Why It’s Important to Address the Source of Excess Moisture in Mold Outbreaks in Bucktown?

10/29/2024 (Permalink)

We are mold damage remediation leaders in Chicago.

Our local West Loop/Bucktown/Greektown teams restore mold damage in Bucktown throughout the year. When a mold outbreak occurs in a home, cleaning up the visible mold is not enough. It’s essential to locate and address the source of the excess moisture that allowed mold to grow in the first place. Mold spores thrive in damp environments, and without removing the underlying moisture, the problem will inevitably return.

Excess moisture can originate from multiple sources, such as leaking pipes, condensation from poor ventilation, or even high humidity. Simply wiping away mold without addressing these issues is only a temporary fix.

The hidden moisture will continue to fuel mold growth, leading to more significant damage to walls, ceilings, floors, and even the home's structural integrity over time.

Identifying the source of the moisture also prevents costly repairs down the road. Water damage often accompanies mold outbreaks, and if left untreated, it can weaken building materials, destroy insulation, and invite more serious mold infestations. By tackling the root cause, homeowners can ensure a long-term solution that protects their property from further harm.

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When your home or commercial business in Bucktown has mold damage, our local West Loop/Bucktown/Greektown teams are Here to Help. ® Contact us today at 773-434-9100.

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SERVPRO Provides Cicero Customers with Mold Remediation

12/27/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Can Improve IAQ Indoor Air Quality with a Professional Mold Remediation Service for Your Cicero Home

Mold Removal Technicians In Cicero Talk About Indoor Air Quality

If a small water leak occurs in your home, there is a chance that a mold colony could develop. If you ever notice the presence of fungi, it is wise to call in a professional mold removal company like SERVPRO. Once microbes activate, structures called hyphae form that produce root-like anchors so that they adhere to the surfaces of organic substances. Once the hyphae start spreading around the surface of the material and the organisms expand, they start releasing microscopic seed-like structures called spores. These spores can then circulate and start more fungi issues in other areas of the house.

Once the spores are in the air they can get inside your home's ventilation system. As a part of the mold removal process in Cicero, our SERVPRO technicians take measure to remove harmful particles from the airflow and prevent more from getting released. Before we begin work in a contaminated area, we seal the affected region off with a thick plastic barrier. We then set up an air scrubber that cleans the contaminated air by pushing it past a HEPA filter that catches even the smallest microscopic particles. If the spores have been in the air for an extended amount of time, we can clean your heating and ventilation ducts with specially formulated chemicals, extension brushes and a powerful vacuum just for this purpose.
 
Any time mold exists there is a possibility that it can negatively affect the air you breathe. According to the Environmental Protection Agency or EPA, the air inside buildings can be more contaminated than the air outdoors. Once spores are present in the air, your house can suffer from degraded indoor air quality or IAQ issues. IAQ is defined as the overall quality of the air you breathe when you are inside a building. Fungal contaminations are just one of the thousands of different types of pollutants that can exist in the air.
 
In some cases, we can leave the air scrubber in the affected area after the work is complete to remove further any harmful particles that remain. If you ever notice mold developing inside your house, call SERVPRO of West Loop / Bucktown / Greektown at (773) 434-9100.

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The Ultimate Guide To Our Mold Damage Remediation Process In Cicero

10/9/2018 (Permalink)

If water remains in your business or home for 48 - 72 hours, then problems such as mold damage are likely to develop.

How To Safely Restore Your Cicero Property After Mold Damage

If water remains in your business or home for 48 - 72 hours, then problems such as mold damage are likely to develop. It means all plumbing or roofing leaks should be corrected as soon as they are noticed. Mold spores can quickly spread to other regions and cause some deterioration of your property and possible health effects. We advise you to let professionals inspect and assess your Cicero property whenever you suspect such a problem.

