Humid Conditions: A Mold Damage Challenge For New Residents Of Portland

8/2/2017 (Permalink)

Mold damage to your Portland home may be unexpected if you are from a less humid place.

Mold Damage

Our area is identified as one of the ten most humid cities in the United States, although the ambient moisture does vary season to season. If our relative humidity levels result in problems with mildew or mold SERVPRO helps remediate the outbreak and educates homeowners on how to avoid problems in the future.

When you are new to an area, some challenges surprise a homeowner. Mold damage to your Portland home may be unexpected if you are from a less humid place. Mold requires a source of water, although it does not need to be a puddle or a leak. An interior humidity of over 70 percent by itself encouraged mold. We work with you to reduce the moisture content of the air within your home as well as managing the removal of current mold colonies.

SERVPRO employs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protocols while remediating household mold. The area affected must be contained, usually by plastic sheeting protecting the rest of your home during the process. If the area is large, we bring in a negative pressure machine to remove any particles and otherwise contaminated air via filters and a system that pulls the tainted air out of the home, not to be recirculated. Our team suits up in personal protective gear when on-site.

We remove only the mold if it is on a non-porous surface. If the roots of the colony infiltrate building materials like drywall, insulation, or fabrics, among other things, we also cut the contaminated areas out. The moldy materials are bagged and disposed of per local regulations for hazardous substances. Our crews apply antimicrobial products to prevent recurrence.

SERVPRO knows mold returns if the moisture issue remains. Ventilation is one important process that minimizes mold growth, so we suggest furnishings be placed away from walls for easy air flow. Exhaust fans must run in high humidity areas like kitchens and bathrooms during cooking, showering, and other use. Dehumidifiers and, in warm weather, air conditioners reduce the air’s moisture. A level of 30 to 50 percent is the target, non-conducive to mold growth.

SERVPRO of Northwest Portland awaits questions and requests for help when mold damages your dwelling for any reason. Call (503) 283-3658 to schedule an inspection and creation of a mold remediation plan.

Visit https://www.portlandoregon.gov/ for more about Portland.