Lesser Known Signs You Need Mold Testing

Do you believe there’s a chance mold may be in your home? Does it feel like you could have mold but you can’t see any? There are plenty of signs you could have mold but not necessarily realize it. Below are just some of the signs that you could benefit from our mold testing near Malibu and serving the surrounding area.

You don’t need several of these signs to benefit from mold testing. Indeed, you could just need one or two. Just a little bit of mold can become not just a little bit of mold very quickly. It’s better to know the truth earlier. If you think there’s a chance you could have mold, reach out.

Have Your Allergies Been Acting Up?
It’s very easy to misinterpret the symptoms of mold-induced allergies as seasonal allergies. Although they share similarities, there are ways to tell them apart.

Do your allergies seem to flare-up more inside your home rather than when you set foot outdoors? Some common signs of mold exposure can include a stuffy or runny nose, dry skin, coughing, sneezing, a sore throat, and red, watery, and itchy eyes. More intense reactions, such as migraines, dizziness, and chest colds, can occur.

In addition to allergies, asthma could be a sign of mold, too. Mold can also intensify breathing issues, particularly asthmatic conditions. Research indicates that asthmatic patients allergic to mold experience reduced lung function and, in some cases, even serious complications.

You may be surprised to learn that mold doesn’t solely cause respiratory issues. Those who are sensitive or allergic to mold can often experience skin irritations, like hives, upon exposure to mold spores. Often, these rashes mirror those of other allergic reactions, making them tricky to pinpoint. However, if you suspect mold is the culprit, don’t hesitate to schedule a mold inspection. Avoid scratching too much as it can lead to skin tears and subsequent infections.

Should you or yours have these symptoms over a period of time, it’s worth it to test your property.

Are You and Others in Your Home Constantly Fatigued?
If you find yourself constantly worn out, your exhaustion could be a direct result of household mold. It can cause your immune system to shift to overdrive, rapidly draining your energy resources, leaving you perpetually tired irrespective of the amount of sleep you get or the nutrients you consume.

If you’re constantly fatigued with no real reason behind it, it’s time to consider a professional mold inspection. Our experts can conduct a thorough examination of your property for toxic mold and provide an accurate report, so that you’ll know the truth once and for all.

Signs of Mold in Your Home (Even if You Can’t See the Mold)
Bathrooms, with their humidity and dampness, can easily fall prey to mold. Porous materials, like tile grouts, are prime spots for mold growth. It’s not always easy to keep them from moisture, but it’s worth it to be as diligent as possible in this regard.

Over time, the wallpaper in your home will naturally show signs of wear and tear. However, peeling or bubbling may indicate the presence of moisture within the walls.

An abundance of condensation on your windows indicates excessive indoor humidity, a leading trigger for mold growth. If you see condensation there often, it may be time to take action. You can use a dehumidifier or leave doors open to help regulate moisture levels.

Watch out for any suspicious patches on your furniture or upholstery. Mold is easily attracted to damp surfaces, including leather and wood, and can infest your favorite pieces before you realize it. Deal with dampness as quickly as you can.

There are signs beyond visible ones of mold, too. Does your carpet smell odd, or do you see circular patterns of brown, green, or black stains? These are signs that your carpet may be hosting mold.

Mold comes with its unique musky scent, which intensifies as the infestation grows. A heightened or unusual smell in your house, especially after rainfall or with closed windows and doors, can be a telltale sign of mold presence.

Areas with carpets are particularly susceptible to mold growth, which can easily spread to other parts of your home. If these signs are evident, a mold inspector should be your next phone call.

Mold Testing Near Malibu and the Surrounding Area and More
No one wants to think about mold. The idea that mold could be inside your property without you knowing it is disconcerting to say the least. That’s where we can come in, however. We can let you know, through our testing, whether or not you have mold. If you do, we can also let you know exactly how our pros will remedy the situation.

To see how we can help, reach out to us through our site or call.

Mold Removal and Beyond: Ways to Lessen the Risk of Mold

There are times when you need mold removed professionally. There can come a time when the only way to restore your home is to have your mold professionally removed. Whenever we’ve done that for our clients, almost inevitably, we’re asked some version of: “is there anything I can do to keep mold from coming back?” These are some of the tips that folks may not think of after receiving professional mold removal in Santa Clarita and the surrounding area.

That having been said, you can do everything right, you can take every precaution, and yet, mold finds its way in. When that happens, we can be there to find the mold and then to remove it.

Being Clean and Dry Can Keep Mold at Bay
The cleanliness and dryness of your space plays a critical role. Don’t leave wet clothes and towels on the floor, always hang them up after use. Regular disposal of trash, ideally on a daily basis, and cleaning up all spills promptly can also help. Attention should be paid to wiping any condensation that appears on and around windows.

If you live in an apartment, frequent cleaning of the bathroom and removal of any mildew is recommended. Usage of windows and fans for airing out rooms that generate moisture such as kitchen and bathrooms, is beneficial. For units with attached bathrooms, the use of exhaust fans and windows (if there are any) for ventilation during and after shower usage is encouraged.

