How to Prevent Mold From Water Damage in Your Home in Jacksonville, Florida

As weather changes and storms become powerful and widespread, mold growth for water damage and is becoming more intense. Some areas of the country are suddenly dealing with moisture problems that they have never dealt with before.   Your mold removal expert is ServiceMaster by PWF.

Mold Growth Conditions

Unattended moisture can lead to mold growth, whether it is in your home or in your office. Here are the four things that molds need so that they can grow:

-Liquid water

-Foods (typically sugar or starch)

-Temperatures between 41° and 104°

-Oxygen

The conditions of oxygen and temperature are usually met in any indoor environment. Food sources can easily be found in the back paper of a drywall or particles in the water, making the addition of liquid water into the cavity wall that should be taken care of right away. 

Steps to Prevent Mold Growth

Whether the water damage is caused by a storm surge or any weather disturbance, if the water is trapped inside or behind walls, the elements that are needed for mold growth are most likely present. It is best to take action immediately to reduce the damage and prevent mold growth from spreading.  ServiceMaster by PWF will evaluate and remove the moisture causing the mold.

1. Immediately dry areas. Try cleaning and drying the areas that are easily reached by water within 48 hours to avoid mold growth.  ServiceMaster by PWF has all needed drying equipment.

2. Be aware of warning signs. Continue to be sensitive to smelly odors in the affected area after cleaning and drying. 

3. Take a peek outside. Always check the exterior corners of your homes or buildings for collected ground water. When the ground is soaked, molds begin to form outside and find their way inside the house. If the water has been collected in your area, take preventive measures to drain the water away from your place. Keeping your things dry is one of the best key steps to mold growth prevention.

4. Removing damaged materials. If materials are wet and cannot be cleaned, better remove them from your area and replace them with new materials. 

Some people are sensitive to molds and this can be harmful to their health. Make sure to take extra preventive measures to check for molds especially if it is the first time that you’ll be dealing with water inside your home or building. Use a combination of common sense and caution - if it is smells or looks bad, take appropriate measures, contact ServiceMaster by PWF.

We need to be extra careful and watchful especially if weather patterns are changing. Molds grow in liquid-affected places and it would be better if we're going to take preventive measures to avoid their growth. 

ServiceMaster by PWF, a water damage restoration company in Jacksonville has an answer for you. We cater to mold inspection and remediation in Jacksonville Beach. ServiceMaster by PWF is a full service water damage restoration company. We can manage all work, from the initial water removal to water reconstruction. We also provide water damage restoration services in San Marco and water damage restoration in Baldwin.

If you want to experience extraordinary and affordable services in water damage and mold inspection, we extend our services to our services areas and you can give us a call: Pinellas: 813-295-7797, Ocala: 352-292-8988, Gainesville: 352-441-3020, Lake City: 386-866-3349, Duvall | Clay | St. John: 904-999-4481.

Top Dangers of Mold Exposure

When people are exposed to moldy and damp environments, it will cause a variety of health effects, or sometimes none at all. Some people are sensitive to molds. Molds, when infecting a sensitive person, can cause nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation and, in some cases, skin irritation. 

People with mold allergies may experience severe reactions. People who are immune-compromised and have chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, and are exposed to molds, may get serious infections in their lungs. They should stay away from areas that are likely to have molds like cut grass, compost piles, and wooded areas.

Other studies suggest that a potential link of early mold exposure may be affecting asthma development in some children.

Molds produce irritating substances that may act as allergens especially to sensitive individuals. Molds also produce toxins in which, under some conditions, are not understood. Adults and children who are sensitive to molds may not develop health problems but may have other symptoms.

It may also cause asthma attacks to people who are allergic to molds. The “black mold” Stachybotrys, together with some types of molds, releases toxins known as mycotoxins that cause skin and airway irritation to vulnerable individuals.

It is not easy to conclude the extent of severity of health risks correlated with molds in the home. Allergic individuals differ in the extent of vulnerability to molds and health risks also depend upon the extent and exact type of mold that is present.

Molds are also said lead to the development of pneumonia to individuals with low immune systems after prolonged exposure to molds, but insufficient evidence has been gathered to prove this relationship.

Dermatophytes are the parasitic fungi that cause skin infections like athlete’s foot and tinea cruris. They take the form of a mold with the appearance that is similar to common molds.

Penicillium marneffei and aspergillus fumigatus, opportunistic infections by molds, are the common causes of illness and death among immunocompromised people, especially those with AIDS or asthma.

Mold-induced hypersensitivity-most common form of hypersensitivity that is caused by the direct exposure of inhaled mold spores by a sensitive person. Another form of hypersensitivity in hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Exposure of this can be occurred in the home, at work or other settings. Some predicted that 5% of people have airway symptoms due to allergic reactions to molds in their lifetime. Hypersensitivity can also be a reaction toward a settled fungal infection in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

Summary

Molds are everywhere-in the air and on any surfaces. They have been on our planet for millions of years. They grow in places where there is moisture, such as leaks in the roofs, pipes or windows or where flooding occurred. Most molds grow well on cardboard, ceiling tiles, paper and wood products. They can also grow in wallpapers, dust, paints insulations, carpet, drywall, upholstery, and fabric.