Mold damage in your Cicero property affects both porous and non-porous materials and surfaces. The cleaning and removal procedures that our SERVPRO technicians use when addressing either of the surfaces or items are different. When the interior walls or ceilings have the contamination, we have to remove the drywall and ceiling tiles. For buildings that have dry panel-type walls, we pull the bottom edge out and separate it from the studs. We can also remove the baseboard and drill homes when it is necessary to drain the walls. When removing soaked wallboard, we look at the watermark and remove an extra foot above that point.

After opening up the walls, our SERVPRO technicians remove the wet insulation to disinfect and dry the surface. While it is possible to clean and dry, rigid insulation, in most cases we discard other forms of insulation as per the state and local regulations. We can also vacuum, wet-wipe, rinse and dry the building's ductwork and other non-electrical equipment. Once we turn off the breaker and remove fuses, we can introduce a plastic wand and vacuum wiring boxes, light fixtures and other electrical appliances.

Another area that is likely to have the mold problem is your bathroom. Such a challenge usually occurs when the exhaust fans malfunction or when they are not used when bathing. We can check whether there is mold in the shower walls, in between ceramic tiles, soap scum, and fiberglass. If it is present, we can remove, clean, and disinfect such areas to reduce the chances of future contamination.

Our team at SERVPRO of West Loop / Bucktown / Greektown specializes in mold, fire, storm, and water damage restoration. Call us at (773) 434-9100 when you need to work with professionals with the proficiency to safely handle your commercial and residential needs.

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How to Eliminate Mold Damage in Chicago

9/24/2018 (Permalink)

A SERVPRO technician determines the source of moisture that could lead to mold damage.

How to Treat Mold Damage in Chicago and Prevent it Returning

Mold spores are a part of any home environment. These tiny fungi are relatively harmless, residing behind walls, in-between floorboards or hidden away in attics and crawlspaces. However, when they come into contact with moisture or damp spots they can proliferate rapidly and become a problem, affecting indoor air quality and, in when found in large quantities can cause health effects.

Homeowners with mold damage in Chicago may be tempted to carry out testing. However, testing can be expensive and time-consuming. Noticing a musty odor or the visible spread of mold growth is usually a sign of damp spots and should be enough to begin a remediation process.

Controlling the level of moisture in your home is crucial to reducing the impact of mold growth. At SERVPRO, we start a remediation process by scrubbing affected areas using chemicals that are designed to remove mold and protect the surface from future infection. We may need to cordon off affected areas and apply negative air pressure to reduce the risk of spores spreading around the home.

Where abrasive cleaning methods are necessary to remove buildup, we can repaint walls or ceilings using mildew retardant paints. These paints prevent mold from returning and act as a base coating to be painted over. SERVPRO understands the importance of indoor air quality. We use air-scrubbers fitted with HEPA filters to remove 99.7% of bacteria from the surrounding air.

SERVPRO can also remove any tainted materials and dispose of them properly. Once a trained mold technician is convinced that the affected surfaces and surrounding air is treated and remediated, we can begin the drying process which reduces the risk of mold returning.

Using a moisture meter, we can establish a natural dry level by testing rooms in your home that have not been affected. The measurement becomes our dry goal which we aim to achieve using the industrial-grade dehumidifying equipment. Dehumidifiers that use chemical components are especially useful as they have a low air output, thereby reducing the risk of spreading fungi around. At the end of service, we can thoroughly deodorize the affected area and explain to you the process and outcomes of the work carried out.

If you notice a musty odor in your home, call in the experts. SERVPRO of West Loop / Bucktown / Greektown has the experience and equipment to help. Call us at (773) 434-9100 now.

For more information about the West Loop/Bucktown neighborhoods, visit here.

Why A Detailed Mold Damage Remediation Process Can Salvage Your Chicago Property 

8/22/2018 (Permalink)

During mold damage remediation, we start by evaluating and determining whether the site is safe to enter.

