Month: January 2018

What is Air Scrubbing?

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Ever wonder how a RestoPros expert cleans mold? It’s not just wiping away floors with some vinegar and water. Professional mold remediation involves several different methods and high tech tools, and one of the most viable steps is the air scrubbing process. By air scrubbing, we don’t mean grabbing a sponge and flailing it in the air! Knowledge of air scrubbing is crucial for any Dallas/Ft. Worth homeowner.

Air scrubbing is the process of removing several contaminants from the air within a general vicinity. Essentially, unclean air is filtered many times, removing bacteria, particles, chemicals, and other contaminants. After filtering, this newly cleaned air is redistributed through the original area. Mold professionals rely on this process to fully perform mold remediation services, guaranteeing you’ll never see mold again.

How is air scrubbing accomplished? As we mentioned, it takes a bit more power than just a sponge. Instead, the job is performed by devices known as air scrubbers.

What are Air Scrubbers?

An air scrubber is a heavy-duty, portable device that passes air through a filtration system to “scrub” it clean and redistribute back to its original area. Filtration systems may have air passed through several times to ensure contaminants are completely removed. Every mold professional has air scrubbers ready for remediation. Air scrubbers also come in smaller sizes for more personal use, but their larger counterparts are used almost exclusively by mold remediation experts. Furthermore, air scrubbers can differ in their range, filter ability, and energy usage. Air scrubbers are an essential tool for mold remediation, but do you need to have one in your home?

When Should you get Air Scrubbing?

Anytime contaminants are airborne, air scrubbing should be performed. Mold, pollen, and dust are common causes of polluted air, and lead to health risks if left untreated. Worse, these contaminants can work in conjunction, meaning your indoor air quality is decreased heavily. Before air scrubbing, you must restore and fully eliminate the causes of polluted air. Contaminants such as mold growth are persistent, and finding and removing mold is a downhill battle without the help of a professional. After a restoration job, you must have air scrubbing performed. During a restoration job, the pollutants are removed from the area, but still left in the air, in which most times air scrubbing will commence. As a rule, you should always perform air scrubbing when mold is present, and after any restoration job.

Knowledge of air scrubbing is essential in the case of unsuspecting pollution or mold growth. If you are experiencing mold growth, contact RestoPros immediately. We are your trusted mold removal experts, dedicated to helping any Dallas/Ft. Worth homeowner keep their home safe and healthy. Our mold remediation services coupled with air scrubbing guarantees your home never takes another sick day. Give us a call at 855-587-3786 to schedule an appointment and meet the experts you can depend on!

Causes of Attic Mold

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Mold never respects personal boundaries, as is the case when it enters your attic without your permission. Attic mold is an unwelcome problem that homeowners face, and the damage it can cause makes it a nuisance for any unsuspecting Dallas/Ft. Worth resident. Attic mold causes severe damage if left untreated, and can spread to other rooms of your home if not dealt with. Instead of waiting for mold to be your attic’s unlikely guest, identify how it got there to prevent its presence.

Avoiding attic mold is accomplished by knowledge of its causes. Several different factors can lead to attic mold, and having knowledge will stop it from contaminating your home. At RestoPros, our extensive experience in mold remediation allows us to share helpful information on the causes of attic mold – and how to prevent it.

Roof Leaks

  • When your roof leaks, your attic is the first one to know.
  • Leaking roofs seep water into the wood framing of your attic, and the dark space provides ample opportunity for mold growth.
  • Besides moisture and darkness, mold also prefers a warm temperature. Most attics are packed with insulation, ensuring the space is warm and ideal for mold growth.

Exhaust Fan Drainage

  • Exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathrooms are used to draw out moisture, and this moisture passes through ducts that travel through your attic.
  • In colder times such as winter, ducts can begin to drain its condensation through exhaust fans, and stain your attic.
  • With your attic soaking up water from exhaust fans, mold now has a perfect habitat for reproducing.

Improper Ventilation

  • Ventilation is a crucial aspect of your home, but much like exhaust fans, it can lead to mold in your attic if in improper conditions.
  • Damaged or old ventilation can leak out condensation into your attic, and leads to mold growth when left unattended.
  • With poor ventilation trapping moisture, it’s main function is now negated, and damages your home.

Inadequate Insulation

  • Your attic holds insulation to maintain indoor air quality in your home, but its inadequacy can lead to mold growth.
  • Inadequate insulation offers little protection from outside weather, and moisture can easily intrude into your attic.
  • Insulation can become poor through age, damages, or even improper placement.

Attic mold should never be your upstairs roommate. Knowledge of its causes can guide you to finding the right solution. Prevention methods should always be taken, and we hope to have given you guidance on the main causes of attic mold. If you are currently experiencing mold in your attic or any other part of your home, contact RestoPros immediately. Give us a call at 855-587-3786 to schedule an appointment today!

