It takes about a day for mold or mildew to begin setting in following a flooding, whether caused by Mother Nature or a water leak. To avoid exposing yourself or your family to the harmful effects of mold, act quickly on a mold remediation plan. For many of us the thought of dealing with the clean up from a flood or water leak can be overwhelming and we may be inclined to hold off on plans to do so. But most health and medical experts warn that, in order to protect yourself and your family from the dangerous health issues linked to exposure to mold and dangerous mold spores, that you must immediately implement a mold removal or mold remediation plan. What is mold and why is it something to be concerned about? To being with, mold is a fungus that thrives in dark, damp, musty enclosed areas, like basements, tile, bathrooms, closets, garages and attics. And, mold and mildew are stubborn and hardy substances that can spread very quickly via tiny spores which inhabit the air and ventilation system of your home, quietly exposing you without you even knowing it. The folks at the Center For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) say that in the aftermath of hurricanes or floods, buildings and surfaces that have been wet for 48 hours will generally support visible and extensive mold growth and must be remediated quickly. The same is true for homes that have been flooded by a pipe break. Either way, time begins ticking very quickly after a flood as the quiet dangers of mold infestation begin to kick in within in a 24 hour period or even sooner. There is a long list of health problems the CDC and medical health care providers link to mold exposure mold and, since the symptoms can resemble those of other conditions, it is easy to overlook the source of the problems. These symptoms include a persistent cough; nose, mouth and throat irritation; nasal congestion or chronic nosebleeds; Aspergillosis (caused by mold spores trapped in the lungs); mood swings, headaches, rashes and nausea. Mold is classified as a biotoxin, which is a biological organism that be highly poisonous to humans, as well as domestic pets by causing microscopic spores to be released into the environment. The spores are inhaled on a continual basis by anyone living in the mold-infested home, and these tiny particulates, once airborne, can do great harm. Often mold related ailments are misdiagnosed with other conditions, as the symptoms may be similar. Mold-related illness can not only cause illness, but can create symptoms which mimic asthma, bronchitis, fibromyalgia, epstein-barr virus, allergies, tuberculosis and an almost endless-seeming list of other maladies. If, like many of us in the New Jersey area, you experienced not only flood damage but water leaking into the interior of your home, it is imperative that you address the situation properly beginning with cleaning and drying any wet surfaces as quickly as possible. You can begin this process by doing some things on your own right away to help mitigate spore growth and lessen damaging effects on your home. Begin by keeping the ventilation in your home going by opening up windows and using large fans. Check around your home for anything that cannot be washed and dried and then remove it from your home. These things often include feather pillows, comforters and sleeping bags, as well as clothing and rugs or carpeting. Then, have the situation professionally assessed by a New Jersey mold removal or remediation company. Mold removal is a serious issue, as spores which are disturbed (and hurled into the air and ventilation system of your home) are far more dangerous than mold which is simply standing. In most cases where serious damage has occurred, you are going to want to call in an expert to help you with safely removing mold from your home. Mold remediation must be performed by an experienced professional who is properly outfitted for the task. Proper protocol for the removal of toxic spores from the home and ventilation system is essential.
...read more
