PacificDecon

Tag: attic

  • Myths About Attic Mold

    Myths About Attic Mold

    Do you live near Duncan, Ladysmith, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Port Alberni, Courtenay, Comox, or Campbell River? Would you like to know the facts and myths about mold in your attic? If you have ever ventured into your attic, you may have discovered a moldy surprise. Most homeowners first do an internet search, which will likely provide inaccurate search results that will only cause you to panic. Let us help you clear up a few myths about removing mold from an attic so you can understand what you are up against when you find attic mold and make an informed decision about the next steps.

    Here are a few myths about attic mold and attic mold removal you should know before hiring a professional mold removal company to remediate your attic.

    Myth: You must replace the attic insulation.

    False: The truth is mold cannot grow on insulation- which is man-made; it can only grow on something organic. The replacement of attic insulation is required if the attic insulation is old, the wrong type, or compromised by pests. Another reason you may have to replace the insulation in the attic is many mold removal companies use a method called “dry ice or soda blasting,” which puts a lot of debris in the insulation, rendering it useless. Pacific Decontamination Services uses a method of spray and fog on the sheathing, trusses, top of the insulation, and everything airborne to kill the mold, mold spores, and mycotoxins. The overspray does not damage the insulation, keeping it intact.

    Myth: Painting the attic is an effective method of mold removal and a cheaper method of attic mold removal

    False: Never allow anyone to paint your attic. Moisture becomes trapped between the wood and the paint, and mold will continue to grow. Eventually, it begins to chip off, and the only way to remove the mold at this point is to completely replace the boards, which will eventually cost you tens of thousands of dollars.

    Myth: Mold in your attic can affect your air quality.

    False: If your ceiling is structurally sound and the attic hatch is properly sealed, there should be no airflow from the attic into the rest of your home, thus not impacting your indoor air quality.

    Myth: Attic Mold can only be caused by a leak in the roof.

    False: Attic mold is caused by excess moisture due to one or a combination of reasons:

    Poor or Improper Ventilation includes a lack of roof vents, soffit vents, and/or blocked soffit vents by insulation or wood.

    Improperly Installed Exhaust Ducts: Ducts from the bathroom, kitchen, or laundry venting directly into the attic rather than outside, uninsulated exhaust ducts.

    Insulation: Inadequate quality insulation, too little or too much insulation, compromised insulation by animal infestation (usually mice) or displaced by contractors.

    Roof leaks

    Improperly installed pot lights

    Ice damming

    What We Do – We Also Neutralize All Airborne and Surface Mold Spores

    In most situations, Pacific Decontamination Services can neutralize your mold up 99.99999%. If our spray, fog or foam can touch it, we can neutralize it.  Our services come at a fraction of the cost as compared to the expensive approaches like soda / dry ice blasting, hepa vacuuming, scrubbing, removal of insulation and deconstruction and reconstruction of the attic and roof.

    We neutralize the mold in your attic, crawl space, home, building, vehicle, or property by applying our eco-friendly, safe chemical on all surfaces and airborne, focusing our efforts on the visible mold areas. Depending on the job, we apply our formula by spray, mist, foam, or fog. We further kill all airborne mold spores in your attic. The average time of our on-site service is approximately one hour. An additional four hours is required to achieve maximum effectiveness. We ask that you stay out of the attic for approximately 5 hours in total. Read more about how we work.

    Pacific Decontamination Services uses the world’s strongest, most effective and safe antimicrobial disinfectant, deodorization and chemical decontaminate. Our professional application will eliminate up to 99.99999% of any allergen, germ, bacteria or fungus that it touches. AND as powerful as it is, it is also completely safe.

    What do you do next? How do you solve the challenge of mold and associated health hazards?

