Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind. How Common Is Hidden Mold?

4/5/2022 (Permalink)

Taken from a crawl space, homeowner stepped through bathroom floor due to shower leak, Mold is seen growing around the hole.

Mold often grows in parts of the home that are not visible to the everyday eye.
Here are a few examples of where we have discovered mold growth over the past few months.
-In an under-stairs closet, completely out of sight to the homeowners due to the closet being used for storing boxes and out of season clothes and decorations.
-In the corner of a walk-in closet, behind a storage box, due to a slow leak in the adjoining bathroom.
-Attic, our attic mold jobs are a constant and steady task for our team. This is oregon, and moisture in attics leading to mold growth is very common.
-Water heater closet. Hot water causes mold to grow faster than cold water. Mold loves warm, wet, and moist environments and thrives when there is a hot water heater loss.
-Crawl spaces are another large source of mold growth. We have seen slow leaks and large burst pipes that both have caused mold growth under homes. As well as water table issues under homes.
-Garage doors, the backing of garage doors at the base can grow mold due to the wet weather months Oregon faces, but also due to no proper closure at the bottom of the door, or if the bottom of the door is sitting on a surface that has grass, dirt, or moss, instead of cement/asphalt.
-Mold on bathroom ceiling. The mold that we often see growing on a bathroom ceiling is usually due to lack of proper ventilation when showering. Here in the Pacific Northwest it is important to always have your bathroom fan running and operating well while you are using the shower. Leaving your bathroom fan on for 30-60 minutes post shower is also recommended, especially if your mirrors get fogged.
-A water loss is the number one source of mold growth in homes and businesses hands down! Water penetrating materials that it shouldn’t spurs microbial growth to flourish in that material and it spreads the longer the materials stay wet.
So the takeaway about hidden mold is that it is very common. As a home or business owner check your closets, crawl, and attic often for issues or evidence of moisture intrusion. If you do find mold, give SERVPRO of Salem West a call! (503) 393-9999.

Mold Remediation In Rental Units

5/12/2021 (Permalink)

If an apartment complex reports a mold situation in the bathroom, you expect the property manager to deal with the remediation and the repairs following. But, let's say that after the property manager inspects the apartment, they find that the vent in the bathroom has been broken for over 2 months, and the tenants did nothing to remedy the situation, like filing a request for repairs or calling the office to report the fan being inoperable.

Many times, mold remediation can be in the thousands of dollars range. So it is always a good idea to report mold as soon as you take notice of it within your rental. If you don’t, or if you neglect to report an issue that may be causing the mold in the first place (example: leaky pipe, inoperable bathroom fan, broken toilet seal) you the tenant could be held liable for the mold remediation and any repairs that need done after the remediation takes place.

Here at SERVPRO of Salem West, we do our best to find the cause of loss at each job we show up to. Identifying the cause, we can prevent the issue from reoccurring once the mold has been remediated. Whether we are called by a renter or a property manager, we will be upfront with our findings and give our customer real solutions and pricing (we also partner to provide financing, should a customer need it).

Bottom Line: Always report something that is broken or inoperable in your apartment or rental home. You should also make a copy of the report and keep one for your file. A email chain is a great way to communicate between tenant and landlord, because it leaves an open paper trial on both ends and eliminates miscommunication of “he said, she said” when phone conversations take place.

Phew, it’s over!..or is it?

4/15/2021 (Permalink)

When the freeze hit this winter many people in the area had flooded basements due to sump pump failure. Some people only had a flooded basement for a matter of hours due to the electricity being restored. So when the electric came back on, the water was pumped out and many people figured that was the end of it. They thought no further measures need be taken, and they got busy dealing with the immediate issues of concern like trees and debris throughout their property and yard.

What many homeowners started seeing within a week or so, was microbial growth starting to pop up in their basement. Microbial growth/mold thrives and flourishes in wet and damp areas. When a flooded basement happens, the sheetrock, contents, floors, and any other materials within the area are saturated with water, and that is not the usual case within the area. Just because the water recedes does not mean that the area will dry out efficiently, or at all without help.

We saw many spaces with little to no ventilation within them. Basements are already a highly concentrated area when it comes to humidity (water in the air). Mold growth usually happens when materials are not dried out to their regular/normal water content within a period of 2-3 days.

After the water receded and we got a good hold on all the basements that were flooded and performed water remediation and mold remediation, we got a second wave of a new type of customer. It was the customer that thought they were in the clear because the sump pump kicked back on and got rid of the water, only to walk into their basement a week later to find mold throughout the space.

