Testing

9/10/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Allen, Barren, Hart, Green and Taylor Counties has been handling mold jobs since we opened. While we have been certified to clean up since the beginning, we are now able to do the testing! 

We can have a manager come to your home or business, collect samples, send them off, and get results within about a week. These results will not only tell you that you have mold, but also what type(s) that are present. It will also give you information about the types of mold, and what they can cause. This is great information to have when you are making decisions about your home or business. 

If you have anymore questions about this process, feel free to give us a call at 270-659-0067!  

Holy Moldy!

8/20/2019 (Permalink)

Even though it’s August, the hot, muggy weather has not slowed down! Here in Kentucky, many home or business owners have noticed discoloration in their buildings. This discoloration could be the growth of a four-letter word no one likes to here: MOLD.

With all the rain and heat we have experienced this summer, many dark, damp places have had the perfect opportunity for growth. In the photo to the right, this corner of a crawlspace had not been checked for mold in quite a while. After our crew got to work, and reached the back corner, they found that this damage was significantly worse than they thought.

Even if you have a tight, small crawlspace, it is important to check it out often. When you catch the problem in the early stages, it is much easier to fix then when it has escalated to this extent.

Q: How long does it take for mold to start developing?

8/18/2019 (Permalink)

A: within 72 hours.

After water enters your home, what is your next move? If there is not a lot of visible water, many times people decide to try to fix it themselves. While some things might be able to be taken care of at home, if you do not get the area 100% dried, something that many people do not think about will start developing in the next few days: mold.

With mold development beginning within 3 days, when you have water damage, you need to take care of it quickly. Because of this, mold is something that SERVPRO of Allen, Barren, Hart, Green and Taylor Counties deal with almost daily. With our climate being rather muggy at times, the moisture in the air can also be enough to trigger growth.

If you believe you have mold in your home or business, give us a call to schedule a quote. We have trained professionals on staff who can help plan the best course of action against the growth!

Home Fire Prevention

8/17/2019 (Permalink)

Almost half of home fires originate in the kitchen area of the home, which 66% of are started with food or other cooking materials burning. With these numbers being so high, it is important to take precautions and constantly be paying attention when anyone is in the kitchen cooking.

Below are seven things to “Be” when in the kitchen:

Be Timely- use a timer to avoid burning food.

Be Smart- use all appliances properly, and check cords regularly for fraying. Also, make sure to never put metal in the microwave.

Be Proactive- Purchase a fire extinguisher for your kitchen, and make sure everyone in the home knows how to use it.

Be Restrictive- restrict children from being in the kitchen without supervision, and make sure any pets will not get underfoot and cause issues.

Be Clean- make sure to wipe up spills on any cooking surfaces. These spills are a great course for a fire to begin. While your stove and counter top are obvious places to watch, don’t forget the crumbs in the bottom of your toaster!

Be Careful- Do not wear long sleeves, as they can easily get dripped in your cooking and make a mess. Also pull back long hair and throw trash away as soon as possible so it does not get on any hot surfaces.

Be Present- The #1 cause of fires is the person cooking stepping out of the kitchen. If you need to leave for any reason, turn off appliances until you return. 

Other sources: 

https://flsamerica.com/blog/7-simple-steps-to-protecting-your-home-from-kitchen-fires-2/

https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Top-fire-causes/Cooking

#TipTuesday - Kitchen Sponges

8/13/2019 (Permalink)

This #TipTuesday is brought to you by the germs in your KITCHEN SPONGE! 

When you are washing dishes or wiping down your counter tops, do you ever think about how fresh the sponge you are using is? While you should regularly replace your sponges, it is very easy to disinfect your current one and make it last a little longer. 

All you have to do is soak the sponge in water, and microwave on high for 2 minutes. Then open the microwave, and let cool down before touching. You can also add some lemon juice to make the kitchen smell fresh! 

When storing your sponge, never put it away while wet. If it is wet in your cabinet, it can not only sprout mold, but spread mold onto everything else in the area! 

