By MickHansen583 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Crawl spaces tend to be vulnerable to mold accumulation since moisture can easily grow in these areas. The homeowner is usually unaware of such issues brewing within their own confines since those areas aren’t frequently visited. To bypass an expensive crawl space mold removal project in your home keep the following in mind:

Like any area with high levels of humidity and moisture, crawl spaces are susceptible to mold infestation. Research suggests that crawl space mold can be found in approximately 60% of homes!

Why does moisture accumulation happen so frequently in crawl spaces?

Your crawl space is situated beneath your home above dirt and soil, both of which contain moisture. Moisture is one of two elements of mold accumulation, the other being a food source, like wood located in the sub-flooring of a crawl space. Because moisture easily forms in enclosed areas, dirt crawl spaces are typical breeding grounds for mold.

Moisture from dirt generally evaporates into the atmosphere, but can be contained in a sealed space. When moisture isn’t well ventilated, condensation may begin to form on sub-flooring or foundation walls, which might be an issue if the sub-flooring is made of wood.

A couple of things to keep in mind about crawl spaces:

Air travels from bottom to top. As such, moisture accumulated in crawl spaces will naturally ascend to your living spaces (or through the HVAC system), which can lead to mold development in places other than the crawl space.

Standing water in crawl spaces isn’t required to stimulate the growth of mold. Humidity at levels of 60% or higher can trigger crawl space mold growth. High levels of humidity are quite typical in crawl spaces, even without the evidence of a flood!

How can crawl space mold and moisture build-up be reduced?

Inspect the foundation walls to ensure there aren’t any entry points for water to seep through. Also, make sure there aren’t any cracks or holes are present in the crawl space’s ceiling. These openings can be a portal for the transportation of water and mold from the crawl space to your living area.

Ensure that downspouts and gutters carry water away from the home. If this is not done, water may gather near it, and eventually make its way into your crawl space.

Make Good Use of Vents

Make sure you have enough ventilation. At the very least, 1 square footage of ventilation should be present for every 150 square feet of crawl space. Most building professionals suggest controlling moisture and closing vents through alternative methods, as open vents may make it hard to keep crawl spaces warm during cold seasons. They may also contribute to a rise in a build-up of moisture during warm seasons when humid and hot air is delivered into the crawl space.

Though these may all be strong points, it can be troublesome to regulate moisture via alternative approaches without using vents. Further, when mold begins growing, it will spread easier in enclosed areas without vents, in comparison to enclosed spaces with vents. The exterior fresh air emitted from the vents may aid in drying out a structure, and reduce/dilute airborne mold concentrations, post-outbreak.

In crawl spaces that are ventilated, tightly insulate against the sub-floor. The insulation should be secured with a mechanical latch or screw. Refrain from simply clogging up the insulation in the subfloor between the joists, as it will probably fall out without fasteners. The insulation’s vapor barrier section should face the source that’s heated.

Ensure existing insulation isn’t sagging or missing, as either one of those situations could be indicative of a water problem.

Ensure the whole dirt crawl space is covered with plastic sheeting and goes up at least three inches along the walls of the foundation. There should be enough of an overlap between the sheeting layers, which should not contain any standing water. If properly applied, plastic sheeting will act as a vapor shield in your crawl space.

Call a Crawl Space Mold Removal Expert

Use these suggestions to bypass crawl space mold, and be careful as you apply them. The attic and crawl space are full of safety hazards that can lead to bodily harm. If you aren’t experienced in crawl space work or don’t want to do the work yourself, a crawl space mold removal professional can help you instead. It’s not worth putting your safety on the line to save a buck or two.

Serving San Diego and San Diego County for over 30 years with quality work and great service. We also service these cities – Chula Vista, El Cajon, La Mesa, Spring Valley, Lakeside. Poway, Ramona, Alpine, Julian, Santee, Coronado, Imperial Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, University City, Tierrasanta, Rancho Penasquitos, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Santa Fe, Encinitas, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Leucadia, Sorrento Valley, Miramar, Mira Mesa, Scripps Ranch, Vista, Carlsbad, Oceanside, San Marcos, Lemon Grove, Bonita, Valley Ceenter, Borrego Springs, and PIne Valley.

A mold is a form of fungus that usually finds a place in your residence’s damp and humid area. Proper inspection of the house every year and proactive cautions are very important to get rid of this deadly mold problem. A home is an expensive asset of a person which can easily be damaged by a mold, there are 50 types of harmful molds that can destroy the health of a person in a few hours.

Point of Concern:

It is recommended to wear a mask or gloves at the time of inspection, it helps to prevent the unnecessary contact and harmful inhaling.

