Assessing the Need for Mold Remediation in Salida

10/19/2024 (Permalink)

Ugly mold get removed by SERVPRO to make your Salida home safe again.

Homes in Arid Climates Experience Mold Growth

When you live in Salida, the Chaffee County, Colorado county seat, you might feel protected from mold growth and damage risks. With a yearly average of only 17 inches of precipitation, the city receives just over half the US average. However, all dwellings have numerous water or moisture sources, and opportunistic mold spores are everywhere, including in arid climates. All it takes is:

• A plumbing leak or even seepage
• An appliance malfunction--cracked hose, broken pump, ruptured tank
• An overflowing tub or shower,
• A closed-in space containing excess humidity (bathroom, kitchen, laundry room)--over 60 percent relative humidity (RH)
• A neglected bag full of sweaty workout clothes or sports equipment

Once mold spores in Salida encounter standing water, damp materials, or elevated RH, they "germinate" and multiply and spread by sending out hyphae (rootlike filaments) onto and into organic structures and other items they use for food. They develop mycelium colonies, the fungi's visible and often multi-colored bodies.

Mold Remediation Services Available

Salida homeowners needing mold remediation can rely on professionals from SERVPRO®. Our technicians are highly qualified to find and remove mold colonies, following the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protocol, the international standard taught by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). Our IICRC-certified mold remediation crews:

• Locate the mold and the moisture source--making arrangements to eliminate the moisture immediately to prevent mold from re-growing
• Contain the area to avoid drift of moldy debris, including setting up negative pressure air scrubbing barriers with 1.6 mil polyethylene sheeting and exhausting the contaminated air through HEPA filters to the outside
• Mechanically remove the mold organisms with microfiber cloths, brushes, and scrapers
• Consider using soda, dry ice, or other media blasting where abrasives propelled by compressed air knock mold organisms off surfaces with minimal harm to underlying surfaces
• Wipe up debris with frequently changed-out cloths and a thorough pass with a HEPA-filtered vacuum to ensure the capture and removal of all moldy particles
• Treating the cleaned surfaces with an EPA-registered antimicrobial to inhibit future mold growth

Although you might live in an extremely dry area, the interior of your home creates its own environment, which, unfortunately, can be perfect for mold growth and damage. Call SERVPRO of Chafee, Fremont, Teller Counties at (719) 315-8878 to schedule an inspection and design a mold remediation plan if necessary.