What Can You Do If You Find Mold In Your Metairie Home or Business

1/20/2024 (Permalink)

Mold damage to ceilings and walls due to uncontrolled growth.

Our Metairie team is trained and certified to restore mold outbreaks by the Institute for Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) in El Paso, TX. We have the training, equipment, and experience to restore areas compromised by mold quickly and efficiently. Here are some mold damage emergency tips from our website for things you can do and should not do while waiting for help to arrive:

What to Do

• Stay out of affected areas
• Turn off the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and fans
• Contact our Southeast El Paso office for mold remediation services

What Not to Do

• Don’t touch or disturb the mold
• Don’t blow air across any surfaces with visible or suspected mold growth
• Don’t attempt to dry the area yourself
• Don’t spray bleach or other disinfectants on the mold

Call Us!

When you discover a mold problem in your Metairie commercial business, our team is available to help! We’ll clean and restore the mold damage “Like it never even happened.” Contact us today.

Preventing Mold in Your Metairie Home's Closet

4/26/2021 (Permalink)

Mold can grow anywhere in homes, including closets. Here are some tips to keep your closets dry and mold-free! 

• Make sure that clothes are completely dry before storing them in closets. The moisture in clothing can accelerate mold growth. 
• Store only clean clothing and items in closets as dirt and other organic substances are potential food sources for mold. 

• Don’t pack clothes or other items too tightly in closets. Allow air to circulate between them to reduce moisture. 
• Don’t store items on the closet floor to prevent trapping moisture underneath them. 
• Leave closets open when possible. Replace solid closet doors curtains for better airflow. 
• Avoid opening closets if they are in rooms with high humidity, particularly when producing moisture (e.g., showering or cooking). 
• If you have a humidity problem in your home, use the air conditioning unit or a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air. 

• If clothes in a closet smell musty, take them out and fix the moisture problem. 

Don’t let mold take over! Call the pros at SERVPRO of Metairie at (504) 496-0193! 

Your Washing Machine and Mold

8/17/2020 (Permalink)

Your Metairie Home may be Lurking with Mold in Places you Never Thought of

Mold grows in warm and wet places, which makes your washing machine a perfect breeding ground. Just because you are washing your clothes does not mean the washing machine itself is getting clean. Mold thrives on residual detergent and wetness left behind in the washing machine. Whether you have a front or top-loading washing machine, below we have outlined how to prevent and remove mold in your Metairie home’s machine. 

Preventing Mold 

Preventing mold in your washing machine is quite simple. Every single time you finish doing your load(s), leave the top lid or front door open, and the detergent drawer open to let the inside of the washer dry naturally. Wiping down the gasket of your washer will also help prevent mold as this spot has a harder time drying naturally. 

Another way to prevent mold is to ditch the traditional fabric softer and use vinegar instead. Fabric softer has many additives that mold love and your clothes will still smell just as great using vinegar. Once the clothes have finished, remove them from the drum to prevent extra moisture. 

Cleaning your Machine

Top Loading 

1. Fill the machine with hot water.
2. Add 1 cup of store-bought mold remover or create your own.
3. Allow it to sit for one hour.
4. Allow the cycle to complete normally.
5. Keep the lid open to allow it to finish drying or wipe dry. 

Front Loading

1. Spray the inside with a store-bought or a homemade mold solution and let it dry.
2. Add 2 cups of white vinegar directly into the wash drum.
3. Run a wash cycle using the hottest water setting to get rid of mold, mildew, and mineral deposits.
4. When done, spray the entire area with mold solution and wipe.
5. Keep the door open to allow it to finish drying.

Front Loading Machine’s Gasket

1. Make sure the washer is turned off and empty. 
2. Using a damp rag, remove are any foreign substances on or in the gasket.
3. Sprinkle baking soda inside the gasket and add vinegar. When bubbling subsides, scrub the gasket.
4. Wipe down the gasket with a damp, clean rag, and dry it.
5. (OPTIONAL) - Spray with a mold solution to kill any lingering mold and allow to air dry. 

Detergent Drawer

1. Remove the drawer.
2. Soak the drawer in hot water and vinegar for 30 minutes and then scrub any remaining debris.
3. Dry drawer and spray with mold solution to catch any extra mold, and allow to air dry.

These tips should help you curb mold in your washing machine, which in excess can lead to health problems. Not only can washing machines cause mold, but they can also flood. Even while taking precautions damage can occur at any time. If you suspect you have a mold or water damage problem know that SERVPRO? of Metairie is ready to come out and rectify the problem at hand. 

