Tag: mold inspection orange county

Here’s How to Prevent Mold Growth in HVAC Systems

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HVAC Mold Inspection - Mold Inspection in Orange CountyMany modern homes come with amazing amenities, such as pre-installed climate control. The most popular choice are the so called HVAC, standing for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning devices. They offer the full range of control over the conditions in your home. However, what you may not know is that improper care of these devices can make them a hotbed for mold growth. If you are unsure about your HVAC, find someone to conduct a mold inspection in Orange County for you.

Conditions for mold growth

There are only a few conditions mold needs; moisture, a suitable range of temperatures and an organic material (such as house dust) to feed on. If you consider your HVAC system, this is exactly what it provides. The temperatures suitable for mold growth correspond to those we enjoy, the moisture is drawn out of the air in the house through the HVAC, and so is the house dust.

How to avoid this problem?

Even though it seems like HVAC system might be a bad idea, it is actually not that serious. It takes a long time for these conditions to become suitable enough for mold growth, so the only thing you need to do to keep the mold at bay is to regularly maintain your HVAC system. There are actually several things you can do with the HVAC, not only to keep the mold away but to ensure that your system has a longer life.

Drain pans

The pans where water is drained and deposited need to be in a sloped position. That way, the water can slowly drain into the deep seal. If the drain pans are not in the proper position or are too full (due to excess air moisture), they can overflow, or water can collect around the pans. The stagnant water promotes bacteria growth, which is the ideal food for mold. Maintain these often enough and make sure no water is collected around or under the pans.

Replace air filters

With any air conditioning system, this is the key maintenance task. If the filters are already too dirty or too wet, they won’t do a very good job. In most HVAC filters need to be replaced monthly. This may seem a bit tedious, but it is your first line of defense, not only against mold but against other allergens as well.

Keep your ducts dry

If you know that your area is wetter than average, make sure that the ducts of your HVAC unit are not too moist and that there is no condensation, since mold grows particularly well in moisture and away from sight. If you detect excess water, clean those parts and have them replaced if necessary.

Use a mold inhibitor or a disinfectant

There are EPA approved mold inhibitors designed for use in HVAC systems. Apply them per instructions and you will make your maintenance work a whole lot easier. Disinfectants are useful as well. They probably work best in combination. Make sure that you get the product designed to work in HVAC systems.

Check your air intake

Where your air intake is can be important. If the area is rich in organic matter, you are practically inviting mold to grow. You can fix this by moving anything organic away from the intake vents.

If you are unsure about your ducts, or you haven’t been maintaining your HVAC particularly well, you might need mold inspection. Mold inspection in Orange County is performed by trained professionals. Here at Emergency Home Solutions, we offer both mold inspection and mold remediation if we happen to encounter mold. Contact today for more information.

Mold Inspection Orange County: What Parts of the House Are Most Susceptible to Mold

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Mold-in-Bathroom-Mold-Inspection-Orange-CountyWe have written about mold before. It is a nasty fungi, not only unappealing to see and smell, but also potentially allergenic and some varieties are toxic as well. In order to keep your home safe from this calamity, you need to make sure that there are no dark, wet places. That’s why water damage restoration is essential for keeping your home in the best possible condition. Moist spots away from light are ideal for mold growth, and soon enough you may start feeling the adverse effects of a mold infestation.

It is good to have a mold inspection every once in a while. You can do a preliminary inspection yourself. However, if you do suspect you have mold, do not attempt to fix the problem yourself. Mold can be very dangerous, and requires professional equipment to deal with. Professional mold inspection in Orange County is fairly easy to come by. If you are keen to search for yourself, make sure to thoroughly check these following places in your home.

Sinks

Sinks in your bathroom or in your kitchen are never far from water, and are rarely dry. This is exactly the type of environment that is suitable for mold. Inspect the parts on the underside, which are often not seen and may not be cleaned as often. To avoid this problem, intensify the cleaning frequency and try to be more thorough with it.

Bathroom

Any and every part of bathroom is often in contact with water. Even though we clean the residual water from visible places, we may not be able to clean it all from those hard to reach parts. If the water accumulates, and there are mold spores around (and there almost always are), it may lead to infestation. Be more mindful when water is spilt to clean it up promptly to avoid hardship later on.

