Month: January 2020

Do Dust Masks Protect Against Mold?

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Do Dust Masks Protect Against Mold?

Traditionally, you’ll see home service workers wearing dust masks when dealing with certain allergens. Your HVAC technician will likely wear one when they’re cleaning your ductwork. Doctors will wear these masks to avoid spreading germs. There’s something to be said about this inexpensive protective layer. But do dust masks protect against mold?

How Do Dust Masks Protect Against Allergens?

Dust masks protect against airborne allergens by acting as a shield or a dam for the spores. Allergens are really anything someone can be allergic to, but the most common airborne allergens include pollen, dust, grass, dander, and other miniscule debris. If the spores can’t access your respiratory system (the openings for which are your nose and mouth), then they can’t cause an allergic reaction in the airway.

But does that apply to mold?

Is Mold an Allergen?

Yes! While mold can be harmful to the respiratory system in general, mold can cause a specific allergic reaction for some people.

Mold can cause these reactions for anyone:

  • Itchiness
  • Wheezing
  • Skin rashes
  • Eye redness
  • Coughing
  • Sinus issues
  • Watery eyes

For people who are allergic to mold, these are the separate reactions they can experience:

  • Postnasal drip
  • Deep coughing
  • Expanded itchiness (into the nose and throat)
  • Dry skin, scaly appearance
  • Sneezing
  • Tightness in the chest
  • Nasal congestion

In both cases, respiratory issues are a side effect of mold, which means that a dust mask can protect against mold – to a certain degree.

Do Dust Masks Protect Against Mold?

Yes, dust masks protect against mold, but only to a point.

Dust masks offer some respiratory protection, meaning that you won’t breath in the spores, as the mask will block them from getting into your lungs. However, dust masks will not protect against physical contact with mold. Your skin can experience an adverse reaction, such as a rash, itchiness, hives, or discoloration.

What’s more: If you have mold in your home, a dust mask will not be a long-term solution. The best thing to do if you believe there is mold in your home, particularly in your ventilation system, is call a specialist.

There’s Mold in My Home! What Should I Do?

If you know or suspect that there’s mold in your home, the safest next step is to contact a licensed mold remediation specialist. RestoPros is here to help. We’re the only mold remediation company that has a registered nurse and a safety officer as full-time staff members. We take safety very seriously: At every job site, we set up first aid kits, eye washing stations, and fire extinguishers.

Take your life back by restoring your peace of mind. Get 24/7 emergency mold removal services from RestoPros! Call 855-587-3786 to schedule an appointment with one of our professionals today!

Can UV Light Destroy Mold?

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can uv light destroy mold

You may have heard of a new trend for mold remediation that involves using ultraviolet light. Is this possible? Can UV light destroy mold? If so, how does it work? What is the best method for mold remediation, and can you remove mold from your home yourself? The experts at RestoPros have the answers for you.

How Does UV Light Destroy Mold?

Yes, UV light can be used as a form of mold remediation. But what is it about UV light that stops mold from reproducing? UV light actually acts as a natural form of sanitation. It sterilizes bacteria, viruses, and mold spores so they can’t multiply.

Usually a UV light device is attached to an HVAC unit so it can serve as an air purifier. If mold doesn’t grow in your air ducts, then it’s less likely for mold to become a big nuisance in your home.

Can UV Light Destroy Mold Completely?

Although UV light is now used in some forms of mold remediation, the level of UV light used in home mold remediation is too low to destroy mold completely. Even dead mold spores can still trigger allergic reactions in those who have mold allergies.

UV light devices in HVAC units can act as an effective mold prevention measure, but it’s not 100 percent infallible. Even the smallest amount of mold can spread and cause health problems for you and your family.

What Is the Best Method of Mold Remediation?

The CDC offers an eight-step guide to remediating mold in your home: It involves wearing protective gear, throwing away soiled items, improving air circulation, cleaning while keeping chemical solutions in mind, drying soaked areas of your home, and more.

This is a lot to remember for someone who isn’t trained to work with mold. Handling mold improperly can make you sick. Handling the cleaning chemicals improperly can be deadly. Leave mold remediation and removal to the professionals at RestoPros. We’ll take care of your mold problem for you.

Why Choose RestoPros

Of all the mold remediation specialists in your area, RestoPros is the one to choose. We offer 24/7 emergency mold remediation services. Our mold remediation experts employ a 106-point proven remediation process, so you can rest assured that your home is safe from the dangers of mold. Our company has your safety in mind: We always come onsite with first aid kits, eye-washing stations, and fire extinguishers. We also have full-time staff members who are registered nurses (RNs) and safety officers.

At RestoPros, we take customer safety very seriously. It’s the only thing we consider over customer satisfaction, which—as you can see from our five-star reviews on Google, Yelp, and Angie’s List—is top of mind for our business.

If you’re ready to get rid of mold in your home once and for all, call RestoPros right away.