    Call Pacific Decontamination Services at 778-269-0208 or email us at our email address: contact @ pacificdecon dot com

    Serving All of Vancouver Island: Cowichan, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum, Courtenay, Comox, Campbell River, and Port Alberni

  • Home Inspection Finds Mold In Attic Nanaimo

    Home Inspection Finds Mold In Attic Nanaimo

    What To Do When a Home Inspection During a Real Estate Transaction Finds Mold in the Attic

    Whether you’re buying or selling a home in Victoria, Cowichan, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum, Port Alberni, Courtenay, Comox, or Campbell river, mold is a fact of life. Mold spores are floating in the air all around us. They don’t “grow” until they can attach themselves to a moist surface. Attic mold tends to go undetected because the attic’s not a place a homeowner spends much time hanging around in – so when attic mold turns up on a home inspection, it’s often a surprise to both buyer and seller.

    If you find mold in the attic, first, relax. Mold in these areas isn’t a significant factor in indoor air quality, and truthfully, most molds are relatively harmless to humans. Visible mold is ready to be remedied and doesn’t require costly testing. What you don’t want to do is leave mold untreated, because the materials the mold has attached to can cause issues with timber and framing integrity. In the attic, mold can degrade drywall, spread to the ceiling below, and even cause problems with your roof’s life expectancy. Facts About Mold Click Here

    CAUSES OF ATTIC MOLD

    Attic mold occurs in the attic primarily due to the accumulation of moisture from condensation in the gap your attic fills between your warm house and the cold air outside your roof. Improper ventilation in the attic is actually worse in newer homes.

    Mold can also grow in the attic when a home has been built during Vancouver Island’s wet months. If interior wood framing and plywood had not been sufficiently dried before adding drywall and roofing material, moisture could be trapped inside.

    Other factors that can contribute to attic mold are improperly vented combustion appliances like the stove or dryer; improperly venting kitchen or bathroom fans; improperly installed rain gutters; or a leaking roof.

    ERADICATING MOLD IN THE ATTIC

    It is just as important to fix the moisture problem as it is killing the mold.

    If you don’t correct the cause of the moisture-inducing environment mold will return. For attics, the key to correcting the cause is to consider hiring a professional to design and install the proper attic ventilation plan. Continually moving the air through the attic will keep condensation – and mold growth – at bay. Ensure enclosed attics, and enclosed rafter spaces have cross-ventilation for each separate area. Outside air enters into the attic space from intake vents, soffits, eave vents, roof-top edge venting or gable end-vents, passing through the attic displacing warm, moisture-laden air, which exits the attic via exhaust vents at or near the peak of the roof. Other site-specific fixes include repairing a leaking roof or fixing improperly vented appliances and exhaust fans.

    PACIFIC DECONTAMINATION SERVICES WILL NEUTRUALIZE YOUR MOLD, SPORES AND MYCOTOXINS IN YOUR ATTIC.
    We issue a CERTIFICATE OF DECONTAMINATION

    Pacific Decontamination Services can neutralize your mold up 99.99999%. If our spray, fog or foam can touch it, we can neutralize it. Our services come at a fraction of the cost as compared to the expensive approaches like soda / dry ice blasting, hepa vacuuming, scrubbing, removal of insulation and deconstruction and reconstruction of the attic and roof.

    We then issue a Certificate of Decontamination that seller can provide to the prosective buyer.

    Pacific Decontamination Services uses the world’s strongest, most effective and safe antimicrobial disinfectant, deodorization and chemical decontaminate. Our professional application will eliminate up to 99.99999% of any allergen, germ, bacteria or fungus that it touches. AND as powerful as it is, it is also completely safe.

    What do you do next? How do you solve the challenge of mold and associated health hazards?

    Call Pacific Decontamination Services at 778-269-0208 or email us at our email address: contact @ pacificdecon dot com

    Serving All of Vancouver Island: Victoria, Cowichan, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum, Courtenay, Comox, Campbell River, and Port Alberni.

  • Removing Mold in Attics

    Removing Mold in Attics

    What are the tell-tale signs of an attic mold problem for residents living in Victoria, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum, Port Alberni, Comox, Courtenay and Campbell River?

