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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Archived Mold Remediation Blog Posts

How Can I Tell if I Have a Mold Infestation? | SERVPRO of Blount County

10/2/2023 (Permalink)

dark colored mold infestation on a white wall Is there mold in your space? Call SERVPRO of Blount County to remedy that problem fast!

No one wants to think about the possibility of discovering a mold infestation at their home or business. Besides the fact that it is just downright unpleasant, it can actually be a health hazard to your family and a danger to your home’s structural integrity.

Mold can be tricky to track down at times because it usually doesn’t grow in high-traffic areas. If it starts to grow behind your walls or floods, it can silently spread to an entire room without much forewarning. By knowing more about what mold looks like and smells like, you can follow your senses to track down the problem before it gets worse.

Mold Characteristics

Mold spores are virtually everywhere, but it doesn’t just grow everywhere. The conditions have to be right for an infestation to take place. These infestations usually occur in damp, dark areas like basements, attics or behind walls. If it is not caught in time, it can spread rapidly in as little as 48 hours.

Mold can also be any color of the rainbow! Common colors for mold are black, brown, red and even blue. Mold also smells musty or earthly. If you catch a whiff of something similar to damp dirt, it’s time to do some investigating.

Preventing a Mold Infestation

The key to controlling mold in your home is to keep it as dry as possible. All homes need to maintain a certain level of humidity, but anything over 50% humidity in your home can cause lingering moisture, which could encourage mold growth. You should also keep a fan going or open a window in high-humidity spaces like bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms. Circulating air helps prevent moisture from building up over time.

It is also imperative that you tackle any sort of water damage in your home quickly. A single water leak from a broken pipe or roof damage can easily invite water to leak and seep throughout your home. Once it has spread under your floors and behind your walls, it is really hard to dry out and mold can start to grow at any point.

How We Can Help

If you come upon a mold problem in your home, the best thing to do is to leave it and call us right away. We can come out to your house to assess the mold, determine what type it is, and then formulate our restoration plan that will keep everyone safe while we work.

We will also help fix whatever leaked in order to prevent this from happening again! Once the leak has been controlled, we will clean and sanitize the entire area and employ our deodorizers to make sure that musty smell has been eliminated.

If the mold has been growing for a while, structural damages might need to be addressed as well. We can handle floor replacements, new walls or full reconstructions of parts of your home. When it comes to mold restoration, SERVPRO of Blount County is the team for you!

Are you dealing with a stubborn mold problem? Call SERVPRO of Blount County for assistance.

Be Flood Smart

9/22/2017 (Permalink)

BE FLOOD SMART

Floods are one the most common and widespread natural disasters in the United States. Whether your home or business is near a coastline, along with city streets, in the mountains, near a river or even in the desert- there is always the potential for flood damage. Floodsmart.gov reports, in the last 5 years, all 50 states have experienced floods or flash floods. Just because you haven’t experienced a flood in the past, does not mean you will not in the future. In fact, nearly 20% of all flood insurance claims come from moderate-to-low risk areas. On average, floods cost 3.5 billion in annual losses in the United States

According to the American Red Cross, floods cause more damage in the U.S. every year than any other weather-related disaster. The ARC offers the following flood safety tips

Stay away from floodwaters. If you come upon a flowing stream where water is above your ankles, stop, turn around and go another way. Six inches of swiftly moving water can sweep you off your feet.

If you approach a flooded road while driving, turn around and go another way. If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car quickly and move to higher ground. Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water.

Keep children out of the water. They are curious and often lack judgment about running water or contaminated water.

If a flood does strike your home or business contact your local SERVPRO Franchise Professionals. Even minor floods have the potential to cause major damage to a structure when not treated quickly and properly, and the cleanup is often an overwhelming task. The SERVPRO System is prepared to handle any sized disaster. When fire and water take control of your life, your local SERVPRO Franchise Professional will help you take it back.

Biohazard, Crime Scene and Vandalism Clean Up

9/22/2017 (Permalink)

Bio Hazard

Recognized as a leading fire and water cleanup and restoration provider by hundreds of insurances companies, SERVPRO of Maryville/Alcoa also offer fast, reliable biohazard and crime scene cleanup and restoration services to residential and commercial property owners 

Exposer to biological and chemical contaminants can pose serious health consequences for building occupants, employees, customers, and owners. A failure to properly handle and safely remove such hazardous substance can contribute to unhealthy and even dangerous environments. 

SERVPRO of Maryville/Alcoa Professionals are trained to safely and effectively remove biohazards substances and prepare waste for proper disposal according to OSHA, EPA, and state local health regulations. 

Equipped with the necessary safety equipment and cleaning products, SERVPRO of Maryville/Alcoa Professionals help turn unsafe environments into clean, safe homes and offices.

SERVPRO of Maryville/Alcoa can help with the following issues:

  • Blood borne Pathogens
  • Methamphetamine Labs
  • Crime Scene Residues
  • Arson 
  • Vandalism
  • Sewage Backups
  • Black Water Intrusions
  • Mold Mitigation and Remediation 

State and local regulations vary. Contact SERVPRO of Maryville/Alcoa today for 24-hour  Emergency Service. 

