Follow These Mold Safety Tips If You Suspect Mold

2/20/2019 (Permalink)

Be careful! Without proper training, you could be spreading mold throughout your home.

If you see visible mold, do not disturb it. You can inadvertently spread the mold infestation throughout your home. When mold is disturbed, the mold can release microscopic mold spores which become airborne and can circulate inside your home.

What to Do:

• Stay out of affected areas.
• Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
• Contact SERVPRO of Jamestown/Olean for mold remediation services.

What Not to Do:

• Don’t touch or disturb the mold.
• Don’t blow air across any surfaces with visible or suspected mold growth.
• Don’t attempt to dry the area yourself.
• Don’t spray bleach or other disinfectants on the mold.

About Our Mold Remediation Services

SERVPRO of Jamestown/Olean specializes in mold cleanup and restoration, in fact, it’s a cornerstone of our business.  Our crews are highly trained restoration professionals that use specialized equipment and techniques to properly remediate your mold problem quickly and safely.

If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today – (716) 338-4901

Handling a mold remediation project

2/20/2019 (Permalink)

Mold on a wall in Jamestown home.

Handling a mold remediation project is a job for the experts. SERVPRO of Jamestown/ Olean is trained and specializes in remediating any size mold jobs.

Handling a mold remediation project

The first thing to do when mold is discovered, is to get an environmental hygienist to come out and test the microbial growth. This will determine what kind of mold it is and the proper course for treatment.

After seeing mold jobs of all kinds, we have the experience and knowledge to handle any size situation. We are here to answer any questions you may have an assist you with your situation in your home or business.

If you have any questions about how to handle a mold remediation project, feel free to reach out to us at anytime. 

3 Things You Should Know About Mold Growth in Kitchens

1/22/2019 (Permalink)

Mold can grow anywhere

Knowing Why Mold So Often Grows in Kitchens

Whether you notice mold in your fridge or bread mold, the presence of mold in your kitchen in Olean,NY can be frustrating. However, knowing more about why mold so often grows in kitchens can help you prevent mold in your own kitchen.

1. Mold Thrives in Humid Environments

Kitchens are often the perfect environment for mold growth due to frequent high levels of humidity. Many appliances in the kitchen use water, which can also increase the chance that mold will grow. Though it isn’t always possible to keep humidity low while cooking, using fans or opening windows to improve the airflow in the kitchen can help to lessen the likelihood that mold will grow.

2. Mold on Certain Foods Is Common

Seeing bread mold is not uncommon, though many people are unsure why mold grows on bread so often. In addition to needing water, mold also needs organic material to grow. Fungus growth can appear on a variety of foods, but mold on bread is particularly common because bread is often stored in warm environments, such as in breadboxes, and bread is a good source of food for mold.

3. Mold Can Grow in Cooler Environments

Though some people may believe they don’t have to worry about mold growing in cooler areas in their kitchen, mold can in fact grow in a wide variety of temperatures and environments. Fridge mold is one of the most common types of mold growth in kitchens. Though keeping your kitchen at a cooler temperature can help prevent mold in some instances, it’s also helpful to keep all surfaces, including inside the refrigerator, clean in order to prevent mold growth.

In combination with an understanding of where mold tends to grow and why, steps such as keeping your kitchen cool and dry, store food appropriately and keeping your kitchen clean can make it easier to prevent bread mold and other types of mold growth in your kitchen. However, if you need assistance with mold removal, it can help to contact mold remediation specialists.

I Found Mold in My Home! What Now?

9/16/2018 (Permalink)

Mold damage in a Jamestown, NY wall

If you are a Jamestown,NY, homeowner, you may have found a small amount of mold growth, and it may have you worried. What can you do about house mold of this nature? Read on for three steps that you can take so mold is no longer a pressing worry on your mind.

1. Don’t Panic!

Remember that mold is a completely normal part of the world you live in, and small amounts are always going to be present around you, both indoors and out. It is only when you find a significant amount that smells offensive or poses a threat to your property’s integrity that you want to call in some skilled assistance.

