If You See Signs of Mold

9/23/2022 (Permalink)

If You See Signs of Mold in Your Vineland Home.

Microscopic mold spores naturally occur almost everywhere, both outdoors and indoors. This makes it impossible to remove all mold from a home or business. Therefore, mold remediation reduces the mold spore count back to its natural or baseline level. Some restoration businesses advertise “mold removal” and even guarantee to remove all mold, which is a fallacy. Consider the following mold facts:

• Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors.
• Mold spores are microscopic and float along in the air and may enter your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems or even hitch a ride indoors on your clothing or a pet.
• Mold spores thrive on moisture. Mold spores can quickly grow into colonies when exposed to water. These colonies may produce allergens and irritants.
• Before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed. Otherwise, the mold may return.
• Mold often produces a strong, musty odor and can lead you to possible mold problem areas.
• Even higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth. Keep indoor humidity below 45 percent.

If your home or business has a mold problem, we can inspect and assess your property and use our specialized training, equipment, and expertise to remediate your mold infestation.

If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today –609-624-0202. A Franchise Professional will help you with your questions and concerns.

SERVPRO of Cape May & Cumberland Counties serves Cape May, Ocean City, Wildwood and surrounding communities in Cape May County. We also serve Vineland, Bridgeton, Millville and surrounding communities in Cumberland County.

Suspect Mold? Follow These Safety Tips.

12/2/2021 (Permalink)

If you see visible mold, do not disturb it. You can inadvertently spread the mold infestation throughout your home. When mold is disturbed, the mold can release microscopic mold spores which become airborne and can circulate inside your home.

What to Do:

• Stay out of affected areas.
• Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
• Contact SERVPRO of Cape May & Cumberland Counties 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.

About Our Mold Remediation Services

SERVPRO^® of Cape May & Cumberland Counties specializes in mold cleanup and restoration - in fact, it’s a cornerstone of our business.  Our crews are highly trained restoration professionals that use specialized equipment and techniques to properly remediate your mold problem quickly and safely.

If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today –609-624-0202. We'll be able to answer your questions and provide you with the help you need to make it, "Like it never even happened."

How Can You Prevent Mold in Your Home

11/12/2021 (Permalink)

How Can You Prevent Mold in Your Home?

When there’s moisture in your home, there’s a risk for mold growth. While this is usually a harmless fungus found everywhere in nature, it can be particularly dangerous inside homes. Specifically, when mold spores are inhaled, some individuals—such as those with asthma or allergies—can develop breathing problems, skin irritation, and congestion.

Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to protect your household. Offering advanced mold remediation services in Cape May County, SERVPRO^® of Cape May & Cumberland Counties highlights some of the best ways to keep the problem at bay:

Ways to Prevent Mold Growth

1. Repair Water Damage Risks

Water damage of any size can spark mold growth within 24 to 48 hours. To stay proactive, routinely inspect for moisture risks—such as leaking pipes and drafty windows—and have them repaired. You should also take care to maintain proper drainage outside the home, as dysfunctional gutters can cause water to seep into the walls and basement.

In the event your home experiences water damage, acting fast will help reduce the risk of mold growth. Whether you have a flood or a plumbing emergency, call a water restoration service to quickly dry and clean the area. If growth has already begun, these professionals will provide thorough mold remediation to stop the problem from spreading.

1. Control Humidity

Mold thrives in humid conditions, so it’s recommended you keep your home’s humidity levels at 60% or below. You can monitor these levels using a simple tool known as a hygrometer. If there’s too much humidity, dehumidifiers and air conditioners will help bring the levels down.  

1. Invest in Ventilation

Cooking, taking showers, and washing laundry are all common activities that introduce moisture. To prevent the need for mold remediation, it’s important to ensure your home has the proper ventilation that allows moisture to escape. For example, use exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom to direct moist air outside. If you don’t have these, it can help to open windows or doors to promote air flow.

Whether you’ve found mold in your home or want to keep water damage from causing problems, SERVPRO of Cape May & Cumberland Counties is here to help. Equipped with heavy-duty tools, our restoration specialists are able to provide fast, thorough, and affordable mold remediation services. If you’re facing an emergency, such as a flooded basement or crawlspace, our experts offer round-the-clock service to get water out and dry wet areas to prevent mold growth. Call a Franchise Professional at 609-624-0202.

Got Mold? No Problem!

9/20/2021 (Permalink)

From the Ordinary...

