What Are Air Scrubbers?

4/9/2021 (Permalink)

What Are Air Scrubbers?

An air scrubber is a portable filtration system that removes particles, gasses, or chemicals from the air within a given area. These machines draw in air from the surrounding environment and pass it through a series of filters to remove contaminants. The size and complexity of an air scrubber system will depend on the size of the space being serviced, as well as the range, type, and size of contaminants that must be removed from the area.

Why do we use air scrubbers?

Air scrubbers are especially important on restoration jobs where airborne contaminants are present or will be created/disturbed during the restoration process, such as mold, dust, asbestos, lead, chemical fumes, etc. These hazardous particles can settle on carpet, upholstery, and furnishings, or be drawn into the HVAC system and contaminate other parts of a building.

If these contaminants are not removed, they will have a negative effect on the indoor air quality (IAQ) of the worksite. While naturally occurring particles—such as human skin cells, animal hair, and dirt—are nearly always present, toxic gases released by sewage-borne bacteria and mold spores can cause adverse human health effects when inhaled. In short, these contaminants can compromise the quality of the entire restoration job.

Air scrubbers help protect the health of workers and building occupants by providing a clean and healthy environment. They also help protect contractors from costly liability claims resulting from damage caused by hazardous airborne materials.

Is there a such thing as "good mold?"

8/6/2018 (Permalink)

Good mold can be found in numerous places, even in the kitchen!

This is a question that as a marketing representative I find many people ask when I am out and about, and the answer is YES! When you think of mold, most people automatically think of that gross fuzzy stuff no one wants to see on their ham sandwich, but what about dunking a finger licking good buffalo wing into a big bowl of blue cheese? Although you might not want to think about it that way, blue cheese is a mold, and in my opinion a pretty delicious example!

There are three different versions of mold. Good, Normal, and bad. It is important to be able to know the difference between the three in order to know if professional services to remediate it are necessary.

GOOD MOLDS: Good molds are like we discussed above in the yummy blue cheese, or pretty much any fancy cheese. Typically when it comes to picking out a fancy cheese, the ones with the stronger smelly are the better ones. And what makes that smell you might ask? Mold!

NORMAL MOLDS: Normal molds can be a little more tricky then good molds. They aren’t all that pretty to look at, but they also are not harmful. The two types of normal molds are airborne mold spores, and mold growth. Airborne mold spores are just about everywhere, casually floating around your home without any signs of their presence. These mold spores can enter your home through just about any opening such as doors, windows, any small cracks, or even on the clothing of someone as they walk inside. As long as they did not originate within your home, they are normal. Mold growth is a little more noticeable, this is things such as that “mildew” you find in the corner of your shower, or that black stuff in the window track. This is classified as normal as long as it is growing on a non-sustainable food source, the surface is non-porous, and can be cleaned away with normal household cleaning methods.

BAD MOLDS: These are the ones to keep an eye for, bad molds can be very dangerous if not treated correctly. Bad mold is when it is growing on a sustainable food source, and is potentially affecting the air with what would be considered “evlevated” mold spores. Food sources for mold can be numerous amounts of things such as drywall, wood, framing, wood subflooring, debris, contents, and other related materials. When this happens, removing the mold is a little trickier then just wiping it down like you can with a normal mold because the mold is effecting not just what the eye can see, but airborne spores in association with the effected area as well. When you come across bad mold, contact SERVPRO of Biddeford-Saco so that we can get out there ASAP to take a look at it, and work on removing it with the proper equipment. Bad mold can cause several health effects including respiratory issues, cough/sore throat, asthma, headache, and other serious health issues.

Some molds can be easy to tell the difference between, like a fun game time snack, or an unfortunate realization during a lunch break. Others can be a little tougher to tell, and that is why SERVPRO of Biddeford-Saco is here to help you identify the problem, find a solution, and make it “Like it never even happened.”

For any questions about mold, call our office today at 207-283-4428

Understanding mold in the restoration industry

12/7/2017 (Permalink)

Today SERVPRO of Biddeford-Saco partnered with Maine Real Estate Co. to host a CE certified class about Understanding Mold in the Restoration Industry. 

This even was taught by our very own Scott Carter, with a bright green SERVPRO table up at front filled with all kinds of brochures about mold, asbestos, and ERP information. 

This class was a very informative course about understanding all the different types of mold, which ones are dangerous, and what you should do if you come across any in either your own home or for many realtors, in a home you are trying to sell. Scott Carter did an excellent job in explaining that not all molds are bad, its a natural part of our environment. As for the not so good molds, he taught us how important it is to have a professional come look at it due to how easily some molds can spread. 

Overall, it was a very informative class that Scott Carter added his own fun touch to keep everyone entertained and educated. 

If you are looking for some CE classes give our office a call at 207-283-4428 

Does Your York County Home Have A Mold Problem?

3/1/2017 (Permalink)

Microscopic mold spores naturally occur almost everywhere, both outdoors and indoors. This makes it impossible to remove all mold from a home or business. Therefore, mold remediation reduces the mold spore count back to its natural or baseline level. Some restoration businesses advertise “mold removal” and even guarantee to remove all mold, which is a fallacy. Consider the following mold facts:

• Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors.
• Mold spores are microscopic and float along in the air and may enter your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems or even hitch a ride indoors on your clothing or a pet.
• Mold spores thrive on moisture. Mold spores can quickly grow into colonies when exposed to water. These colonies may produce allergens and irritants.
• Before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed. Otherwise, the mold may return.
• Mold often produces a strong, musty odor and can lead you to possible mold problem areas.
• Even higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth. Keep indoor humidity below 45 percent.

If your home or business has a mold problem, we can inspect and assess your property and use our specialized training, equipment, and expertise to remediate your mold infestation.

If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today – 207-283-4428