2. Turn off Your Air Conditioning

If there is even a chance that running your air conditioner system has become contaminated with mold, you are going to want to turn it off as soon as possible. Any mold growth in the unit could spread to the rest of your home if it is allowed to run after such an infestation.

3. Contact Mold Remediation Specialists

A mold remediation company in Jamestown,NY , can help once you have established that professional help is required to help you with house mold. If you think your mold has grown as a result of water buildup, it is especially helpful to contact a company with experience handling water damaged buildings. That way the technicians who arrive will understand how moisture buildup can lead to mold damaged areas, even small and hard-to-spot ones.

While any household dampness issue can cause you to get anxious, one that causes house mold that disrupts your life and threatens your valuable investment makes matters much tenser. Having an action plan in place and understanding that skilled workers are available to clean up even your small affected areas puts you on a path to a cleaner, sturdier home moving forward.

Have You Tried These Top Air Purifiers?

5/14/2018 (Permalink)

Air Filtration devices can be helpful for your commercial business

When buying an air filtration device for your Jamestown, NY, home, there are a number of factors to take into account. Those factors include cost, ease of use, filter efficiency, and air flow. You may need to choose one factor over another depending on how you plan to use your system, or you may be looking for an air purifier that combines high scores on all. So which air purifiers do the best in different categories?

Best for Cost Efficiency

When it comes to cost efficiency, the GermGuardian AC4825 won’t put you out of pocket at a smooth $100 and no more. While it’s one of the cheapest air purifiers on the market, how does it stack up on other factors?

• Middling on filter efficiency
• Very low rating on airflow
• Decent rating on ease of use

Overall, it’s a good starter filtration system but may have to be replaced fairly soon for a more high-end model.

Best for Filter Efficiency

For filter efficiency, you can’t do much better than the Amway Quixtar Atmosphere. It rates nearly perfect on filter performance – meaning you’ll clear the most particulates from the air, including mold spores that could become mold growth.

Best for Air Flow

The Dyson Pure Cool Link Air Purifier hits a perfect score for air flow, allowing the most possible circulation to handle air filtration efficiently and neatly. However, it falls a little short in filter efficiency – meaning that it may need that air flow to capture more spores and other particulates on each pass.

Best All Around

For the best air purifier that combines cost efficiency and great performance, the Oransi Max is a great value for the dollar. At $479, it’s a good cost investment when it hits nearly perfect scores on all factors, including filter efficiency, air flow, and ease of use. You won’t get much better outside of commercial-grade air filtration devices.

For more on Jamestown click here.

Containing Mold to Avoid Cross Contamination

4/25/2018 (Permalink)

Kitchen Mold Remediation

Mold is a type of fungus that sends out unseen spores that are often the size of a particle of dust. Because of the miniscule size and weight of each speck, movement such as vibrations, air currents, and water vapors can quite easily spread the fungi throughout a building in Jamestown, NY. But anyone that walks by a patch of mold can also fall victim to the sneaky way the particles spread because once in the air, the microorganisms can attach itself to hair, clothing, and skin. The spores can then be transported to other rooms within the building. This is especially true when disrupting a colony during cleaning. Here are some ways to prevent cross contamination when cleaning mold clusters because once cross contamination occurs, mold cleanup can become a nightmare.

1. When removing items from the affected room, use airtight plastic bags. Even wet articles of clothing can spread spores when carried from one room to another.

2. Use a plastic sheet to separate the mold infected area from the rest of the building. Make sure the sheet is sealed over the doorway before cleanup begins.

3. Wear protective clothing and a filtration mask when cleaning mold contamination. Once the area is clean, remove all clothing while still in the room. Remember to discard in airtight bags.

4. Do not spray moldy areas with chemicals or power washers during mold cleanup. Any type of air disruption can send the spores flying and infect other surfaces within the room, including you.

5. Contact a professional mold remediation crew to test the area. Before the containment barrier comes down, an inspection for mold spores may be considered necessary to insure the fungi have been eliminated, and the area is safe to reopen.