Mold Damage Remediation Process

During mold damage remediation, we start by evaluating and determining whether the site is safe to enter. Damage to the load-bearing walls after a severe wood rot may lead to structural hazards. So, we check out for roofs that are sagging in the middle or towards the end, whether the exterior masonry has cracks, and if the walls are not straight or vertical. Also, we check whether there are live electrical lines in your Chicago property and turn off the mains.

Containment techniques are essential during mold damage remediation in Chicago. The primary goal of containment is to separate clean areas from the areas with the contamination. Our SERVPRO technicians use plastic sheeting to create barriers separating the work areas from the non-contaminated areas. We can also put the site under negative pressure to prevent the movement of the mold spores to the clean sections of the structure. If we already turned off the electrical circuits, then we can provide portable lighting to prevent the possibility of the fall, slip, and trip hazards.

It can be challenging to clean crawl spaces since such areas have limited means of exit and entry. When working in such areas, we follow the safety standards outlined by OSHA. We usually come up with an appropriate safety plan during the inspection to safeguard our SERVPRO technicians during mold remediation in crawl spaces.

If your structure has painted cement or brick, we follow specific steps to remove the mold deposits. For instance, through HEPA vacuuming, we can remove the spores, and then use a detergent solution together with a wire brush to remove any form of discoloration. The cleaning detergent that we use has anti-microbial properties that sterilize the surfaces and prevent the chances of mold damage reoccurrence. It is the same solution we use to clean non-porous surfaces like ceramic tiles.

SERVPRO of West Loop / Bucktown / Greektown is locally operated and a trusted leader in storm, mold, fire, and water damage restoration. Call us at (773) 434-9100 when you need your home or commercial property to benefit from our 24-hour emergency services.

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How Mold Damage Remediation Returns Your Chicago Property To Its Pre-loss State

6/30/2018 (Permalink)

Finding mold in your home does not need to cause a panic. Contact SERVPRO right away for an investigation and remediation.

Team SERVPRO Follows Proven Protocol When Remediating a Mold Infestation in Your Home 

Mold damage remediation entails all the cleanup of both mold and moisture with the aim of returning the contaminated structure and materials to their pre-damaged condition. The degree of contamination and the extent of water damage usually determines the scope of the remediation process. Not only does remediation prevent further damage, but it also ensures that as a resident of Chicago you are not exposed to possible health effects.
 
We are looking at some of the procedures and strategies that our SERVPRO technicians use when performing mold damage remediation in Chicago. While no standard strategy provides a solution to all such incidents, there are accepted processes and principles that we follow when we are working on your property. The first step that we perform is to locate and eliminate the source of moisture. For instance, we can use moisture meters and sensors to detect any water intrusion and determine how far the water has traveled.
 
During the remediation, our SERVPRO technicians turn off ventilation, heating, and air conditioning systems to prevent the mold spores from moving to clean areas. If we identify some contamination on the HVAC systems, we may change the filters and apply other professional remediation procedures to correct their condition.
 
Both contaminated and non-contaminated materials can either be porous, semi-porous and non-porous. If porous materials such as carpets, drywall, wallpapers, and ceiling tiles have some mold contamination, we remove and discard them; cleaning them is not sufficient. If there is mold growth on semi-porous materials such as wood, our SERVPRO technicians can clean surfaces by combining HEPA vacuuming, scrubbing and scraping. After that, we carefully inspect them before deciding whether they can still be operational or a replacement is necessary. We can also use the above methods when cleaning non-porous materials such as glass and tiles.
 
We wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to prevent exposure to the mold contamination. For instance, when we are dealing with larger contaminations, we use half-mask respirators that have proper cat ridges, chemical resistant gloves, eye protection, and full body suits.
 
SERVPRO of West Loop / Bucktown / Greektown is devoted to solving all your mold damage concerns. Call us at (773) 434-9100 if you need our experienced technicians to return your property to its earlier state and make it “Like it never even happened.”

