Is Black Mold Removal Necessary at your Home In Alexandria, VA?

The answer is yes, black mold removal is necessary to keep your family safe and prevent any further mold from growing. Mold removal should be done at the first signs of any black mold you see at your Alexandria, VA home.

The longer you wait for mold removal, the more the black mold will spread throughout your house if the conditions are right. Mold needs moisture to grow; therefore, in areas of your Alexandria, VA home that tend to stay damp, you might think about how to ventilate the room so that it doesn’t progress into mold growth.

The most crucial part of mold removal is locating and eliminating its water source at your home in Alexandria, VA. Without moisture, mold can’t grow.

Alexandria, VA homeowners with only small areas of black mold can attempt to remove the mold themselves. If you try it yourself, follow these directions.

  • Use an N–95 face mask to protect you from breathing in black mold spores.
  • Wear protective gloves to protect your hands.
  • Wear goggles without ventilation holes to protect your eyes.
  • Use plastic sheeting to block the mold area from the rest of your Alexandria, VA home. This will keep the spores from spreading throughout other parts of your home.
  • Items that won’t dry quickly and show signs of mold or water damage should be discarded. Porous items, including padding, carpet, drywall, and paper, soak up moisture.
  • Never paint or caulk over moldy surfaces. If you do, it will peel. You should remove the black mold and dry the surfaces before painting.
  • Scrub moldy surfaces with detergent and water; allow them to dry thoroughly.
  • Any moldy items should be bagged to prevent mold spores from spreading.
  • Use HEPA filters in your furnace and air conditioner to capture mold spores that could be airborne in your Alexandria, VA home.

The safest way to keep your Alexandria, VA family safe from black mold is to call an environment company, such as Envirotex, which deals with black mold. They are equipped for mold removal and take precautions to keep you and your family safe. 

Tips for Northern VA Homeowners When Selecting Mold Companies

Mold can cause health issues such as itchy eyes and nose, stuffy nose, and difficulty breathing. This can make respiratory and allergies worse for Northern Va household members. Once you see mold, you need to move quickly to remove it and its source; otherwise, it will continue to grow. Choosing mold companies to rid your Northern VA home of mold growth can be a tough decision. Here are a few tips that should help in your decision—

Experience. Having the proper training and education is one thing, but on–the–job experience gives you confidence in mold companies to do the job right. Only consider mold companies in Northern VA who have been in business for a long enough time to have plenty of experience in their field. Question them about their knowledge, and be sure to ask to see before and after pictures and before and after test results.

References and Reviews. Mold companies should be able to provide you with references. If not, walk away. Look on the internet for reviews for any mold company you are considering.

Equipment. Question the mold companies about the equipment they use during the process. Be sure they use the latest effective equipment and professional–grade tools to do the job. Mold often grows in hard–to–reach places. With the right equipment, mold companies can handle complex jobs.

PPE. Make sure the mold companies’ technicians wear personal protective equipment. You want a mold company that takes health risks seriously and protects its employees. 

Certification and Warranty. Check to see what certifications mold companies have in Northern VA. Certification programs have the extra education and qualifications that other mold companies don’t have. Look for certifications specific to the services you require at your home in Northern VA. Make sure they offer a warranty on the work they do. If not, keep looking.

Insurance. Only hire mold companies who are fully insured in Northern VA. This protects you both. A company that is not fully insured is one you need to walk away from.

Envirotex Environment Services checks off all the boxes. Envirotex has over 20 years of serving the Northern VA area; the company’s owner Mr. Freeman gained his environmental experience and knowledge serving his country. 

When Should you Get a Mold Inspection in Fairfax, VA?

It is wise to always have a mold inspection at the onset of any visual mold you find at your home in Fairfax, VA.

Mold is a fungus and thrives in moist places. It spreads by releasing spores, and they float around in the air until they land on a surface. However, mold only forms when mold spores land on moist surfaces. If you keep the interior of your Fairfax, VA, home dry, you can avoid any issues with mold growth. Be sure to clean up spills, and repair roof leaks, plumbing leaks, or HVAC system leaks. Properly ventilate your kitchen and bathroom to remove moisture from the house.

Mold damages the surface it’s growing on and may heighten asthma or allergies. To protect your home and your family, invest in a mold inspection for your Fairfax, VA home and clean up and remove any mold growth in your home.

Anytime you see mold, you know it’s there. Remember that what you are visually seeing may not be all that is there. You cannot see behind your walls or in your ducts; only a home mold inspection will determine how much mold you have in your Fairfax, VA home.

