Posts Tagged ‘Mold Damage Miami’

Mold in HVAC Ductwork

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

The presence of mold in a home or building can result in a significant indoor air quality problem. Any species of black mold poses a potential health threat to the building’s occupants. Many mold problems originate in the HVAC ductwork where there is an ideal environment for mold propagation.

As mold breaks down different materials to obtain nutrients, the byproducts include volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). While the mold continues to grow, spores are released to establish new colonies. The combination of VOC’s and mold spores in the air stream triggers allergic reactions in people with sensitivities. There are a variety of health issues associated with mold contact including skin rashes, lesions and even invasive disease.

Moisture and Ductwork

Uninsulated duct systems often create condensation issues that result in moisture on the interior surface of the bare sheet metal. Even internally insulated ductwork can experience mold growth if the system is improperly sized. Anywhere there is a source of moisture, mold will begin to grow.

Most heating and air conditioning systems include a blower to distribute conditioned air throughout the building. When mold is present in the ductwork system, the fan also pushes spores and VOC’s into every sub domain in the structure. As a result, addressing mold growth in a duct system is a primary remediation objective.

Cleaning and Prevention

Many water, mold and fire restoration companies specialize in removing mold colonies and installing preventative measures to eliminate future growth. In any remediation operation, the source of the moisture in the duct system must be isolated and eliminated.

Professional cleaning of the ductwork includes using disinfectants to kill existing mold colonies. A variety of different technology is employed to thoroughly clean the ductwork such as compressed air washing, HEPA filtration and manual scrubbing.

To prevent the reestablishment of mold in the ductwork, a strategy of filtration and eradication is most often employed. This usually includes HEPA filtration or electronic air cleaners installed directly in the air stream. Other devices such as UV lamps and ozone generators will prevent colonies from recurring and ensure that the home or business will remain mold free.

Call us today for a free consultation 800-516-8059 or by email at: info@superrestoration.com

In your service,

Rene Vargas
Super Restoration
1 800 516 8059

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Home Sick: Toxic Mold From Water Damage

Friday, July 23rd, 2010
Mold is a type of fungus that can only grow in moist conditions, and it is sure to form if the moisture content in a house is not controlled. The most common household molds are Cladosporium, Penicillium, Alternaria, and Aspergillus. Most of these molds are either black or white in appearance. Mold is destructive to the home because it destroys the materials that it grows on, due to the physiology of the fungus. Unlike plants, fungi can not make their own food, so they produce enzymes that break down whatever food source they happen to be attached to. Wood, drywall, carpet, and other materials make an excellent source of food for mold. This is why mold from flood damage and water damage is the worst enemy.

In addition, certain molds in the living environment can make a person very ill because they release allergens called mytotoxins. These function by killing healthy cells in the infected organism. People with asthma must especially be on guard as these can trigger severe attacks. A normally healthy person can become very ill from exposure to mold toxins as well. Prolonged exposure induces severe headaches, swelling, irritated skin, and respiratory illness. It would be especially disastrous to have mold growing where a young child or elderly person spends a lot of time, because the effects are harder on their bodies. The mold of most concern is called Stachybotrys chartarum, a dreaded green-black colored mold. This species has been blamed for causing acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage in infants, a condition in which the blood vessels in the fast growing lungs rupture.

Most insurance companies do not cover mold damage, but do cover water damage from leaks. these reasons make it very important to make sure that all leaks in the home are repaired promptly, and that any existing mold is killed and cleaned as soon as possible.

Call us today for a free consultation 800-516-8059 or by email at: info@superrestoration.com

In your service,

Rene Vargas
Super Restoration
1 800 516 8059

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Is Your Condo Protected?

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010
So, you finally made a leap of faith and purchased your dream condo, but how do you know that it is properly protected? More often than not, your condo’s maintenance will be under the supervision of your respective condo association, who may not be hiring the proper restoration companies to take care of water, mold, and fire damage. So how can you convince them to do so? This guide will help you learn how to make sure that your condo association is using the best restoration company available to properly take care of water, mold, and fire damage if and when it occurs.

