What Should a Homeowner in Chagrin Falls, OH Do if Mold is Found in Their Home?

3/24/2017 (Permalink)

If a homeowner in Chagrin Falls, OH finds mold or any growth that looks like it, such as a fungus or mildew, they should not attempt to wipe it off, scrape it down, or touch it, or breathe near it at all. Not everything that looks like the substance is real, but a person should not take any chances.

A person should not attempt to wash it away either because it has roots that grow into any surface that it attaches itself too. It is possible for an individual to wash away the part of the substance that is showing and they will thing that they got rid of it. However, the roots are still intact and will regrow.

It will grow on just about any substance that is porous such as wood, concrete, wallpaper, drywall and substances similar. However, it will not grow on glass. Special treatment must be applied to kill the substance down to the roots.

Mold comes from a spore that floats through the air until it finds a suitable place to grow. There are millions of spores that land in the wrong place and die, but if it happens to land in a place that has the right conditions, it will grow.

All the dark areas that are quiet with no moving air should be checked for any moisture from time to time, especially in the OH towns and areas that have been mentioned. Take a flashlight and check the attic and the basement and look for any leaking pipes or moisture that may have leaked in after a storm or rising water outside.

The substance needs three conditions to grow. It needs a dark place, some moisture on a regular basis, and no moving air. Thus, places like attics, basements, behind walls, and crawl spaces are excellent places for it to take root and grow. A missing shingle on a roof can let moisture into an attic which is dark, and there is no air moving. This is an excellent example of a place for this insidious substance to take root and proliferate.

It can grow very fast too. A small patch can grow to cover an entire wall in the space of a month or so, and the problem is as that when it grows, it spawns more spores that float away to find more spots to grow more of the same substance.

The Dangers of Mold
If a person finds a suspicious substance on a wall, under a rug, along with the back of a wall, or in a crawl space, they should not attempt to remove it themselves, but they should call someone who can analyze it and determine what it is. It may only be a fungus or mildew, but if it is not, it could be dangerous.

The best course of action is to contact an environmental hygienist who can determine what kind of microbial growth is present by testing it in a laboratory. Then if it is dangerous, the proper professionals can do a mold cleanup which will result in a remediation of the affected area.

Workers who perform a mold cleanup operation would wear protective clothing so that they won't be affected and a homeowner would be totally unprotected if they attempted a cleanup and remediation process.

An environmental hygienist has special training when it comes to discerning what kind of microbial growth is present, so once that fact is determined then, cleanup experts can come and not only remove the substance but clean the area, so it is not likely to return.

Ohio can be somewhat of a damp state, and cities around Chagrin Falls, Chardon, Affton, and Bainbridge are more prone to dampness than many cities because of the humidity in the summer and the damp times in the spring and fall.

Consequently, residents of Ohio around the Chagrin Falls, Affton, Bainbridge and Chardon areas should take special precautions in keeping watch in the various places that it could grow. Keep in mind that any microbial growth is suspicious, although it may only be a fungus or mildew. But don't attempt to remove anything like that yourself, especially if it is located in a dark place with any moisture present.

For more information on how to handle Mold, visit http://www.SERVPROgeaugacounty.com/