Mold Damage in Shrewsbury Homes And The Importance of Containment

6/13/2018 (Permalink)

Minimizing Mold Infestations - A Primary Goal of SERVPRO

What most homeowners are unaware of is the fact that mold spores exist in almost all buildings. In fact, it is nearly impossible to prevent stray spores from entering homes and businesses, because they travel on movements within the air. The only way to keep them out is to close up all the doors and windows, and this severely degrades circulation and increases humidity, mold's best friend.

Fortunately, mold spores are harmless if interior spaces are kept clean and, most importantly, very dry. As mold thrives in the presence of moisture, keeping spores dormant and benign is only a matter of routine maintenance. Inspect pipes regularly for cracks and rust. Never overload appliances. Keep gutters clean and free of obstruction and mold damage in Shrewsbury is unlikely to affect your home. 

However, if the worst does happen, you need to call the mold remediation experts at SERVPRO. We can carry out repairs fast and make sure that the problem is mitigated. The first thing that we’ll do is set up a containment area so that the spread of the mold, via spore circulation, is almost slowed to a stop. 

What Containment Means for Your Home 
‘Containment’ is the word that we use to describe any procedure that limits the spread of mold to unaffected areas of a building. For example, if a broken appliance causes water damage in your kitchen and this encourages the development of mold, the kitchen will be sealed off. The SERVPRO technicians will ask that you remain clear of the area, as movement causes spores to lift into the air and migrate. 

Using industry leading tools and equipment, as well as safety clothing (PPE), we can engage with the spores without disturbing them. Negative air pressure is very helpful when it comes to trapping contaminants within the sealed space and ejecting them to the exterior of the structure.

What to Expect from Containment Procedures 
The most common indication of a containment area is a thick polypropylene sheet. This is usually taped to apertures to exclude ease of movement to air, and what may be airborne--spores. If we erect a boundary of this kind in your home, only our SERVPRO technicians will be in the work area. If there are HVAC vents in the building, they will be temporarily sealed to stop mold spores from moving thru the system.

The technicians will be working to establish negative pressure within the containment zone. Any disturbance will set the process back. The extent of the mold infestation will dictate how our team members will attack the problem to remediate its effects and return your home to a safe and sanitary environment.

Mold damage can seem a little scary at first, which is why we’ll talk you through the whole process. You’ll be kept in the loop at all times, and we’ll only ask you to vacate the building if it is entirely necessary. SERVPRO of Shrewsbury/ Westborough is based in your local area. Call us 24/7 at (508) 757-7885 for advice, an inspection or remediation. We have an in house Estimator waiting for your call