Fungi and mold naturally occur in our environment. In fact, over 100,000 kinds of fungi have been identified. Even though some forms of mold can add value to our lives, other forms can cause health effects. Excessive amounts of mold, different types of mold, and/or exposure to mold may present health effects for some people.

To the Unhealthy.

Intrusion of water into your home or place of business can result in mold growth. Water intrusions can result from storm damage, plumbing or equipment failures, long-standing leaks, and poor humidity control. When water intrusions are not addressed right away, the resulting damage can present increased risk of potentially harmful mold growth. If the humidity and moisture levels in a water-damaged environment are not promptly returned to normal, mold spores may grow and multiply.

Take Precautions

SERVPRO^® of Cape May & Cumberland Counties handles water damages every day and know prompt action is required to prevent mold growth. If there is an ongoing moisture problem in the building, be alert for:

• The presence of visible mold.
• Strong musty odors, which may indicate mold is present.
• Any evidence of past moisture problems that might have caused undetected mold growth.
• Excessive humidity.

These conditions may require the expertise of a qualified Indoor Air Quality/Environmental Professional to inspect the building for mold growth and water damage problems.

SERVPRO of Cape May & Cumberland Counties cares about proper restoration of your home or business, and, in most water damage situations, can safely restore your property building to preloss conditions.

If You See or Smell Mold, Call Us Today: 609-624-0202 or 856-692-0041. We're Here to Help®!

GOT MOLD?

6/17/2021 (Permalink)

Mold Remediation is One of Our Primary Areas of Expertise at SERVPRO of Cape May and Cumberland  Counties.

We have the training and experience to contain the infestation, scrub health-threatening spores out of the air, remove the contaminated materials, and help prevent future microbial growth.

Have A Moldy Situation?

Imagine you were cleaning out a storage closet, and you found mold growing on the back wall. A number of situations may have created an ideal situation for microbes to grow in this closet. Once you identified and resolved the source, you would still want to contact a professional to mitigate the mold and ensure healthy air for your home or office. Healthy air for all to breathe.

Containing the Infestation.

When our Franchise Professionals begin a mold job, our first concern is to contain the mold infestation. The mold you can see is only a small part of the danger posed to building occupants. Mold reproduces by releasing invisible spores into the air. Therefore, we begin by preventing air from the contaminated area traveling to other parts of the building.

Scrubbing Mold Out of the Air.

Each job is unique in its challenges and solutions. However, in most cases, our mold mitigation team will set up a containment barrier and create a “negative air” situation inside the infested area. A “negative air” situation is essentially a vacuum that ensures air only flows into and not out of the contained area while the air scrubbers filter the spores and other contaminants from the air.

Removing Contaminated Materials.

Organic materials like drywall, carpeting, and ceiling tiles must be removed and discarded once they become contaminated with mold. This is why we encourage our customers to contact us immediately after a water loss to dry all the materials before microbial growth begins. Blowing a fan across moldy materials hoping to dry them and save them spreads mold spores in the air and may increase the possible health effects to building occupants.  

Inhibiting Future Growth.

We can never promise to prevent all future mold growth. Mold spores are everywhere in the atmosphere, and they take root and thrive whenever they find the perfect mix of moisture, food (organic materials) and temperature. However, we have several SERVPRO products that discourage microbial growth. Once your moldy materials have been removed and the air has been scrubbed to reduce the concentration of spores, we can apply one of these anti-microbial agents to help protect your building’s structural elements.

When You See Mold, Call 609-624-0202 ASAP!

When you see mold, remember you cannot see the biggest threat that mold presents. Call us for a free estimate and good advice about protecting yourself and others until the mold is removed and the air is clean again.

SERVPRO of Cape May & Cumberland Counties serves Cape May, Ocean City, The Wildwoods, and surrounding areas of Cape May County; as well as Bridgeton, Millville, Vineland, and surrounding areas of Cumberland County. We're Here to Help 24/7 365!

Controlling Humidity in Your Home

5/1/2021 (Permalink)

Controlling Humidity in Your Cape May County or Cumberland County Home.

To prevent mold growth in humid climates, you need to control the humidity in your home.

Controlling humidity in wet climates poses a number of specific challenges – you can’t just open the windows to improve airflow in the home, for example (when outside humidity levels are high, letting outdoor air into your house will increase the indoor humidity).

So, how can you control moisture and prevent mold growth in humid climates?