The Surprising Secret To Dealing With Mold Damage In Metairie

9/13/2019 (Permalink)

An Action Plan To Deal With Mold Damage In New Orleans

Visible mold patches are unsightly, and since most are common in old, rundown properties, people tend to associate the problem with mismanagement. However, no property is immune to this problem, and nowadays you can find mold even in relatively new homes. With a bit of preparation, it is possible to deal with the problem if it affects your Metairie property.

For new homes exhibiting signs of mold damage in New Orleans, it is possible to trace back the issues to the construction phase. Putting up studs, vapor and insulation barriers before the concrete foundation dries sufficiently traps moisture in creating the necessary conditions for mold to flourish. Failure to address such a problem allows the spores to spread causing issues with the air quality. One way to deal with this without tear down is by practicing proper heating and ventilation. Once our SERVPRO technicians inspect your home, we can advise you on how to do that.

Away from construction mistakes, mold also develops whenever the property is exposed to excess water. Therefore, periods when extreme weather events such as heavy downpours or storms are prevalent, there are higher chances of mold infestation. Once exposed to moisture, the spores start growing within periods as short as 48 hours. So fast reaction is necessary if your property floods or if you detect leaks in the plumbing systems. If you inform SERVPRO immediately, our technicians can start remediation procedures such as drying excess moisture fast enough to prevent widespread growth.

In most cases, the areas affected are usually just a small part of a bigger problem. Areas such as wall cavities, attics, and other hidden sections provide the best environment for the spores to flourish. If the remediation steps do not touch these areas, problems like bad odor and damage to the structure persist. When our SERVPRO team handles the process, we check all the hidden spaces. We dry your property and remove any porous materials in the affected areas.

If you have a reason to suspect mold infestation, call SERVPRO of Metairie 504-468-3046

Mold Damage? No Problem!

9/4/2019 (Permalink)

What Are The Correct Steps To Take When You Find Mold Damage in Your Home?

Indoor accumulation of water may lead to mold damage, a situation which can damage your property or lead to health effects. It is possible to prevent or minimize indoor mold growth. However, that is possible if you actively maintain, inspect, and correct your structure for water intrusion challenges. Since not everyone has the skills and tools to do such procedures, you can work with professionals to immediately dry and manage your water-damaged contents in Metairie. 

Our SERVPRO technicians use the right PPE when dealing with mold damage incidents in Metairie. For instance, when the area with the contamination is so large ( over 100 square feet ) we have to follow the OSHA respiratory protection standards. We wear appropriate eye protection, gloves, half-face elastomeric respirators fitted with P-100 filters, and body coveralls with foot and head coverings. 

During the remediation process, we avoid the use of work practices which are likely to generate excessive dust and use dust suppression methods. For instance, we can use a vacuum fitted with a HEPA filter during dust generation or use HEPA vacuum-shrouded tools. Before removing the mold spores, we can gently mist the surface using a detergent solution. 

Our SERVPRO team cleans materials that have the mold contamination using detergents with anti-microbial abilities. If we come across permanently damaged items, we put them in sealed plastic bags and clean the outside of the bags using a damp cloth dipped in a detergent solution. We can also HEPA-vacuum the bags within the work area before taking them out. 

Regardless of the level of mold contamination, our SERVPRO of Metairie technicians always communicate with the occupants of the affected buildings. Communication presents us an opportunity of letting them know about our remediation measures and the duration the process is likely to take. We readily provide copies of all inspection reports upon request and perform group meetings before and after the work to disclose plans and results.

If you think you home or business is infested with mold please call 504-468-3046

GOT MOLD?

8/14/2019 (Permalink)

The warm and humid climate of Metairie provides a welcoming environment for mold spores to grow. Homeowners must be vigilant to control the circumstances that encourage mold damage. If your best efforts fall short and fungal growth results, engaging our highly-qualified mold remediation team is the smart move. 

During a Metairie summer, excessive moisture often increases inside, fueling mold damage as spores settle on an organic surface, absorb available water in liquid or vapor form, and begin to multiply. Mold does not require light to grow, so if the conditions are right colonies can develop between walls, under floors, in cabinets, and above ceilings. Our technicians are well-trained in mold damage scenarios, educated in Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protocols. We trace the sources and locations of mold outbreaks using this research-based coursework and our extensive experience with microbial problems. 

SERVPRO designs a mold remediation plan that keeps your home’s residents and our crew safe from the effects spores and the mycotoxins produced by some strains of mold may have on susceptible individuals. We contain the affected area, employing physical barriers such as heavy plastic sheeting and advanced technologies like negative pressure air scrubbers. The goal is to create work and clean zones during remediation, avoiding the transfer of moldy materials into areas of your home that show no mold growth or damage. Managing this complex system appropriately without qualified teams of remediators is highly improbable. 