    Dark black staining on wood surfaces — If the wood in your attic shows any black discoloration, the problem has moved beyond moisture; you have mold that should be removed.
    Attic feels excessively hot or stuffy — Attics should feel breezy if they are properly ventilated. When an attic is stuffy, that indicates you have a ventilation problem, which often results in mold problems.
    Frost buildup on the underside of the roof sheathing in winter — When it’s cold enough outside, water vapor in an attic with improper ventilation can freeze on the underside of your roof. This makes it especially easy to spot.
    Wet insulation in the attic — Not only is this a sign that you may (or soon will) have a mold problem, but when insulation gets damp or wet its ability to insulate becomes significantly diminished, costing you extra money to heat/cool your home.
    Water dripping from smoke detectors, light fixtures, bath fans — This is a sure sign that the floor (or attic) above you has a level of moisture that needs to be addressed.
    The smell of mildew in the attic — Trust your nose. A musty or moldy smell in the attic means there’s a moisture problem somewhere.

    Mold Exposure – How Vulnerable Are You?

    What causes attic mold?

    We in the mold industry like to say that “mold problems are moisture problems.” In other words, you cannot have a mold problem without a moisture problem. And mold can make you sick!

    Generally speaking, attic moisture problems that lead to mold growth are most often caused by:

    Blocked or Insufficient Ventilation
    Improper Exhausting of Bathroom Fans or Dryer Vents
    Roof Issues/Leaks

    How to Remove, Eliminate and Remediate Black Mold in Victoria, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum, Port Alberni, Comox, Courteney, Campbell River

    Pacific Decontamination Services neutralize your mold by applying our eco-friendly, safe chemical into your attic, crawlspace, or basement. Depending on the job, we apply our formula by spray, mist, foam, or fog. We do not use a tent. The average time of our on-site service is approximately one hour. An additional four hours is required to achieve maximum effectiveness. We ask that you stay out of the premise for approximately 5 hours in total. Read more about how we work.

    Pacific Decontamination Services uses the world’s strongest, most effective and safe antimicrobial disinfectant, deodorization and chemical decontaminate. Our professional application will eliminate up to 99.9999% of any allergen, germ, bacteria or fungus that it touches. AND as powerful as it is, it is also completely safe.

    What do you do next? How do you solve the challenge of mold and associated health hazards?

    Call Pacific Decontamination Services at 778-269-0208 or email us!
    Serving All of Victoria, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum, Port Alberni, Comox, Courtenay, Campbell River, and all of Vancouver Island:

  • Is Mold in Your Crawlspace, Basement, or Attic Making You Sick?

    Is Mold in Your Crawlspace, Basement, or Attic Making You Sick?

    Mold in crawlspaces, basements and attics are extremely common, and may impact one in three homeowners in Victoria, Cowichan, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum, Courtenay, Comox, Campbell River, and Port Alberni.

    Crawlspaces and attics are dark, dingy and sometimes damp: all ideal conditions for mold, fungus, and other germs to flourish.  Basements can also be at risk.

    It’s usually the result of increased humidity and moisture in the crawlspace, typically from the ground in the crawlspace, a leak, or inadequate ventilation.

    In attics, meanwhile, mold often forms as the result of inadequate ventilation. Warm moist air, created from the people living below, rises toward the ceiling and enters the attic around light fixtures and other openings. If the attic is well-ventilated, the moisture will pass outside, but if the warm air has nowhere to go, the moisture will accumulate.

    Both attics and crawlspaces are also rich in the organic materials that molds, fungi and other microbes need to feed on.

    According to Health Canada, “Common household materials mold can live on include drywall, wood, such as window sills, wall framing and firewood, paper products such as cardboard boxes, damp materials such as carpeting or furniture.”

    In short, it can grow almost anywhere, as long as moisture is present.

    In fact, according to studies, 30 percent to 50 percent of all structures have damp conditions that could encourage the growth and spread of biological pollutants like mold. And that’s just for average climates; in warm, moist climates, this percentage is likely much higher.

