Remediating Mold Damage From Textiles in your Buffalo Grove Residence

3/27/2023 (Permalink)

Mold only needs oxygen and moisture to grow. Call SERVPRO if you suspect mold in your Chicago home.

Mold Remediation Is Available in Buffalo Grove

Mold is a nuisance that can cause unpleasant odors in your home. It is a living organism that uses enzymes to digest organic matter, converted into energy needed for continued growth. Over time, fungi can deteriorate textiles and organic materials like wood or gypsum board. Professional mold remediation is often necessary to curb microbial growth.

The presence of mold damage in your Buffalo Grove home can creep up unnoticed. Mold is well-known for growing in hidden recesses of a property because it does not require a source of light to grow and reproduce. Signs of microbial growth are often only noticed once the problem has become significant and mold colonies become visible or release malodors. Cleaning the surface of stains does not always address the underlying cause, so you may find that mold returns a few days after cleaning. These situations often require a professional remediation technician to address the source of the problem and use chemicals or equipment to prevent it from returning. Molds attach themselves to surfaces using hyphae, making them tough to remove. They can also spread rapidly through porous materials. Infested materials often have to be destroyed, controlled demolition entirely to remediate microbial organisms. 

Naturally Occurring Causes of Mold in a Home Environment

• Microorganisms need water to grow, which means a mold problem often indicates a water leak or condensation issue somewhere in the home.
• Organic, naturally porous materials like drywall allow microbes to penetrate them entirely and often require replacement.
• Damp, dark areas of the home, such as the underside of carpets, can be ideal for mold damage.
• It is typical for inexpensive, infested materials to be removed and disposed of altogether. However, some materials may have an inherent value that undermines the cost efficiency of destroying these items. SERVPRO technicians are IICRC certified and equipped with advanced machinery to restore certain high-value items following a mold infestation. Upholstery and drapery machines are built from three core elements. These include a heating element, a vacuum, and a waste tank. Plush carpets or upholstery with surface molds can often be restored to preloss condition by using this equipment in a process known as hot water extraction. A technician can fill the designated solution tank with a registered anti-microbial chemical or cleaning solvent. Hot water extraction helps rinse the affected material with cleaning fluid and then vacuum any debris or soiling into a waste tank to be disposed of safely. 

When deciding on the use-value of mechanical cleaning equipment, which includes both hot water extractors and the suspended cleaning system of Esporta washing machines, technicians must first calculate the cost of replacement versus the cost of restoration. It may often be cheaper and more time-efficient to dispose of mold-infested textiles. However, our technicians can use these advanced techniques and equipment to return precious belongings to a preloss condition in some instances. Understanding how this equipment works on textiles can be essential to calculating their use-value.

Hot Water Extraction Equipment and Their Components

• The solution tank is fitted with a pumping filter to prevent soiling from entering the solution during the cleaning process.
• Liquid cleaning solutions can include fabric conditioners, anti-microbial treatments, and carpet shampoos.
• The waste tank can be removed and taken to a designated wastewater facility for safe disposal.

Mold can lead to extensive damage. Contact SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich for mold damage cleanup at (847) 279-1940.