Month: November 2019

3 Ways Mold Can Grow in Your Attic

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Ways Mold Can Grow in Your Attic

You’re pretty diligent when it comes to the state of your home. You clean out your refrigerator every week and wipe down all your surfaces. You squeegee your shower after every use to avoid steaks, mildew, and potential mold growth. (All of this in a perfect world, when there are no distractions and nothing binge-worthy on Netflix, right?) But how often do you go up to your attic? That’s more than likely no-man’s land, a house-wide equivalent to a storage closet that you pray no guest will ever open, thinking it’s the bathroom. However, your attic should be more top of mind when you’re reviewing your housekeeping checklist. Here are 3 ways mold can grow in your attic:

1.    Roof Leaks

The first and foremost thing you need to know about mold is that it (typically) requires a habitat that is both warm and moist in order to grow. There’s no running water in your attic, so no need to worry about moisture, right? That would be true if you didn’t have to worry about leaks in your roof.

Even the slightest crack can bring in enough moisture to nurture mold growth. And if you’re not actively keeping tabs on your attic and shooing the ghosts away, you’d be none the wiser and wondering absently why you’re so sniffly and itchy all of a sudden.

2.    Unattended Storage Items

You might be thinking, “OK, so there’s a little mold growth between my roof and my attic. That’s no close enough to me to impact me inside my home.” Well, one: Thanks to your (hopefully) flawless ventilation system, the vapors from the mold in your attic can and will access you in your home. It’s possible that you’re breathing the toxic fumes right now. Have you been feeling a little itchy lately?

Besides the insulation and wooden structure immediately surrounding the leak in your roof, your storage items can become fast victims of mold. As water leaks into your storage boxes, likely made of cardboard, mold creates a little nest in your well-loved but poorly-attended belongings.

3.    Water Damage

If you’re seeing signs of water damage in your ceiling—as in, the bottom of attic floor—then it’s too late: The killer is calling from inside the house. If you’re seeing signs of water damage, then there is certainly mold lurking nearby.

Water damage in your ceiling means that the water leaks in your ceiling are worse than you thought. The water dripped down into the floorboard and soaked through. The worse the water damage is, the worse the mold growth will be. The two nearly interchangeably interlinked.

It’s Time to Call a Professional

If you’re seeing signs of mold growth, it’s really important that you do not try to remove or remediate it on your own. For one thing, breathing the fumes up close can be hazardous to your health. For two, any cleaning solution you may concoct can have negative impacts on your respiratory system. It’s a lose-lose situation. Better to call a licensed mold remediation specialist from RestoPros.

Can Mold Grow in the Winter?

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Can Mold Grow in the Winter

If you’re a skimmer, and you’re looking for the very short answer to the question, “Can mold grow in winter?”- it’s yes. You might not think it can if you’re aware that mold grows, typically, in warm, moist environments. If that’s the case though, how can mold grow in winter? We’ve got the answers for you.

Man-Made Heat

Sure, it’s much less likely for mold to grow outdoors in the winter, but inside? It’s a haven of cozy, luxurious warmth. While you’re making yourself more comfortable indoors, you’re also creating an environment that mold feels comfortable in. Unknowingly, you devise the perfect ecosystem for mold every winter.

But mold requires more than just heat to grow, doesn’t it? Winter makes the air so dry in your home, so there can’t possibly be enough moisture in your home to cultivate mold, right?

Man-Made Humidity

Winter makes the air so dry in your home that you’ll do almost anything to change it. You’ve tried all the Pinterest-inspired DIY tricks (boiling a pot of water on the stove, hanging your laundry up to dry indoors), to bring in a little moisture. You may have even caved and purchased a plug-in humidifier to keep your skin from cracking and flaking.

In the same way you’re making yourself more comfortable, you’re making mold comfortable too. Not only can mold survive in this environment, but it can also grow and thrive.

Leaks and Water Damage

With winter also comes unpredictable precipitation. Will it snow this year? Will there be ice? Will there be days and days of freezing rain that makes leaving the house to even go to work seem completely unbearable?

Wherever you are in the world, you’ll likely have to deal with at least one of these inconveniences. Even if it warms your heart to see little snow flurries fall from the sky, you have to recognize the toll it takes on your house. As precipitation slowly but surely erodes the roof of your home, you wind up with water leaks. The leaks fester in your attic, the place you only visit to reclaim or return your holiday decorations.

