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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Mold, Don't Let it Grow!

2/9/2018 (Permalink)

Mold growing for floor joists that were not dried in a timely fashion.

Fungi and Mold are naturally occurring microorganisms which occur in over 100,000 varieties. Although some can be hazardous to human health, they often enrich our earthen experience through culinary delicacies. Have you ever enjoyed a homemade loaf of bread, blue cheese atop a delicious spring salad with fresh mushrooms or for ultra-foodies, truffles? Mmmm… fungi and mold at its finest! Now, imagine you leave this delightful picnic and head into your neighbor’s house, through their basement, to wash up. The moment you step inside, something isn’t right. You immediately notice a strong, musty smell. You can’t wait to get outside and breathe in some fresh air… you guessed it. Those same microorganisms at their worst.

You remember that last fall your neighbor’s water heater sprung a leak. You recommended they call SERVPRO of Dubuque, but they decided to handle it on their own with some house fans and a small, store bought dehumidifier. So, what happened? Mold just needs a food source, a little moisture to instigate growth and a warm environment in which to grow and multiply. We commonly keep our homes between 68°-76°F. Without a drying team, to monitor daily progress, or the use of commercial grade air movers and dehumidification, your neighbor’s home was no match for mold! Mold feeds on organic materials… the kind our homes are made of: drywall, insulation, wood, paper etc. It takes only 72 hours for mold growth to begin. Once it starts, it doesn’t stop on its own.

Mold growth in the home is not only unpleasant, it can be dangerous when allowed to flourish. Once airborne, mold can cause the Indoor Air Quality of a home to diminish rapidly. Health concerns such as coughing, sneezing, runny nose, asthma, sore throat or inflammation of the sinuses may be caused by exposure to high levels of mold growth. Mold can be especially troublesome for certain at-risk individuals such as infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with respiratory issues and weakened immune systems.

When you, or someone you know experiences water damage inside the home, act quickly to inhibit mold growth. Call SERVPRO of Dubuque, 563.584.2242.

If you suspect that mold has already began growing in your home, give SERVPRO of Dubuque a call.  We can ask a CIE certified Indoor Environmental from MB Mold and Indoor Air Quality run the necessary tests to determine if remediation is necessary.  If remediation is necessary, SERVPRO of Dubuque can handle the remediation and make it “Like it never even happened.”

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