If you have had a mold problem in your home, you know that it’s a long, complex process to get rid of it. From testing to mold removal, it can take several weeks to make sure it’s all gone and dry the area out again.
As an added layer of protection, we recommend mold remediation as well, so you can (hopefully) avoid future mold growth.
But mold remediation isn’t a magic solution to the problem of mold. Keep reading to find out more about mold remediation and its role in preventing mold growth going forward.
What is Mold Remediation?
Mold remediation is the process of filtering your indoor air to remove excess mold spores.
It is normal for there to be a low level of mold in the air. After all, mold is a naturally occurring substance that is in the outdoor air that makes its way into your home through open doors and windows, on your clothing and shoes, and on pet fur.
Remediation restores the acceptable levels within your home so mold is less likely to form colonies and make your family sick.
Remediation is different from mold removal. Removal is a service that cleans mold off walls and other surfaces and restoring those surfaces to their original appearance as possible.
Remediation is often done after mold removal as a safeguard against further mold problems.
Can Mold Come Back?
Mold remediation does reduce the chance that mold will come back, but that’s assuming the other conditions are minimized as well.
Mold growth can occur at any time, even after you have had remediation services done in your home.
The reason for this is simple: mold isn’t actually the problem. Moisture is.
As we said above, mold is always present in the air inside and outside, even in trace amounts. Mold needs food and water to start a new colony. Any amount of water — condensation, humidity, a plumbing leak, or a spilled drink — is enough for mold to start a new colony.
If there is excess water in your home, you will continue to have mold problems. It may take a little time for them to start again since the mold levels have been lowered, but there is no way to completely remove mold from the air. Moisture always leads to mold.
After you have had remediation done, you must also have the moisture problems in your home repaired so you won’t continuously be finding new mold colonies and paying for mold removal services.
How to Prevent Mold From Coming Back
Mold removal and remediation are the first steps to having a home that is free of mold. After these services are complete, there are a few others steps you need to take to prevent it from coming back again.
Here are a few things you can do:
- Figure out where the excess moisture is coming from
Moisture can be coming from obvious places like a plumbing leak or roof leak, but it could also be coming from an unseen foundation leak or excess humidity in the bathroom. It may be beneficial to bring in a plumber to help you check the entire home.
You can also test the humidity in your home to find out where there may be a moisture problem, then start digging deeper to find the root problem.
- Fix leaks
Once you have determined the source of a leak or condensation, you need to fix it right away. As long as this moisture is allowed in your home, there is a great risk for mold growth.
Check around windows and doors, under sinks, and HVAC drip pans and fix any leaks found in these areas as soon as possible. Leaks in your home can not only lead to mold, but they can also damage the wood, sheetrock, carpet and upholstery.
- Take action in high humidity areas
Water that you can see is one problem, but high humidity is equally as problematic. Rooms that tend to have humidity problems include the bathroom and kitchen due to daily activities and in the basement because of a lack of air circulation.
You can test these areas to see if the humidity is in check. There should be an exhaust fan in every bathroom to fight humidity and remove odors. Place dehumidifiers in other rooms where humidity is a problem.
- Check gutters and downspouts
When everything in the house has been checked and repaired, take a look at the outside of your home. The gutters should be in good condition, directing water to the downspouts with no overflow. The downspouts should be directed away from your home at least a couple of feet to prevent pooling water around your foundation.
The gutter system protects the exterior of your home from stains and prevents water from leaking into your basement which would inevitably lead to mold.
Breaking the Mold Cycle
Unless you take care of the excess mold and moisture, there will be perpetual mold problems in your home.
The way to break out of this cycle is to work with a professional mold removal company in St. Louis. They can guide you through the process from mold testing through mold removal and remediation to give you the best chance of getting rid of mold and keeping your home mold-free.
Pure Maintenance of St. Louis will test your home to ensure mold levels are within a safe, normal range and can make customized recommendations to keep moisture and mold out of your home.
Preventative measures are the best way to keep mold from coming back after remediation. Pure Maintenance of St. Louis can help with the big jobs like removal and remediation, but the things you do on a daily basis are much more effective in preventing household mold.
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