Top tips for preventing mold problems in your Morris/Ottawa home

6/15/2017 (Permalink)

Mold in your Morris/Ottawa home or office can be a serious health hazard, especially if you have allergies or asthma. Even if you are not allergic, mold can irritate your skin, eyes, nose, throat and lungs.

Mold can grow in your walls, carpet, couch and other furniture. The most important thing mold needs to grow is moisture, so damp places like basements, laundry rooms, bathrooms and crawl spaces are the most vulnerable areas to mold growth. With that in mind, follow these tips to keep yourself safe from mold in your home or business.

Use a dehumidifier to reduce moisture in the air. Also, keeping the windows closed and the air-conditioning on when its’ humid and muggy outside will keep the moisture out.

Conversely keep it warm when it’s cold outside. Cold surfaces collect moisture through condensation, which encourages mold growth.

Keep bedroom and office doors open to improve circulation.

Add insulation to cold surfaces like around windows and doors, in floors and walls.

Fix leaks under faucets and sinks, as well as leaky cracks in your foundation.

Cover dirt and gravel crawl spaces with a plastic tarp.

If you are finishing your basement use a vapor barrier under carpet and/or wood floors to prevent a moisture problem.

Make sure clothes dryers are very well vented, that the vents stay clean of lint, and be sure the vent exhaust runs to the outdoors.

Have ducts cleaned once a year.

Don’t leave damp clothes in the laundry basket or dryer. Wash and dry your laundry promptly.

Every mold damage scenario is different, and requires a unique solution, but the general mold remediation process stays the same. The steps listed below illustrate our “typical” process:

1.Emergency Contact - (815) 416-0075

2.Inspection and Mold Damage Assessment

3.Mold Containment

4.Air Filtration

5.Removing Mold and Mold-Infested Materials

6.Cleaning Contents and Belongings

7.Restoration