gotmoldinnorthcarolina.com

You’ve had water damage in your house due to a burst pipe, a roof leak or a heavy summer storm.  You hope that your insurance will cover the damage.  What to do?  First, read about mold below.  You may not know the implications of water and mold damage.

What is Mold, and Why should you care?

Molds are part of a group of micro-organisms called fungi that also includes mushrooms and yeasts.  Molds are familiar to most people as food spoilers on items such as bread or fruit.  Molds are nature’s decomposers in the food chain.

Mold requires the following conditions to grow:

• Mold spores (which are always present indoors and outdoors)
• The right temperature range, from 2-40 degrees C
• A food supply, which means anything organic such as books, carpets, clothing, wood, drywall, etc.
• A source of moisture

The last condition, moisture, is the only practical factor to control in most houses.  If allowed to grow inside your house, mold can be a problem because:

• It can damage your possessions
• It can cause health problems, for example:

“…mold…can cause…allergic reactions such as asthma or allergic rhinitis, non-allergic reactions such as headaches, and other symptoms [including] lung and breathing infections”

Dry Quickly to Avoid Mold!

1. Contact your insurance broker

First, call your insurance broker or agent and report the water damage.  You can expect to discuss these questions and issues:

• How did the water damage occur?
• Is this damage covered by your policy?
• Did the damage occur during the period your policy was in effect?
• Are you reporting the water damage promptly (within 24 hours) to allow quick drying and repairs?

1. Hire A Contractor

Hire a contractor to clean up the water and make repairs as needed to your house.  Your adjuster can recommend contractors, but you must confirm the selection with your adjuster-the contractor reports to and is paid by you.  You need to be sure that the adjuster and the contractor are following the best possible procedures to look after your concerns.

A thorough and fast cleanup will help avoid mold growth.  If you wait too long and mold growth starts, cleanup costs will increase significantly.  This is what you should be looking for:

Speed

Mold grows quickly; your adjuster should ensure that you have a contractor in your house promptly

Knowledge

The contractor you select should have certification or training in water damage restoration and mold remediation

Competence

The contractor should follow basic, good clean up practices after your water damage.  Here are some things to look for:

• The moisture source is stopped
• Wet items that can’t be salvaged are remove

Mold is a type of fungus that grows on plants and fibers and is most often associated with damp, musty locations such as bathrooms, basements and attics.  Mold, Allergens, VOC’s, Bacteria and other potentially harmful airborne pollutants commonly lurk in indoor environments.  Mold travels through the air as tiny spores which like to make their home in wet areas, where they breed.  Mold spores present in large quantities can present health hazards to humans potentially causing allergic reactions and respiratory problems.  Some molds also produce mycotoxins thus with high levels and prolonged exposure in workplaces for example can lead to neurological problems and in some cases death.  Mold visibly can be difficult to detect especially when hidden behind walls, other times can be more obvious in leaky or musty areas.  The cure to repair or prevent mold conditions require mold inspections often times with the use of infrared scan guns that can see behind walls to detect affected areas.  Mold inspections aid in air quality investigation methods and remediation procedures such as mold cleanup, handling toxic mold contamination and building or mechanical system repairs.  Other practices to mitigate mold issues in buildings or homes are to reduce or eliminate moisture levels and to remove affected materials.  Water damage describes a=2 0large number of possible losses caused by water intruding where it will enable attack of a material or system by destructive processes such as rotting of wood, growth, rusting of steel, de-laminating of materials such as plywood, and many, many others.  Water damage is the largest number of home owner’s insurance claims.  There are three categories of Water damage, from what is called “Clean Water to Grey Water to Black Water” describing water damage ranging from broken supply lines, sump pump failures, water discharge from dishwashers or washing machines, sewage, seawater, ground surface water or standing water. Accelerated levels are contaminating water sources that affect the indoor environment.  Water damage at worst levels can contain unsanitary agents, harmful bacteria and fungi, causing, severe discomfort or sickness.  When not properly dried out and restored, it can lead to lingering residue thus mold build up and its various health related issues.

Our local company aired April 1, 2009 by Fox News, being in business for over 22 years called Executive Restoration who’s owner (and expert inspector) restoration and damage prevention for NC and SC.  They provide first class business and residential mold inspections, prevention and remediation.  They have a crew and equipment to handle total restoration of water damage from the biggest company to the smallest home.  Go to www.executiverestoration.com or call (704) 545-0098.

Fortunately, warmer weather is in the forecast, so all the snow should start melting soon.  Mold is everywhere in charlotte.  The damp spring weather causes mold to grow at remarkable rates.  As Fox Charlotte’s Derek James reports, it can quickly damage your home and your health.  Whether it’s a bad crawl space, a poorly ventilated bathroom or a leak, if you have water damage that goes untreated within 24 to 48 hours, you’ve got a little surprise on your hands.  Maybe a big surprise.  David Snell of Executive Restoration gets a lot of calls in spring when people notice a musty smell in their home or aren’t feeling well.

The inside spore count, if it’s higher that the outside.  We’ve got some serious concerns.  When mold is growing behind your walls, it can be very hard to find, often impossible without the right equipment.  David uses an infrared camera to find moisture inside walls.   You might have a gutter issue there.  The source of a mold problem is often outside.  David recommends using a downspout gutter extension.  But are you safer if you’re house is newer?

But are you safer if you’re house newer?  It really doesn’t matter the age of your home.  We can all have water damage issues.  The key is to fully remove the damage quickly, because if you don’t your problem will continually come back.  Derek James, Fox News.

Out in the yard, doing the yard work.  Yeah.  Hopefully no mold in your house.  Absolutely.  Thank you.