Identification of mold

Mold problems are different in types according to the palace;

1. It may be in different color like white, black, yellow or brown.
2. Its texture may be like leather or cotton.
3. It carries a rotten or pungent odor.

Inspect the washrooms and sinks

Mold usually find a place in the moist area so; washrooms and bathrooms are the most important target. If you are going to inspect check carefully the bathtub, stalls of the shower, a pan of the shower. Mold Problem ordinarily raise its head in the grout above and around the tub and shower since water can leak behind the tiles. Additionally, check if the toilet is leaking and making a rearing ground for mold. Give careful consideration to the pipes and funnels that are in direct contact with water and spills. Check thoroughly with the help of flashlights.

Inspect the attic, closets, and storerooms 

If you are inspecting your attic and checking the storage area, edges, and closets, check the places which are less airy and damp like roof underside, plywood, shingles, and walls. To keep this issue, ensure none of your protection is obstructing the wind current to your upper room.

Inspection of the basement

Look thoroughly if there are any leaks of water or humidity in the basement. Check properly the basements, corners and under roof, windows, closets, and carpets if any. If there is any carpet in the room check if it is wet or damp or if there are any signs of water or humidity.

Note: If you have a furnished cellar, the form will be harder to identify on the grounds that your dividers and rug may cover it up. Be additional careful with the odor trail of your dividers, and run a dehumidifier frequently to evacuate abundance dampness.

Inspect walls for odor

In case you are searching molds in a wall you need to smell the wall because they are invisible as they grow inside the wall. Smell the odor in the wall basements, walls of the bathroom and other rooms exposed to water and dampness. Call a professional if you find any rotten or wet sock smell to inspect and remove the mold.

Removing the mold from the house

Usually, molds that are small can be removed by the owner of the house with the help of mold remedial products like vinegar, bleaching agents, hydrogen peroxide and oil from tea tree which is the most effective and natural remedy for removing molds and mold problem.

Tea tree oil is a bit costly than other remedial products but it gives satisfactory results as it is natural and non-chemical based. Owner of the house just need to take one tablespoon and put it in a cup of water and make a spray, it will help to remove the mold and avert its return.

Prevent the mold problem in the Advance

The most ideal approach to anticipate the growth of any mold is to repair any breaks or water leaks and checking regularly the sources of dampness all through your home. Also, pursue your shower fan after use to expel soggy air from the washroom. In the case that you don’t have a shower fan, make sure to split a window or leave the shower entryway open so dampness can get away. It’s additionally a smart thought to play out a caulk examination for the washrooms to ensure spots are fixed up and properly sealed.

Serving San Diego and San Diego County for over 30 years with quality work and great service. We also service these cities – Chula Vista, El Cajon, La Mesa, Spring Valley, Lakeside. Poway, Ramona, Alpine, Julian, Santee, Coronado, Imperial Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, University City, Tierrasanta, Rancho Penasquitos, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Santa Fe, Encinitas, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Leucadia, Sorrento Valley, Miramar, Mira Mesa, Scripps Ranch, Vista, Carlsbad, Oceanside, San Marcos, Lemon Grove, Bonita, Valley Ceenter, Borrego Springs, and PIne Valley.

The removal of harmful mold from a home or other structure is carried out by mold remediation specialists who may use several processes.  One of them is disinfecting and cleaning the infected area and keeping it dry. Molds are microscopic fungi that grow on damp and decaying organic material. They are found anywhere, may it be indoors or outdoors throughout the year. Some molds are helpful while others affect our health dangerously. There are molds that help in fertilizing our soil by breaking down leaves and tumbled trees. But when these molds are those that grow inside our home, we should remove it.

Exposure to molds can affect our health. This happens when one is staying in a place where molds are extensively growing. The effect of molds in a person depends on his immune system. Molds trigger and creates allergies at different levels. The most common ailment that molds can give us is respiratory ailments and some skin diseases. The worst case that molds can cause you is poisoned by toxic molds. Everyone can be affected by molds especially those that have a week immune system.

Mold remediation Specialists

When we detect that there is mold growth in our homes, we should act upon it to avoid worst cases. Molds grow anywhere and our house is one of its targets. It grows and reproduces rapidly on areas where there is moisture. Moistened areas are molds sweet homes. Molds grow on wood, carpet, paper and any surface where there is ample moisture to support their growth.It is important that we detect mold growth in our homes. Molds can be easily detected through discoloration and smell. The discoloration that is caused by mold may be of any color, but remember that not all discoloration is mold growth. It may be spoiled or soot. Check it and determine if there is moisture on the discolored parts. The odor that mold growth emits is a musty basement smell or an earthy odor.

