Dealing With Mold in Crawlspace

5/7/2018 (Permalink)

Removing mold of any kind in any part of your home is not only expensive, it is a delicate process. But it surely won’t go away by itself. In fact, it will only grow worse with time, worsening the conditioning of your home.

While this is certainly a big problem to face, crawlspaces are often one of the most common places for mold of all types to develop. Due to the fact that moisture can accumulate in this small, unventilated area, it won’t take long before mold spores start feeding on your home’s building materials.

So mold remediation can be expensive if it’s not covered by insurance, but as long as it hasn’t infested the entire area, there are ways you can attack the problem. Here you will learn all of the following about mold in the crawlspace:

1.-Preventing Mold in the Crawlspace

2.-Identifying Mold in the Crawlspace

3.-How to Remove Mold in the Crawlspace

Preventing Mold in Crawlspace

Mold is able to grow almost anywhere in the home as long as there is a moisture and organic food source (AKA your building materials). But due to the lack of air circulation, high humidity levels allow the mold to prosper in the crawlspace.

So the best ways to keep mold out of the crawlspace is to limit the moisture. To limit the moisture in the crawlspace, check out the following:

1.-Ensure that there are no cracks in the foundation walls

2.-Ensure that gutters and downspouts are clear and guide water away from the foundation

3.- Make sure that there is adequate ventilation in the crawlspace. If not, consider installing open vents to make the area “breathable.”

4.-If the crawlspace is vented, insulate against the sub floor above. Make sure to use fasteners    or else it will just fall out over time. The vapor barrier part of the insulation should also be facing the sub floor.

5.-If there is insulation already installed, make sure that it is dry and not sagging. If it contains water damage, it will need to be replaced.

6.-Ensure that there is plastic sheeting that covers the bottom of the crawlspace, lining the foundation walls. Check the walls to make sure that there is no water standing between the plastic sheeting and foundation walls.

7.-Inspect the air ducts and plumbing work for leaks.

8.- Make sure that the dryer vent leads air outside and not to the crawlspace.

Stay Safe While Preventing Mold

These tips and tricks should guarantee to keep mold out of the crawlspace when followed correctly, but remember that your health and safety always come first.

If you haven’t been in the crawlspace of a home before, or don’t have any experience with mold, it’s best to call SERVPRO of McAllen to perform the inspection.

Identifying Mold in Crawlspace

1.-While mold really only needs moisture and an organic substance to grow, all of the conditions mentioned to grow create the perfect breeding grounds for the fungus to prosper:

2.-Moisture – caused by plumbing leaks, burst pipes, and humidity

3.-Warmth – this is why mold prospers in the spring and summer time

4.-Food – any type of organic material, such as drywall and insulation will promote mold growth

5.-Darkness – Mold loves to grow undisturbed in darker areas – but keep in mind that it cannot grow in UV light.

6.-Time – Mold growth can start in as little as 24 hours after water damage

How to remove mold from the crawlspace:

1.- Inspecting the Damage. Make sure to put on protective clothing, especially a face mask, before crawling under the property. Look closely at what you are dealing with; depending on how far it has spread, it can be a long or short cleanup process.

2.- Preparing for Mold Remediation. Before even thinking about tackling mold, make sure that there is proper ventilation so you won’t be inhaling mold spores of any kind. You will also want set up some flood lights as well as a plastic barrier.

3.- Applying the Mold-Removing Chemicals. There are a number of chemicals that can remove mold.

4.- Blasting Mold. For larger cases of mold, you will want to use a surface blaster. Homes that are usually vacant for long periods of time or are poorly ventilated will likely have this problem. When using a surface blaster, you will be removing the mold from a number of surfaces using high-pressure particles.

Removing Mold Professionally

Despite the cheapest way to remove mold, doing it yourself is not always the best idea. Mold remediation can be an extremely dangerous job.

To make matters worse, letting mold grow into an infestation will only result in extra time and money spent in remediation.

So often times it is best to work with a professional mold remediation specialist, such as SERVPRO of McAllen. Their specialists have years of experience in removing mold with professional products. They will locate all affected areas, assess the damage, contain the area, and effectively restore them to their original conditions.

SERVPRO of McAllen can also mitigate the property from water damage, which is often the case with many mold remediation projects. As soon as you notice the damage, be sure to give us a call right away.