How We Stay Organized

8/8/2019 (Permalink)

These are the pods that items are safely packed into for storage!

When it comes to storing contents for a long amount of time, you want to know that your items are safe, and being well taken care of. We get a lot of questions about how we keep everyone’s items separate through both the cleaning and storing process.

We have three commercial warehouses on our property. Two warehouses are where dirty items are taken: one for storage and one for cleaning. In the cleaning warehouse, there are ONLY ONE CUSTOMER’S ITEMS AT A TIME. This ensures that any items that are yours will not get mixed in with another clients.

After they are clean, they are then brought into our “Clean Items” warehouse where delicate items are wrapped in bubble wrap and placed in pods. These pods have barcodes on them which tells us who they belong to. Doing it this way does a couple of things, it ensures that the items stay clean during storage, it makes sure there are no mix ups between customers, and it makes it very simple to find your items the second your home or business are ready for their return. 

What causes mold growth?

5/7/2019 (Permalink)

When you find water in your home, no matter situation, it is a terrible feeling and not a fun process to go through. When you’re in this situation, often people try to take care of the problems themselves. When considering this, think about something else water could cause if the damage is taken care of in a professional manner: MOLD.

There are a lot of types of mold out there, and no one likes finding them. One of SERVPRO’s most common calls is from a business owner or homeowner that has discovered suspect mold in their home, and would like to know what it is.  

The category of mold that most people are familiar with is black mold. It can grow in many places. It is most often found in warm, dark, damp places. This could be in an attic, basement, bathroom or more. While you may not have ever experienced any water damage or leaks, only the moisture from the Earth can cause enough water for the spores to start growing. Mold begins growing within 72 hours of the water contact, so it is important to check your home regularly to catch any signs early. 

We are “Green”, figuratively and literally!

1/16/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Allen, Barren, Hart, Green and Taylor Counties is a “green” cleaning company. Not only is one of our colors bright green, but we also only use environmentally green cleaning products! When you think about hiring a cleaning company, here are five reasons why you should think “Green”:

“Green” products are safer around your family, including pets

Most cleaning products you buy have large amounts of chemicals that can trigger health conditions, asthma and allergies when it is breathed in for long periods of time. Check  your products at home, and avoid using one that contain toxins, pollutants and suspended carcinogens. Doing this can increase your air quality.  

“Green” products are healthier

When you stop using or buying products with these chemicals in them, you are down to a more natural selection. These products are not only better for your family, and also the environment. Check out companies like: Seventh Generation, JR Watkins, and Mrs. Meyer’s, which are some of the leaders in “Green” cleaning products.

Products are all provided by SERVPRO

We provide all the cleaning products we use, so we know exactly what is in them. When we are on a job, we can also provide sheets of information about each product, so you can be sure we are sticking to our promise of being safe and ecofriendly.

Our restoration company is committed to being “Green”, in all aspects

Along with being committed to only using products that do not impact the Earth, we also work to save as many materials as possible when it comes to any other jobs we do. Minimizing the amount of trash, and chemicals put into our environment is one of our main priorities.

“Green” cleaning is safe for our employees

While we are concerned about each of our client’s health while we are cleaning, we are also concerned what these products are doing to our employees. Along with your safety, our employee’s safety is a #1 priority. If our team couldn’t be around them all day, we won’t let you either.

If you have a disaster on your hands, or just need some help cleaning up, THINK GREEN and give us a call!

#TipTuesday - Cleaning your Brooms

1/14/2019 (Permalink)

This week’s #TipTueday concerns your brooms:

One of the most overlooked items in your home is your broom. This tool touches the floors all over your home, so you want to make it is clean and not just spreading germs everywhere while you are cleaning up. While it is tougher to clean the bristles made from straw, brooms made with plastic bristles are very easy to sanitize. Follow the directions below to quickly wash yours:

  • Simply take a bucket and fill it with water, bleach and dish soap.
  • Soak it in the mixture 10-15 minute. When time is up, make sure to rinse it well and let it fully dry.

