Do you ever wonder about your crawl space? Chances are it’s “out of sight, out of mind.”
But that’s a big mistake.
Did you realize your crawl space can dramatically affect the air quality of your home? If you have mold in your crawl space, it can eventually migrate throughout your house, causing devastating problems and even affecting the value of your home.
At First Call, we’re the experts at crawl space mold removal. When we’re called, we immediately begin working to ensure that mold is safely and completely removed without causing it to spread throughout the rest of your residence.
We’ll give you an inside look at mold remediation for your crawl space and why this is best left for the experts at First Call.
Mold Remediation: Don’t Do It Yourself!
We’ve covered the reasons why you should leave this to the pros in greater detail in our earlier blogs. But as a quick summary, you should NOT try do it yourself crawl space mold removal because:
- You could unknowingly spread mold to other areas of your home
- You don’t have access to the safety equipment and technology that First Call has
- You could endanger your health
- You won’t be able to discover all the areas where mold may be “hiding”
How to Remove Mold From Crawl Spaces
Determine the Root Cause
Mold is caused by moisture. If you have moisture in your crawl space, you need to eliminate the problem. Failure to do so means that you will continue to have a mold problem and remediation will not keep it from returning.
Once we determine the root cause, we fix the issue, paving the way for successful crawl space mold removal.
Set the Stage for Success
Before we begin, we ensure that we have the proper tools and equipment. This means we will need to not only set up lights in your crawl space, but we will also use plastic sheeting to capture any mold as it is removed from surfaces.
Our employees also wear hazmat uniforms and respirators to safeguard their health while conducting crawl space mold removal.
Clean with Proper Materials
Many people mistakenly believe that just wiping an area with bleach will remove mold. In actuality, you need to use a spray and products that are specifically designed and formulated for crawl space mold removal.
Make Sure to Remove Any Residue
Once the affected areas are dry, there may be a need to scrub away any remaining mold.
Dispose of Material Properly
There are extensive state and federal regulations about how to dispose of contaminated material. Rest assured, we have a thorough understanding of these rules and will act accordingly. After crawl space mold removal, we will dispose of the necessary material.
Consider Crawl Space Encapsulation
Through crawl space encapsulation, we eliminate a lot of the mold problems found in this part of your home. During the process, we cover the floor of your crawl space with a sheeting of polyethylene that provides a layer of insulation. This has several benefits:
- It can reduce your power bill
- It can keep mice and other vermin out of your crawl space
- It provides easy access
- It can improve air quality
- In some cases, it can increase the value of your home
First Call is proud to offer encapsulation services. All it takes is one quick call to get started.
How Do You Know If You Need Crawl Space Mold Removal?
Not all signs of mold are obvious—and mold is an expert at “hiding.” Therefore, it’s very possible to have mold problems in your home even though you can’t see them.
However, following are some clues that indicate you may have a mold problem in your crawl space:
Musty odors
This is one of the more obvious signs that you have mold issues. Remember: Your crawl space has a huge impact on the air quality of the rest of your home.
Respiratory problems or worsening allergies
Are your allergies giving you problems despite treatment? Is your asthma getting worse? While only your doctor can give you medical advice, you should also be aware that mold has been found to cause upper respiratory infections and agitate asthma symptoms.
Signs of moisture
Any sign of standing water or moisture should be taken seriously. This creates a perfect breeding ground for mold.
Sagging floors
Granted, there can be several possible causes for sagging floors, including foundational problems. However, excessive moisture can also be an indicator. As mentioned earlier, any moisture issue can be a sign of a mold infestation.
First Call is the Right Call for Removing Mold From Your Crawl Space
Need a team of professional experts? Our trained technicians value quality and customer service above all else. It’s how we’re wired. The Golden Rule is much more than a nice thought—it’s an integral part of our business philosophy.
It’s why we’ve been entrusted to care for homes, businesses, universities and schools across the Burlington, Greensboro, Raleigh and Triangle areas.
Not sure if you need crawl space mold removal? Just contact us, and we’ll be glad to answer any questions you have. Remember: First Call is always the right call.
