How Do I Detect Mold?

1. How Do I Detect Mold?  You Can Find Mold Anywhere You Have A  Moisture Issue!  Mold growth can happen anywhere that you have a combination of moisture  and food! The food being just about anything. The primary areas that we see  mold are the following:  ● CRAWL SPACES​ – Crawl Space Mold Removal  ● ATTIC SPACES​ – Attic Space Mold Removal  ● KITCHEN/BATHROOMS​ – Kitchen/Bathroom Mold Removal  ● BASEMENTS  ● CLOSETS  ● UTILITY ROOMS  ● REALLY ANYWHERE IN YOUR HOUSE!!!  Overlooking The Cause Of The Mold Is The #1  Mistake People Make  As bad as mold can be for you, its just a symptom of a bigger problem! It is  very important to understand why the mold is there in the first place! Was  there a ​flood​, ​roof leak​, ​pipe leak​, do we have proper ventilation in the attic  or crawl space, is there a proper vapor barrier installed in your crawl space?  The best methods for mold removal can be used, everything done correctly,  but if you don’t fix the moisture issue, mold will come back!  Is It Safe For Me To Remove The Mold Myself?  That depends on the mold and how much there is of it. The EPA  recommends that consumers can handle mold jobs if the areas in question  are smaller 3ft x 3ft. See EPA guidelines on the following link:  https://www.epa.gov/mold/mold-cleanup-your-home.  If you have high risk people living in your home, (Children under the age of 2,  anyone with respiratory issues or immune deficiencies) if the area is larger 

2. then the 3ftx3ft rule, or if there has been signs of water damage, we  recommend (So does the EPA) that you use a qualified professional!  Our staff has been trained to adhere to all IICRC (S502)/Clean Trust mold  remediation / mold removal standards. We follow guidelines put forth by the  EPA, National Association of Environmentally Responsible Mold Contractors  and the Indoor Air Quality Association (For mold removal.) We are fully  certified for mold remediation/mold removal, so you can be assured your  mold removal project will be done correctly.  We use third party testing to show that we have successfully removed the  mold in the structure that we worked on. Further more, we give a TWO year  guarantee that the mold will not come back on the area’s that we worked on!   What Steps Can I Take To Remove The Mold  Myself?  We still recommend that you hire a professional for your mold removal  project if one of the two following situations apply:  1. The area is over 3ft x 3ft. (Again this is an EPA guideline)  2. If anyone in your home has respiratory issues or considered high risk.  But if you are set on doing this yourself…(Please keep  the following in mind)  1. Watch Out For Magical Claims By Companies Or On  The Internet  If you look on the internet, you will see multiple ways that people claim to  clean up/remove mold. While we are not saying that some of these claims  will or will not work, it is our opinion that they don’t work 100%! Some of the  more common methods talked about on the Internet or by some  “professionals” are listed below:  BE CAREFUL OF COMPANIES WHO CLAIM TO BE MOLD REMEDIATION  COMPANIES WHO USE BLEACH BASED PRODUCTS OR ULTRA VIOLET  LIGHT!          Bleach As A Way To Remediate Mold:  Positive Points of using bleach:  1. It is very cheap!    2. Works well on NON porous surfaces. (Ceramic tile, etc)      

3. Negative Points of using bleach:   1. Only kills the top layer of mold. (Studies have shown it kills about 40% of  the mold on porous surfaces)    2. Breathing bleach does more harm to your body then most molds!  3. It is not a green friendly method of removing mold! In fact, bleach is very  hazardous to the health of your family and pets!    Ultra Violet Light As A Way To Remediate Mold:    When companies claim that they can remove mold using ultra violet light, it  sounds  incredibly attractive to potential customers. In short, it sounds  like “cutting edge” technology or the latest, greatest technology. And in  theory, it is very good. BUT then there is the practical side of things.    Ultra violet light breaks up the DNA of mold which results in the sterilization  of the mold. Sounds great doesn’t it????? The problem is, Ultra violet light  only works if the light is kept 1-2 inches from the effected surface. Depending  on the surface, it takes anywhere from 2-10 seconds in that area to effectively  sterilize the mold. As the distance the light is from the surface increases, the  intensity of the light decreases and renders the process ineffective.  Ultra violet light is usually sold by HVAC companies as an additional item for  their sales people to sell. Their unit works with the HVAC system. The  problem with those units is that mold spores are not saturated with the ultra  violet light nearly long enough or close enough to the unit. In our opinion,  these units do not work well for mold removal/mold remediation.   Positive Points of using ultra violet light:  1. Sounds like cutting edge technology!  Negative Points of using ultra violet light:   1. Unless it is held 2” above moldy surface for 2-10 seconds, it doesn’t work.  2. Cost of unit is expensive    3. In our opinion, ultra violet light in a HVAC setting, can NOT expose the  mold enough to its light, to properly kill it.  Borax Used As A Way To Eliminate Mold Problems:   Borax is pushed as a “Natural” way to remove mold. While it is a natural  method, it has the same issues as bleach! It cannot get the the root of the  mold.    Positive Points of using borax:    1. Its cheap!    2. Its a natural method.    Negative Points of using borax:    1. Doesn’t work well on porous surfaces. Can’t get to the root of the mold!                        

4. 2. Borax is dangerous to mucus membranes such as eyes. It is dangerous if  inhaled accidentally and is very dangerous to your pets!  3. Because of the health hazards it can cause, it is not considered a “green  method” or kid or pet friendly  Other Internet Methods Of Mold Removal:    There are a bunch of other methods that folks have posted on the Internet.  Vinegar,  baking soda, ammonia, tea tree oil, grape fruit see extract, the list  goes on and on! Some of these methods may work some don’t work at all. In  most cases, the mold will return in 2-3 months when these methods are used.  The use of fogging type products do NOT do enough to take care of your  mold problem. (See comments below!)     2. Just Killing Mold Isn’t Enough!    Dead mold can be just as harmful as live/active mold. So once you have  treated the mold to kill it, you still have  active & dead mold: Either do this by wiping the mold away with a rag or  remove the item that the mold has  be treating drywall. Cut it out after you have sprayed it with a moldicide.  Care should be given to bag it up immediately, so that you don’t cause cross  contamination. Remember, you must remove the dead mold!   have more work to do! Remove  grown on. Example of this would  3. Encapsulation Of Wood Or other Areas That Have  Mold Growth.    General contractors who have not been properly trained in mold removal/  mold  remediation like to cover the mold up with KILLS. KILLS is an  awesome product if you are trying to block stains that have been caused by  water or smoke damage. BUT it wasn’t made for mold. Far to many times,  we see the mold growing on top of the KILLS (The KILLS becomes food for  the mold).  *​OTHER THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN DOING THIS YOURSELF:   You should take extreme care when dealing with mold!  1. PPE: You need to use proper personal protective (PPE) items. When  working on a mold removal project, you should at thevery least use a N95  designated mask. These can be purchased at any home improvement store.  Gloves are also another item that you should be using.  2. Containment: Cross contamination of your house or office should be a  major concern. The area that you are working on shouldbe sealed off from 

5. other areas. Any air conditioning/heating returns that are in the area that you  are working, should be sealed!  3. Negative Air Scrubbers should be used when possible. This helps with  keeping the mold in the contaminated area only.  Mold Removal Indianapolis Contact us For More Details: (317) 648-9365.    jhemmer@moldremoval-indianapolis.com