With water, you can never be too careful with making sure that your space is dried out properly and quickly. So if you aren’t sure if a space will dry properly on its own, give SERVPRO a call and we’ll make sure you are good to go!

A Moldy Situation...

6/26/2020 (Permalink)

Keeping mold out of your home or your business is difficult here in the Willamette Valley.

Mold is everywhere, the air we breathe, and the natural environment we surround ourselves with. It’s when mold grows to an unhealthy level, that it becomes a problem.

When mold crosses the barrier between normal and unhealthy…we see the evidence in visible growth, discoloration, and staining. We also smell the difference in musty air, and feel the difference at times in our sinuses and respiratory systems.

A few tips for keeping mold out of your home or business are as follows…

-Maintaining good humidity levels within your space.

-Fixing leaks from roofs, pipes, windows, and appliances quickly.

-If you have a leak/flood in an area, see that it is properly cleaned and dried (Call SERVPRO for these services!).

-When you shower, try to keep the vent on in the bathroom for at least 30 minutes after you are done, especially if the room has no windows.

Tips on dealing with mold contamination:

-If you find moldy items in your living space, remove them from the areas, they will need to be replaced.

-Mold indicates that there is a moisture problem within your space (make sure you have proper ventilation!).

As always, if you encounter a moldy situation in your home or business, reach out to SERVPRO of Salem West. We can provide quick, efficient, and safe remediation of mold so you can get back to living in a healthy and clean environment.

Mold In Senior Living Communities: Protecting Our Elders

4/1/2020 (Permalink)

It’s the season where as a community we need to be more aware of the possible spread of germs.

In cities big and small Memory Care, Assisted Living, Retirement Living, and Senior Housing are all more susceptible to contaminants in their facilities.

In the small city of Dallas Oregon for example, there are dozens of senior housing options, residences, and facilities that house our older generations. In Salem, there are even more.

When we deal with a mold remediation job within a senior care facility it is paramount that we contain and remediate the mold without spreading spores into the unaffected areas of the facility.

Here at SERVPRO of Salem West we service many senior housing facilities and have a team of highly trained and caring project managers and team members.

Safety of our customers and our team is always our number 1 priority!

In senior care, we are dealing with a great deal of people that have a lower immune system than younger generations. It is crucial to take the proper steps of containment when remediating mold in such a facility.

If you live in senior housing, work in senior care, have a loved one in senior care, you know how important proper and prompt remediation and cleaning of contaminants is. If you find mold or water damage call SERVPRO of Salem West, we are dedicated to protecting our community by properly cleaning and sanitizing areas that have been contaminated.

Top 9 FAQs About Mold – EPA

7/11/2018 (Permalink)

Call your local professional company, SERVPRO of Salem West

When a residential or commercial property suffers a water damage disaster, mold spores begin to appear within 48-72 hours. SERVPRO of Salem West has the training and experience to properly execute the resolution of mold growth. In the case of mold growth in your Salem residential or commercial property SERVPRO of Salem West can inspect, determine the cause and remediate your property.

According to the EPA, here are the top 9 things you should know about mold.

1. Learn to control mold growth indoors. Maintain a low humidity level, especially high moisture in the bathroom and kitchen.
2. Immediately clean and eliminate the source of mold. If you are unable to or unsure, call in the professionals.
3. Repair or replace the source of water leak or problem.
4. Maintaining bathroom vents, dryers, and range hoods will lessen the possibility of mold growth. Be aware during hot weather when running your air conditioner units that there is no water spillage.
5. Immediately dry any water damaged surface or materials.
6. Use a combination of water and detergent to clean mold off of surfaces. This is less toxic than bleach and will not cause further damage to the surface.
7. Maintaining insulation properly (i.e. window ceils, door jams, crawlspaces, attics) will reduce the collection of condensation.
8. Carpet should never be installed in bathrooms or kitchens due to the high moisture and humidity.
9. Inspect surfaces and object that have set in water damage, mold can grow on any surface including but not limited to cardboard, furniture, water fountains, and food.

If you have questions or need help with your Oregon residential or commercial property, you can call SERVPRO of Salem West anytime, day or night at (503) 393-9999.

Sneaky Mold In Your Silverton, Oregon Home

7/10/2018 (Permalink)

Silverton, Oregon where mold is playing hide and seek in the kitchen

Silverton, Oregon homeowners found mold in their kitchen behind the lower cabinets. Mold damage can range from fungus to mildew. When the atmosphere is right, you can usually find a lot of moisture in your kitchen, hidden. A few examples of how moisture builds include leaky pipes or faucets or steam from boiling water on the store. Moisture and food are great examples of where you can find mold growth in your kitchen.