The zones created also permit us to be very deliberate about the removal of mold and debris, space by space. SERVPRO uses industry best practices, scraping the mold off surfaces and adding more aggressive yet non-destructive methods like soda blasting to ensure removal of all particles of the outbreak. HEPA filtered vacuums suction away moldy residues and our technicians apply EPA registered antimicrobials to inhibit future fungal growth. Let our professionals remediate and advise on controlling the moisture that underlies a mold challenge. 

When your home shows signs of mold damage, including visible colonies and the unmistakable musty smell that signals a problem, SERVPRO of Metairie has the crews, equipment, and products to abate an infestation. Call (504) 468-3046 to schedule an evaluation as soon as you suspect mold growth!

Don't Let Mold Ruin Your Metairie Home--Call SERVPRO for Inspection and Remediation

10/15/2018 (Permalink)

The SERVPRO FLIR device finds moisture and possible mold in the wall cavities of your Metairie home

Why Mold Damage Assessment Needs To Be Done in Your Metairie Property 

Though you may think mold damage is a common issue that you can quickly fix, sometimes you may end up making avoidable mistakes which may end up being costly in the future. For instance, failure to correctly determine the extent of the contamination may cause you to employ inappropriate remediation procedures and risk further damage. Our team is keen on the analysis part, and where necessary we engage the services of a mold inspector when working on your Metairie property.

Once we have determined the degree of mold damage in your Metairie home, the next thing we do is to incorporate containment measures to prevent further contamination. Our SERVPRO technicians can introduce a negative pressure at the site and partition your building into zones. We test and treat each zone differently as part of the remediation process.
 
The degree of mold contamination also helps us when choosing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment. When we are dealing with small contaminated spaces, using an N95 respirator may be satisfactory; otherwise, we use a half-mask or a full-face respirator when attending to extensive contaminations. Wearing bodysuits, chemical resistant gloves, and eye protection can also protect us from possible health effects that molds cause. PPE personal protective equipment is crucial.
 
Some situations may force us to do an inventory and pack out your items. We can also clean your contents at the site and remove and dispose of visible mold. Our SERVPRO technicians can inspect the HVAC system for signs of mold contamination and do the necessary cleaning and replace contaminated filters. We use disinfectants when cleaning your items to that any mold debris that remains cannot reactivate and form new mold colonies. In most cases, we dispose of porous materials that have been extensively damaged by mold upon approval of the owner. Sanding, damp-wiping, and HEPA vacuuming are some of the techniques that we use during the remediation process.
 
SERVPRO of Metairie is a trusted restoration industry leader that offers proven mold remediation services, which meet the needs of homes and business premises. Call us at (504) 496-0193 to let us come up with a restoration plan to return your property to its preloss state, "Like it never even happened."

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Removing Mold Damage From Metairie Homes

9/4/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Shows Containment during a Metairie Mold Remediation Project

Protocols and Procedures by SERVPRO Technicians Can Remediate Mold Problems

Metairie homes do not deal with mold as often as a fire or flood. Despite that, once a mold colony takes hold and begins growing through parts of a structure, the cost for cleanup and remediation can be just as expensive if a homeowner does not discover the activity promptly.
 
SERVPRO restoration teams have to perform several key tasks to eliminate and remove mold damage in a Metairie home. Isolate the mold spores in the affected rooms, remove contaminated property, clean the affected rooms, and lower humidity to prevent future growth.
 
To isolate the affected rooms, technicians cover all entrances and exits, to include the air and heating vents. They use heavy plastic sheeting to seal off the rooms and then generate negative air pressure to force contaminated air out of a controlled point and send the active spores outside the home.
 
If the rooms are large or the mold layer is thick, personnel also build a ‘clean room’ outside the contaminated area. They do this to reduce the risk of spreading active spores to other, uncontaminated rooms in the home. This staging area demonstrates that we cut no corners in our efforts to restore your home to its preloss condition, "Like it never even happened."
 
Now, SERVPRO technicians clean restorable property and dispose of the rest. Structural and personal property generally divide into porous and non-porous surfaces. Porous surfaces, such as drywall and fabrics, can absorb more mold spores and are harder to clean than non-porous surfaces such as glass or marble tables, and most plastics.
 
Cleaning usually begins with vacuuming surfaces with commercial vacuums that use HEPA filters. These filters trap and catch even a single mold spore, invisible to the human eye. After vacuuming, technicians wipe down surfaces using sponges and a cleaning agent where needed.
 