The most likely scenarios when you want to have a mold inspection for your home in Fairfax, VA include the following—

  • You are purchasing a new home. Unless you have a mold inspection, you will not know if there has been any water damage or if mold is present.
  • Water damage. If your roof leaked, the basement flooded, or you experienced a broken pipe that leaked out all over a room at your Fairfax, VA home, you need a mold inspection. Areas that get wet and not dried up within 24 to 48 hours could become contaminated by mold.
  • Anytime a house has been unoccupied. A house closed up for months or years could have humidity built up inside, which can cause mold growth. This is more likely to occur if the home is closed up in warmer weather with higher humidity.
  • After mold remediation. Whenever you have mold and have it removed, you should always have a mold inspection to see if you got rid of it all.

Call the experts at Envirotex Environment Services if you are experiencing mold growth or other environmental issues.

Should you Be Concerned About Black Mold in Alexandria, VA?

If you are experiencing black mold in your Alexandria, VA home, then yes, you should be concerned. Black mold can play havoc with those sensitive to or allergic to mold. Black mold, or any mold, can cause symptoms in people allergic to them or those exposed for an extended period.

Some of the most common symptoms of black mold exposure include the following—

  • Sneezing
  • Postnasal drip
  • Nasal congestion
  • Itchy eyes, nose, or throat
  • Coughing
  • Dry, scaly skin

Black mold exposure may trigger an attack in Alexandria, VA family members with asthma. A mold–induced asthma attack could be any of these symptoms—

  • Coughing
  • Wheezing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest tightness

What is Black Mold?

Black mold grows on wood, paper products, and cotton inside your Alexandria, VA home. A common black mold is known as Stachybotrys chartarum or “toxic mold.” Black mold can also be a greenish color.

Sometimes it produces toxic chemicals found in its airborne spores and fungus fragments. These are called mycotoxins and, if ingested, are dangerous. Airborne spores, when inhaled, can wreak havoc on people with asthma, allergies, or other hypersensitivities.  

What Causes Black Mold?

Mold grows and will spread quickly in the right conditions. The conditions inside your home in Alexandria, VA may include the following—

  • Humidity (moisture level) at or over 70%
  • Oxygen
  • Temperatures ranging from 40 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Adequate food sources, such as drywall

Mold can grow anywhere in your Alexandria, VA home with these conditions provided. You will find these conditions most likely in these places—

  • Basements that have high humidity
  • Wherever you have had a water leak
  • Wherever there has been any flooding
  • Areas with lots of water condensation
  • Damp rooms without proper ventilation, such as the bathroom

Always periodically do a visual inspection of your Alexandria, VA home for black mold and any other issues you might be having. A small water leak that goes unnoticed for a long time can cause an enormous amount of mold growth. It’s better to take extra precautions so your home in Alexandria, VA isn’t run over by black mold.

Any questions you might have, please call the team at Envirotex. They will be glad to help you. 

When Should you Get an Asbestos Inspection for your Washington, D.C. Home?

If your Washington, D.C. home predates the 1980s, you may wonder what materials, if any, contain harmful asbestos materials. Could your popcorn ceilings, vinyl floor tiles, insulation, or textured paint contain asbestos? You may be asking yourself, should you get a home asbestos inspection for your home in Washington, DC. to find out more?

Maybe it could just be for peace of mind that you may want an asbestos inspection to ensure your family is not at risk. The thing is, asbestos is usually only hazardous if it is disturbed. When asbestos is disturbed, it releases asbestos fibers into the air. The air you and your family breathe could cause havoc on your family’s health.

Exposure to damaged, disturbed, or deteriorating asbestos can cause symptoms that include shortness of breath, persistent cough, and chest pain. Exposure can lead to mesothelioma, or cancer of the thin tissue layer covering your lungs, heart, stomach, and other internal organs. Another chronic lung disease called asbestosis is caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. These alone should be a concerning factor for Washington, D.C. homeowners whose house predates the 1980s.

When should you get an asbestos inspection for your home in Washington, D.C.? If the asbestos material is in good condition, simply leave it alone. Other scenarios as to when you should get an asbestos inspection include the following—

  • If you notice any areas of your home that might contain asbestos are damaged or deteriorating, such as popcorn ceilings, vinyl tile, or pipe insulation that appears to be in bad shape, by all means, you should get an asbestos inspection.
  • Suppose you plan to renovate your home in Washington, D.C. In that case, you will need to know which materials contain asbestos before you either modify or remove those materials, so an asbestos inspection definitely is warranted in this scenario.

If you have doubts that asbestos could lurk at your Washington, D.C. home, call the experts at Envirotex Environmental Services. They can answer any questions and advise whether you should have an asbestos inspection for your home in Washington, D.C.

