Can Mold Come Back After Remediation?

9/1/2021 (Permalink)

There are many important things to remember when it comes to mold removal.

Mold can only come back after remediation, if …

1. There is a brand new water intrusion (roof leak, HVAC dripping, plumbing issues, standing water)
2. Your AC is not cooling properly and at an acceptable temperature
3. Relative humidity in the home is over 50%
4. Wet towels or clothing is left balled up for long periods of time
5. Air circulation is not adequate in small spaces
6. Mold remediation was not performed properly or in its entirety
7. You bring mold infected items into your clean environment

It is important to remember that mold needs 2 things to grow:

1. A food source (drywall, insulation, wood, etc)
2. Moisture (leak or lack of ventilation)

Good rules of thumb to keep mold from returning:

1. Keep your AC running at 76 degrees or lower
2. Refrain from hanging or balling up wet items
3. Call SERVPRO of Streamwood, Bartlett, West Chicago, & Warrenville right away if you have a leak or smell mustiness
4. Never turn your AC off when the home is not occupied
5. Get on an AC maintenance plan
6. Run ventilation fan or keep the bathroom dry during and after showering (temporarily)
7. Run a dehumidifier daily if you have high humidity (living on the ocean or river)
8. Limit or eliminate keeping live plants in your home

Word to the Wise: You cannot simply wipe down or paint over mold.

It is imperative that the mold is properly cleaned and that the area is dried out thoroughly. Make sure that all wet areas in your home are properly treated by a professional to avoid the return and regrowth of mold.

Spores can grow in just 48 hours, so make sure to address any needed home repairs immediately.

Mold loves leather, wicker, and wallpaper. These materials are some of the most challenging to rid of the mold due to what they are made of. Same with popcorn ceilings.

The more porous the material, the harder it is to clean. The more mold-affected items that you can dispose of, the better. If you can live without it, let it go.