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Why Mold Damage To Upholstery In Chicago Homes Poses Such A Challenge

6/8/2018 (Permalink)

Mold can cause damage to your home.

Mold Damage To Upholstery

While mold damage in a Chicago home can work its way into almost any area of your home and the objects within it, one of the most costly places to incur damage from a fungal colony can often be in fabrics and upholstery around the house. Upholstery, the cushions, padding, and covers making up the bulk of most furniture pieces in the average Illinois home, is an easy target for hungry spores looking to settle down and grow outwards. However, you may ask, why does upholstery present so many problems for SERVPRO when dealing with mold damage?

An Easy Place to Grow
While mold damage thrives in Chicago homes' walls, floors, and other structural components when in contact with a source of water, it grows even more readily within most types of furniture. Cushions, sheets, and lining all create ideal growing places for mold, which seeks a warm, protected organic material with plenty of surface area to grow. By the time you recognize a problem, the colony may have already wholly overtaken the interior of that furniture piece and possibly spread to nearby objects as well.

Difficult to Restore
Even though SERVPRO brings industry-leading technology and versatility to the table when handling mold remediation work, we still find it difficult to reverse damage to many types of upholstery. Along with carpeting, furniture represents one of our most oft-incurred replacement expenses when we are forced to order a partial or full replacement for the affected object instead of restoring it to its prior condition.

Ease of Spread
While mold damage in walls, ceilings, and other structural components often must rely on air currents to spread to new areas of the home, spores growing in your furniture find a much more easily accessible way to move any time someone sits down on their home. Using mold damaged furniture as normal allows spores to puff up into the air, float to new surfaces, and even sometimes hitch a ride on your body to somewhere new. As a result, an isolated problem can quickly become a home-wide issue without any noticeable changes in the situation.

SERVPRO of West Loop / Bucktown / Greektown helps local homeowners to remove mold from their homes and reverse the effects of damage without ordering replacements whenever possible. Call us at (773) 434-9100.

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Attic Moisture Can Cause Mold Damage In Chicago Homes

1/26/2018 (Permalink)

Mold in Chicago Attics Is Remediated and Removed with the Help of SERVPRO

SERVPRO Remediates Many Chicago Properties After Mold Infestations

Ice damming on the roof of your Chicago home might undoubtedly be a potential culprit for flooding upper levels of your house, but that is not the only threat that this phenomenon might allow occurring. There are many instances in which ice forms up along the edges of your roof, backing up the water from melting snow until it finds any access it can through your roof and into your home. Even with a well-constructed roof, small amounts of water can still get in, making attic spaces wet and damp.

As you might already be aware of, damp spaces with warm temperatures are a breeding ground for fungus and mold. Mold damage to your Chicago home is not likely to happen overnight, so you may not be aware that there is an issue until several colonies have sprouted along organic materials (like the drywall). It is crucial, especially during the winter months to regularly check your attic space for dampness and potential mold growth so that you can spot a problem well before the situation gets dire.
 
With any mold growth in your home, it is better to leave the removal of colonies and remediation efforts to the professionals. Our SERVPRO team has gotten thoroughly trained to high standards in remediation and restoration through the IICRC, and we have the necessary tools and expertise to handle any fungus or level of severity that we could encounter.
 
Our SERVPRO remediation specialists can isolate the affected area and prevent spores from spreading while we implement our scrubbing equipment to deeply clean surfaces (successfully uprooting and removing the entire hyphae of the fungi). Dehumidification equipment is also put to work in the area, pulling the moisture from the air so that naturally occurring spores do not have the opportunity to grow again.
 
Removal of the source of the moisture is an essential aspect of the remediation process, as our team aims at the assurance of preventing mold growth from happening again. In this instance, it might be merely removing the ice dams from your roof that were allowing the water to seep into the attic, but whatever is causing the moisture and dampness to any affected area of your home has to get resolved.
 
