3 Truths About Mold Damage & Your Health

Team Hitchcock is well prepared to handle your mold damage cleanup at your Fleetwood-area home or business. In the 1980’s and part of the 1990’s, it was believed that people could potentially get sick from what the World Health Organization termed “Sick Building Syndrome.” Researchers at the time drew a direct correlation between poor indoor air quality in a water-damaged building to people getting sick.

Today, we know more than that. The illness is likely due to mold specifically. Now, not everyone gets sick from mold – and not every mold is toxic. However, according to recent research by the medical community, as many as 25 percent of the population are susceptible to mold illness because of their genetic predisposition. While you may feel just fine and aren’t concerned about a little mold in your home, the mold could be having a very adverse effect on your spouse.

Team Hitchcock wants to share a few truths about how mold could affect your health.

1. Bleach is not an effective mold remediation tool.

Spraying bleach on mold is not a recommended way of dealing with the problem. You cannot kill mold in that sense because dead mold spores and just as dangerous as life ones. Mold is mold, and can be toxic in both forms. Instead, mold removal experts at Team Hitchcock work to eliminate the source of the mold and return your property to a safe state.

2. Mold illness is a real thing.

Again, not every person is susceptible to mold-related illnesses, but some are, and the effects can be serious. The main mold-related illness is called Chronic Inflammatory Disease, and it is the direct result of exposure to mold spores. Research shows about 25% of people are genetically predisposed to CIRS. Beyond CIRS, mold spores can also trigger asthma flare-ups, rashes, cough, and other physical responses.

3. Mold may exist in area you don’t see, in climates you don’t suspect.

Living in Pennsylvania, we obviously get rainy seasons. That can easily breed mold. However, mold can even grow in dry climates.

Also, while you might see evidence of mold on a basement wall, there could also be mold in places you don’t see. A small leak in a pipe within a wall cavity may have triggered mold growth, or likewise a small leak in the attic during a rainstorm.

If you’ve found mold, don’t stress. There are a lot of factors involved, but there are also proven ways to very effectively fix the problem quickly. It is key if you think there is mold in your home or business that it be addressed by experts. Trying to remediate or remove mold on your own could cause the spores to spread and contaminate other parts of the building, and it’s likely a problem that will not disappear on its own.

Mold removal is very common, and nothing to worry about. They key is to hire an experienced, professional restoration company that carries a strong track record of effective mold removal, like Team Hitchcock.

The Importance of a Professional Duct Cleaning

Amidst all the spring cleaning festivities, or cleaning during any time of the year for that matter, it is easy to overlook certain chores because they seem less important. One of those chores is duct cleaning. It may seem like getting your ducts cleaned is not a big deal; however, it is exactly the opposite. Getting your ducts professionally cleaned every 3 to 5 years is vital to not only the cleanliness of your home, but also to your health. Especially for those with allergies, upon completing a cleaning of a home’s HVAC ductwork can provide an instantaneous and very evident relief.

Here are the top five reasons air ducts should be professionally inspected and serviced every 3 to 5 years:

Allergies.

By properly cleaning their air duct system homeowners protect their families from harmful dust and other contaminants. Air ducts provide an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, mold, fungi, and other allergens.  Children under the age of four are particularly vulnerable and the result may be allergies or asthma.  Seattle Healthy Projects reports, “New research indicates if children do not come into contact with asthma triggers between birth and four years old they may never develop asthma.” Having your ducts clean will not only significantly better the health of young children, but also people of all ages.

Mold.

Many air duct systems are located in a home’s basement which can easily take on any kind of moisture. This moisture may cause mold and mildew to grow in and around the ductwork.  A professional cleaning company, such as Hitchcock Clean & Restore can not only clean your ducts for you, but also add an anti-microbial into the system after the cleaning to prevent any potential future growth.

Pets.

Animal fur gets trapped in the vents and builds up living germs, fungus, and allergy-causing bacteria. Pet dander will still exist from a previous owner and will cause reactions for people with allergies. The fur and dander can also hinder the efficiency of the HVAC system. Clumps of hair can slow down the airflow for the entire system.

Dust.

New homeowners may do constant dusting only to find the dust back the very next day. The reason is the dust continues to flow through the house and ductwork until it is properly cleaned.  Newly built homes will have drywall dust and construction debris in the ductwork before the owner even moves in.

Efficiency.

Years of dust, hair, pests, and other pollutants in ductwork will hinder an HVAC cleaning system’s airflow.  A proper cleaning will help remove the buildup and promote the proper airflow needed to run the system at peak efficiency. The spiders, insects, and rodents that have been living and dying in ducts for years will be cleaned out as well from a thorough cleaning.

Not only will a regular duct cleaning help to reduce the health issues of anybody who enters your home, but it will also ensure your system is working smoothly and last a long time. Not only does this properly maintain a home, but it keeps the quality of indoor air as pure as possible. Give Hitchcock Clean & Restore a call, we have the proper training and expertise to efficiently and effectively get your ducts in tip-top shape and make home-sweet-home that much sweeter.

Mold Damage Wyomissing

Hitchcock Clean & Restore has the experience and the knowledge to handle every type of mold damage in Wyomissing. Our team will respond quickly to assess the damage and begin restoring our client’s residential, industrial, and commercial properties.