Basement

Ever a dark place, the basement is a prime candidate for a mold infestation. If there are pipes going through it, the chance increases significantly. It is often less visited, so any moisture build-up may go unnoticed for just long enough to start a mold infestation. More frequent mold inspection in your basement can probably save you a lot of trouble and a lot of money down the line.

Garage

Even though it is not a living part of the house, the garage is often used and therefore a mold infestation is an unwelcome thing here as well. Since you don’t spend as much time here, you can easily miss the early signs of a problem. If you are storing liquids here, make sure that they are tightly sealed. Additionally, if you keep a fridge here as well, check it every so often.

Pipes

Our indoor plumbing systems are elaborate and complicated. Chances are there are pipes running all through your house. And every one of those pipes carries with it potential for moisture build-up. And since they are for the most part out of sight, mold can grow on them for a long time before it is discovered. Often times, professional mold inspection is required to locate the source.

Washing machine/dishwasher

Finally, our appliances which use lots of water may be the source of a leak, which supports the growth of mold. Washing machines and dishwashers are the most common, but also fridges or freezers may have a moisture build-up around them. Mind the valves that connect these machines to a water source.

Any of these causes may start a mold infestation. However, it is not enough to just fix the cause. Mold is resistant, and can wait dormant until the conditions are good for its growth again. After a mold inspection, you should invest in mold remediation. Emergency home solutions offers mold inspection and other mold-related services in Orange County. Contact us now to find out more.

Orange County Mold Inspection: What Do You Need to Know?

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Mold on window - Orange County Mold InspectionIt can’t be pleasant to see the black/green traces of mold on your wall or ceiling. Still, once you know it’s there, you can take action and make sure it is gone. Sometimes, however, the mold is hidden from plain sight. If that’s the case with your home, a mold inspection is needed. In Orange County, mold inspection can be done quite easily, as long as you find a reliable company that offers this service.

Why perform a mold inspection?

Two key reasons; primarily, find the hidden mold, and ultimately get rid of it. The second reason is to find the underlying water problem that caused the mold infestation in the first place. Even though the first reason is typically why people call the inspectors, it is the second reason that is more important. Water damage promotes the growth of mold, but it can also cause a lot more serious structural damage to the house, too.

How do I know if I need a mold inspection?

If you have hidden mold, you won’t be able to see it on the walls, but you will feel the adverse effects. These include allergies, moldy smells and maybe even poisoning.

Why do I need a professional to do it?

Mold can be toxic, as we wrote before. Professional mold inspectors and remediators have the necessary equipment and the skill to deal with the situation. What’s more, they will likely be aware of the most common places to expect to find mold. The mold inspectors inspect all the possible places mold and moisture can collect, including the insides of drywalls.

What information do I need to give the inspectors?

They will most likely want to know about any recent water damage you may have experienced. They will also likely look for old traces of mold, which might indicate that mold returns periodically, when the conditions are right (rainy season, snow melt season, etc.).

How is mold inspection different than mold remediation?

Mold inspection is limited to locating and testing the mold in the house. Remediation is the process of removing the mold and repairing the damage caused by it. There are companies which offer both of these services.

Is all mold a sign of trouble?

There are types of mold which grow on raw wood. These types of molds often leave the dreaded black stain on the wood, but pose no danger to the structural integrity of the house, or your health. The mold inspector takes a sample of every mold he finds and takes them to a lab to be tested. If the mold proves to be harmless, there is no need for remediation.

Is there anything I can do myself?

It is best that you leave this to the professionals. Still, if mold inspection sounds expensive to you, you can perform a cursory inspection of your own before you call in the experts. The most likely places to find mold are the basement and all areas of the house that are near a water source. If you do find mold, it is important that you do not disturb it, as it will only exacerbate the problem.

Orange County Mold Inspection: What happens after?

If the inspector has cleared your home as free of mold, you are done. If, however, the mold is found, the best course of action is to call in the mold remediation company. As mentioned before, some companies offer both of these two services. In Orange County, mold inspection and mold remediation are the expertise of Emergency Home Solutions. If you suspect mold, contact us as soon as possible.