Surprising Causes Of North Redington Beach Mold Damage

6/20/2022 (Permalink)

Florida is a warm and damp area, the perfect environment for molds of many strains to multiply.

Causes Of Mold Damage

If your North Redington Beach home floods or your roof leaks, you might not be surprised that some areas of your property showed signs of mold growth. We are all familiar with the sight of mold on a forgotten bit of food or on a wet pile of firewood. When you believe you have taken care to avoid the conditions that cause mold infestation and it shows up regardless, you need advice from mold remediation professionals.

Florida is a warm and damp area, the perfect environment for molds of many strains to multiply. Knowing this, you take all the steps necessary to ensure the interior of your home remains as mold-free as possible, including installing a new air conditioning system. Nevertheless, you notice a musty smell and find some feathery growth and dark staining in areas of your home. We can remediate the moldy locations, but to reduce the possibility of the mold returning, we need to work with you to discover what is feeding the North Redington Beach microbial infestation.

Mold spores are present outdoors and indoors in every place on the planet. When they remain dry, they are inert, not growing or producing more spores. Moisture is what activates the spores, causing them to swell and multiply into groups called colonies. SERVPRO uses the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protocol to contain and remove mold. Even if we treat the affected area with an antimicrobial like Concrobium, mold spores continue to await moisture to begin the cycle again. You know of no leaks or spills that explain where the water originates.

When IICRC trained SERVPRO technicians evaluate a mold outbreak in your home, we look for sources of moisture. One such source can be humidity levels of 60 percent or more. Would it surprise you to be informed that the problem might be that brand new central air conditioner? Air conditioners work in part because they pass moist, hot air over chilled coils. The water vapor in the air condenses, lessening the humidity within your home and making the air feel more comfortable. It takes time for this condensation to occur and the humidity level to drop to between 30 and 50 percent, the recommended window to avoid mold growth.

If you install an AC unit that is too large for your space, it cycles off before the condensation necessary to lower the humidity to the suggested level occurs. Essentially you have cool but moist air, which contains enough moisture to incubate a mold problem. SERVPRO technicians are familiar with this phenomenon through training and experience. We also carefully measure and monitor moisture levels, including air humidity, when we work on mold remediation. Our advice may be to have the AC system recalibrated or replaced with a model that maintains the humidity level needed.

The technicians at SERVPRO of Seminole & Central Gulf Beaches are well-qualified to eliminate your current mold problem and suggest strategies to keep it from recurring. Contact us at (727) 391-6212 to evaluate your mold risk.