That’s it! Doing this regularly can cut down on the germs getting spread all over your home and can even make your broom last longer.

 -------------------------------------------------------

Call SERVPRO of Allen, Barren, Hart, Green and Taylor Counties for any of your cleaning needs!

Do you have mold in your Bathroom?

9/18/2018 (Permalink)

Have you ever found mold in your home? Especially in your bathroom? Bathrooms are the hardest places in the home to prevent mold growth from happening. Mold loves to grow in small, warm, damp environments. When you run your shower, a lot of moisture gets put into the air along with the toilet holding water and the sink running. Without proper ventilation, all this moisture can sprout mold spores rather quickly. If you suspect mold in your bathroom, here are some of the most prominent places it grows: between the tile, surface of sink and counters, inside cabinets, and behind the toilet.  Checking these places is your first step to seeing if you have mold.

If you find any, this is when you call a professional to see how bad the issue is. SERVPRO of Allen, Barren, Hart, Green and Taylor Counties has certified technicians who can come assess the damage for you.

If you do not find any mold spores, but want to avoid getting them in the future, here are some tips:

  1. Always use the ventilation fan when showering or taking long baths, and keep it running for awhile after you finish
  2. Use a dehumidifier to keep humidity levels low throughout your home
  3. Wipe off all surfaces in the bathroom and do not leave wet towels in the floor
  4. Check plumbing for leaks

Another product you can use to reduce moisture in the air is DampRid. This product soaks up water in the air and prevents the room from getting musty. It also works well when put in cabinets, so everything stored in the bathroom can stay fresh and clean!

https://www.amazon.com/DampRid-FG60FS-Moisture-Absorber-10-5-Ounce/dp/B00CBLW1MQ/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1537281634&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=damp+rid&psc=1

Is Mold taking over your home or business?

9/13/2018 (Permalink)

Gone down in the Basement lately? Looked under the kitchen sink? How about out in the garage? Look around, is there any wet boxes?  Do you see that yellow, green, black or orange substance? When you do it just may hit you that it may be MOLD! 

We have all seen it and thought, “do I have a MOLD problem?” Not all mold is bad but in some cases it can cause health concerns for a lot of people.  If you experience any kind of water flooding, water leaks, to differential humidity, this can cause mold to grow in your home or business.

Taking precautions is the best way to beat the mold. There are different signs that your home or business may be inundated by this growing machine-

  • Can you visibly see the mold?
  • Is there a Musty odor? This may indicate mold is present
  • Is there a recent event that caused excess water?Any type of moisture problems that may have caused mold growth?
  • Excessive humidity

If you answered yes to some of these questions call us today.  We can come out and assess how minimal or over-run the mold may be. We are always Here to Help!

SERVPRO of Allen, Barren, Hart, Green, and Taylor Counties

270-659-0067

http://www.SERVPROallenbarrenhartgreenandtaylorcounties.com/fnol

Tips On How To Avoid Spreading Mold

9/13/2018 (Permalink)

Be careful! Without proper training, you could be spreading mold throughout your home.

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:

  1. Stay out of affected areas.
  2. Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
  3. Contact SERVPRO of Allen, Barren, Hart, Green, and Taylor Counties 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 Allen, Barren, Hart, Green, and Taylor Counties 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.

Introducing the Esporta Machine

7/10/2018 (Permalink)

Esporta Machine

In the past several months we have been rolling out a new piece of equipment that is going to drastically change the way we clean soft contents. The Esporta Machine is from Canada and has revolutionized the power of a washing machine to clean any type of dirt from soft goods. With employees having to attend special certification training to operate the machine, we have been slowly testing different items and seeing how it works. But we are excited to announce that we have now started using this machine to clean customers contents.

Some of the items the Esporta Machine can clean includes: stuffed animals, clothes, purses, leather, hard items with soft interior (such as helmets), shoes, rugs, and many more. The Esporta Machine also cleans the items to a food grade quality. This is cleaner than what you find in a store.

When a family’s belongings are in jeopardy, we want to be able to save as many as we can. The Esporta Machine is going to help us do just that.