The first thing you will want to do when making sure that your condo association chooses a company that can properly manage such damage issues is to communicate to them the huge disadvantages of not contracting a company that can handle such repairs. Make it clear to them that hiring an unqualified company can lead to more damage and unforseen lost time. Let them know that hiring a qualified company will mean less headaches and less work for them in the long and short-term. More often than not, condo associations will hire a company based on their price quotes and not on the actual quality of work. Though this may seem smart to them, this is a huge mistake for those that own condos under the supervision of the association, since it can mean that the job will not be done right the first time. Such scenarios can lead to lost time for the condo owners, as well as an embarrassment when friends or family decide to visit them and see subpar work done, or worse, no work done at all on the damaged areas of their residence.

The second thing you’ll want to communicate to your condo association is that a cheap price quote from their current unqualified vendor may not translate into any price savings whatsoever. Let them know that a cheap price quote often means cheap work done, which usually only leads to more repairs down the road, which cause even more expenses, since the job wasn’t not done right the first time.

Call us today for a free consultation 800-516-8059 or by email at: info@superrestoration.com

In your service,

Rene Vargas
Super Restoration
1 800 516 8059

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Prevent Unseen Damage with Infrared Thermal Imaging

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

When you have internal damage in your home or building, it can progressively worsen until you have little choice but to temporarily vacate until such time as you have completely renovated, sometimes having to go so far as to tear out structures and demolish. Your property has already gone through enough damage from the elements, so why should you have to use inaccurate restoration methods?

Most conventional restorations either fail to completely address molds and internal water damage. HVAC and ventilation problems and blockages can escape the eyes of even the most diligent workers and energy losses from cracks, settling areas and gaps in construction are virtually impossible to detect. In all of these cases, infrared thermal imaging can prevent the inevitable damage that prolonged moisture intrusion will deal the structure and occupants of a home or building. There is no better technique than that used in Super Restoration’s thermal inspections, which are tailored to account for temperature differences from radiation, thermal bridging, infiltration/exfiltration and other sources. Ensuring that you have an accurate map of the water damage in your structure is the only way to prevent further disaster and maximize the amount you are able to recoup.

With a custom infrared thermal imaging scan, you’ll know what it’s like to have the advantage of prescience when it comes to your assets. The damage your structure has to undergo for repairs to take place will be effectively minimized by the advanced non-intrusive infrared thermal imaging technique, and you’ll not only be able to determine how far the water damage has spread but also exactly which materials and structural components have been affected by it.

Thermal imaging works extremely well because temperature differences caused by the evaporation of water cause slight chromatic differences detectable to the infrared scanner. By reviewing the immediately available image produced with the aid of a Super Restoration expert, you’ll have advance notice of electrical wiring problems, material defects and innumerable other problems.

When you suspect that moisture intrusion has caused invisible water damage, you shouldn’t hesitate to call on Super Restoration. Molds and other substances can cause serious respiratory health issues, and water damage only worsens as time and weight take their toll. Insurance assessments can short-change businesses on the amount of compensation they receive, even in cases where disasters were unpreventable. Make sure you get the assistance you’ll need to get back on your feet with an accurate infrared thermal imaging assessment from Super Restoration and you won’t regret it. In your service,

Rene Vargas
SuperRestoration
1 800 516 8059

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Warning! Avoid Mold in Your Child’s Bedroom

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

Dear Reader,

We’ve all heard the stories about “black” mold in the media and how dangerous it can be. Many people believe that’s a problem in old, dilapidated houses. True enough but any house can be susceptible to mold growth. It doesn’t take walls covered with it for it to present a health concern. Children with compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable but any child can suffer from the effects. Super Restoration can help with these troubles.

Does your child have allergy trouble? Asthma? Does he or she seem to always have some sort of cold?

Mold present in your home can cause all of those problems. It’s just one more thing their bodies have to fight off. Especially during the flu season when immune systems need to be at top efficiency. Mold in their bedroom is just not an option.

Companies such as Super Restoration are able to deal with your mold problems on an emergency basis if necessary. They can deal with mold removal and also restore your home in such a way as to help prevent another recurrence of dangerous levels of mold. It can’t be kept out completely but it can be controlled.

Super Restoration has equipment such as HEPA vacuum cleaners to rid the floors and furniture of mold spores. They can also do work such as installing humidity control devices for your furnace, seal air leaks to prevent build up of moisture and take away mold’s preferred stagnant air conditions. Super Restoration can remodel and repair any walls that have been harboring mold growth or are at danger of harboring mold growth due to flooding or other major or minor problem with your home.