The longer a leak goes unattended, the more water damage it produces. And where there’s water damage (in a home manually set to feel like a rainforest), there’s mold.

So, Can Mold Grow in Winter?

Yep.

How to Remove Mold in the Winter

You should never attempt to remove or remediate mold yourself. The fumes, especially, up close can be toxic, causing dangerous reactions on your skin and in your respiratory system. If you want to remove and remediate mold, call one of the licensed professionals from RestoPros. We provide mold testing, mold remediation, and water damage restoration services.

Make you and your family truly comfortable in your home this holiday season by removing mold. Give your family and guests the gift of easy breathing this year.

Concerned about the price tag? Check out our special offers and call our office for details.

3 Ways to Prevent Water Damage on Vacation

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Ways to Prevent Water Damage

If a leak is left unattended for a long enough period of time, it can lead to water damage. Water damage isn’t just unsightly—warping and discoloring your walls, floors, and ceiling. It can also lead to mildew and mold. It’s no secret that mold loves water. Darkness and dampness are ideal living conditions for mold. So, ensure that you and your family stay safe from the effects of mold in your home and your home stays safe from the eyesore effects of water damage while you’re away. Here are 3 ways to prevent water damage on vacation.

1.    Check for Exterior Leaks

You could have a roof leak and not even know it. Your attic provides a nice barrier between you and your roof, and really, how much time do you spend in your attic anyway? Like most homeowners, you probably use it for storage and don’t think about what’s up there until you need to bring down the holiday decorations. That gives any leaks that may have formed plenty of time to snuggle up with your cardboard boxes and make mold.

In a similar vein, air leaks next to your windows and exterior doors can easily become water leaks. If you’re seeing discoloration around your doors and windows, then you have water damage and it’s likely that you have mold as well.

Check for the leaks and patch them up before you go on vacation to avoid water damage and mold growth.

2.    Check Your Pipes for Leaks

This is a little more obvious, but the pipes beneath your kitchen and bathroom sinks are going to be major sources of water damage and huge resting places for mold. As obvious as this is though, it’s not as likely that you’ll think to check your pipes for leaks before you go on vacation.

Before you head out the door, just give a little look around in the cabinets beneath your sinks. You’ll be able to tell right away if there’s water damage. Just to be safe, you might set a small basin beneath the pipes for a few days before you go to see if water accumulates there.

3.    Find the Water Shut-Off Valve

Just to be on the safe side, you might consider locating your water shut-off valve and switching if off. If water isn’t running, then the likelihood of water damage (and mold) decreases considerably. However, this won’t protect your home from any external leaks.

Please note: We do not recommend turning off your water valve if you believe there will be a freeze warning while you’re away on vacation. Water needs to stay moving to keep from freezing, so turning off your water shut-off valve at the wrong time could lead to your pipes bursting—which, of course, can cause more water damage than you might have imagined.

Call RestoPros

While these ways to prevent water damage are all DIY, you should never attempt mold removal or remediation on your own. Coming into contact with mold can make you sick, cause respiratory issues, and even lead to more serious illnesses. Always have a licensed mold remediation specialist handle mold removal for you. Call RestoPros now to talk to one of our friendly representatives about your options and to schedule an appointment today.

Can I Get Sick from Mold Exposure?

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Can I Get Sick from Mold Exposure

It’s alarmingly easy for mold to grow and fester in your home. All it needs to thrive is a damp, dark place, and your home is riddled with prospective squatting spots. With the threat of mold constantly looming, you have to wonder, “Can I get sick from mold exposure?” Mold can have many different impacts on your body and sickness is just one of them. Here are a few common ways mold can affect you:

Itchiness

Most people experience at least minor allergies when they’re exposed to mold. Mold allergies can cause itchiness in the eyes, nose, throat, and skin. Usually, you’ll experience itchiness in the first three places if you’re breathing the mold in, and you’ll experience the last if you come into direct contact with mold.

Sore Throat

It starts with itchiness and then it spreads in your body, just like it’s spreading in your home. The more you breathe in mold, the more likely it is that your throat will become irritated and sore.