Saving Family Keepsakes

7/10/2018 (Permalink)

Before & After

With our new Esporta Machine recently going live, we have seen great results with the tests we have ran on it. During a house fire, one of the items that the family members are most worried about are their keepsakes: quilts, blankets, and children’s stuffed animals. These soft contents absorb the smoke stench and are often deemed unsalvageable.

What if we were able to save these items, and deliver them back to the customer cleaner than they were before the disaster happened?

We are able to do this with the Esporta. The photo is of a stuffed animal that was deemed unsalvageable by insurance. It was too dirty and could not be saved. Knowing the Esporta was almost up and running, we saved it. This guy was one of the first things washed, and you can see an obvious difference between the before and after.

We are excited to be able to give families back their keepsakes in a cleaner state than before their disaster. It is also going to bring them comfort when going through this tough time of their lives!

Prevent Mold if water enters your home!

7/8/2018 (Permalink)

Storm season is here. Every year the entire country experiences different magnitudes of storm damage from Mother Nature. This year if the unexpected happens and you find that Mother Nature has come inside your home in the form of water act fast. It is very important that you dry the impacted area to prevent Mold from forming. If you do see mold, do not disturb it. You can inadvertently spread the Mold through your home by releasing microscopio mold spores which become airborne and can ciculate throughout your entire home.

In the event you have mold make sure you stay out of the affected areas, turn off your HVAC system and ALL fans, and contact SERVPRO. We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 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 –

(270) 659-0067

Follow These Tips If You Suspect Mold

5/3/2018 (Permalink)

Mold Covering a Shelf

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 Allen, Barren, Hart, Green and Taylor Counties 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 Allen, Barren, Hart, Green and Taylor Counties 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 – 270-659-0067 

Severe Mold Damage

10/9/2017 (Permalink)

Mold can grow quickly when water damage is present. Give us call at the first sign of water damage.

Have you ever come across a foul, musky smell in your home or business and had no idea where it was coming from? It's possible this odor could be because of water damage, and water that is not dried up in your home aids mold growth. Mold has the potential to be dangerous to your health, so if your home has a musky smell, call the professionals of SERVPRO of Allen, Barren, Hart, Green, and Taylor Counties to clean it up! Our crew has vast experience dealing with mold remediation, and we are happy to help restore any type of mold infestation in your home or business. You should always leave it to the specialists if you find mold in your home. SERVPRO will completely eliminate the mold and make it look "Like it never even happened." Don't hesitate to give us a call if your home has a mold problem at 270-659-0067!

Preventing Mold from Infesting your Home or Business

10/4/2017 (Permalink)

Mold growing inside a home or business can pose health risks and negatively effect air quality. Thus, preventing mold from infesting your home is important to insure the health of your family. There are three essential steps to preventing it- controlling moisture in home, keeping moisture out of the home, and keeping the house clean and cool. There are many methods of completing these steps.

In order to control moisture in the home, you can install a hygrometer in your home, which will measure the moisture levels. Mold grows where their is moisture, so it's important to keep the house dry. Also, you should open a window while you shower to prevent too much moisture from building in the bathroom. Hanging clothes outside to dry instead of in the house also prevents mold infestation by decreasing moisture. The last method to control moisture is increasing ventilation and circulation in your home.

The second step is to keep moisture out of the house. This step has three methods. First, it is beneficial to drain water away from your house to prevent water coming into your house from outside. Second, it is essential to clean the gutters regularly because they are an important part of the system that keeps water away from the house. Thus, they should be well maintained. Lastly, you could install plastic sheets in crawl spaces especially if it has a dirt floor.

The last step in preventing mold is keeping the house clean and cool, and it contains four methods. First, you must vacuum and dust regularly to remove mold spores. Second, running filters or air purifiers is beneficial to preventing mold. Thirdly, opening the windows to allow sun into the home prevents mold because mold thrives in dark places. Lastly, you must maintain the temperature. Mold grows in warm areas, so keeping the house cool will prevent mold.