Common Places To Find Mold In Your House

11/19/2024 (Permalink)

If you see signs of mold growth in your home, call SERVPRO of Long Island City

Mold can be found almost anywhere, and can grow on anything as long as there's moisture. Even if your home appears clean and free of mold, you may be surprised to find that is not the case. Mold can lead to health issues so it is important to be aware of common places it can grow. 

Common Places Where Mold Grows

Mold grows in damp, dark, and warm places. Here are some of the most common areas where mold can be hiding in your home:

• Bathrooms: Excessive moisture and limited ventilation make bathrooms a major spot for mold growth. If a fan isn’t used after showers, mold may be found on walls, floors, or ceilings, especially near the shower or tub.
• Kitchens: Mold can grow in places in kitchens where there's plumbing, such as under the sink if it leaks, as well as around refrigerators and dishwashers when they leak or create condensation.
• Basements: Sometimes basements can be dark and poorly ventilated with little to no windows. If a flood occurs at your home it is most commonly in the basement, making this a major spot for mold growth. 
• Attics: Roof leaks and poor ventilation can cause moisture to build up, and cause mold growth.
• Windows: Condensation on window panes caused by high indoor humidity promotes mold growth around window sills and frames.
• Air conditioning units: Moisture buildup in your air conditioning units can create the perfect environment for mold growth.

Identifying Mold Growth

Here are some signs that mold could be growing in your home. If you notice any of these signs, make sure you address the issue as soon as possible to prevent the mold from spreading.

• Visual Indicators: Look out for unusual discoloration on surfaces such as walls and ceilings. Mold can appear in a variety of colors, including black, green, white, or orange.
• Odors: A persistent musty or damp smell in a space may indicate mold, as it thrives in moisture-rich environments.
• Moisture Issues: Homes with a history of water damage, such as flooding, leaks, condensation, or high humidity, are more prone to mold growth.
• Professional Inspection: If mold is suspected but not easily visible, it may be worth hiring a specialist who can use tools like moisture meters to detect hidden growth.

Mold Remediation & Prevention Tips

Relatively small areas of mold should be taken care of quickly but you can do this without professional help. You can use bleach and a brush to remove small mold spots. However, in cases where there is a large amount of mold growth, you will need a professional to help with the appropriate training and tools to deal with stubborn or large-scale infestations. 

Call SERVPRO of Long Island City For Mold Remediation 

When you see signs of mold in your home it is important you have a trusted partner to turn to, that’s why SERVPRO of Long Island City is here to help with mold remediation. We are available 24/7 meaning we are available when you need it! For mold remediation services, give us a call at (347) 345-2807 or contact us here! 

Cleaning Crew Long Island City

8/22/2018 (Permalink)

If you have property in need of a thorough cleaning SERVPRO of Long Island City should be your only call. Recently we were brought in to clean a mixed commercial and residential building in Long Island City. This particular clean-up required our techs wear respirators and cover-alls to protect themselves while cleaning mold which had started to become a problem in several areas of the building. Once the mold is removed we begin the process of deep cleaning including carpets and upholstery where SERVPRO techs excel in provided unmatched services. Because we are trained in disaster and extreme situation clean-up our techs excel in any restoration situation. Our access to SERVPRO training, techniques and cleaning products make us second to none in the industry, call our office to schedule our clean-up today.

Winter Water Damage

12/7/2017 (Permalink)

In the wintertime, we tend to forget about mold becoming an issue in the home. For the most part, we associate mold with humid summer days creating the perfect environment for mold growth in dark, damp spaces… but this is not always the case. For example, mold growth can strike quickly after a flood or fire even in the winter. We recently encountered a home in which the pipes had burst on the third floor of the dwelling. With no one home, the water soaked the home for 2 days before the leak was discovered. Our crew began working in the home within 72 hours of the disaster and within that time mold growth could be seen on wet surfaces throughout the house. If not properly treated mold can quickly make its way into difficult to find places like vents and ducts where it may cause health issues to those in the home if not removed.

Revitalizing Old Buildings? You Might Find Mold.

11/30/2017 (Permalink)

Finding mold in your home or commercial property is a precarious situation. Sometimes it may be a localized outbreak that can be easily cleaned away, other times what appears to be a small patch of mold is an indication of a much bigger issue that could be hazardous to the health of those living in the home.  SERVPRO of Long Island City’s mold remediation is second to none and will evaluate and remediate mold outbreaks.

As many areas in the US see continued growth many old, unoccupied commercial buildings are now opening their doors again. If you encounter mold in your new commercial property SERVPRO of Long Island City can help. Call our office today and we can send an experienced technician to review your mold issue.

2017 Mold Report & Preparation

6/29/2017 (Permalink)

Nationwide 2017 has been a unique year for weather. Across the country cities and towns have been stressed by the weather extremes from snowfall accumulating in 48 of 50 states to almost non-stop rain storms and flooding throughout the spring in some areas. The next battle will be the warm summer months and mold will be a new challenge as a result of the spring weather. SERVPRO technicians everywhere are getting prepared for what they believe will be an above average year for mold contamination in homes and commercial properties everywhere.

In New York City conditions could be perfect for mold growth in many lower level and basement apartment and commercial buildings. These areas tend to get little light and remain damp even when the temperature rises creating the perfect environment for mold to thrive. 

If you believe your home, office or commercial building could be experiencing mold issues call us today! (718) 440-6994

How to Prevent Mold

4/19/2017 (Permalink)

Mold can grow everywhere, from your carpet to your window seals, and even inside of your walls! Sometimes it is easy to detect mold, and other times it’s more difficult. While it is impossible to completely eliminate mold, here are some tips on how to prevent mold from growing.

Dry Wet Areas

Mold needs moisture to grow. You can help prevent mold from growing by wiping away condensation and by not leaving wet items around. Always make sure you wipe down the bathroom after you shower and hang wet towels in a room with good air circulation to dry.

Proper Ventilation

Poor ventilation allows water to stay in the area and may help mold grow. If you are doing an activity that produces a lot of moisture, like cooking, make sure you are using the exhaust fan. You can always open up a window in addition to using an exhaust fan.

Monitor Humidity

The EPA recommends indoor air humidity should be between 30 and 60 percent. You can keep an eye on humidity levels in your home with a moisture meter which can be picked up at your local hardware store.

If your home has high humidity levels, you may want to get a dehumidifier. This will help keep humidity levels down.

Direct Moisture Away from your Home

If your property constantly is flooded, you may want to develop a way to prevent water from getting inside of your home. This will help prevent water damage and it may help prevent mold from growing inside of your home. This can be done in a few ways.

1. Create a barrier
2. Dig a trench
3. Build a dry well

If you suspect that you have mold growing in your home, call SERVPRO. The experts at SERVPRO will inspect and assess your property with our specialized training and equipment. We will make your property look “Like it never even happened”.