When you have detected mold growth in your homes, act on it before it is too late. You can remove small molds with the use of detergent and water. Use a mask and gloves while cleaning it and if ever there are those who can be easily affected by molds, clean the infected area when they are away from it.If the mold growth in your homes is great, but you think that you can still remove and make a remedy for it without the aid of mold remediation specialists, here is a tip on how to do it.

Moisture Causes Mold Growth

Since molds love to grow on moistened place, remove the remaining water. To effectively remove mold, we should remove the cause of it, moisture. Air circulation can help a lot in eliminating moisture. This can be made possible through the opening of windows and turning on electric fans or air conditioners. Space heater can aid too.You can apply appropriate disinfectants on infested area to remove and remedy mold growth. There are many home improvement products and even baking ingredients that can be used as a disinfectant as well. For carpets, you can use baking soda. A mixture of chlorine bleach and water can be used for wood furniture, tiles and grout. Laundry detergent with ammonia can be sprayed on textile furniture to disinfect it.

Clothes can be infested with mold growth too. This can be removed and make an easy remedy with oxygen bleach for colored clothing and chlorine bleach for white clothing. Detergent with ammonia removed and can be a remedy to mold infested clothing too. After cleaning the clothes infested with molds, you should keep and seal it inside plastic bags so that it will not be affected again. Rinse the cleaning solution that you have applied. Carpets do not need rinsing. All you need to do is to vacuum it.

Other surfaces can be rinsed by spraying warm water then wipe it to dry. The sun helps a lot in removing and in being a remedy to molds after the cleansing. The sun will help remove residual moisture during the cleaning process.  Get rid of molds now and be mold free. A home becomes much more a home when there are no molds.

When to call in Mold Remediation Specialists

The problem with mold and with D-I-Y fixes is that mold is often hidden and not easy to find.  Mold remediation specialists have the knowledge and expertise to find the mold and remove it in the most effective and least destructive ways. Mold can hide behind cabinets, wall paper, under carpets, in the air conditioning system, in attics and basements and many more places.  If you have a mold problem or suspect one, call mold remediation specialists at Gold Coast Flood Restorations to come out and assess your mold problem.  Call (888) 373-9243

Serving San Diego and San Diego County for over 30 years with quality work and great service. We also service these cities – Chula Vista, El Cajon, La Mesa, Spring Valley, Lakeside. Poway, Ramona, Alpine, Julian, Santee, Coronado, Imperial Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, University City, Tierrasanta, Rancho Penasquitos, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Santa Fe, Encinitas, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Leucadia, Sorrento Valley, Miramar, Mira Mesa, Scripps Ranch, Vista, Carlsbad, Oceanside, San Marcos, Lemon Grove, Bonita, Valley Ceenter, Borrego Springs, and PIne Valley.

What specifically transpires when a mold remediation company removes mold from your home?

A couple of hours prior to the arrival of mold remediation company technicians, you should make it easy for them to access the contaminated area. Relocate your pets in separate rooms or in the backyard, park automobiles on the street instead of the driveway, and remove any clutter or furniture blocking the mold zone.

Day 1: Eliminate Mold with Biocide

The mold remediation technicians will park their vehicle as close to the doorway as possible. Plastic sheeting will then be laid out, and hoses will be extended towards the mold area. If mold can be accessed externally (perhaps from a crawlspace), it will be even better for the technicians. An efficient mold remediation company will keep your household clean during the entire process.

Mold remediation technicians will be wearing white suits that cover up their entire bodies. You’ll see them wearing respirators, pillages, and goggles. This may suggest that the mold in your household is toxic, but the technicians will be wearing such attire whether it is or isn’t – such protection is standard in any hazardous procedure.

They will begin by spraying the mold area with biocide, which is an EPA-approved mold-killing fluid. Be mindful that bleach isn’t approved by the EPA for mold removal. The technicians will leave the area so the biocide can kill airborne mold spores.

Day 2: Spray Mold Area with Encapsulant

24 hours later, the technicians will return to the area and spray it with a mold sealant that encapsulates the lingering mold spores. The mold remediation technicians will spray past they moldy area to prevent further mold growth. For example, if only a small section of the basement shows mold, the technicians will likely spray down the entire floor (after discussing the process with you first, of course).

Serving San Diego and San Diego County for over 30 years with quality work and great service. We also service these cities – Chula Vista, El Cajon, La Mesa, Spring Valley, Lakeside. Poway, Ramona, Alpine, Julian, Santee, Coronado, Imperial Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, University City, Tierrasanta, Rancho Penasquitos, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Santa Fe, Encinitas, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Leucadia, Sorrento Valley, Miramar, Mira Mesa, Scripps Ranch, Vista, Carlsbad, Oceanside, San Marcos, Lemon Grove, Bonita, Valley Ceenter, Borrego Springs, and PIne Valley.