Especially in the kitchen, the humidity levels increase and that is a strong breeding ground for mold. For example, using a liquid cleanser where the cabinet and stove meet is almost impossible to dry all of the liquid. Sometimes it spills between the two no matter how careful you are.

A way to decrease the levels of humidity especially when cooking over the stove is to turn on the hood vent which has a fan that will pull the steam upward and outside. Another good use in your kitchen is the ceiling fans, if there are any. Air circulation will decrease the probability of mold growth when moisture is present in your kitchen.

Call SERVPRO of Salem West at (503) 393-9999 This one step alone could be the difference in overspending for services you may not need. Plus a highly skilled technician can walk you through the process from start to finish. And having knowledge on the Do's & Don'ts of mold clean-up makes all the difference.

Mold Remediation in the Training Room - Salem, Oregon

7/3/2018 (Permalink)

Stages of Mold Remediation, Salem, Oregon

In commercial buildings like a jail mold can easily grow just like in a residential building and can sustain damage in similar ways.

No matter the size of the building, the risk of mold growth is simple if the conditions are right. Humidity, limited air flow and poor maintenance of a room are just a few conditions for mold growth. Moisture and poor maintenance was the cause of the mold in the training room. In order to remove all mold spores it is possible that dry wall and/or insulation will need to be removed. Our technicians are trained in demolition and repairing.

Once you notice mold growth in your building or residence take action and have it professional cleaned. SERVPRO of Salem West has highly trained technicians in mold remediation and will return your structure to preloss condition.

Mold Causes Damage in Salem, Oregon Bathroom

7/3/2018 (Permalink)

Mold growth on water pipes in a bathroom - Salem, Oregon

When water leaks occur within walls the expectancy of mold growth is higher than if the leak came from a sink.

Inside this Salem, Oregon residence a water leak occurred due to improper installation of new pipes. The water leak went on for a week before it was noticed by the new homeowners who had yet to move in.

Initially, the homeowners thought the damage was minimal until a plumbing company came for an inspection. The results of the damage required the removal of the shower surround, drywall around the shower as well as portions of insulation.

Due to the water molecules not being properly dried the homeowners received unexpected charges.

Mold growth can occur within 48-72 hours if not caught immediately.

The sooner you call SERVPRO of Salem West at (503) 393-9999 for an inspection and estimated the sooner the dry-out can be completed. There is a number of benefits to starting the mitigation process sooner one of which is reducing the chance for mold growth.

SERVPRO of Salem West can be reached anytime, day or night at (503) 393-9999.

Mold Containment - Salem/Keizer Oregon

7/3/2018 (Permalink)

In all clean-up work and especially microbial (mold growth) it is important to consider the environment of where the work will take place. Sometimes the work is in a location where occupants may not be impacted. Other times the location is right in the middle of the main living space of the home.

What can be done to stop microbial growth from spreading to unaffected areas?

With the installation of containment in this Salem Oregon home, SERVPRO of Salem West was able to provide the homeowners and occupants with peace of mind knowing the work we performed was not going to cause damages in other parts of the home.

We also installed Air Scrubbing equipment to expel the dirty air from the work area directly to the outside of the home, thereby keeping our works in a clean environment during the work process.

If you have questions or need help with your Oregon home, you can call SERVPRO of Salem West anytime, day or night at (503) 393-9999

Mold Ridden Closet & Personal Items, Salem, Oregon

7/3/2018 (Permalink)

Mold on your personal belongings

After returning from vacation you open your closet and to your surprise there is mold! In a frantic mode you try to figure out the best way to remedy the situation. SERVPRO of Salem West is on your side and a quick phone call away. 

Can you remove your clothes? Yes you can, they are your clothes. However, we would advise you to put your clothes in plastic bag and use the appropriate cleaning methods to restore your clothes. The plastic bag provides an encapsulation to prevent mold spores from spreading into other areas of the room or home.

Clean and scrub the affected wall? This depends on the severity and amount of mold damage. You should seek advise prior to cleaning the mold as spores can spread fairly easily with a little bit of air movement and agitation.

Call a contractor only if needed. Sometimes the amount of mold damage is just surface level and other times the growth as penetrated through the drywall. Only call a contractor if needed as sometimes the mold can be cleaned with professional products and skilled technicians.

Call SERVPRO of Salem West at (503) 393-9999 This one step alone could be the difference in overspending for services you may not need. Plus a highly skilled technician can walk you through the process from start to finish. And having knowledge on the Do's & Don'ts of mold clean-up makes all the difference.

