What You Should Know About Black Mold

10/22/2024 (Permalink)

Maintaining a healthy living environment is crucial for homeowners. But one clear threat to this could be Black mold. This fungus can spread quickly and cause serious damage to your property. It could also cause health issues for you and others in your household. 

In this blog, we will discuss all you need to know about black molds, including what they are, common places to find them in your home, general risks, and the best steps to take to prevent them from thriving in the environment.

 Let's jump right in!

What Is Black Mold?

Black mold is a toxic mold that thrives in particularly damp areas. It is easily detectable due to its slimy texture and black-greenish color.  In addition to the walls of houses, black mold can be found on wood and insulation. It feeds on these and produces spores that spread through the air, making it particularly dangerous to find it growing in your home. 

Areas That Are Prone To Black Mold 

High humidity and water damage(flooding) are characteristic of areas where molds flourish. So, if you live in places like these, don't be surprised to find molds more frequently here than in other dry parts of the country.

Mold thrives in your home in places close to the sink and parts of the wall that receive little ventilation. It can also be found in any part of the house with poor drainage.

Although these areas in your home are prone to black mold, you should know that it can grow almost anywhere around your home. The primary factor to consider is moisture. Wherever moisture accumulates, you will likely find black mold after a while.

What Causes Black Mold?

With moisture as the catalyst, some areas can acquire mold as a result of:

• Water damage and flooding.
• Poor ventilation.
• Temperature fluctuations.
• Organic materials(wood, drywall).
• Neglected home maintenance.

Work with SERVPRO of Parsippany/Montville for Mold Detection & Removal

If you haven't noticed any mold in or around your home, the information you just got will help you prevent it. However, if you have, there's no need to panic. It can be taken care of.

You don't have to worry about doing it yourself. At SERVPRO of Parsippany/Montville, we focus on providing you with the best professional service to remove and prevent black mold in your home. Contact us to get started.

Water Damage and How it Relates to Mold

4/4/2019 (Permalink)

Good ol Stacky

So picture this!

You come home and heard the sound of water pouring but you don't know where it is coming from since it is not raining. So you run down to your to your basement and it is raining; IN YOUR BASEMENT!!  After you get over your initial shock you call SERVPRO of EAST CENTRAL MORRIS COUNTY and let us get to work. Here are a few things that you need to know about Mold that could make this situation go from bad to worse.(If you did not call the professionals to handle it of course lol)

Mold is a type of Fungi and it can be found everywhere, prolonged exposure to excessive moisture enables microbes to flourish. If a water damaged environment is not promptly and properly restored many environmental microbes such as odor causing bacteria and fungi will colonize, grow, and amplify on building materials.

It is highly recommended that persons responsible for the restoration of water damaged environments understand how water damage promotes microbial growth. 

There are 5 growing conditions that are requirements for mold growth. Altering or removing one or more of these conditions best obtains effective elimination and/or prevention of mold. 

1. ORGANIC FOOD SOURCE
   • Most fungi grows best while feeding on organic materials, they cannot manufacture their own food and must feed on products like wood, carpet backing, dust, lint etc
2. Moisture
   • The most critical requirement for fungal growth is moisture. It is essential for the metabolic activities of Fungi. Spore remain dormant when materials are dry and humidity is below 60%. 
3. Stagnant Air 
   • Mold does not grow well where there is good air ventilation.
4. Temperature
   • The most optimal teperature for fungi to grow is between 68 degrees F to 86 degrees F
5. Darkness
   • Mold grows best in total darkness; exposure to light will retard its growth and allow for more complete treatment

Hopefully this will give you some info you did not know before. Of course If you suspect mold or another type of Fungi definitely call SERVPRO of East Central Morris County. 

Health Concerns from Mold

12/12/2017 (Permalink)

Mold in closet under stairs

Mold can cause health effects, concerns may arise when excessive mold grows indoors.

Concerns are more likely to arise for "at risk" people; many may experience health problems associated with exposure to mold in damp buildings. Possible health effects include: runny nose, sneezing, coughing, aggravation of asthma, sore throat or inflammation of the sinuses.

If you think you might have a mold problem, call SERVPRO of East Central Morris County at 973-887-9100.   A professional trained in mold remediation will examine the structure for any visible signs mold

The Different Causes of Mold Growth in Your Morris County New Jersey Home.

9/1/2015 (Permalink)

Unseen mold behind bathroom vanity. SERVPRO of East Central Morris County worked with the customers's insurance company and remediated the mold.

The Different Causes of Mold Growth in Your Home 

Mold damage is a condition that a lot of homeowners deal with on a regular basis. The main problem with mold is that it doesn't need that much for it to both grow and thrive in your household. Things such as darkness, warmth, humidity and a food source for drywall or wood can all help the mold spores to both thrive and expand throughout the home. In some cases, the mold is very visible like on a bathroom ceiling just above the shower stall. In other cases, you may not even know that you have it because it is in a crawlspace or attic.

If your home has a moisture problem or is prone to floods and leaks, you are living in an environment that is more vulnerable to mold damage problems. This is because you are attracting the mold to your home even if you are not aware of it. Moist environments with excess warmth and food sources for the mold to grow is attractive to the fungus and can help it to grow continually until it becomes out of control and needs professional remediation. In this case, only an expert mold remediation service company, like SERVPRO, will be able to assist you in getting rid of the mold problem.

Mold spores can be found in the air at times, especially in homes that have other factors such as moisture, dampness, and high humidity levels. The mold spores can thrive in this condition and continue to multiply until they become a huge problem for you.

Mold spores cannot grow unless the area in which they are present is moisture and humidity. In fact and to be precise, a humidity level of about 55 percent is needed for mold actually to develop and begin to multiply. Many homes that are in humid climates or deal with lots of rain can have more moisture problems present within their homes than others. Also, leaking plumbing pipes or floods can create humidity in the air. Taking care of plumbing leaks and roof leaks can help to prevent these problems.

Another thing to keep in mind is that mold likes humid and dark environments, which makes your basement, crawlspace and attic all primary locations for mold to grow and thrive over time. It is vital that you continually look around the home to check for mold and to contact SERVPRO at the first sign of a mold problem.

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

SERVPRO of East Central Morris County is locally owned and operated—so we live and work here too and are proud to be part of the Morris County NJ community. When you have water or mold damage issue, we’re already nearby and ready to help.

We are also part of a national network of over 1,650 SERVPRO Franchises and special Disaster Recovery Teams strategically located throughout the country to respond to large scale disasters.