Spring Into Action When It Rains
Mold requires moisture.  Address any wet areas immediately.  Wetness from rainfall, (heavy or otherwise) leakage from pipes or any kind of spillage should be dried post haste.

A rule of thumb: household items should not be left damp. Ensure floors and walls are dried after a shower and don’t leave wet clothes in the washing machine. Hanging the clothes to dry outside or in a place with good air circulation is optimal.

Routine house chores might be inadvertently promoting mold in your home. Simple activities like cooking, showering, or laundry should be carried out with adequate ventilation in the bathroom, kitchen, laundry room, and any other high-moisture area.

Appliances creating moisture such as clothes dryers and stoves need to be vented outdoors. Use AC units and dehumidifiers while ensuring they do not generate moisture by regularly checking and cleaning as per the guidelines.

How to Deal Best With Humidity
When it comes to humidity, maintain balance. Every home environment should aim to maintain a balance when it comes to humidity.

Studies have shown that sustaining an indoor humidity level between 30 and 60% can keep the home free of mold growth. You can use a moisture meter to measure this or, what most do, stay observant of areas in your home prone to excessive humidity can help nip moisture-related issues in the bud.

How can you tell if you have too much humidity? Condensation. Specifically, condensation on walls, windows, and pipes. Wipe any wet surfaces immediately.

Water Pooling Needs to Be Dealt With, Pronto
Water pooling, whether in or around your home, must be fixed. The landscape surrounding your house should slope away from the foundation to prevent water accumulation that could potentially seep into your property. It’s crucial to direct water away from your home to hinder harmful mold development.

Air Circulation Can Keep Mold at Bay
A drop in temperature limits air’s capacity to hold moisture. Controlling airflow in your home can prevent this excess moisture from clinging to your walls, windows, and floors.

Enhancing air circulation can be as easy as opening the doors between rooms, ensuring furniture is not placed directly against walls, and keeping doors open – particularly for closets in colder rooms.

Maintain Household Plants
Household plants are an excellent element of natural decor that also work to purify indoor air. However, the moist soil in these indoor plants makes it a favorite place for mold growth. Be especially careful around your plants, not allowing that water to get to where it shouldn’t. Some may even consider watering plants with particular teas, those that can help to keep mold at bay. But, just being careful around your plants can help significantly.

Mold Removal in Santa Clarita and Beyond When You Need It
The above tips may help you to be able to reduce the possibility that mold enters your home. But, even if you do all of this, mold can, unfortunately, still gain a foothold. If you have the slightest suspicion mold may be around, we can help.

You can schedule mold testing and inspection with our team and then, if necessary, the removal. Reach out to us through our site or by giving us a call.

Mold Remediation: What it Consists of and How to Prepare

“What can I do before your mold remediation techs arrive? And just what are you going to do when you get here, anyway?” At Scope Environmental, we’ve heard some version of those questions many times. For years, we’ve provided professional mold remediation in Agoura Hills and the surrounding area for property owners just like you. Your property and situation are unique, yet there are steps you can take to prepare as well as ways we can help.

How You Can Prepare for Mold Remediation
At Scope Environmental, we understand that having work done in your home can be a stressful and disruptive experience, to say the least. Only ever take any of the below steps to the extent that you can safely. If you are unable to do so, don’t worry about it. After all, mold remediation is our job, what you have hired us to do.

If you can do something about leaks or the like, do so. Whether it’s a leak in your roof, a burst pipe, or condensation buildup, the more you can do to stop moisture sources that could lead to mold, the better. This is true after we complete the mold remediation process as well.

You’ll want to make sure the mold remediation team has easy access to the affected area. This may involve removing cars from the driveway or garage and clearing any obstacles that might block the crew’s path from the outside of your home to the area where the mold is located.

Mold remediation can be loud and disruptive, and it’s not safe for pets to be wandering around the work zone. It’s best to keep pets in a separate room or outside (if the crew isn’t working in the yard). This ensures their safety and prevents them from getting in the way of the workers.

Doing this allows them to work more efficiently and minimizes any additional disruptions to your day.

How The Mold Remediation Process Could Go
When we arrive, we’ll most likely park our truck as close to your home as possible. This allows them to easily transport equipment and supplies in and out. More often than not, our first task is to lay down some kind of sheeting to protect your floors and create a path from the entrance of your home to the mold-affected area.

Every mold situation is unique. Your property, your mold, your challenges, and your opportunities will differ from any other property. Below are some of the more common ways that we may remediate your mold.

One of the earlier tasks is to isolate the contaminated area from the rest of your property. This could be done by sealing windows, doors, and other openings. The seams of the sheeting are then secured to prevent mold spores from spreading to unaffected areas.

To further prevent the spread of mold, the crew will trap airborne spores, reducing the chances that they will travel to other parts of your home. Should there be affected surfaces, we may use a vacuum to remove mold from the affected surfaces.