The team at SERVPRO of Salem West, located in Salem, Oregon has the tools and knowledge for all clean-up jobs. From water, fire, mold and bio-hazard cleanup. We can be reached anytime, day or night.

Mold In The Attic - Keizer, Oregon

6/22/2018 (Permalink)

Attic mold stain removal....."Like It Never Even Happened"

6/22/2018

Often when you think of mold growth water leaks pop into your mind.

This is true, but mold growth can happen without a leak. Think about your attic space in your home….your roof was just replaced. Attics are a great place for mold growth to occur. Material, time, temperature and water are the perfect combination for mold growth.

1. Organic Material- Any material that is organic and not coated with paint or others impervious product. Includes wood, linen, food, paper, etc.
2. Time- Mold growth can occur within 72 hour when all the right ingredients are present.
3. Temperature- Mold can grow in most environmental conditions.
4. Water- Mold requires water, moisture or humidity to grow.

The air in your attic space is heated and cooled multiple times a day. When heated air meets cool surfaces the result is condensation. Condensation allows for the opportunity for mold to grown.

It is important to visually inspect your attic at least once per year to ensure its not leaking and there are no early warning signs of mold growth.

If you see mold growth in your attic call SERVPRO of Salem West at (503) 393-9999 for a follow-up inspection and estimate for professional cleaning. In most cases a full attic cleaning and treatment can be performed in less than one day.

Mold, Mold, Mold!

11/10/2017 (Permalink)

Mold growth in a Salem, Oregon home.

Mold can happen to anyone at anytime, in their home or business. Mold can be in places you never go, like in your attic or even in places you go often, like your bathroom. 

It’s best to get things checked out after being saturated, wet or exposed to moisture to look for mold growth. Mold is almost always a problem before it is even discovered and can start to grow after 24 to 48 hours.

SERVPRO of Salem West is here 24/7/365 to inspect, clean, treat, and remove mold. SERVPRO also handles water damage the right way, the first time, to make sure everything gets properly dried and treated to prevent mold.

If you suspect mold in your home or business, or have any kind of water damage, it can lead to having mold so call (503) 393-9999 and let the pros at SERVPRO take a look and make sure the problem gets taken care of right “Like it never even happened.”

Mold Remediation In A Salem, Oregon Apartment Building.

7/12/2017 (Permalink)

Salem, Oregon Apartment Mold

Apartment buildings in Salem, Oregon are susceptible to mold growth too and here's why.

In apartment buildings just like residential and other commercial buildings can sustain mold damage in similar ways.

Due to the number of living units in apartment complexes, the risk for even small amounts of mold growth are higher across the spectrum of properties.

With multiple tenants, thousands of feet of plumbing lines, couplers, connections, elbows and consistent water pressure and usage, this creates opportunities for plumbing failures.

Once a plumbing line burst or sustains a pin-hole leak than you'll have moisture which is one of the ingredients for mold growth.

A burst water line is noticeable immediately whereas a pin-hole leak takes days before occupants realize there's a leak.

If you have a burst water line or find a pin-hole leak, contact SERVPRO of Salem West at (503) 393-9999 for an inspection. We're always here to help.

When Mold Damages Your Woodburn, Oregon Home

7/11/2017 (Permalink)

Mold and dryrot damage in a Woodburn Oregon home.

Mold Can Even Damage Your Home's Framing, Just Like This Woodburn, Oregon Home.

When given the chance, time and right conditions mold can even damage your home's framing. 

Water by itself is harmless but under the right conditions with other materials or substances, it will help foster microbial growth as seen in this Woodburn, Oregon home.

The smallest leaks can create issues over time that eventually damage some materials beyond cleaning and treating to full repairs and replacement.

The sooner you begin the process to dry out the material the better off you'll be. Call SERVPRO of Salem West at (503) 393-9999 for an inspection and estimate to dry your home.

Our technicians are highly qualified in the services we provide and they're always ready to help.

Salem - Oregon Attic Mold

7/11/2017 (Permalink)

Salem Oregon Attic Mold

"How does mold grow in an attic when I don't have a roof leak?"

There are four ingredients that help foster mold growth and all are needed.

1. Organic Material - Any material that is organic and not coated with paint or other impervious product. Includes wood, linen, food, paper, etc.

2. Time - Mold growth can occur within 72 hours when all the right ingredients are present.

3. Temperature - Mold can grow in most environmental conditions.

4. Water - Mold requires water, moisture or humidity to grow.

Your attic provides the right conditions even when you don't have a roof leak.