Studies done by the Mayo Clinic have identified mold as the causative factor in chronic sinusitis in 37 million Americans. Is your child one of these? Mold is also implicated in an increase in childhood asthma. Are you one of those parents that has had to sit with your child in the ER with an asthma attack? Do you have to be ready with a nebulizer when your child can’t breath at night due to asthma?

A company like Super Restoration can take care of all these problems with the skills of experience. You don’t want to discover you child has been suffering unnecessarily from mold in their bedrooms and then have an ill equipped company handle your problem. You want it gone. You want your child to sleep safely without having to worry about breathing problems, coughing, poor health or risking the health of a child who already is dealing with a compromised immune system.

Get the mold out and sleep well at night knowing your child is too.

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100K mold damage and how to avoid a similar fate

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

Investing in a home requires a large sum of money. When something endangers that property, steps are taken to protect the investment. Home owners buy insurance, buy burglar alarms, hire pest control, etc. However, not all hazards can be predicted and protected against.

One Florida homeowner, Veloz, discovered she was unprepared to stop one hundred thousand dollars worth of damage to her property. Her home in Lee County at the intersection of 19th Street SW and Olive Avenue was vandalized, after renters moved out. The vandals were the first to damage the home, but as they left the property they also left the water running.

The resulting water damage sustained by the home inevitably gave birth to the mold that would skyrocket the cost of her repairs. Anyone outside the home would not notice the mold, but the mold is growing almost everywhere inside. It has crept along the baseboards, the walls and even onto the ceiling. So, while the sheriff’s department investigates the crime, the mold continues to grow and damage the home. Veloz will undoubtedly lose a considerable amount of capital to protect her investment at this point.

Fortunately, for other homeowners, her situation is a warning sign. Homeowners should learn these basic steps to decrease the possibility of mold build up.

1. Control the moisture inside
Invest in a moisture or humidity meter and keep indoor humidity roughly around 45%. This can be achieved through the use of the home’s air conditioning system.

2. Keep indoors as dry as possible
If liquid spills, then clean and dry the affected area. Dry off any noticeable condensation.

3. Maintain operational roof gutters
Mold spores are in many places outdoors. If roof gutters are not working properly, then they may become an excellent area where mold can grow and begin affecting the home.

4. Repair water leaks
Any leaks inside the house should be repaired as soon as possible. It is also imperative to dry the surrounding area, within 24-48 hours. This will help prevent the growth of mold.

If the problem is larger than a homeowner can deal with alone. It is important to contact a certified local mold specialist like Super Restoration. We are certified to perform mold inspections and mold remediation. When prevention is no longer effective, contact the professionals. To avoid situations like the one Veloz was a part of. It is also a good idea to have a burglary alarm system installed. This way, even if vandals leave the water running, someone will know before mold grows throughout the home.

Rene Vargas
www.SuperRestoration.com
1 800 516 8059
rene@superrestoration.com

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Student in danger of health issues due to mold

Monday, January 4th, 2010

A college student had just bought an apartment near his campus and about 2 weeks later began to feel ill. He felt shortness of breath, runny nose, and itchy eyes. He looked online for many reasons to why he may have these symptoms and realized he have mold in his home. He called our 24- hour emergency service line, and an appointment was set up with one of our certified mold inspectors. Upon inspecting the apartment, the inspector found a few issues that can be leading to a compromised indoor air conditioning and potential mold concerns.

First, the air conditioning unit seemed to not be operating correctly due to condensation noticed around the air conditioning vents. In addition, 2 windows in the family room were leaking and the carpet was humid due to water intrusion from the outside. Tests were performed and a plan of action/protocol was drawn up to begin remediation work, 2 months later, the college student is now free of symptoms and excelling in school.

Rene Vargas
www.SuperRestoration.com
1 800 516 8059
rene@superrestoration.com

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Air Purifying in Offices

Friday, December 18th, 2009

Ozone, a gas composed of three oxygen atoms bonded together, has been protecting us from harmful ultraviolet light generated by the sun for the last 600 million years. Indeed, the human-generated holes in the stratospheric ozone layer are a leading concern for the EPA, which has banned substances and adopted the Montreal Protocol to protect what is left of the ozone layer. The goal of this treaty is to, in time, restore the protective layer of ozone in the atmosphere; the holes are even now showing signs of closure, though it will take years to complete the restoration.

