The seasons bring many types of seasonal home damage. The winter of 2023 brought Nevada County’s snowmageddon with record levels of snow damaging trees, homes and complicating both travel and critical services, like power and internet connectivity.
This year, there is mild weather with persistent, but periodic rain. This combination of moisture and warmer than normal temperatures can lead to mold. In fact, the National Institute of Health reports that as many as 50% of residential and work environments have water damage—which really points to the potential for mold. Mold can be seen, but often is in areas of a home or office where it is not evident. Mold can be in an attic, basement or HVAC system unnoticed. This is why Cecil Construction tests for airborne mold as a way to identify potential health hazards in the home.
More About Mold
There is mold that is easy to see, but the truth is that mold prefers dark moist places, which often are out of sight—like inside insulation, leaky rafters or unseen areas. This means mold may go unrecognized, even when causing health impacts.If you see mold, you may choose to remove this yourself, however it is very difficult to eliminate the spores which spread and may regrow. Recommendations for cleaning mold include self-protection with gloves, mask and eye protection as well as avoiding harsh chemicals, like bleach. Here’s some guidance for DIY mold removal.
There is also airborne mold which can contain biotoxins that may stay in your body and have a wide range of negative impacts. Biotoxins are naturally eliminated by most people, but some individuals are unable to eliminate biotoxins, making them more subject to mold-related health issues. Here’s a report published by the National Institute of Health on mold impacts.
With water restoration businesses, cases of Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) are becoming more notable. This is the result of the body’s inability to remove biotoxins and can cause chronic fatigue, weakness, aches and vertigo. Common less serious health effects of mold include eye irritation, dry coughs and a general feeling of fatigue.
According to Cheryl Hoerr, fellow at the American Association for Respiratory Care, “Mold can grow and spread rapidly and become an issue before homeowners are even aware that there might be a problem,” she warns. And the longer it grows, the more spores are released into the air. “Longer exposure time and higher spore levels can exacerbate existing breathing problems, and may even cause healthy people to develop chronic breathing problems or other allergic sensitivities.” (quoted from Forbes magazine).
Identifying Mold
There are many over-the-counter products to help identify airborne mold. A home and office is needed to collect samples and submit them to a professional laboratory. The results indicate the levels and types of mold. From this point, the home or business owner can choose to begin the mitigation process or may choose to go a step further with research and secure a full report that becomes the core document guiding the professional remediation and elimination plan.
Watch for—
- Cracked or blistered paint
- Walls that feel damp
- Leaky pipes
- Unwanted moisture
- Discolored paint or grout
- Discolored carpet or flooring
Eradicating Mold & Water Damage Remediation
Water damage restoration is the process of returning the property’s condition to its original state before water intrusion. The process consists of 1) inspection, 2) extraction, 3) dehumidification, 4) sanitation, and 5) reconstruction.
Professional water damage recovery can help prevent dangerous mold from developing, and if there is mold, identify and treat this problem. Call Cecil Construction & Restoration at 530-274-1516 to identify and eliminate mold. We are locally owned and operated and have the ability to test for mold and correct underlying issues.