Can Mold Kill You?

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can mold kill you

You know that there are different types of mold and that mold can be harmful, but you’re not sure about the range. You may have even eaten a slice of bread or cheese just to discover that there was mold on it, but nothing bad happened. What are the consequences of being around mold? Is mold harmful? Can mold kill you? The experts at RestoPros have answers to all these questions and more.

Different Types of Mold

Green Mold

Green is the most common color of mold. A range of greens can tell you different things about the mold you have, including whether or not it’s dangerous. Dark green molds have been known to cause sinus, eye, and skin infections and can even cause brain infections in rare cases. Green-ish blue molds are usually found on food and may not have any adverse effects unless you have a mold allergy.

Blue or White Mold

This type of mold usually grows on food or on the walls of homes. Like the green mold that grows on food, you may not have an adverse reaction to this type of mold unless you specifically have an allergy to it. However, breathing in spores can eventually cause respiratory illnesses. It’s always better to be safe than sorry when dealing with mold.

Black Mold

This is the type of mold that causes the most problems. Black mold has been linked with major health conditions like lung bleeding and memory loss. If you see black mold in your home, it’s best to call a mold specialist right away. Do not try to remove it yourself.

Negative Effects of Mold

From the short list of different types of mold above, you can see that even “harmless” mold has negative side effects. Here are some allergy symptoms and conditions you can develop from being around mold:

  • Itchiness
  • Nasal Congestion
  • Runny Nose
  • Watery Eyes
  • Wheezing
  • Coughing
  • Asthmatic Reactions
  • Rash
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Lung Bleeding
  • Memory Loss

Can Mold Kill You?

The short answer to this question is: probably not. However, those who have fragile immune systems who also neglect their health (by not visiting their primary physician regularly) may develop extreme symptoms that lead to death. However, this is very unlikely. That’s not to say that mold isn’t dangerous. You can see from the list above that it can cause a series of health problems.

What to Do If You See Mold in Your Home

Call a mold remediation specialist immediately. We’ll come out and give you an estimate. You’ll know exactly how much the treatment will cost before we do any work. However, having black mold in your home can be very serious. We want to work with you to make sure that you and your family members are safe and healthy. If you feel that our prices are too high, talk to one of our friendly representatives. Call today to have all your questions answered, to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists, and to have your mold problem taken care of!

What to Do If You’ve Been Impacted by Flood Waters

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What to Do If You’ve Been Impacted by Flood Waters

Whether you want to be prepared for a flood if it occurs or you have already been impacted by a flood and you need guidance, the experts at RestoPros can help! Follow these useful tips if you’ve been impacted by flooding:

What Is in Flood Waters?

If your home is flooded, the water that rushes in will be much different from the water that comes from your tap. If your flood is caused by a severe thunderstorm, you may think that the flood water is just rain water and poses no threat to you and your family. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

Coming into contact with flood waters also puts you into contact with:

  • Electrical Currents
  • Chemical Waste
  • Biological Waste
  • Radiological Waste
  • Carcinogenic Compounds
  • Organic Waste
  • Debris
  • Animals That Carry Diseases

Are Flood Waters Dangerous?

You may be thinking that if you know how to swim, you’ll be fine in flood waters, but this is not the case. Drowning is only one risk that flood waters pose. This water is contaminated, so being exposed to it can cause:

  • Stomach Sicknesses
  • Infections in Open Wounds
  • Rashes
  • Tetanus

What to Do If You’ve Been Impacted by Flood Waters

Get to Safety

Your very first priority is to get yourself and your family to safety. If you know a flood is heading your way, leave the area. If a severe thunderstorm caught you unawares and flooded part of your home, be sure to stay clear of the area.

See a Doctor

If you’ve come into contact with flood waters personally, it’s important that you make an appointment to see a doctor. As we’ve mentioned, flood waters are riddled with dangerous bacteria, so just coming into contact with them can make you really sick.

Contact a Water Damage Restoration Specialist

Once you know that you and your family members are safe, it’s time to consider the damage that the flood did to your home. Rather than exposing yourself to the materials that came into contact with the flood waters, call a water restoration specialist. They’ll review the site, take note of the damage, and offer you a quote for repairs.

Call a Mold Remediation Specialist

Once the water has been drained from your home, the next thing to do, to make sure your home is safe for you and your family, is to get rid of any mold that accumulated because of the water damage. Like flood waters, mold is also dangerous, so you don’t want to try to remove or clean mold on your own. Contact a mold remediation specialist instead.

RestoPros: Your Water Damage and Mold Remediation Specialist in One

If you’ve been impacted by a flood, then the best thing you can do for yourself is to contact RestoPros. Our technicians are uniquely trained to handle both water damage restoration and mold remediation. Call our office at 855-587-3786 to have all your questions answered by one of our friendly representatives. If you feel ready, you can also schedule an appointment with us.