The Dangers of Black Mold

Mold removal can be a costly expense on one’s wallet. However, the expense of massive black mold colonies can be even more taxing on one’s health. Though most mold colonies are typically harmless, black mold colonies pose different threats. 

Black mold should always trigger the mold removal process, whether it be by yourself or a company like United Water Restoration Group. Though the task may be somewhat new to you, United Water Restoration would like to assist you. We’d like to discuss the dangers of black mold and the mold removal process.

What is Black Mold?

There are many different kinds of mold colonies that can manifest in your home or business. You may be wondering “how do I spot black mold?” Well, the name says it all! It’s hard to know how many strains of mold exist as there are over 100,000 strains.

Some mold strains may be white, yellow, green, and, in the case of black mold, black. Black mold looks like a cluster of polka dots, with black mold on a patchy surface. It’s keen to note that black mold in smaller colonies is not inherently harmful to one’s health.

As the Center for Disease Control says “Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can lead to symptoms such as stuffy nose, wheezing, and red or itchy eyes, or skin.

Some people, such as those with allergies to molds or with asthma, may have more intense reactions. Severe reactions may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath.”

The harm caused by black mold varies on the person and the amount of black mold in the home. 

The Dangers of Black Mold

Depending on the amount of black mold and the person in question, mold can have different effects. As we stated above, it can cause a stuffy nose, wheezing, irritated eyes and skin. In extreme cases, mold exposure has also been known to cause shortness of breath, a sore throat, and sinusitis.

The dangers of black mold aren’t only to your health, they can be potentially harmful to your wallet. Black mold can grow and spread quickly. All black mold needs to thrive is oxygen, organic material, and a little bit of dampness. From there, it can spread like wildfire and overtake hidden areas in your home or business. The biggest danger posed by black mold is the cost of mold removal itself. It is typically harmless to those around it unless the situation is out of control. 

Mold can also wreak havoc on your home or business’ health. Mold seeps into walls, insolutation, wood, and potentially into electronics. This can cause stability issues with the building. Drywall can become soft, electrical can be damaged, and sections of your home or business may need to be outright replaced. 

How Do You Get Rid of Black Mold?

There are many ways to get rid of mold. The mold removal process greatly depends on the level of damage your home or business has incurred due to mold. Black mold damage can drastically vary, it can be as small as a corner in a room or as large as the entire ceiling and carpeting needing to be replaced. Though you may be able to undertake the mold removal process for smaller mishaps, larger ones may require mold removal services from companies such as United Water Restoration Group. 

The Mold Removal Process

The mold removal process depends heavily on the amount of damage your home or business has endured. Black mold can spread quickly, if it gets out of control, you should absolutely call a company like United Water Restoration Group. United Restoration Group’s mold removal process is as follows:

Step 1: Emergency Contact

United Water Restoration Group’s hotline, (800) 430-5838, is open 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. Upon calling our hotline, you will be placed in direct contact with one of our technicians. From there they can gain an understanding of your problem and schedule a visit. This visit will revolve around your schedule and can even happen in a matter of a few hours.

Step 2: Inspection and Assessment

Once a United Water Restoration Group technician is on the scene they can begin inspecting your home. They can go over the areas with mold and detect how serious of a problem you have on your hands. Our technicians are willing to fully go over their assessment to help you better understand the coming parts of our mold removal process.

Step 3: Mold Containment

Our technician will benign the process of mold removal by helping contain existing colonies. Mold can grow quickly and on nearly any organic surface. During this step of our mold removal process, our technicians will stop and contain mold. During this step of the mold removal and clean up process, all fans and air/heating systems will be turned off to help prevent the microscopic spores from spreading. Our technicians may also place physical barriers in the affected locations to help prevent further spread. 

Step 4: Air Filtration

United Water Restoration Group technicians come equipped with specialized air filtration equipment. Our technicians utilize equipment such as air scrubbers and industrial vacuums to remove these particles from the air to prevent further damage.

Step 5: Mold Removal

Once we can guarantee no further black mold outbreaks will occur, we start removing the mold. Our technicians will use antifungal and antimicrobial treatments on the affected areas to remove mold colonies and prevent new colonies from forming in the room. Disposing of mold-infested materials, such as drywall, carpeting, or insulation may be required to prevent further growth.

Step 6: Cleaning Affected Areas

Once the mold is removed, our technicians will begin the mold removal step of cleaning the affected areas. This will not only help prevent further damage, but will eliminate the smell of mold.

Step 7: Restoration

Depending on the severity of damage, United Water Restoration Group is equipped to handle it! Our technicians are trained in minor repairs to major renovations. We can replace drywall or entire carpeting. 

The mold removal process can be tricky to navigate on your own. Black mold poses a danger to those around it and you should consider contacting professionals. United Water Restoration Group is a company that specializes in mold removal. We can get your home or business back to normal in no time!

To discover the closest United Water Restoration Group office near you, go to our website and place your zip code into our database! We provide services in Ormond Beach, Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, Daytona Beach, Florida, Orlando, Florida, Tampa, Florida, Melbourne, Florida, and many other locations around Florida!