1) Ensure Proper Air Conditioning:

Use quality air conditioning ("AC") units properly sized for your house. If your AC unit is too small, it will run constantly without achieving the desired effect; if it is too big, it will start and stop frequently which will make it difficult to maintain constant temperature and humidity levels;

Set your AC to about 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the hot summer months and keep your home warm in cool weather;

Set the AC fan mode to “auto”, not to “on”. When the fan is set to “on”, it runs continuously and does not allow enough time for the moisture that condenses onto the evaporator coil during the cooling cycle to drain off – it is re-evaporated and blown back into the house, increasing the humidity level;

Proper air conditioning can help you control the humidity in your home.

Close windows and doors when your AC unit is running. If the doors and windows are open, warm, humid outdoor air will enter your cooler home and cause condensation;

Maintain your air conditioner in excellent condition to make sure it works effectively. Clean and replace the filters every month during the summer, call a service professional at least once a year for maintenance, such as cleaning the coils, etc.

2)  Do Not Let Wet Items Stay Inside:

Dry washed clothes outside or use a clothes dryer (try not to hang clothes to dry inside). Make sure they are completely dry before putting them away in drawers and closets;

Do not leave wet towels or other wet items lying around in your home;

Take wet shoes off at the door and clean pets’ paws after walks to prevent water and mud from being tracked into your house;

Thoroughly dry your items before storing them inside, especially if they won’t be used for prolonged periods of time;

Add an appropriate anti-mold product to the water you give to your indoor plants to hinder mold growth in plant soil (moist soil is an ideal breeding ground for mold);

Remove standing water (such as puddles around sump pumps or hot water tanks) and dry wet areas within your home as soon as possible;

Vent appliances that produce moisture (such as clothes dryers, stoves, etc.) to the outside.

4) Prevent Water From Entering Your Home:

Keep your property in good repair – Inspect the roof and the chimney on a regular basis and make any necessary repairs without delay, repair foundation cracks, fix plumbing leaks, etc.;

Waterproof your home well. The better waterproofed your home is, the less likely you’re to deal with mold problems.

Keep the gutters clean – Replace damaged or rusty gutters and drainpipes in due time and make sure they are free of leaves and other debris to ensure proper water drainage;

Direct water away from your home. Make sure the grading around your house slopes away from the foundation – otherwise water may collect there and seep into your crawlspace;

Cover crawl space floors with plastic coverings to prevent groundwater from seeping inside;

Leak-proof doors and windows to prevent water seepage into your home during storms and torrential rains.

Controlling humidity in your home may not be very easy, but it will help prevent mold growth and any ensuing mold problems – mold health effects, mold damage to your property, etc. Your efforts will be rewarded with a healthy, mold-free living environment. It’s worth it!

Call your SERVPRO of Cape May County  and SERVPRO of Cumberland County Franchise Professionals at 609-624-0202, if you suspect mold in your home. We're a locally owned company in Ocean View, NJ serving Ocean City, Cape May, Wildwood, and surrounding communities in Cape May County. We also serve Vineland, Millville, Bridgeton and surrounding communities in Cumberland County.

Mold Concerns in Your Commercial Property?

9/5/2020 (Permalink)

Mold Concerns in Your Commercial Property?

Mold is quickly becoming a concern in commercial real estate liability. Protect yourself and your business by knowing what to look for and what to do next.

A SERVPRO of Cape May & Cumberland Counties Franchise Professional will carefully inspect your property for signs of mold. Mold feeds on  cellulose and water and can be hidden from plain view. We use various technologies to detect mold and hidden water sources. Put our experience in testing for mold to work for you.

When to Test for Mold:

• If your commercial residence or building has had a flood, leak or sewage back-up
• If your building has a roof leak, damp areas, or HVAC problems including inadequate ventilation or lack of make-up air
• If you see visible mold on ceilings, walls, floors, or equipment
• If you are experiencing foul or musty odors as a result of a process, renovation, or change in the building layout
• If you are purchasing, renting, or leasing a commercial property
• If you are planning to sell, renovate, or expand your commercial property

Contact a Franchise Professional today to arrange for a complimentary consultation: 609-624-0202 or EMAIL.

We serve Cape May, Ocean City, Wildwood, and surrounding areas in Cape May County as well as Bridgeton, Millville, Vineland and surrounding areas in Cumberland County.

Summer Beach House Have Mold?

7/29/2019 (Permalink)

Whether you've arrived at your beach house for the season or are cleaning up after tenants have left at the end of the season - discovering mold is no fun.

If you see visible mold, do not disturb it. You can inadvertently spread the mold infestation and release microscopic mold spores which become airborne and can circulate inside the room. Turn off your HVAC system and fans, then call SERVPRO of Cape May & Cumberland Counties! Our Franchise Professionals are trained in how to properly dry and clean the area (do not use chemicals yourself).

