Months after Hurricane Sandy hit the eastern coast of the United States, health officials of several states are warning residents that toxic mold may be growing on contaminated areas. And if left untreated, this mold poses a serious health risk. In New York, thousands of residents have been complaining of ailments due to exposure to mold. The problem is being compounded by a potent allergy season. Additionally, victims of Hurricane Sandy continue to experience issues with repairing property damages, restoration, and decontamination.
Water damage is a serious hazard and happens far more often than people think. Property damage resulting from water and leaks is the third most common cause of homeowner loss. Water damage alone caused $9.1 billion in homeowner property losses from 2007 to 2009. The American Insurance Association (AIA) states that "water damage claims have been growing faster than other components of homeowners insurance." Many of these accidents could have been prevented, up to 93% according to the AIA, and most water damage occurs because leaks that were slow and gradual turned into a bigger problem seemingly overnight.
"Water damage that is not addressed quickly and properly creates perfect conditions for mold to grow," says Bill Sweeney, President of ServiceMaster Dynamic Cleaning. "We often get calls from customers who had water damage and thought they took care of it themselves until they smell an odor and see the mold growth." And that's when they need qualified water damage remediation professionals. Even after the source of moisture has ceased, mold can continue to spread if the humidity is right. Some types of mold become even more dangerous after drying out.
For smaller areas affected by mold growth, such as less than 10 square feet, homeowners may be able to do the work themselves. However, larger areas may require qualified technicians with experience in mold or environmental contamination who are protected with gloves, a respirator, protective clothing, and goggles. Exposure to mold can cause coughing or wheezing as well as irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin.
So if the rain or the leaking water stops don't be fooled into thinking that all is well with your home. There are several warning signs that indicate there may be a mold problem in the home. The most obvious is the presence of visible mold growth on ceilings, walls, baseboards or cabinetry. Visible mold is either a sign of high humidity within the home causing a surface microbial accumulation, or unseen moisture behind materials causing mold growth from the inside out. The latter issue is almost always going to be a more severe infestation.
Another sign which may indicate a mold problem is a water stain or musty odor. Smells can be deceiving but a sudden odor may very well be a sign that there is a mold or mildew problem somewhere you can't see. No matter what, if you feel like seasonal rains may have left you with an unwanted mold problem, your first step should be to call water damage and mold remediation specialist like ServiceMaster Dynamic Cleaning to schedule a mold inspection. Our trained technicians have the knowledge and specialized moisture detection equipment that are the keys to locating and assessing mold damage before the problem gets worse.
Mold defense varies with each occurrence. Our goal is to work with your insurance company to establish the proper procedures to handle your home situation. And if you do not have coverage, we will work with you to develop an appropriate and cost-effective plan to take care of the problem. So if you think you have a pesky mold problem, call (800) 865-5157 or click www.smdynamic.com to clean up the mold and make your home safe again.
