Mold Removal in El Centro: A Must for Homeowners

4/14/2024 (Permalink)

If you find mold in your home, you want it dealt with quickly. Contact SERVPRO for certified technicians to remove the mold.

Enhancing Property Value Through Expert Mold Cleanup

Mold is more than an unsightly nuisance; it can significantly hinder the well-being of your home and, by extension, its value. At SERVPRO®, we understand the importance of professional mold removal in preserving both the aesthetic appeal and structural integrity of your property. If you have had water damage or noticed microbial growth, here's how professional mold remediation can safeguard your home's value:

The Hidden Threat of Mold

Mold thrives in damp, humid conditions, often hidden within walls, under floors, or in ceilings. Don’t let mold damage in your El Centro home result in expensive repairs. Over time, it can:

• Damage Building Materials: Wood, drywall, and insulation can rot or deteriorate.
• Compromise Structural Integrity: Weakened floors and walls can lead to costly repairs.
• Affect Air Quality: Spores can spread, affecting indoor air quality (IAQ).

Why Professional Remediation Matters

Handling mold isn't just about cleaning visible growth; it's about ensuring the problem is resolved at its source. Here's why professional intervention is critical:

• Expert Assessment: Professionals identify the extent of mold damage and the water damage or moisture source causing it.
• Thorough Cleanup: Using specialized equipment and techniques, experts can handle mold more effectively than DIY methods.
• Prevent Future Growth: Remediation includes measures to prevent mold from returning and safeguard your home's future.

Protecting Your Investment

Investing in IICRC-certified professional mold remediation offers several long-term benefits for homeowners:

• Preserve Property Value: A mold-free home maintains its market value and is more attractive to buyers.
• Save Money: Early intervention can prevent more severe damage, saving money on extensive repairs.
• Enhance Living Conditions: Removing mold improves air quality, making your home more comfortable.

At SERVPRO of El Centro/Salton City, we're committed to helping you protect your home and investment. Our team is equipped to handle all aspects of mold remediation, ensuring your property remains a safe and valuable place to live. Remember, the sooner you address mold issues, the better you can preserve your home's value and integrity. We're here 24/7 to assist with your professional restoration needs. Call (760) 337-5858 to make it "Like it never even happened."

THE EPA has Produced a Helpful Mold Guidebook

11/7/2022 (Permalink)

The EPA booklet about mold is an excellent guide to understanding mold.

Mold, Moisture, and Your Home

The EPA has published a helpful mold guide for homeowners to understand why mold might grow in their homes and how to remove it. The booklet, Mold, Moisture, and Your Home is available as a PDF download from the EPA.

In this article, we have quoted several critical areas of information from the EPA mold guide to provide you with a quick review of the information. However, we recommend that you download and read the entire booklet!

• “Molds are usually not a problem indoors unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing.”

• “The mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If mold grows in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem.”

• “Who should do the cleanup depends on several factors… one consideration is the size of the mold problem? If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch), in most cases, you can handle the job yourself, following the guidelines below.”

The EPA booklet warns homeowners against self-do-it-cleaning if the mold source was contaminated with sewage if they suspect the HVAC system is contaminated, and if there is a quantity of mold of more than 10 square feet. The booklet then provides two pages of instructions about how to safely and adequately clean moldy surfaces. The instruction discusses how to safely use bleach (if, and when it may be needed).

• Avoid breathing in mold or mold spores. To limit your exposure to airborne mold, you may want to wear an N-95 respirator, available at many hardware stores and from companies that advertise on the Internet.

• Wear gloves. Long gloves that extend to the middle of the forearm are recommended. When working with water and a mild detergent, ordinary household rubber gloves may be used. If you use a disinfectant, a biocide such as chlorine bleach, or a robust cleaning solution, you should select gloves made from natural rubber, neoprene, nitrile, polyurethane, or PVC.

• Wear goggles. Goggles that do not have ventilation holes are recommended. Avoid getting mold or mold spores in your eyes.

• Cleanup and Biocides. Biocides are substances that can destroy living organisms. Using a chemical or biocide that kills organisms such as mold (chlorine bleach, for example) is not recommended as a routine practice during mold cleanup. There may be instances, however, when professional judgment may indicate its use.

The EPA booklet asks an important question, how do I get rid of mold? Here is their answer:

• "It is impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors; some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in house dust. The mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If mold grows in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean up the mold but don’t fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will come back."

We can’t say it enough about, Mold, Moisture, and Your Home. It is an outstanding resource. We strongly encourage you to get a personal copy.

Please, understand SERVPRO of El Centro is an expert in resolving moisture and mold issues in homes and public buildings.  

Can Bleach be used for Mold Cleanup?

11/6/2022 (Permalink)

Bleach must be used with caution during mold remediation.

Mold Remediation is More than Using Bleach

The US EPA has a great deal to say about mold removal on its website: www.epa.gov/mold 

On their website, it is evident that the cause of indoor mold growth is always excessive moisture.  If a person wipes the mold away and uses bleach for "good measure", the mold will return after the bleach has dissipated unless the cause of the mold growth has been solved. 

