One of the challenges of keeping your home groomed and sanitized is dealing with mold infestation. Its growth, along with the growth of mildew, caused by poor indoor air quality is a concern among property owners. But there is a way to combat it and you don’t have to do it yourself. There are professional extermination and decontamination services available to do the dirty work for you. These services are performed by trained and experienced professionals who have experience eliminated mold using certain techniques and tools to ensure quality removal.
What is Decontamination?
Decontamination is the process of eliminating contaminants, spores, molds, bacteria and similar organic substances that are harmful to a person’s health. Mold develops due to the presence of humidity caused by moisture coming from various sources: water damage, flood, water infiltration, etc. When mold is not removed, it is not only hazardous to one’s health but can also cause damage to furniture, materials and clothing. So cleaning is not only the solution; mold has to be completely eliminated.
Complete decontamination includes the process of dewatering, complete clean-up of the contaminated area and treatment of the area using fungicides. Apart from complete mold removal, air particles are also eliminated using the HEPA air filtering units, removing as well the fetid smell and improving indoor air quality.
Steps in Mold Decontamination
After the mold busters have done their initial check-up and identified the type of mold present in your home, they will conduct decontamination following the steps below:
- Securing protection of the non-contaminated areas
- Insulation
- Stop ventilation
- Depressurization
- Decontamination
- Problem correction
- Feedback giving
Identifying Mold in Your Home
Mold is easy to find because it thrives in wet or moist areas and also emits a musty or earthy smell. This smell is brought about by organic compounds that are produced as mold grows. But the smell is not always present in all types of mold, so there may be mold that you cannot detect right away. Mold can also be easily determined because of its color, but the color depends on the type of mold. Black mold is the most frequently observed, while white, violet, red, yellow, green and blue colors are also seen.
In your personal home inspection, consider checking the following materials and parts of your home listed below where moisture may have accumulated. This helps the mold removal experts find the source of the problem quicker.
- Suspended ceilings
- Carpets and floor coverings
- Drywall
- Ductwork and ductwork coating
- Back offices
- Kitchen
- Basement
- Libraries, books and folders
- Wet areas such as sinks, bathroom, humidifiers and air conditioners
Thermal Camera Inspection
Professional experts in extermination and decontamination use a high quality thermal camera when conducting a home inspection for signs of mold and mildew. They can also detect which areas have excessive moisture concentration and overheating problems.