Mold damage might be something that most do not even consider, especially during the winter months. If you encounter it in your home though, give SERVPRO of West Loop / Bucktown / Greektown a call. You can reach our experienced mold remediation specialists anytime at (773) 434-9100.

Data and Information about this great city by clicking right here.

Restoring Chicago Mold Damage in a Home

12/18/2017 (Permalink)

Mold Cleanup and Remediation in Chicago Means a Call to SERVPRO

SERVPRO Offers Mold Remediation to Property Owners in Chicago

Mold is not what Chicago homeowners think of when considering home disasters. Fire is loud and bright, and everyone has that nightmare about walking down into their basement and stepping in water halfway up to their knees.

The reality is that mold damage to Chicago homes can cost just as much to remove and restore as fire or water damage. Worse, the presence of mold may cause health effects in people with existing respiratory conditions. SERVPRO response teams understand that this should not happen when the mold is found and dealt with quickly.
 
The first sign of mold is often that distinctive musty odor. However, it is not noticeable until enough mold has grown to generate the odor and is not present in all types of mold. Homeowners must look in any location where there might be enough moisture for mold spores to expand and grow. It is not an easy task, as even a large group of hundreds of spores is smaller than the dot at the end of this sentence.
 
It takes very little for mold to get started. Once the first spores expand, they extend hyphae across and into surfaces, searching for food and moisture. That is why SERVPRO technicians quickly move to dry all water-soaked building materials and items like carpets and rugs. Removing the source of water halts spore growth and forces them back into an inert state.
 
If the spores have already grown into ceiling tiles or drywall, removing the water source does not make them retreat though. When compromised, it is much cheaper to a homeowner for us to remove and replace these building materials.
 
If the mold is only on the surface, we spray the affected areas and items with an anti-fungal agent that kills the spores on contact. Next, we wipe down the surfaces with cloths or sponges to remove the spores. If the layer is thick, our teams use commercial vacuum cleaners with specially designed HEPA filters. These filters can capture and trap mold as small as a single spore.
 
Safely removing mold from your home requires training and special equipment. It is not a simple process. If you have or just suspect you have a mold problem, contact us here at SERVPRO of West Loop / Bucktown / Greektown. Call today at (773) 434-9100 to schedule an inspection.

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Sources of Indoor Moisture That Can Cause Mold Damage in Chicago Apartments

10/15/2017 (Permalink)

When you find mold in your home, it is time to contact SERVPRO for a thorough investigation and remediation of the infestation. Call today.

SERVPRO Tackles Mold By First Inspecting the Property and Determining the Cause

Indoor moisture problems are common in Chicago and usually, come with mold and mildew. Mold can become a concern when the contamination is severe. When mold spores and particles are present in large numbers, they may cause health effects if inhaled. Mold can also contribute to structural damage by weakening the wood frame. Additionally, when wood makes contact with water, it can warp and cause cracks on your walls.
 
The best way to protect your home from extensive mold damage is having a reputable restoration company inspect for mold growth. If you need quick and efficient mold remediation services, SERVPRO is locally based and has a long history of providing mold damage restoration services to the residents of Chicago. We have a wide range of industry-standard tools and techniques that can restore your property to preloss conditions in no time.
 
Water leaks are one of the most common causes of mold damage in the house. SERVPRO technicians can help assess plumbing leaks in the building and then devise the best course of action to repair the problem. It is important to grade driveways, walkways, and exterior soil away from the house to keep water from puddling near the foundation. Cleaning gutters can also go a long way towards preventing the formation of mud and ice dams.
 
High indoor humidity is also notorious for causing mold growth and mold damage. Common control methods include venting bathrooms, clothes dryers, kitchen stoves, and space heaters to the outdoors; maintaining dry crawlspaces and basements; removing un-vented gas or kerosene space heaters; and, keeping firewood outdoors. SERVPRO mold remediation experts often use exhaust fans to remove moisture from various spaces. A stand-alone dehumidifier or refrigerated air conditioning can also come in handy if increased ventilation is not possible or outdoor air is more humid than inside air.
 