Before you attempt self-do-it mold remediation please read the EPA Mold information.

The Mold section of the EPA website provides information concerning proper cleaning techniques. It advises a person should wear an N95 respirator and wear waterproof gloves. When a person uses a biocide in the cleaning process to keep the room ventilated. Fumes from chemicals such as bleach can be toxic.

At SERVPRO, we are professionals in finding the cause of mold growth and in performing safe remediation. For your safety and well-being please call us concerning mold removal issues. We are always pleased to help.  760-337-5858

Help, I have Mold in My Home

11/2/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO mold-remediation technicians are well-trained.

Having Mold in Our Home Can Be a Stressful Experience

Don't panic. Mold is everywhere, it is a natural part of life and very few molds are harmful to humans.

However, that doesn't mean we should just leave it be. It is always a good practice to remove visible mold growth from our interior environments. 

The mold remediation experts at our SERVPRO can provide a mold inspection to help determine the cause for mold growth and the type of mold present. In many cases, the mold our team discovers is not harmful and can be removed with detergent and water. Professional services are not even required. 

There are times when potentially harmful mold colonies are present. Once again SERVPRO can help. Our IICRC-trained technicians can follow EPA guidelines in the safe removal of microbials.

If you suspect mold in your interior environment, don't stress or worry. Instead, call SERVPRO of El Centro to apply the appropriate action to resolve the issue. 

Why Mold Keeps Growing Back

10/19/2022 (Permalink)

Don't live with mold in your home or building. SERVPRO of El Centro can remove it and help you prevent its return.

Mold Grows Back When the Moisture problem is Not Solved.

If you have mold in your home that keeps coming back, then you have a moisture problem. Many homeowners mistakenly think they can eliminate black mold by scrubbing it away using bleach. However, if you haven’t removed the source of excess moisture, the mold is virtually guaranteed to return in the same location. To get rid of mold, a full mold cleanup should be performed by a professional mold remediation service, such as SERVPRO of El Centro. Our experienced technicians will use moisture sensors, hydrometers, and infrared cameras to locate the source of moisture. We will eliminate the mold and completely dry the affected structural areas. We will provide you with tips on how to best prevent elevated moisture from reoccurring. The key to preventing mold growth is often to improve ventilation and air exchange.

What Makes Mold Grow

Mold releases spores are similar to microscopic air-borne seeds. These spores are found everywhere, outside, and indoors. Whenever a spore lands in a place with the right amount of moisture and growing conditions the spore can colonize and grow. Any surface that is consistently damp and not affected by strong air movement can be a place for mold growth.

Common sources of moisture and water damage:

• Leaking roofs and windows
• Leaking water supply lines or water pipes
• Groundwater seepage from poor drainage or ground flooding      
• Steam from showers and cooking

These and other sources of moisture can cause high indoor humidity, indoor relative humidity of 60 percent and above may contribute to mold growth.

Why Remediation Is Necessary

Many water and moisture sources that are the source of mold growth are apparent. However, leaks that are inside walls or other hard-to-see places are not easy to detect. At SERVPRO, we have the equipment and experience to locate hidden sources of moisture. We, not only clean up mold our team will help you prevent its return.

If you see or suspect there is a mold problem in your home or location, please call SERVPRO of El Centro, we can help.

How SERVPRO Remediates Mold in El Centro Homes

10/19/2022 (Permalink)

Even a small amount of mold signals that something is wrong and needs o be addressed. Call SERVPRO.

Various Approaches to Remediate Mold Damage in El Centro

Mold un side a structure will damage building materials in different ways.

The Microbial growth process releases chemical compounds such as MVOCs (Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds) which often produces gases that have a musty smell. When mold settles on damp structural materials it often sends out roots called Hyphae. These roots can penetrate into affected materials leading to the breakdown of the structural integrity, similar to the way that wood rots. This is how Mold forms colonies. These clusters of mold colonies often leave discolored patches on structural surfaces destroying paint finishes, wood stains, and even fabric dyes.                                           

Mold remediation is not an emergency service, it will take time and effort to solve the problem. If remediation is performed incorrectly mold spores can spread throughout the interior air and contaminate other parts of a home or structure. Our SERVPRO technicians apply the correct cleaning procedures to each circumstance. Sometimes, HEPA vacuuming and damp wiping to remove settled spores will suffice. When mold contamination is heavy, we will often erect containment chambers that use negative air machines to reduce air pressure in the working area. These methods are effective, they contain mold spores and do not cause secondary damage to the unaffected parts of the structure.


Many times when mold affects porous materials such as fabrics, sheetrock, and softwoods the most efficient remediation process is to remove the damaged porous material. In every situation, we will do only what is appropriate to remove the mold and improve the condition of your home or building.

When facing mold problems in Brawley, Calexico, and Imperial areas, call SERVPRO of El Centro / Salton City to assist with solving your mold problems. You can reach us at (760) 337-5858.