Congestion

After your throat starts to get a little sore (particularly in your home, where the mold resides), you’ll also start to experience some effects that last a little longer, like congestion. The congestion starts in your face, around your sinuses, but eventually spreads to your chest. This is when things can start to get dangerous.

Headaches

The sinus congestion leads to severe headaches. You’ll know the issue is due to mold if you cease to experience the headache while you’re outdoors. This will confirm that you’re not experiencing seasonal allergies or a minor headache due to dehydration (a common source).

Respiratory Problems

Chest congestion can lead to breathing-related issues. Those who experience mold allergies will start to experience shortness of breath and a tightness in the chest that can even lead to a claustrophobic feeling. You can develop longer lasting afflictions like asthma and Bronchitis. With these latter troubles, coughing can also be caused by mold.

Lung Infections

People with pre-existing conditions, especially those with autoimmune diseases, are particularly affected by mold. Because their immune system isn’t strong enough to fight off the impact of mold in their body, they can even develop lung infections.

Scarring in the Lungs

Severe lung infections can cause scarring in the lungs, or pulmonary fibrosis. This isn’t a temporary ailment. It’s a lung disease. The scar tissue can harden over time, making it more and more difficult for you to get the Oxygen you need.

Pregnancy Complications

If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, it’s vitally important that you eradicate mold in your home at once. The more you breathe mold in, the more it can damage your body—your respiratory health in particular—and stunt the development of your baby.

Cancer

In extreme cases where mold is left to fester and grow out of control, in which nothing is done at all about the presence of mold in the home and the exposure is long term, you can even develop cancer.

So, to answer your question, “Can I get sick from mold exposure?”: yes, and worse. Don’t assume the musty smell in your home will go away with time. Call a licensed mold remediation professional at RestoPros right away to stop mold in its tracks.

Can Mold Grow in My HVAC Unit?

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can mold grow in my hvac unit

With the right moisture content and nutrients, mold can make its way into many parts of your home. One place mold spores can show up is your HVAC unit. Spores can make their way through your ducts and when inhaled, can cause reactions such as the worsening of asthma and flaring up of allergies. However, don’t panic because even though mold can grow in your HVAC unit, it can also be prevented. The team at RestoPros is here to tell you a little more about how you can protect your HVAC unit from mold!

How to Prevent Mold Growth in Your HVAC Unit

Have Your Ducts Inspected

The ductwork in your home is particularly vulnerable to mold growth and mold spores. Often, ductwork that has not been inspected in a while can accumulate dust, debris and moisture, creating the ideal environment for mold growth

You often breathe in the air that circulates through your ductwork, so it is important it is free of allergens, pollutants and mold spores. If your allergies keep getting triggered or you feel your indoor air quality is not ideal, you might want to have your ductwork inspected by an HVAC technician. In addition, a mold remediation specialist can inspect your indoor air quality for any signs of mold.

Use a Dehumidifier

If you live in a particularly humid climate, using a dehumidifier is a great appliance to have. A dehumidifier essentially maintains the humidity in your home, reducing excess moisture and dampness. To prevent mold, the ideal amount of humidity should be between 30 and 50 percent.

Replace Air Filter Regularly

Replacing your air filter is one of the easiest ways you can ensure your HVAC unit is well-maintained and protected from pollutants and mold spores.  A clogged filter can worsen your indoor air quality as well as air flow and even cause your evaporator coil to freeze up. By regularly replacing your filter, you can ensure the efficiency of your HVAC system and prevent energy losses. According to the Department of Energy, by replacing your clogged filter with a clean one you can lower your system’s energy consumption by 5 to 15 percent.

Professional Maintenance

By having your HVAC system professionally maintained, you can protect it from mold and ensure it is working properly. As we transition into the colder season in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, now is the perfect time to have a professional technician look at your HVAC unit.

Remove Mold from HVAC Unit with RestoPros

If you feel like you might have a mold problem in your HVAC unit, you might be inclined to handle it yourself. However, it is best to contact a professional—in fact, many states have requirements that only a licensed mold remediation professional remove any mold in your home. If you get the sense that your HVAC unit might have mold, get in touch with RestoPros. Our experts will ensure that your HVAC unit and entire home is mold-free! Call us today at 855-587-3786 or schedule a service on our website!