A slight increase in indoor temperatures can help limit condensation on cold surfaces and subsequently minimize the risk of mold damage. SERVPRO professionals can do this by adding insulation in walls and ceilings, opening heating grilles in unoccupied rooms, opening closet doors on exterior walls, and turning up thermostats. Redirecting cold air away from walls and other areas during warm weather can also help minimize condensation.
 
If you detect the presence of mold on your property, you need to act fast to avoid extensive mold damage. SERVPRO of West Loop / Bucktown / Greektown is an experienced company in the restoration industry, and our technicians are available 24/7 to respond to your emergency. For any assistance, call us today at (773) 434-9100.

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Help Managing Mold Damage in Your Chicago Home is Closer Than You Might Think

8/27/2017 (Permalink)

When you see or smell mold on your property, call SERVPRO to prevent a full infestation from occurring. We are standing by for your call.

Our Certified Technicians Understand Mold Tendencies and Proactively Remediate the Damage

Mold damage on your property can get out of control pretty fast. Before you know what is happening, mold uses water to travel throughout your living environment, taking hold in hidden areas that cause significant problems.  
 
Remember when facing mold damage in your Chicago area home, you are not alone. Knowledgeable, helpful, experienced technicians can help you find the answers you need to get mold damage under control quickly. You should always avoid taking on remediation of areas larger than 10-square feet, alone. Without professional help, you can easily find yourself in way over your head.
 
When having continuous water issues under your kitchen sink, mold tends to make its way into your cupboards, cabinets, appliances, and even under your floor. Since mold needs water to grow, SERVPRO technicians use infrared moisture detectors to locate hidden areas regardless of how small. We make every effort to locate and remove water from the equation altogether.  
 
After accomplishing a water-free indoor environment, SERVPRO technicians use physical removal methods to control mold growth in your home. Using various containment methods, we prevent mold from entering other clean areas and introduce airborne spores to air scrubbers and HEPA filtered equipment. We capture spores that are invisible to the naked eye, controlling access to your property.
 
With contaminated materials bagged and disposed of properly, SERVPRO cleaning technicians use a combination of methods to restore various surfaces, contents, furniture, and many of your personal belongings that others might consider a loss. We follow strict EPA guidelines and disinfect the affected area with EPA-registered disinfectants.  
 
Our technicians are available anytime, day or night. When you find yourself facing unsuspected emergency situations, call us. We can provide you with a variety of services to help you return your home to a quality condition, making several problems disappear, “Like it never even happened.”
 
Call SERVPRO of West Loop / Bucktown / Greektown for additional information or to begin your home’s remediation, today. Our expertly trained staff is ready and willing to take your call. (773) 434-9100

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Preventing Mold Growth in Your Bucktown Bathroom

2/12/2017 (Permalink)

Mold Growth is Facilitated with Excess Moisture in Your Bucktown bathroom

SERVPRO Tips for Bucktown Residents to Thwart Mold Infestations

The growth of mold can ruin the safety and comfort of your home. Out of all the rooms in your house, your bathroom can be the primary area where you find this dangerous fungus growing. Instead of letting mold take root in your home, you could think about remodeling this room to make it a place that is less inviting for fungus. The tips below are essential for maintaining a clean, safe, and mold-free bathroom.
 
If your home does suffer from mold damage, you need to get it checked out right away by a professional remediation company. Mold can spread quickly throughout your Bucktown home, and SERVPRO can be there fast to assess the damage and repair them for you. Our specially trained technicians have the industry leading equipment, including scoping devices to find any hidden mold.
 
Increasing Air Flow
If your bathroom has poor air flow, you are inviting mold to take root in the walls, plumbing, and flooring. If there is no ventilation system in your bathroom currently, you need to install one right away to increase circulation and keep the area dry. After you or a family member takes a shower, this is of particular importance. You can also circulate the air and assist your bathroom in keeping dry by adding screens to the window or putting in a ceiling fan.
 
