Am I Safe at Home During Mold Removal?
Finding mold in your home or building can bring on a giant wave of stress or worry, but mold remediation technicians are just a phone call away. Many are still often left with the question, wondering “Am I safe at home during the mold removal service?”
Living in Your Home During Mold Remediation
The ultimate answer to this question will depend on the scope of the project and the location of mold on the property. The safest option is for you to leave the property during the duration of the project. Many mold removal and remediation companies will recommend that you leave the property, especially if multiple rooms and hallways are affected. If there are any young or older members living on the property or those with compromised immune systems, finding alternative housing is also highly recommended.
Check out the information below for more on mold removal and remediation and how it can impact the health and safety of everyone on the property.
1. What is Mold Remediation?
Remediation technicians could advise various plans of action, depending on the mold cause.
Mold remediation is the removal of all mold growth on a property. These projects are designed to protect the health and safety of everyone while protecting the home’s structural integrity. Mold remediation and removal projects will usually begin with a detailed inspection to determine the cause of the mold and the scope of the project.
After the initial inspection, a mold remediation technician will advise the best plan of action. This can include containment of the affected areas, air filtration (through negative air), sanitization and cleaning, and replacement of porous materials like drywall, insulation, ceiling, and flooring.
2. How is Mold Dangerous in My Home?
Mold growth will slowly consume building materials while dispersing tiny spores that can severely impact the health and safety of everyone on the property. This can start happening in as little as a few days. This is why a professional remediation service must be called right away to restore the property and a clean living environment for everyone.
3. What Can I Do to Prevent Mold?
Mold prevention is something that must be done every day. The most important step is keeping humidity levels low within the home, especially during hot, humid summer days. Wet areas must also be dried right away, such as bathrooms after taking showers, and improving the ventilation throughout the home.
If you have any toilet, shower, or sink leaks, these must be repaired right away to keep the mold at bay.
4. Which Areas Are Affected by Mold?
If the mold is contained within the bathroom and you have another you can use, you shouldn’t have to vacate the property. But if the main areas like the living room, kitchen, or dining room are affected, you should definitely consider alternative housing.
Another common area for mold growth includes the HVAC system. If this is affected, it must be turned off until the mold has been removed. If you’re dealing with extreme temperatures in the winter or summer time, this will be a major inconvenience for everyone.
5. Will the Remediation Work be Extensive?
This question can make or break the choice to stay or leave the home during the mold remediation and removal process. While a small project can be completed quickly with minimum interruption, a larger project can go on for weeks that can make it impossible to live at home.
For “fully involved structure” projects, all areas will be affected and content cleaning and pack-out services are needed, as well as any other restoration services, staying in the home is out of the question.
6. Will You be Bothered by the Noise?
During the remediation process, negative air machines can cause considerable noise throughout one’s property.
In containment chambers, negative air machines will need to be running almost constantly, as well as dehumidifiers and other professional equipment. This can cause considerable noise throughout the property and can disrupt sleep for some.
It may be possible to turn these machines off at night but maybe not for large cases. Make sure to ask your mold remediation technician before turning them off yourself.
7. Will You be Bothered by Uncomfortable Temperatures?
The amount of equipment in use can affect the temperatures both inside and outside of the containment chambers, sometimes reaching uncomfortable levels. Especially if the HVAC system is turned off, this can be a huge concern for some. Even if the system is not affected, it may still need to be shut off during the remediation project for a number of reasons.
8. Can You Handle a Reconstruction Project in the Home?
Dust in the containment chambers should be controlled during the remediation service, but dust, debris, and noise from the reconstruction can be an issue for some families. As remediation may require the removal of drywall and other building materials, the interruption to daily activities can be unacceptable for many families.
What to Expect
The ultimate answer of whether or not you are safe at home during mold removal will depend largely on the location and scope of the project. If multiple main living areas as well as the HVAC system are affected, it’s highly recommended to look for alternative housing. But if only one bathroom or basement is affected, you can probably get away with minimal interruption.
Mold Remediation
Regardless of how far the mold has spread, it’s extremely important to call a mold remediation service as soon as you find it. Even if it’s small, the mold can spread to other areas on the property and affect the health and safety of everyone in the home.
As mold thrives on moisture and organic materials, the best way to prevent mold is to keep all moisture levels in the home on the lower end. If you notice any musty smells and are worried that you might have mold growth, it will be best to call a mold inspection service that will be able to locate any and all types of mold on the property.
After the inspection service, you will have clearance to call a mold removal service to remove it. They will use professional products and methods to remove it at the source, so you won’t have to worry about it returning in the future. You can then look forward to a clean and healthy living environment once again.
About Vince Sandri
Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.