Molds are fungi that can be found both outdoors and indoors. They grow best in warm, damp, and humid conditions. If you have damp or wet spots in your house, you will probably get mold.

Molds can cause health problems. Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions or asthma attacks in sensitive people. Molds can cause fungal infections. In addition, mold exposure may irritate your eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs.

Exposure to molds have big impacts on people with low immune systems. It can also cause pneumonia but studies haven’t concluded it yet. It is harmful to munocompromised people. Mold can cause a variety of harmful effects and diseases if exposed to one’s health, and the only thing for you not to inhale the molds is to avoid areas where they usually grow.

Still worrying about molds in your areas? A mold damage remediation company in Northeast Florida can help you. We at ServiceMaster Restore by PWF are well-trained, equipped, and ready for any encounter with molds. You can call our service of mold damage remediation in Pinellas: 813-295-7797. We also extend our services in mold damage inspection in Duval | Clay | St. John through 904-999-4481. You can also call our other service areas: Ocala: 352-292-8988, Gainesville: 352-441-3020, Lake City: 386-866-3349.

Effects of Long-Standing Water Damage to Your Home in Pinellas, Florida

One of the problems of most owners dread is water damage. The risk of this type of damage increases when it rains heavily. When water gushes, it can cause thousands or even millions of dollars’ worth of damage in wood furniture, electronics, appliances, and other equipment. It can also increase the damage through mold growth, which is a very costly problem to amend. Hiring ServiceMaster by PWF,  a water damage restoration company, can make the cleanup process much easier to handle, as they employ experienced workers who know the best ways to repair or replace damaged items and help with water damage clean up. 

Possible water damage may occur whenever and however water starts to enter your home. The effects of water damage can come from a variety of different sources and effects that comes from unwanted water in your home can stay fairly constant. 

Causes of Water Damage

There are a lot of possible causes for your home’s water damage. A few of the most common water damage sources are broken appliances and other equipment in your home. It may be from leaking sinks to disconnected washer hoses to leaking pipes. Take note that whenever there are pipes and appliances that use water, there is always a danger of water damage. Another cause could come from the outside of your humble abode. Water seeping into your home, improper drainage systems, and flash floods are all causes of water damage. Storms and floods can wreck havoc into your home and cause damage that could be worse if your home doesn’t have the proper waterproofing. 

·  Damaged wiring, appliances and gas lines--no matter how severe calamity effects are during clean up, you should always turn off electrical and gas services to avoid electrocution or gas leaks that could cause explosion. Rewiring and installation of new gas lines may be needed if the former ones have been damaged by the flood, to get your home back and running. The cost to replace water heater, dryers, washers and other appliances has to be considered. 

·  Growth and spreading of mildew and molds are one of the worst effects of water damage. Mold growth starts within 24 to 48 hours after the flood has dried up and you can see it in water-logged areas. 

·  Molds doesn’t only affect your home’s structural integrity but can also harm you and your family’s health in the form of allergic reactions and the like, especially if an individual has a low immune system. It’s better to get rid of molds as soon as possible by calling ServiceMaster by PWF. 

·  Contamination of black water is one of the huge effects that can occur from water damage. It is the worst type of water that can enter your home since it contains pathogens that can cause serious illnesses if ingested. 

·  Water damage can extend beyond any scenario. If you do experience water damage, you should contact ServiceMaster by PWF, your water damage restoration company. 

Water damage can bring huge consequences to your home and bring extreme damage to your appliances and other home equipment. The primary effects of water damage are molds and mildew. If not given immediate attention by ServiceMaster by PWF, they can cause severe damage to home furniture and may harm your family’s health. Others think that water damage is easy to resolve but it is not. Water damage can cause gas leaks and electrocution. It’s not easy to handle and can be very costly. It is very hazardous to one’s health since it can affect a lot of things, not only structures.  

If you are ready to get a water damage or mold inspection expert, contact ServiceMaster by PWF. We are a full-service water damage restoration company in Pinellas. We manage all work from the initial water removal to reconstruction. We will also provide you with 24/7/365 assistance regarding your concerns. We are one of the best water damage restoration service providers in Clearwater, St Petersburg, Oldsmar, Dunedin, Largo, Safety Harbor, Madeira Beach, Pinellas Park, St Petersburg Beach, Tarpon Springs, Treasure Island, Belleair Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, Gulfport, and Belleair Bluffs in Pinellas County. For more information on keeping your home safe from water damage, call ServiceMaster by PWF. You can contact us through our service areas: Pinellas: 813-295-7797, Ocala: 352-292-8988, Gainesville: 352-441-3020, Lake City: 386-866-3349, Duval | Clay | St. John: 904-999-4481.