If an item resists cleaning efforts, our specialists dispose of the property. They wrap or bag the item to prevent spreading active spores, and for larger items like drywall panels, they carefully break it up for easier disposal.
 
After the major cleaning efforts, technicians can re-wipe down all surfaces and repeat their efforts until they see mold levels are back to normal levels using an air content meter. Generally, expertise and experience are sufficient in gaining the desired results. Mold remediation can also include an antimicrobial spray for exterminating residual fungi.
 
Finally, technicians check the humidity levels of the affected rooms. If the air moisture content is high, they bring in a dehumidifier to draw it down. Team members also set up air movers to force warm, dry air across damp surfaces to speed the process without damaging them.
 
If you suspect a mold issue with your home, contact us at SERVPRO of Metairie today. To schedule an inspection or have a team begin right away, call (504) 496-0193. We are here for you.

More about Metairie by clicking here.

The Truth About DIY Mold Removal In Your Metairie Home

7/20/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Professional Mold Remediation in a Metairie Home Done Right--Don't Try This on Your Own!

SERVPRO Advises Property Owners in Metairie to Secure Professional Help for Mold Remediation

When Metairie homeowners find mold growing in their home, one of their first instincts is typically to work to get rid of this fungal presence. Often, this approach encompasses a variety of attempts acquired from the internet to help someone remove mold growth on their own without the need for professional assistance. Unfortunately, several things can prevent this from working as you planned.

Do it yourself (DIY) methods that you can find on the internet are almost never written by a professional with experience in mold remediation. Therefore, they cannot accurately tell you the best approach for removing the mold damages that you experience specifically in your Metairie residence.

One of the first issues that make DIY methods for mold removal a mistake for homeowners is that it is typically unsafe. Mold growth can cause health effects for those exposed to the colonies and spores, making it unwise for you to risk this exposure to attempt to remove the colony yourself. The EPA suggest to always use professional help for mold remediation needed for 10 square feet or more. Our SERVPRO professionals utilize a wide range of personal protective gear for mold remediation projects including full-face respirators.

Another consideration which makes personal approaches to mold removal an unwise decision for a homeowner is a lack of penetration. Mold colonies are living organisms which root far more than what you can tell from the surface growth. Scrubbing and spraying cleaner on this growth often only removes the surface mold that you can see, leaving the organism itself alive and well just below this top layer. Ironically, by spraying bleach and apparently killing the surface mold, the hyphae strength within the substrate of the food source. This effort exacerbates the cleanup.

Our SERVPRO applied microbial remediation technicians get uniquely trained in all varieties of mold that can grow inside your home. This training includes the best antimicrobial solutions to use and the appropriate equipment for removing the entire organism from various materials the colony uses to grow.

The bottom line is this: mold growth in your home is nothing that a homeowner should try to face on their own. Our technicians at SERVPRO of Metairie have the right tools and experience to successfully remove this presence from your home and restore the damage it has caused. Give us a call anytime you need us at (504) 496-0193.

Welcome to this suburb of New Orleans

What to Do When You Discover Mold Damage In Your Metairie Home?

6/8/2018 (Permalink)

Don't Duck Mold Remediation in Your Metairie Home--Call SERVPRO Fast

Why Immediately Call SERVPRO for Mold Remediation

The discovery of mold and microbial growth in your Metairie home can leave you scratching your head. The truth is, it does not take much for mold spores to colonize in your home. These spores exist naturally in the environment (both inside and outside of your home) and only require moisture and warmth to settle on organic material and grow. Finding this fungal organism in your house can be alarming, but with the right professional assistance, does not have to stay around very long.

Mold damages can appear in many ways within your Metairie home. While you traditionally just see (and often smell) the growing colony, this organism is wreaking havoc on the structural integrity and strength of construction materials it chose for colonization. Fortunately, our SERVPRO applied microbial remediation technicians can work quickly to remove this presence from your home and prevent irreparable damages to these structural components when possible.

From the moment that our team arrives at your house, our technicians get to work on isolating the affected areas to prevent the spread of this colony to other areas of your house. Typically, this gets accomplished with the use of air scrubbers fitted with HEPA filters to trap active mold spores and prevent them from leaving the area.

Removal of the mold colonies is often a delicate process. Several approaches could get taken, from sanding to soda blasting, but it depends mostly on the material the colony seats inside of and the spread of the organism into the material. Ideally, the SERVPRO objective is the removal of the entire hyphae to prevent the possibility of recurrence at the treated site.