    What’s Dangerous About Mold?

    Mold is a microscopic, living organism whose purpose is to break down dead materials. This is why, over time, it will destroy whatever it is growing on, including your carpets, furniture and cabinets, and even structural elements of your home.

    If left untreated, mold will gradually destroy whatever it is growing on — including structural elements of your home.

    However, this is only a part of what makes mold dangerous. Molds release thousands of microscopic spores into the air, and they are easily carried around your home, where you may breathe them in.

    It is through this inhalation that mold can cause health problems to you and your family.

    What Types of Health Problems do Molds Cause?

    All molds have the potential to cause health effects. Molds can produce allergens that can trigger allergic reactions or even asthma attacks in people allergic to mold. Others are known to produce potent toxins and/or irritants.

    Homeowners with mold often report:
    Respiratory problems, such as wheezing, difficulty breathing, and shortness of breath.

    Sneezing and/or nasal congestion.

    Eye irritation (itching, burning, watery, or reddened eyes).

    Coughing or throat irritation.

    Skin rashes or irritation.

    Headaches.

    Fatigue.

    Among people who have existing respiratory conditions (such as allergies or asthma) or weakened immune systems, as well as children and the elderly, molds can be particularly dangerous. People in this group may experience more severe reactions or even serious lung infections when exposed to mold.

    Read our report on mold exposure and health hazards.

    Preventing a Mold Problem in Your Crawlspace, Basement, or Attic

    If you suspect mold is in your home (some indications include stained ceilings, a musty or earthy smell, black, pink, orange or green spots on walls, flood or hurricane damage, damp basement, crawlspace or attic) you should seek out a professional to decontaminate your mold or mildew situation.

    Decontaminate your attic, basement or crawlspace using the experts at Pacific Decontamination Services. Our tailored services protect your home or business from devastating effects of a biological occurrence by killing and validating the destruction of up to 99.9999% of harmful bacteria, viruses, spores, germs, and fungi.

    Other steps you can do after having your attic, crawlspace, or basement decontaminated by Pacific Decontamination Services include:

    Fix any leaky plumbing or other leaks immediately.

    Prevent moisture due to condensation. To reduce moisture levels in your air, increase ventilation (if the outdoor air is cool and dry) or use a dehumidifier (if the outdoor air is warm and humid).

    Don’t let your home’s foundation stay wet. Make sure there’s proper drainage and that the ground slopes away from the foundation.

    Keep furniture and floors dusted. Mold spores can collect in your household dust, so dusting often is highly recommended.

    Keep heating, ventilation, and air conditioning drip pans clean and flowing properly.

    Make sure moisture-generating appliances, like your dryer, and your bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans are vented outside.

    Keep indoor humidity levels below 60%, and preferably between 30-50%.

    Change your home’s air filters regularly.

    If necessary, add insulation to reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces, such as windows, piping, exterior walls, roof or flooring.

    Make sure any damp or wet spots are cleaned and dried within 48 hours.

    How Can You Neutralize Mold?

    We neutralize your mold by applying our eco-friendly, safe chemical into your attic, crawlspace, or basement. Depending on the job, we apply our formula by spray, mist, foam, or fog. We do not use a tent. The average time of our on-site service is approximately one hour. An additional four hours is required to achieve maximum effectiveness. We ask that you stay out of the premise for approximately 5 hours in total. Read more about how we work.

    Pacific Decontamination Services uses the world’s strongest, most effective and safe antimicrobial disinfectant, deodorization and chemical decontaminate. Our professional application will eliminate up to 99.99999% of any allergen, germ, bacteria or fungus that it touches. AND as powerful as it is, it is also completely safe.

    What do you do next? How do you solve the challenge of mold and associated health hazards?

    Call Pacific Decontamination Services at 778-269-0208 or email us!

    Serving All of Vancouver Island: Victoria, Cowichan, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum, Courtenay, Comox, Campbell River, and Port Alberni.