Safest Asbestos Removal in Winchester, VA

If you have an older home in Winchester, VA, you may wonder whether some of the materials used to construct your home contain asbestos. The only sure way of finding out is with an asbestos inspection. An inspection should be done anytime you consider remodeling an older home.

A professional can map out a plan for asbestos removal at your home in Winchester, VA. There are numerous places at a home where asbestos can be found. Some include—

  • Vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and adhesives
  • Roofing and siding shingles
  • Attic and wall insulation
  • Textured painting and patching compounds used on ceilings and walls
  • Walls and floors around wood–burning stoves that are protected with asbestos paper, millboard, or cement sheets

Asbestos removal at your home in Winchester, VA is not as cut and dry as one may think. Asbestos is linked to mesothelioma and asbestosis, which are lung diseases caused by breathing in asbestos fibers. For these reasons, you should never try asbestos removal in your Winchester, VA home on your own.

Always reach out to an asbestos removal professional, such as the team at Envirotex Environmental Services. This team is skilled and knows how to handle asbestos removal properly to keep you and your family safe.

It takes special equipment and knowing how to safely remove asbestos from your home. Special clothing is necessary to keep the asbestos removal technician safe from coming in contact with the asbestos and respirators to keep them from breathing in harmful asbestos fibers released into the air during the asbestos removal. They will take extra precautions to prevent the fibers from flowing throughout the house by partitioning off areas of the home with plastic.

All household members will be asked to vacate the premises during asbestos removal. Once the job is complete, you will be allowed to reenter the Winchester, VA home. This safety measure is for your family’s safety.

If you have any questions about asbestos, please call Envirotex Environmental Services; they will be happy to answer any of your questions. Whatever you do, do not attempt any renovations at your home in Winchester, VA if you suspect asbestos–containing materials.

It is better to be safe than realize too late that you started a project that you either had to remove, cut, saw, drill, or hammer building materials and found later that these materials contain asbestos.

Household Mold Treatment in McLean, VA

Mold grows where there is moisture. It grows on paper, ceiling tiles, wood, cardboard, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery. Common areas with moisture include around windows, leaks in the roof, pipes, and where ever you have had flooding. Anytime you see mold at your home in McLean, VA, you should have a mold treatment plan.

 A mold treatment plan for your McLean, VA home may include cleaning the mold from hard surfaces,  possibly removing mold materials from your home, and the moisture problem needs to be addressed and fixed; otherwise, it will return later.

Homeowners should be able to handle less than a 10–square–foot area of mold with mold treatments. This mold treatment can be done with household products, soap and water, or a solution of 1 cup of bleach per 1 gallon of water. Do not mix bleach with other household cleaners, producing poisonous gas.

You can purchase mold treatment products from your local hardware store in McLean, VA. Be sure and follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using any cleaning products.

You should always open up your windows during mold treatment to provide fresh air and wear waterproof gloves and eye protection for your safety.

Suppose you have more than a 10 square foot area of mold infestationat your home in McLean, VA. Even though you see some mold growth, you won’t know for sure if you have more mold growth behind walls or under flooring. In that case, you should call in the professionals, such as the group at Envirotex Environmental Services.

Hiring a professional environment company like Envirotex Environmental Services will give you the satisfaction that all mold has been located. Once your mold has been found, Envirotex will set up a mold treatment to rid your McLean, VA home of all mold.

When you have an environmental issue in McLean, VA, you should always consider hiring a professional. A professional knows where to look for mold, and they also have special equipment that will locate mold that is not visible to the naked eye. They will take necessary precautions so that mold spores will not be distributed throughout your home in McLean, VA.

Call the professionals at Envirotex for all your environmental needs. 

What you Should Know About Asbestos in Arlington, VA

Asbestos may still exist in your home in Arlington, VA. Yes, that’s right. If you have an older home, you have a greater chance that asbestos–containing materials used in constructing your Arlington, VA home are still there. 

You should know products that could contain asbestos to keep your family living in a safe environment. Some of the common asbestos–containing products that could be lurking inside or around your home in Arlington, VA  are––

  • Brake pads
  • Bricks
  • Ceiling tiles
  • Cement
  • Flooring tiles
  • Boilers
  • Drywall
  • Gaskets
  • Insulation
  • Paint
  • Pipes
  • Plastics
  • Pumps
  • Roofing
  • Shingles
  • Valves
  • Talcum powder
  • Baby powder

As late as 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised consumers to stop using Claire’s Makeup products because they tested positive for asbestos. This particular brand of makeup is targeted toward teenagers.

