CPR Nashville Blog

Mold FAQs from Homeowners

No one likes mold! Most people know that it can be bad for your health and bad for your home, but not everyone knows how mold grows, why it can be detrimental to your health, or how to get rid of it.

If you’re dealing with mold issues — or think you might have a mold problem — give Choice Property Restoration a call. We’re here to help!

If you live in the Nashville area and think you have a mold problem, we hope you’ll count on the professionals at Choice Property Restoration to handle mold remediation for you, as this is one of our specialties. We would like to provide you with some of the questions we hear most frequently from our customers and our answers to those questions:

Why is mold dangerous?

Not all mold is bad for your health; in fact, mold can be found in some places without much concern. Furthermore, not all people are sensitive to mold. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some types of mold can not only contribute to hay-fever like allergies, eye or skin irritation, and wheezing, but there’s actually a toxic black mold called Stachybotrys that may be especially harmful.

I see mold on my walls, floors, or in my basement. Where does it come from?

Mold is usually the result of excess humidity or water damage. Water and moisture can get into your house in any number of ways, but we most frequently see water damage come from burst pipes, sewage malfunction, dam breaches, an overflowing washing machine, or flooding from excessive rainfall—something Nashville residents know about all too well.

How do I know if my house has mold or where it’s located?

There are certain places in a damp home where mold will naturally grow. Floors and carpets, basements and crawlspaces are prime targets. Basically, the lower an area is, the more likely it is to grow mold; this is why we often hear Nashville homeowners complain of mold on their carpet, tile or grout, and laminate and wood flooring. Walls, however, can also be feeding grounds for bacteria and mold, especially if the leak has originated from the roof.

Though mold is sometimes visible to the naked eye—or apparent to the nose, thanks to its strong musty smell—it just as often is completely hidden from a homeowner’s view, though he or she may see signs of it. If our team determines that the origin of a leak is especially mysterious, we will actually use thermal imaging to locate the source, as our thermal imaging cameras can find mold even behind your walls. We may also use digital hygrometers to test the humidity in your air.

Only a professional will be able to truly determine if you have a mold problem and suggest the best way for you to solve it. Call Choice Property Restoration, located in Nashville, Tennessee, at 615-866-7989 to solve your mold problem.

Mold Follows Moisture

Dealing With Mold

Mold is an issue that a lot of homeowners in the Nashville area deal with, especially those whose homes were affected by the flood in 2010. Flood damage creates the perfect environment for mold to grow and reproduce. Choice Property Restoration has the equipment and experience necessary to resolve and restore your home, including damage from mold.

Anytime moisture makes its way into your home, mold is sure to follow. Mold can cause health problems.

Mold is a fungus that needs moisture and warmth in order to grow. It grows all year, and will usually affect areas in your home that are humid or moist, such as basements, kitchens, bathrooms, walls containing leaky pipes, and areas that have flooded. Mold can start to grow within 24-48 hours of water exposure, reproduce airborne mold spores, and spread quickly. It does not go away without treatment.

Molds can grow on many surfaces in the home, like ceiling tiles, drywall, wallpaper, and insulation. It also thrives in non-synthetic carpets (like wool), fabrics, and upholstery. Visible mold growth usually appears in many colors as surface discoloration, stains, or as a fuzzy growth.

There are many kinds of water damage that result in mold growth:

• Flooding
• Sewage back-up
• Leaks from plumbing or roof
• High humidity created by household appliances (dryer vents, humidifiers, etc.)
• Overflowing sink or tub

Mold poses health risks, such as sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, skin rash, and respiratory issues. Since we spend a lot of time in our homes (which means a lot of exposure) this can increase risks of worsening symptoms like headaches, body aches and pains, and even memory loss.

If you have symptoms of mold exposure, you increase the risk of furthering the damage by working in areas with mold or disturbing areas with mold growth. Unless you’re dealing with a moldy shower or other small space that can be easily cleaned and disinfected, it’s best to seek professional help. We can identify the problem, solve it, and restore your home to its pre-mold condition. Give us a call at 615-866-7989 for a ready response from our experts.

After the Flood

Flood Restoration

Floods are one of the most devastating forces on the planet Earth. They can wipe away entire cities. In 2010 a flood devastated a large part of Nashville leaving thousands of people with flooded homes and shambled lives. After a disaster like this most people feel lost, confused and helpless. Thankfully there are companies that specialize in helping to get your life back to normal after a tragedy like this. Here are some of the things to expect if you find yourself in this difficult situation.

Depending on the source of the water and the extent of the damage, we work with homeowners to begin the process of restoration.

The first thing that must be determined is the category of the water involved based on contamination. Category 1 is water from a sanitary source. This includes water from fresh water pipes, toilet tanks, sinks, etc. Category 2 is water that could cause illness but is generally not thought of as life threatening. This could include instances of dishwater or washing machine overflow, or toilet overflow that does not include solid material. Category 2 water could develop into Category 3 if it is left to sit. Category 3 water is water that could cause severe illness or death. This could include raw sewage, toilet overflow with solid material, or standing water that has developed microbial growth.

The second thing to understand about flood restoration is how water damage is classified. There are 4 classes of water damage. Class 1 water damage is damage that is contained to only part of a room or areas that have materials that have absorbed only minimal amounts of water. This is the easiest cleanup process. Class 2 water damage is a large amount of water. This is when water affects an entire room and/or carpet is involved. Carpet can soak up water and breed mold. In class 2 water damage water wicks up the walls no more than 24 inches. This is for when there is moisture remaining in the structural materials. Class 3 water damage is for the largest amount of water. This is where the water line is above the 24 inch mark and may have affected everything from floor to ceiling. This is the most extensive type of water damage. Class 4 water damage has to deal with things that need special drying conditions such as low humidity. This usually involves deep pockets of saturated water. To better understand the processes involved visit us.

Once the restoration team determines the class of water damage they are dealing with they will get to work. The team will work around all the contents in the home that can be salvaged. They will attempt to dry, deodorize, and sanitize all salvageable contents. Anything that cannot be saved will be discarded. These items should be compensated by your insurance. Once the contents are dealt with the team will begin the process of drying everything else. This is usually done with a series of large drying equipment that will help pull all of the moisture out of the affected area. The team will check back to monitor the progress and equipment to make sure that everything is functioning properly and accomplishing the task. Once the process is complete the equipment will be removed and one last check will be performed to make sure there is no mold or mildew or any pockets of moisture that still exist.

No one ever wants to have to make the call to a property restoration company but when the situation arises make sure that you are dealing with a professional credited agency and you’ll be back to normal in no time.