Mold cleanup from a flooded basement

11/19/2021 (Permalink)

How did that mold get there?

This time of year we seem to get heavy rains that just soak the ground. Sometimes that water makes its way into our basements and we might not notice. This can happen if our sump pumps are either not working or might not be able to keep up with a heavy rain. 

Another potential cause might be a crack in the foundation wall. These are harder to identify because the walls might be covered with insulation and drywall. 

If we don't go into our basements often, we might be surprised to find wet content, a mildew smell or even mold growth.

SERVPRO of Elgin provides the mold services you need to restore your basement. We have specialty tools such as water detection meters, infrared cameras, and decades of experience to provide you with the correct services you need. 

We have been serving our communities for going on 19 years and pride ourselves on giving homeowners and business professionals the truth of what we see is happening to your facility. We will also provide you with a solution that meets your needs. No hype, no scare tactics just clear well thought out solutions to get you back on track.

We are family owned and we plan on being here for generations to come providing the same educated, honest assistance we have for the past two decades.

SERVPRO of Elgin, making it "Like it never even happened."

What to do if you think you have mold?

4/24/2018 (Permalink)

Mold found in our closet

If you see visible mold, do not disturb it. You can inadvertently spread the mold infestation throughout your home. When mold is disturbed, the mold can release microscopic mold spores which become airborne and can circulate inside your home.

What to Do:

• Stay out of affected areas.
• Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
• Contact SERVPRO of Elgin/Northwest Kane County for mold remediation services.

What Not to Do:

• Don’t touch or disturb the mold.
• Don’t blow air across any surfaces with visible or suspected mold growth.
• Don’t attempt to dry the area yourself.
• Don’t spray bleach or other disinfectants on the mold.

About Our Mold Remediation Services

SERVPRO of Elgin/Northwest Kane County specializes in mold cleanup and restoration, in fact, it’s a cornerstone of our business.  Our crews are highly trained restoration professionals that use specialized equipment and techniques to properly remediate your mold problem quickly and safely. Whether your project requires antimicrobial cleanup all the way up to Dry Ice Blasting, SERVPRO of Elgin/Northwest Kane County has the equipment, training and experience to handle even the worst situation.

“Like it never even happened.”

Clean up of mold on furniture

4/24/2018 (Permalink)

Before and after photos of mold cleanup from a leather recliner

One of problems with water damage is that if it is not corrected quickly and properly, secondary damage can occur. Secondary damage is when items that are within the affected area of a water damage, but they are not in direct contact with the water. This can occur when the humidity in the area is not reduced to an appropriate level. High humidity in a room can will cause otherwise dry content to absorb that moisture (humidity) and can cause mold.

As can be seen in the picture, this recliner was in a water damage environment for quite a while. Although it was extremely moldy, we were able to properly clean it and restore it to preloss condition (probably even better than preloss condition. We also used our ATP tester and was able to show that not only was it clean, but it was "food grade clean"

SERVPRO of Elgin/Northwest Kane County making it "Like it never even happened."

Mold in newly constructed building

4/9/2018 (Permalink)

Mold under raised floor in newly constructed municipal building.

Even new building construction can have a mold problem. This is a picture of the wall under a raised floor in which a mold problem developed. Although mold in not something you want to see in your building, if you take this as an opportunity to investigate what the water/moisture problem is, you can eliminate the moisture issue and remove the probability of mold again in the future. A good thing to remember is "you don't have a mold problem, you have a moisture problem." Address the water, and you will eliminate mold in the future. In this situation, we were able to properly remove the moldy material and keep the construction project on schedule!

SERVPRO of Elgin/Northwest Kane County, here to help! 847.697.8500.

Be sure everything is dry after a water leak is addressed

4/9/2018 (Permalink)

Small water leaks can cause large mold issues if not addressed promptly.

This situation happens more often then is should. A small water leak is found, everything is wet; floors, walls, content, etc. The plumber is called, and the water leak is fixed. But the wet material is totally ignored! Mold will not start that day, but every day building materials are left wet, the possibility for mold to grow increases. But if everything dries out in a couple of days, did you really dodge the "mold bullet?" chances are if this area gets wet in the future, even years in the future, mold will start growing again, and you will not know why.

Getting everything dry may have originally taken a couple of day with a dehumidifier and some air movers. However, removal of mold affected materials will take longer, cost more and will require reconstruction as well.

Be sure to call SERVPRO of Elgin/Northwest Kane County to ensure everything is dry and stop mold in its tracks!!! 847.697.8500.

Getting rid of moldy material

3/3/2018 (Permalink)

Small water leaks can become large mold problems.

When you discover mold in your building, call in the experts in dealing with mold.

We can't even count how many jobs we have done because either internal maintenance crews or even outside contractors didn't know how to properly handle mold removal. 

Once proper containment is in place and control of the air is maintained, mold can be addressed. If carpet, drywall, wallpaper and insulation has mold growing on it, it is probably going to need to be removed. The affected material is removed from its location and is then properly bagged.

Those bags need to be properly handled to ensure that mold is not carried out of the containment area and allowed to spread into the air and onto other unaffected materials. 

Once all mold affected material has been removed, all of the surrounding areas can be cleaned and HEPA vacuumed to ensure all of the mold spores have been removed.

SERVPRO of Elgin/Northwest Kane County. Fire, water and mold damage remediation experts. Call us at 847.697.8500 to have us assist you with your project.

Doing mold work correctly

3/2/2018 (Permalink)

Proper containment is essential to performing mold work properly.

Cleaning up a building that has mold is not necessarily difficult, but it does require training, diligence, and extreme attention to detail.

The first step to ensuring a successful mold cleanup is containing the mold during the cleanup process to the affected area and not allowing mold to migrate to unaffected areas. The main way to limit the movement of mold is with containment barriers and air scrubbers. The installation of the containment barrier requires that we locate all of the HVAC vents, that we understand how the barrier will limit movement through the structure and that we locate areas where air can move through the structure via outlet/switch covers, penetrations through walls, ceilings and floors. Air scrubbers, which usually contain HEPA filters, are used to control the air flow within the building. By using HEPA air scrubbers we can control the airflow and eliminate mold from migrating out of the affected area containment.

Proper use of containment barriers and HEPA air scrubbers is essential to successful mold work completion.

Elgin Residents: Follow These Mold Safety Tips If You Suspect Mold

9/7/2016 (Permalink)

Be careful! Without proper training, you could be spreading mold throughout your home.

If you see visible mold, do not disturb it. You can inadvertently spread the mold infestation throughout your home. When mold is disturbed, the mold can release microscopic mold spores which become airborne and can circulate inside your home.

What to Do:

• Stay out of affected areas.
• Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
• Contact SERVPRO of Elgin/Northwest Kane County for mold remediation services.

What Not to Do:

• Don’t touch or disturb the mold.
• Don’t blow air across any surfaces with visible or suspected mold growth.
• Don’t attempt to dry the area yourself.
• Don’t spray bleach or other disinfectants on the mold.

About Our Mold Remediation Services

SERVPRO of Elgin/Northwest Kane County specializes in mold cleanup and restoration, in fact, it’s a cornerstone of our business.  Our crews are highly trained restoration professionals that use specialized equipment and techniques to properly remediate your mold problem quickly and safely.

If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today – 847-697-8500