Upgrading the Plumbing
Many homeowners use plastic or vinyl plumbing fixtures since they are inexpensive. Plastic and vinyl pipes and plumbing parts, however, many times break, crack, warp, and leak very easily, which causes water to pool along floorboards and under cabinets. Water damage like this could easily create mold growth in your bathroom. Instead of dealing with leaking drains, pipes, and such, you can stop the growth of mold in the first place by investing in fixtures which are constructed of polished brass or metal.
 
Carpeting can conceal mold growth. As you get out of the shower and step onto a carpeted floor, the water drips off you and the shower curtain or door, soaking through the carpeting and matting, and into the sub-flooring. Mold can start growing over time, which makes your bathroom dangerous and toxic. You can stop water from soaking through your flooring by taking the carpet out and laying ceramic or tile down instead. These materials resist the absorption of water and mold growth. If you find mold when you remove the carpeting, call SERVPRO right away so we can look at the damage for you and correct the problem.
 
Paint, not Wallpaper
Wallpaper, like carpeting, can hide mold. Wallpaper is porous, letting humidity and water soak through the paper onto the wall under it. Instead of letting mold take root behind your wallpaper, you can stop this threat by painting your walls. Painted walls do not absorb water and humidity like wallpaper, lowering the chance that mold forms behind the surface of your wall.
 
Keeping mold out of your bathroom is essential for the health of you and your family. If you still wind up with a mold problem, talk with us at SERVPRO of West Loop/Bucktown/Greektown. We are always available to take your call at (773) 434-9100.

Avoid Panic When You Suspect Mold Damage in West Loop

12/19/2016 (Permalink)

Mold can appear anywhere and comes in many colors. Call SERVPRO at the first sign and ask them to investigate!

Certified SERVPRO Technicians Have the Training and Experience to Deal with Your Mold Problems

It is always concerning when you hear the word mold applied to any area of your home. The media is often focused on mold and mildew damage and potential health concerns after severe weather and flooding has inundated homes with water. Highly trained technicians at SERVPRO are constantly on the alert for mold growth when we are called to your home to consult and devise a plan to restore your property after water damage structure and contents. We use a protocol developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure your indoor environment is properly assessed for microbial infestation before mold remediation proceeds. An Indoor Environmental Professional (IEP) will be consulted to draft a work plan to address any mold damage in accordance with EPA standards if we deem it necessary.

If mold damage in West Loop is present, we will arrange to contain the contamination to protect both the residents of your home and the technicians remediating the overgrowth. We may advise temporary relocation of you and your family in severe cases or simply block off the affected area until the mold is managed. Be aware that some individuals may be more sensitive to mold than others and you are urged to seek medical advice if the young, elderly, allergy prone or immunosuppressed are normally living or working in the area. Our goal is to keep everyone safe and protected while documenting the presence of the mold and our efforts to control it. Locating the source of the mold is essential while removing contaminated material without spreading it to other areas is key, possible through our technicians’ training and the use of specialized equipment and products developed to reduce moisture, mold, and its growth.

Once the area of mold growth is identified and the majority of the infiltration removed the next step is to find the path moisture took to feed the microbes. Sometimes this is obvious if storms sheared off roofing or flooded basements. Often it is a detection exercise if mold grew because of high ambient humidity or a unique and convoluted soaking from remote damage that sent water on a route that could not be easily anticipated. SERVPRO staff have seen it all and are in a position to discover the truth behind mold feeding and growth, remediating the issue by drying the materials and structure and repairing the leak or reducing the humidity.

When you find or suspect mold in your home, do not panic but instead contact us 24/7 at (773) 434-9100. The professional mold remediation team at SERVPRO of West Loop / Bucktown / Greektown is ready to assist and restore your peace of mind.