We specialize in mold cleanup and restoration. It is a large part of our business in the shore towns of Cape May County.

We serve Cape May, Ocean City, Wildwood, and the surrounding communities in Cape May County and Bridgeton, Millville, Vineland, and surrounding communities in Cumberland County.

If you discover mold in your beach house or business - call 609-624-0202. We're Here To Help and to make it "Like it never even happened."

The Dangers of Mold!

6/2/2019 (Permalink)

When Cape May county suffers from heavy rains and flooding, you may notice mold growing in your rental property or business. The spot may look like much, but for many people, mold can present a wide range of health risks — particularly when the problem is widespread. To help you protect your property — and recognize the importance of mold remediation — here are a few important details to know about how this type of fungus can harm the body.

How Does Mold Affect Health?

As this variety of fungus grows, it produces microscopic spores that can spread through your property. When inhaled, individuals with sensitivities to mold may experience chronic breathing problems, skin irritation, and congestion.

These reactions are typically more common among those with allergies or asthma. When people have compromised immune systems, mold-related health problems can lead to infections, such as those affecting the lungs. In addition to putting human health in danger, mold growth is also known to similarly affect pets.

How Can You Prevent Mold-Related Health Problems?

The best way to avoid these health risks is to limit the amount of moisture in your home, as this fungus thrives in damp, humid conditions. Some approaches to DIY mold remediation include fixing leaks, using a dehumidifier, and insulating windows to prevent condensation. If your home is subject to water damage, hire an emergency restoration service to thoroughly dry and clean the area.

What Should You Do If You Spot Mold in Your Home or Business?

Even by following the above steps, it’s likely that you will encounter this problem at some point. If the issue is small and contained, you can usually tackle it on your own by washing the surface with a soap and water solution. However, if you face recurring or widespread growth, hire a professional mold remediation team.

If mold is putting your household’s health at risk, the trusted Franchise Professionals at SERVPRO^® of Cape May County will put your home on the path to wellness. As leading mold remediation and restoration service experts, we know how to tackle mold growth strategically. Equipped with heavy-duty cleaning tools, our crew will not only remove spots, but also implement solutions to control moisture and prevent the problem from returning. To arrange fast and effective clean-up, call a helpful representative at 609-624-0202 today.

Why You Need To Consider Mold Remediation

2/20/2019 (Permalink)

Got Mold? We're here to make it, "Like it never even happened."

Exposure to moisture, whether it’s from storm damage or a plumbing failure in your home or business, can provide the right situation for mold to flourish. The growth process can begin in as little as 48 hours, which is why it’s extremely important to know what steps to take and who to call for help with mold remediation.

Proper Mold Remediation Is Key

We’re sure that you’ve probably seen ads for mold remediation and mold removal, but the truth is that the latter of these two is false. Removing all mold from a home or business simply cannot be accomplished.

Instead, a qualified restoration company focuses on mold remediation, and will work to achieve the goal of getting mold levels back to normal and natural ranges.

Mold spores occur naturally almost everywhere, both indoors and outdoors. It is only when a minor mold problem is left untreated that the mold will become a major issue.

During a mold remediation, technicians will isolate the mold-contaminated areas. Depending on the size of the remediation job, it can be done by either closing all doors and windows or completely sealing all of the doorways and openings with a polyethylene sheeting. Dust in the contaminated areas is then suppressed through misting.

Wet and mold-damaged materials are removed and discarded in plastic bags, and all areas that have been exposed to and affected by mold are then completely cleaned and dried. In some cases, a HEPA vacuum may be brought in to aid in the removal of the contamination and debris.

The area that is affected by the mold is treated with a biocide, and then left overnight to destroy and kill the mold spores. The mold remediation crew will return the following day and encapsulate the affected and surrounding areas.

When to Call the Professionals

If you suspect that your home or business may have a mold problem, you’ll need to act quickly. Take a look at the size of the problem area and, if the moldy area is larger than 10 square feet, it is time to contact your local Franchise Professionals.

Contact the SERVPRO of Cape May County Franchise Professionals. We are highly trained and certified in areas like:

• Applied microbial remediation
• Water damage restoration
• Applied structural drying

While some minor mold issues can be successfully resolved by home and business owners on their own, the safest way to deal with mold is to talk to the professionals to quickly and efficiently resolve the problem.

At SERVPRO of Cape May County, our mold damage specialists are trained and certified in mold remediation. If your home or business is experiencing a mold issue, contact us to begin the mold remediation process. Call 609-624-0202 or email us.