The air in your attic space is heated and cooled multiple times per day. When heated air comes into contact with cool surfaces the result is condensation. It is this condensation that allows the opportunity for mold grow.

It is important to visually inspect your attic at least once per year to ensure it's not leaking and that there are no early warning signs of mold growth.

If you see mold growth in your attic call SERVPRO of Salem West at (503) 393-9999 for a followup inspection and estimate for professional cleaning. In most cases a full attic cleaning and treatment can be performed in less than one day.

Mold Causes Damages In Stayton Oregon

7/7/2017 (Permalink)

Did you know that mold can grow in almost any environment? 

The inside of the wall pictured in this Stayton, Oregon home sustained water damage that trapped moisture inside the walls. Due to the time delay and not deploying the proper drying techniques this home required additional work to be performed.

When your property is affected by water damage or trapped moisture it is very important to start the mitigation services.

Mold can growth can occur within a 72 hour window.

The sooner you call SERVPRO of Salem West at (503) 393-9999 for an inspection and estimated the sooner the dry-out can be completed. There's a number of benefits to starting the mitigation process sooner one of which is reducing the chance for mold growth.

SERVPRO of Salem West can be reached anytime, day or night at (503) 393-9999.

Moldy Walls In A Salem Oregon Closet

7/3/2017 (Permalink)

Salem, Oregon Mold Growth In The Closet

Mold grows in the right condition and sometimes the closet can be a great place.

If you opened up your Salem, Oregon closet and it looked like the picture above, what would you do?

• Quickly remove all of your clothes?
• Clean and scrub the wall with bleach and water?
• Immediately call a contractor to demo and repair the affected area?
• Determine the source?
• Call SERVPRO of Salem West at (503) 393-9999 for an inspection.

The answer you choose will make all the difference but the ultimate decision is up to the you.

Although you may chose multiple answers from the above list the order in which things occur is equally as important as what work is being performed. 

Can you remove your clothes? Yes you can, they are your clothes. However, we would advise you to put your clothes in plastic bag and use the appropriate cleaning methods to restore your clothes. The plastic bag provides an encapsulation to prevent mold spores from spreading into other areas of the room or home.

Clean and scrub the affected wall? This depends on the severity and amount of mold damage. You should seek advise prior to cleaning the mold as spores can spread fairly easily with a little bit of air movement and agitation.

Call a contractor only if needed. Sometimes the amount of mold damage is just surface level and other times the growth as penetrated through the drywall. Only call a contractor if needed as sometimes the mold can be cleaned with professional products and skilled technicians.

Call SERVPRO of Salem West at (503) 393-9999 This one step alone could be the difference in overspending for services you may not need. Plus a highly skilled technician can walk you through the process from start to finish. And having knowledge on the Do's & Don'ts of mold clean-up makes all the difference.

The team at SERVPRO of Salem West, located in Salem, Oregon has the tools and knowledge for all clean-up jobs. From water, fire, mold and bio-hazard cleanup. We can be reached anytime, day or night.

How To Stop Mold From Contaminating Your Entire Salem Oregon Home

7/3/2017 (Permalink)

Salem, Oregon Mold Containment

Stop Mold Growth By Containment.

In all clean-up work and especially microbial (mold growth) it is important to consider the environment of where the work will take place. Sometimes the work is in a location where occupants may not be impacted. Other times the location is right in the middle of the main living space of the home.

What can be done to stop microbial growth from spreading to unaffected areas?

With the installation of containment in this Salem Oregon home, SERVPRO of Salem West was able to provide the homeowners and occupants with peace of mind knowing the work we performed was not going to cause damages in other parts of the home.

We also installed Air Scrubbing equipment to expel the dirty air from the work area directly to the outside of the home, thereby keeping our works in a clean environment during the work process.

If you have questions or need help with your Oregon home, you can call SERVPRO of Salem West anytime, day or night at (503) 393-9999

Attic Mold in Salem Oregon

12/1/2016 (Permalink)

When performing mold clean-up it is important to use personal protective equipment and exhaust air.

Attics are one of the most unseen locations inside your home or office. That is the exact reason to inspect your attic at least once per year, preferably after a heavy rain and snow season.

Trapped moisture in this attic space can collect onto building materials and creating the environment for microbial growth in all forms. The sooner repairs are made and moisture kept out of the attic the better.

Mold may cause illnesses with at-risk person and people with respirator and quick removal will reduce the likley-hood of spreading to unaffected areas in the attic.

Inspect your attics at least once a year and take note of any issues that may need repair. You can always call your friends at SERVPRO of Salem West for an inspection and estimate 24/7/365 (503) 393-9999