To keep your family safe, be aware of any products in your home that may contain asbestos. It is extremely important that anytime you upgrade or remodel your house and doubt certain materials in your Arlington, VA home, call in the experts and have your home tested for asbestos. This way, you will know for sure should you want to make more changes in the future, and they can advise you on where to go from there.

Just because you may still have certain asbestos–containing materials inside your Arlington, VA home does not mean you need to go tearing any of it out. In fact, you shouldn’t be doing anything to suspected materials because if you tear, drill, cut, or do anything to them, you are stirring up asbestos fibers which will enter into the air, and eventually, your family would be breathing in these fibers.

Breathing in these fibers can be fatal. Usually, it takes years to detect health issues caused by asbestos exposure, but the end result can be fatal, if not deadly, extremely serious.

Some asbestos that is in good shape can just be left alone. It’s only when you need to remove asbestos–containing materials or tear into them somehow that it becomes a severe problem.

If you are concerned that your home in Arlington, VA may contain asbestos, call the experts at Envirotex Environmental Services. They can answer your questions, inspect your home, and remove any asbestos that may cause a problem.

What Does Black Mold Removal Involve in Alexandria, VA?

Black mold can be hazardous, depending on your level of exposure. A person with a weak immune system who inhales fungal spores from black mold growth may develop chills, fever, headache, nausea, or vomiting. People with asthma may experience asthma attacks when exposed to black mold. Alexandria, VA homes with black mold should consult a black mold removal professional.

If the affected area is less than 10 square feet, you may attempt the black mold removal independently, but hiring a professional is recommended. A professional such as Envirotex Environmental Services should handle black mold removal at your home in Alexandria, VA. Professionals will have the proper black mold removal equipment and expertise to safely and effectively remove the mold.

Alexandria, VA homeowners do not have the advanced technology to locate mold that can’t be seen with the naked eye. You may only address a small area of mold, while other black mold lurks behind walls and underneath flooring that you can’t visibly see. Using a professional will ensure that all mold will be found and removed from your Alexandria, VA home.

During black mold removal, the area in your Alexandria, VA home with mold infestation will be isolated to avoid cross–contamination and spores spreading to other parts of the home. Professionals use a High–Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter to filter the air and clean mold spores.

All the contaminated surfaces are vacuumed with a HEPA vacuum which traps mold spores while releasing clean air. Mold–infested items are discarded when necessary in disposable bags and later taken to the appropriate dump sites.

Contaminated surfaces will be sprayed and wiped down with microfiber cleaning cloths. The area will be treated with an antimicrobial applied with an electrostatic sprayer, ensuring even application and maximum efficiency.

You and your family, including pets, may be asked to leave until the removal of black mold. This is for the safety of your family members.

If you have any questions about black mold removal for your home in Alexandria, VA, call the professionals at Envirotex, and they will be glad to answer your questions.

Addressing Mold:  Mold Removal in Northern VA

If you see mold growing on walls or other places inside your home in Northern VA, it can also be invisible behind those areas as well as other places in your home. Anytime you have mold, you have a moisture or water problem. Once you know where the moisture is coming from, that will need to be addressed, or mold removal will only be a temporary fix.

It is best to call in Northern VA professionals such as Envirotex Environmental Services for mold removal at your Northern VA home unless it is in a small area. But even small spaces may not be all there is, and a professional can locate mold with their equipment, knowledge, and expertise.

A professional environmental company will evaluate your mold contamination at your home in Northern VA and then map out a plan for mold removal. Professionals will clean up mold growing inside your home while avoiding exposing your family to mold spores floating around that can cause health issues.

Mold removal at your home starts with closing off mold–contaminated areas from other parts of the Northern VA home with polyethylene sheeting. Contaminated areas are misted to suppress dust. Moldy and wet materials are removed, placed in plastic bags, and later disposed of properly.

A wire brush may be used on non–porous materials and moldy wood surfaces and wiped with disposable wipes, which are then placed in polyethylene bags and disposed of properly. Surfaces are vacuumed with a HEPA vacuum. Afterward, all surfaces are scrubbed with a damp cloth and detergent until all mold is removed and rinsed with clean water.

The cleaned materials are allowed to dry so that any moisture will evaporate. Fans and dehumidifiers may be used to help with drying.

Any materials which were removed need to be replaced or repaired.

If your mold removal at your home in Northern VA was a success, the moisture problem should be fixed and not present any more issues with mold. There should be no visible signs of mold–contaminated materials or moldy odors inside your Northern VA home. After mold removal, you and your family should be able to occupy your home without any danger of developing health issues.