Contending with mold damages in your home does not have to be such an overwhelming feat. Our applied microbial remediation technicians at SERVPRO of Metairie can help you to overcome any of the damages you face and work to prevent this problem from occurring again in the future. Give our rapid response team a call at the first sign of mold damage in your home at (504) 496-0193.

More about this city by clicking.

Mold Damage Experts in Metairie Explain Remediation Procedures

5/25/2018 (Permalink)

Mold that is found in plain sight or behind cabinets needs to be remediated quickly so that it does not spread. Contact SERVPRO right away.

Team SERVPRO is Certified to Properly Remediate Mold on Your Property

If a slow water leak takes place or water comes into an area inside your Metairie home unnoticed, microbial growth can occur. Microbes are naturally present everywhere, and with elevated moisture levels, they can develop into a mold. Mold can cause health effects with some people, so it is vital to remediate microbial growth as soon as it is found.
 
As soon as spores have the perfect conditions such as an organic food source, moisture, and the right temperature, they grow structures called hyphae in all directions so that they can create more spores to reproduce. When remediating mold damage in Metairie, measures are taken to prevent the fungi from spreading. Spores let off by hyphae that extend above, into and across a surface, get into the air and can travel to other places inside the building.
 
In many cases, a fungus forms on the paper surface of the drywall. When water entered the home, moisture soaked into the drywall and elevated the moisture level of the material. The moisture and room temperatures gave the microbes the ideal conditions to grow on the organic paper material coating the drywall.
 
During the first step of the restoration process, our SERVPRO technicians fix the water issue at the source. If the source of moisture is a broken water pipe, the water gets shut off, and a plumber gets called in to fix the pipes. If the source of water is a structural issue that is causing moisture to enter from the outside, then the gap gets boarded and sealed off so that no more water can come into the building.
 
Next, a containment chamber gets set up around the contaminated drywall so that dust and spores created by the work process do not travel to other areas of the house. After the region gets contained with thick plastic sheeting, the drywall is removed and disposed of in sealed plastic bags. After the drywall is taken out, the wooden studs get vacuumed with a HEPA vac and sprayed with anti-microbial chemicals to inhibit future mold growth.
 
Once the contaminated section of drywall gets removed, we dry out the area and begin the reconstruction process. Any materials including the drywall that got discarded in the restoration process get replaced. For professional assistance with fungal growth, call SERVPRO of Metairie at (504) 468-3046 24/7.

Click here for more information on the city of Metairie.

SERVPRO Cleaning and Removing Mold Damage in Metairie

4/15/2018 (Permalink)

Finding mold in your home need not frighten you. Contact SERVPRO for remediation services as soon as you see signs of a mold infestation in your home

Certified Technicians Understand the Three Factors to Control When Dealing With a Mold Infestation in Your Home

Many residents in Metairie mistakenly believe that mold is a matter of cleaning house and is easy to remove with a little paint and bleach. The truth is that while it is easy to hide mold, killing active spores and removing the infestation takes a professional restoration service.
 
Homes with visible mold damage in Metairie have had it for some time. SERVPRO specialists understand that mold can grow quickly, but it usually does so out of sight. Many times, it starts in attics or behind walls, where a homeowner simply does not look and has no idea there is a mold problem until they see it along the ceiling in a bathroom or laundry room. Mold needs moisture, food, and the correct temperature to expand and grow. None of these requirements have anything to do with housekeeping.
 
Moisture – Mold needs water to cause inert spores to expand and grow into an expanding colony. Often, a very humid environment is enough, especially in Louisiana. To stop the growth and force the spores back into an inert state, we have to lower the humidity level to under 65 percent. Removing the source of moisture is the most effective way to stop mold. We use dehumidifiers to draw it from the air behind walls, in attics, and any other area we discovered mold.
 
Food Source – Mold spores feed on organic materials. Since this includes drywall, insulation, and wood framing, every home has a ready buffet. Since it is not cost-effective to replace every possible food source, SERVPRO technicians use anti-fungal agents to kill active spores and clean them off of surfaces. If the spores have penetrated the surface, we remove and dispose of the infested materials immediately.
 
Temperature – The vast majority of mold spores grow in a range of 68 to 86 degrees. Since this is the average temperature range in most homes, raising or lowering the temperature is simply not an option to stop mold growth in warmer, humid climates such Metairie and elsewhere in Louisiana.
 
Returning your home to its pre-mold state takes much more a scrub brush, bleach, and a fresh coat of paint. If you have or suspect there is mold in your home, call SERVPRO of Metairie at (504) 468-3046 today. We are here for you.

Click here for more information regarding the city of Metairie.