 

Practical Tips After a Flood in Your Home

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After a flood, the cost of repair coupled with the pressure put on a household can have devastating effects. Plumbing problems and roof leaks can both cause unexpected flooding in a home. The Dallas/Ft. Worth area (and Texas in general) is also prone to extremely heavy and severe rain, and chances of flood are higher compared to other states. It’s helpful to understand a few practical tips to follow in the event of flooding in your home. RestoPros is dedicated to keeping local homeowners educated on post-flood tactics to help minimize the recovery effort. Our experts on water and flood damage services, have compiled some practical tips for you to keep in mind:

Turn off All Power

  • Water and electricity are a dangerous and deadly combination.
  • Power can be turned off using your home’s circuit breaker, but do not attempt this if it means standing in water.
  • If your circuit breaker cannot be reached safely, contact your electric company to shut off power to your home.
  • Do not step in any water that’s in contact with electrical outlets.
  • Keep appliances away from water by storing them in a high, dry area.

Document all Damage That Has Been Lost

  • Be sure to document and photo all damage in your home, and be as specific as possible.
  • Make a list of all damaged property, and keep the documents and photos in a safe place.
  • Photographing and documenting will help in recovering damages through insurance.

Notify Insurance Company

  • Call your insurance company and begin filing a claim for the flood damage in your home.
  • When filing a claim with an insurance company, also ask them if you are in a Declared Disaster Area, as this can help in securing additional funds.
  • After filing a claim, insurance companies will help you select a company to remediate the water damage, opting for professionals such as RestoPros for water damage remediation services.
  • After calling your insurance company, they may give you approval to begin removing damage and clearing water yourself.

Clear Out Water and Debris

  • Once approved by your insurance company, begin clearing water inside your home to prevent damage and mold growth.
  • Sump pumps are available at local department stores, ranging from $75-300, and are placed in standing water to pump out the flood.
  • Wet and dry vacuums are also available at department stores for around $60-100, and are used to suck up water and debris from your home.
  • Allow proper air circulation by opening doors and windows, but be sure they won’t allow more water in.
  • Use a dehumidifier to eliminate moisture and prevent mold growth and water damage.
  • Discard any contaminated food or belongings, along with any other items that cannot be salvaged.

Following these practical tips may save your family and home during a flood. Be sure to always contact the right professionals to give you the aid that is needed during a flood. RestoPros offers extensive water and flood damage remediation services to ensure your home gets the treatment it deserves. Give us a call at 855-587-3786 to schedule an appointment and meet your trusted flood experts.

 

Fighting Winter Mold

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With the cold weather in full force, winter is wreaking havoc lately in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Although the chilly season keeps households busy, don’t let mold prevention be forgotten. Winter means increased indoor condensation, increased humidity and cloudy days, all of which are ideal for mold growth. This means homeowners should be extra cautious in older homes, where uneven insulation and foundation cracks can compound these winter issues. The professionals at RestoPros want to help keep homeowners free from a mold infestation during the coldest months of the year, so we’ve come up with some basic tips for fighting winter mold.

Keep Rooms Well-Lit When Humid

  • Mold seeks dark areas to grow and reproduce.
  • Avoid giving winter mold a home by keeping humid rooms well-lit until dry.
  • Consider placing lamps around darker areas of the room to help eliminate too much shade.
  • Keep affected rooms well-lit until moisture has been completely removed.

Utilize a Dehumidifier

  • Mold requires moisture to survive, and will actively search for it in your home.
  • Fight off the winter moisture by using a dehumidifier to reduce humidity levels in your home.
  • A dehumidifier removes moisture and offers a dryer climate, which halts mold growth.
  • Dehumidifiers also help to remove water stains and moisture in hard-to-reach areas such as ceilings and crevices.
  • Rooms that have little ventilation require a dehumidifier to give adequate moisture removal.

Utilize a Ceiling Fan

  • Using the ceiling fan in the Winter may not seem like the best idea at first, but it’s added benefit of reverse spinning helps fight the winter mold.
  • Set your ceiling fan to reverse, as this takes warm air and forces it back down – for even distribution throughout the room.
  • Warm air is better circulated in a reverse ceiling fan, and this helps prevent mold by removing moisture.
  • Beyond mold prevention, a reverse ceiling fan also works well to distribute heat, meaning you can save money on your heating system.

Clean Your Home Regularly

  • With winter adding humidity and condensation, expect to find more reasons to clean your home regularly.
  • Be careful not to track mud when walking inside, and clean any shoes before stepping on carpet.
  • Use a vinegar-water solution mixed with baking soda to clean any dirty walls, counters, or crevices.
  • Vacuum your floors regularly, and remove dust from furniture.
  • When cleaning your home, have mold cleaners handy in case you stumble across any signs of mold.

Fighting winter mold means being smart about the early warning signs. Condensation on windows, humid air and cracks in the walls and ceiling are all precursors to mold growth. If you are currently beyond the warning signs – and experiencing any form of mold in your home, contact RestoPros immediately. We strive to keep Dallas/Ft. Worth homeowners safe and mold-free. Give us a call at 855-587-3786 to schedule an appointment and ensure this winter season is mold-free.