Non-porous surfaces that can’t be removed could be scrubbed thoroughly with a damp cloth soaked in a detergent solution. This ensures that any remaining mold is eliminated from these surfaces.

After the mold has been removed from an area, we may disinfect it to kill any remaining spores. The remediation team may also apply an encapsulant, which is a special type of paint that seals any mold spores that may remain. This acts as an added layer of protection, preventing future mold growth. The encapsulant is often sprayed well beyond the immediate mold-affected area, especially in places like attics, to prevent recurrence.

Materials that have been contaminated by mold are removed and placed in sealed plastic bags for safe disposal. This reduces the risk of mold spores being released back into the air.

After the area has been cleaned and treated, all surfaces are allowed to dry completely. If necessary, dehumidifiers, fans, or heaters are used to speed up the drying process, ensuring that no moisture is left behind.

Once the mold removal process is complete, we clean the air inside your home. This way, we can filter the air, removing mold spores and other particles to ensure that the air you breathe is free of contaminants. The air is also refreshed with an air exchange system that replaces the old, moldy air with clean, fresh air from outside.

Mold Remediation in Agoura Hills and More
At Scope Environmental, we are committed to making the mold remediation process as smooth and stress-free as possible. Your remediation may not be like what’s mentioned above, but, your remediation will be done in such a way as to best help you and your property. To see how we can help, reach out to us through our site or call.

When You May Need Mold Removal Even If You Can’t See Any Mold

Do you have a nagging feeling in the back of your head that mold may be a problem in your home but you just aren’t sure? Have you been researching the signs of mold online and still feel “on the fence” about whether or not there’s mold in your home? At Scope Environmental, we both specialize in mold removal in Santa Clarita and have for many years. There are some ways to tell if you may have mold in your home.

We do emphasize the word “may” in the last sentence. Below are some ways that you could tell if you may be in need of assistance with mold. One sign, maybe even two, and it could be uncertain. Any more than that, however, and professional assistance may be required. We’re here to help. If you believe mold may be an issue, we can provide removal, remediation, and more.

Where Mold Often Shows Up: Illness
One of the clearest signs of a mold issue is a change in your health while you’re at home. Prolonged exposure to mold can lead to symptoms that mimic allergies, such as sneezing, congestion, coughing, or irritated eyes.

Mold exposure can also cause fatigue or feelings of listlessness. If these symptoms seem to fade when you leave your home but return as soon as you’re back inside, it’s likely that mold is the culprit.

It’s important to note that mold can affect people differently, but these health symptoms are often a reliable indicator that mold is present somewhere in the house, even if it’s out of sight. So, you may feel ill but your partner/family don’t, or vice versa.

Your Sense of Smell May Be Trying to Tell You Something
Mold has a very distinct musty odor, often reminiscent of damp, long-stored items that have been exposed to moisture. If you notice this smell in your home, it’s a strong sign that mold is present, even if you haven’t yet seen any visible signs. Once you detect this odor, it’s time to begin a more detailed inspection.

While the smell of mold is a reliable indicator in many cases, it’s important to remember that some mold types don’t produce a noticeable scent. Just because you don’t smell it doesn’t mean it’s not there. That’s why a combination of both visual and olfactory checks is necessary for thorough mold detection.

Mold Signs You Can See (That Aren’t Mold)
You know that mold often appears in areas that are prone to moisture, such as ceilings, corners, and damp spots around the home. Mold can look like clusters of small, fuzzy patches, with a variety of textures and colors ranging from gray and white to black and green.

Black mold is particularly concerning due to its potential health risks, so identifying it early is critical. Pay close attention to any yellowing or fuzziness on surfaces like fabrics or other materials that may have been exposed to water. Remember: even the smallest patches of mold can signal a bigger issue, so it’s important to inspect thoroughly.

Certain parts of your home may be more susceptible to mold than others. For example, if you inspect your basement, look for water discolorations on walls or ceilings, and pay attention to any musty smells. Even if you don’t see visible mold, water stains and damp areas are often signs that mold could be developing out of sight.

During this time of year, fall, rain can come quickly, seemingly out of nowhere. If it pours, leading to flooding or even just pooling, assume that mold has come along.

Professional Mold Removal in Santa Clarita You Can Trust
At Scope Environmental, we emphasize the importance of early detection. By using your senses and performing thorough inspections, you can identify mold before it becomes a major problem.

The sooner mold is identified and the water source causing it is found, the easier it is to prevent further damage to your property and protect your health. Procrastination only allows mold to spread, turning a minor issue into a costly and more severe one over time.

If you suspect a mold problem in your home or business, don’t hesitate to reach out to professionals who can assess the situation thoroughly and guide you through the steps needed to resolve the issue.

The truth is that, all too often, mold can’t be adequately handled on your own. Sure, you could throw out something that may visibly be moldy. But, that could just be, quite literally, the “tip of the iceberg” in terms of mold in your home. We can help to remove mold for good.

In fact, we can not only remove mold, but we can help you to best protect your property from mold in the future. To see how we can help, reach out to us through our site or call.