Eliminate mold in your home to keep your family safe

Mold exposure can lead to several health-related problems. With its natural ability to travel through the air, the inhalation of mold spores can create a variety of respiratory ailments.

Common side effects include asthma, allergies, respiratory infections, sinus infections and skin rashes. In some cases, mold exposure can even be fatal.

In additional, mold can damage your home leading to wood rot and structural damage.

Mold is most commonly the result of water damage found in crawl spaces, basements and attics and is usually identifiable by a musty odor.

Homeowners who have a small area of mold – generally less than 10 square feet – can follow the latest guidelines established by the Environmental Protection Agency  to treat small areas themselves.

After you’ve cleaned the area, be sure to revisit the site of the mold often to check for signs of additional damage or more mold growth.

If it’s a larger area that’s affected, find a professional who is trained to deal properly with mold.

Reputable remediators and inspectors have the tools to check the moisture content of the walls and can advise you on the best approach for your particular issue.

To ensure objectivity, if you hire someone to test for mold, be sure it’s not the same person who remediates it.

Hiring the same company that does mold testing to do the remediation can pose a big conflict of interest. After all, a company that offers both services has a vested financial interest in finding mold.

Once the cleanup is complete, bring in an independent third-party inspection company to perform a clearance inspection and certify that the mold has been removed.