Moisture In Walls Can Lead To Mold Damage In Maryville

8/8/2017 (Permalink)

Mold Damage Maryville

Even small water damages have the potential to cause serious structural and indoor air quality issues over time. The key to avoiding costly problems in the future is to handle every water damage as a threat to your property. SERVPRO of Maryville and Alcoa has the equipment and training and experience to find and dry unseen water before secondary damages occur. The proper equipment makes a measurable difference in reducing the damage expense during a fire or water loss. When time matters, technology, and equipment must be counted on to perform. SERVPRO of Maryville and Alcoa will answer your call with rapid action and a full arsenal of drying equipment. Here are a few of the tools used by SERVPRO of Maryville and Alcoa 
Moisture Sensors are used to detect moisture in carpets, baseboards, and walls
Moisture meters are used to determine the actual moisture content of various materials. The moisture tester provides accurate tester provides accurate readings, allowing SERVPRO of Maryville and Alcoa to monitor the drying process.
Thermohygrometers measure temperature and relative humidity. When armed with this information, SERVPRO of Maryville and Alcoa can calculate and create an environment most conducive to drying. When facing a contaminated water loss, it is not only important to dry the structure, but the structure must also be disinfected and often deodorized. 
Ultra-Low-Volume Foggers will atomize liquid deodorizing agents, producing a fine mist that can easily penetrate the site where odor-causing residues may accumulate. 
This device can also be used to inject fungicides and disinfectants into wall cavities and other hard-to-reach areas.
Thermal Foggers dispense solvent-based products by creating a dense fog. The go consists of tiny particles of deodorant solution that attached to and neutralize odor-causing particles.

Mold Damage Removal Maryville, TN

6/22/2017 (Permalink)

Mold Damage in a Mayville Home

When there's a water intrusion, like a roof leak or leaking water line, mold can quickly become a problem in your home or business in Maryville. Mold can affect your health and can also cause significant damage to your property. Fortunately, SERVPRO of Blount County professionals have the training, protective gear, and specialized equipment necessary to handle your mold problem. Although every mold damage scenario is different, requiring a unique solution, the general mold remediation process stays the same. The following steps illustrate a 'typical mold removal process.

Call SERVPRO of Blount County

The mold cleanup and restoration process begin when you call SERVPRO of Blount County. A representative will ask a series of questions to help determine the necessary equipment, resources, and personnel needed.

Inspection & Damage Assessment

Your property will be carefully inspected for signs of mold using technology designed to detect mold and hidden water sources. Mold feeds on cellulose and water which can be hidden from plain view. 

Mold Containment

Various containment procedures will be placed to prevent the spread of mold and isolate the contaminated area with physical barriers and negative air pressure to keep the mold spores from spreading during the cleanup process. 

Removing Mold & Mold-Infested Materials

The mold remediation process depends on the amount of mold growth and the type of surfaces on which mold appears. Anti fungal and antimicrobial treatments will be used to eliminate mold colonies and help prevent new colonies from forming. Removing and disposing of mold infested porous materials, like drywall and flooring, may be necessary to remediate heavy mold growth. 

Cleaning Contents & Belongings

SERVPRO of Blount County clean your furniture, decorative items, curtains, and other restorable items affected by mold. They use a variety of cleaning techniques to clean and sanitize your belongings. They are also trained to remove odors and deodorize using fogging equipment. 

Restoration

Depending on the level of mold damage, drywall, subfloors, and other building materials may be removed. Restoration may involve minor repairs, such as replacing drywall, painting, and installing new carpet, or it may entail major repairs such as the reconstruction of various areas. 

SERVPRO of Blount County understands mold and mold growth and have the training and equipment to remediate mold in your home or business.

Managing Mold

6/22/2017 (Permalink)

Mold Damage in Alcoa Home

Managing Mold

In as little as 48 hours, mold can quickly become a problem in your home or business when there’s a water intrusion, like a roof leak or leaking water lines. Mold can cause health effects and can also cause significant damage to your property.

Although every mold damage scenario is different requiring a unique solution, the general mold remediation process stays the same. The following steps illustrate a “typical” mold removal process.

Inspection and Mold Damage Assessment

Your property will be carefully inspected for signs of mold using various technologies to detect mold and hidden water sources. Mold feeds on cellulose and water and can be hidden from plain view.

Mold Containment

Various containment procedures will be placed to prevent the spread of mold, like negative air chambers to isolate the contaminated area with physical barriers and negative air pressure to keep the mold spores from spreading during the cleanup process.

Air Filtration

Specialized filtration equipment captures microscopic mold spores out of the air. SERVPRO technicians utilize powerful “air scrubbers” and HEPA vacuums to prevent the spread of these mold spores while the mold remediation is in progress.

Removing Mold and Mold-Infested Materials

The mold remediation process depends on the amount of mold growth and the types of surfaces on which the mold appears. Antifungal and antimicrobial treatments will be used to eliminate mold colonies and help prevent new colonies from forming. Removing and deposing of mold-infested porous materials, like drywall and flooring, may be necessary to remediate heavy mold growth.

Cleaning Contents and Belongs

SERVPRO of Blount County Professionals clean your furniture, decorative items, curtains, and other restorable items affected by mold. They use a variety of cleaning techniques to clean and sanitize your belongings. They are also trained to remove odors and deodorization using fogging equipment.

Restoration

Depending on the level of mold damage, drywall, subfloors, and other building materials may be removed. Restoration may involve minor repairs, such as replacing drywall, painting, and installing new carpet; or it may entail major repairs such as the reconstruction of various areas or rooms in a home or business.