Mold Damage Can Cause Significant Problems For Home Improvement Projects In Chicago

11/23/2016 (Permalink)

Mold damage can start slow but then overtake an area in a short time.

Home Improvement Projects And Mold Damage

Mold can be found everywhere because it is so easily carried by air currents. Mold is not a problem except when it has grown and formed colonies. At that point, it can begin causing deterioration of the material it is growing on. This happens because as it grows, mold's anchor points, similar to roots, infiltrate the surface, be it concrete or fabric. This can often leaves stains.

When Chicago area homeowners first become aware of mold damage in their home, it's often during the phase of tearing out walls during a home improvement project. Work on the project should be stopped, if possible, and an assessment made by a professional certified in dealing with remediation of mold. If mold has been able to grow in an area that is not damp a majority of the time, such as in the bathroom or kitchen area of a home, mold growths are possible in other areas of the home. The bathroom and kitchen are often harborers of mold and other microbial colonies, even if they are small colonies.

Dust from home improvement projects can also contain mold spores, and if these are not adequately contained during the completion of the project, mold damage can begin in areas that were formerly uncontaminated. Mold damage can start slow but then overtake an area in a short time. Capable of growing on almost any surface, it can damage the materials recently used in your home improvement project, or even begin growing behind the materials you've put in place. This can cause a home that was previously, seemingly mold-free, now a haven for mold colonies. It only takes a small, minute amount of water from a newly installed water line to allow mold to grow. Even though water lines are checked beforehand, this does not guarantee that they will cause problems. Because water does not stay in one spot, the mold may grow in other areas to which the water has been seeping.

If you've recently had a home improvement project done in your home, it may be beneficial to have an assessment to determine if mold damage is an issue. Call SERVPRO of West Loop / Bucktown / Greektown at (773) 434-9100 to find out more about inspections to detect possible areas of mold damage in your home.

Eliminate Mold and Mildew with a Chicago Water Damage Restoration Company

5/13/2015 (Permalink)

House water damage creates a breeding ground for mold and mildew in Chicago.

Eliminate mold and mildew with a water damage restoration company.

Chicago mold and mildew present an immediate hazard to the health of you and your family. That’s why it’s essential that you take immediate action when water damage invades your home. Mold and mildew spores can start propagating within hours of a fire or flood emergency. Even if you repair the damage, mold and mildew can impact your home.

The best way to prevent the growth of mold and mildew Chicago after a fire or flood emergency is to contact a fire restoration contractor as soon as possible. There are also steps that you can take to reduce your exposure to mold and mildew. A water damage emergency is bad enough, but the long-lasting effects of mold and mildew can be even worse.

Water Damage and Mold Growth

Molds consume organic materials as they spread throughout a home or business. They love to chow down on materials such as wool, cotton or any surface covered with things like soil, food, or grease. Mold will eventually destroy the wood, textiles and other materials in your home. Your home is especially vulnerable to mold growth if you live where the weather is warm or humid. Voracious mold spores thrive on the moisture introduced by a fire or flood emergency.

The Toxic Effects of Mold and Mildew

House water damage creates a breeding ground for mold and mildew. It’s important that you protect your health and home by speaking with a professional restoration company. They have the knowledge, experience and equipment to prevent the spread of toxic mold and mildew. Only a water damage restoration company has the expertise necessary to locate and destroy harmful mold and mildew.

Understanding Mold

Microscopic mold spores exist almost everywhere, outdoors and indoors, making it impossible to remove all mold from a home or business. 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. 
• 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.

SERVPRO of West Loop / Bucktown / Greektown professionals are dedicated to responding immediately when you contact them. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further Chicago mold damage, and reduces cost. If you suspect that your home or business has a mold problem, call SERVPRO of West Loop/Bucktown/Greektown at (773) 434-9100. We can inspect and assess your property for the presence of moisture, humidity, and mold infestation. If mold is found, our technicians have the training, equipment, and expertise to handle mold damage in your Chicago home or business.