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Were you gone for the summer?
8/21/2015 (Permalink)
Mold Remediation in a Gainesville, FL Home. Technician is in full Mold protective gear.
Gainesville is often called a "College Town" thanks to our wonderful university, University of Florida, and our college that was voted #1 in the nation, Santa Fe. When summer approaches, we experience a massive decline in population; a decline of about 3.2%. The Spring semester ends and students head home to visit with friends and families. When they leave their apartment, home, townhome, or condo, they assume that upon their return everything will be just as they left it. That, unfortunately, is not always the case.
With the return of college students and summer vacationers alike, we have had a massive influx in mold remediation jobs. People return to their homes to either find their walls, floors and belongings covered in mold. Most have no idea what caused it or what to do next! That's where we come in.
Primary causes of Mold growth include but are certainly not limited to: water intrusion, the improper dryout of water damage, flooding, high humidity levels, and a broken or turned off air conditioning unit. In the case of a home that is left empty for the summer, finding mold upon returning is very common. In general, the cause is a turned off air conditioning unit. NEVER turn off your air conditioner. Florida has an extremely high humidity level. A high humidity level is the perfect condition for mold growth. An air conditioner set at 78 degrees Farenheit, at the very highest, will keep the cost of your electrical bill low all while circulating the air in your home and preventing mold growth. The second most common cause behind mold growth is an unknown water intrusion. If you plan to leave your home empty over the summer, have a friend or neighbor whom you trust periodically stop by to monitor the condition of your home. For example, we experienced plenty of heavy rainfall this summer, as Florida normally does. What if you have any unknown leak in your roof? Water damage will occur. Unfortunately if no one is in the home to catch this, the water damage will only get worse. The wet walls, flooring, etc are breeding grounds for mold. While you are away enjoying your summer, mold is infesting your home. But sometimes, you don't even have to have an uninhabited home for this to occur! If water damage occurs in your home, whether it be from indoor or outdoor sources, handle it properly. Water damage that is not dryed properly will result in mold. Water mitigation might not be the cheapest process, but mold remediation can certainly be more expensive. The longer water damage lingers without being handled properly, the more damage that is created.
There are many common misconceptions when it comes to mold.
What you need to know is that mold is everywhere. There are many different classifications of mold. Some are more hazardous to your health than others. The worst of them, black mold, is not always black. Some mold that is black in color is not actually black mold. The mold that is in your home is not always visible to the naked eye. Lastly, mildew is mold. Mildew is simply a nicer and less "scary" way of saying mold. Fact of the matter is, what you view as "just mildew" is just as hazardous and harmful to your health as mold.