Not all Ozone is good, though. Ground level ozone, when combined with volatile organic compounds, such as those found in gasoline and paints, and nitrogen oxides released through the burning of fossil fuels creates smog, a pollutant known to cause serious health problems. As smog levels rise in cities across the world, hospitals are seeing increased complaints of lung irritation, wheezing, coughing, and painful breathing, all symptoms directly related to the inhalation of ozone and smog. The Great Smog of 1952 killed, directly or indirectly, over 11,000 Londoners. This lead to Parliament’s passage of Clean Air Act is to reduce pollution, making London’s famous “pea soupers” a thing of the past.

While great strides have been made to protect the public from ground level ozone and smog, more needs to be done. Indoor exposure to ozone gas can, according to the EPA, reach 100 times outdoor levels. New studies show, too, that chemical compounds on a person’s skin can react with ozone in the atmosphere around it, releasing chemical byproducts that may be harmful to humans. In an office environment this is an especially pressing concern, as a major source of ozone is office equipment running on electrical or chemical processes, such as copiers and laser printers.

There are, though, ways to reduce office ozone levels; some business machines can be equipped with ozone filters to reduce the levels of gas emitted, and services exist to purify the air in businesses currently experiencing problems. Investing in one of these options is a great way to ensure a healthy, productive workforce for the future.

Rene Vargas
www.SuperRestoration.com
1 800 516 8059
rene@superrestoration.com

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The Dangers of Mold in a Home and the Importance of Mitigating the Damage

Friday, October 16th, 2009

Dear Reader,

Today I’d like to touch on the topic of the importance of Mold damage and the proper way we prevent it from spreading. If water enters into a lower level of a South Florida home as it often does due to weather, storms, rains and flooding it cannot be allowed to sit for any length of time. In order to stay in good health, the water should be drained from the area immediately because otherwise any stagnant water will develop mold, mildew, and dangerous bacteria in the home. Super Restoration has seen these types of issues surprise homeowners when their children get sick or their walls or drywall begin to show the affects of mold but usually once this happens, often it’s too late to mitigate the damage.

Mold and mildew can attach to walls, furniture, floors, carpets, and almost every surface or object in the home and continue to develop and grow. In a wet environment, mold can start to develop only 24 hours after the environment has been wet. If that mold is left to grow by leaving the area wet it can cause serious damage to your families health. Even if mold and mildew which is growing in a basement where it is out of sight, it does not mean that the mold is not dangerous or hazardous to you and your kids. Over the last 20 years, Super Restoration has how the hidden dangers of Mold can reap havoc on family; therefore make sure you don’t take any chances.  

Mold spores can get into the air and travel through vents which can make people and animals living in your home very sick if it is not taken care of immediately. Mold which is left and not taken care of will create health problems such as respiratory problems, ill feelings such as fatigue and nausea, and in serious cases mold can lead to Cancer. Make no mistakes about it, mold is dangerous to both the people and the animals living in your home, don’t take the risk.

It’s easy to spot mold, it is black and splotchy and can grow on walls, floors, papers, and furniture. If there is mold in the house, it is important to hire a company such as Super Restoration to mitigate the mold problem and put your family back in a safe living situation.

Super Restoration can eliminate the mold in the home down to the last spore of mold. In a home which is growing mold, Super Restoration would first evaluate the damage of the area and seal it off from the rest of the home for the safety of the people living in the home. Super Restoration kills the mold using biocides, and cleans up the area using other solvents which are strong enough to kill mold. Once the damage of the area has been evaluated by Super Restoration and the humidity levels in area have been restored to a normal balance, Super Restoration can work out a cost estimate for a project which can be completed in the house which will restore the areas which have been damaged by mold. A schedule is then made to determine how long it will take to complete the project of restoration. Once the schedule for the project has been determined and settled upon, the restoration work can be immediately initiated. The restoration process not only cleans up all of the mold in the home making it safe to live there again, but it also usually involves using different materials which are ideal for making the home less susceptible to mold growth in the future.

Super Restoration
Rene Vargas
rene@superrestoration.com
1 800 516 8059

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