Even small projects can cause serious cross contamination if mold cleanup is not handled properly. That is why commercial building owners often call in mold specialists to guarantee fungus removal is handled correctly. Once the mold is discovered, act quickly to prevent a widespread problem.

Click here for more on Jamestown.

Does Your Home Have Mold? Look Out for These 4 Signs

1/10/2018 (Permalink)

Does Your Home Have Mold? Look Out for These 4 Signs

Mold growth can be harmful to your health and your home’s health, which is why it is imperative that you call in a Olean, NY mold remediation team at the first signs of a mold infestation. However, what if you don’t know if your home has mold? Is there a way to detect mold without calling in an indoor environmental specialist? While a mold test is the best and most accurate way to detect mold, these four signs may be a strong indication that your home is indeed infested:

Visible Growth

The most obvious sign of a mold infestation is visible growth. Like with most pests, what you see is not what you get. If you notice a patch of mold on your kitchen backsplash, on a ceiling or beneath the bathroom sink, chances are that your problem is deeper than what you can see.

Musty or Moldy Odor

Mold smells, period. Outside of the home, mold smells stale; on the inside, it smells musty and damp. If your home or any room in your home smells off—as in, it smells like a forest after a heavy rainfall—chances are that you have a mold problem and that it is time to call in your indoor environmental specialist.

Water Intrusion

Water intrusion can take on many forms, including flooding, burst pipes, sewage back up and a leaking roof. If your home has any of these issues, and if you have not taken measures to remedy them, you may have a mold problem.

Past Flooding

If your home was in a flood in the past, and if you did not have a water remediation team in to properly dry and clean up the damage, you may have a mold problem. The only way to ensure that your home is mold-free post-flood is to let the professionals deal with the situation.

If you notice any of the above four signs, you may have a mold problem. However, you should call in your Olean, NY indoor environmental specialist to perform a mold test just to be sure.
Visit http://www.SERVPROjamestownolean.com for more information on mold.

Does My Insurance Cover Mold?

1/10/2018 (Permalink)

Does My Insurance Cover Mold?

When it comes to mold and fungus growth in homes in Jamestown, NY you know that it can quickly get out of control. If you have to work with a professional to get the mold removed, this can be a costly process. Because of this, you want to look into mold insurance or mold coverage to see if you can get some help with the expense.

Water Damage Coverage

Water damage is one of the most common causes of mold in a home. However, if this damage is due to maintenance issues, it may not be covered by your standard homeowner’s insurance policy. Such maintenance issues might include:

Repeat leaks
Landscaping drainage system problems
Condensation
Ongoing humidity issues
Continuous water seepage

If mold and fungus growth are related to the issues above, or those that are similar, your policy could exclude them. It is important to read the fine print when you are getting your policy to see what it covers.

Specified Peril Policies

If the mold in your home is due to a specified peril, it may be covered. However, you have to look at the listed perils on your policy and be able to absolutely prove and one of these is the cause. It is not always obvious what caused you to have a mold issue. This is why most policies do not end up covering mold and the issues that it can cause. It is often recommended that you look into a separate policy that might cover it. Remember that mold is a common issue and one that you want to have some coverage for.

Since most insurance policies either do not cover mold or they might have a cap in place, talk to your insurance adjuster or a SERVPRO representative to determine what your options are. This ensures that you make the right choices in getting the mold in your home taken care of. Visit http://www.SERVPROjamestownolean.com for more information on mold.

Mold Damage in your business

9/13/2017 (Permalink)

Mold Remediation Job in Jamestown, NY

Mold damage in your business can be a serious time. Especially if it is bad enough to close the business and prevent it from operating. 

The first thing to do is get a qualified environmental hygienist onsite to test and determine what kind of mold or microbial growth you are dealing with. Once it is determined they will write a proper protocol for treatment. 

After that a mitigation company like SERVPRO of Jamestown/ Olean will be able to start the mitigation process and get the job completed from start to finish. It is important that any company you hire, documents photos and notes, before, during and after the job. Once the job is complete have them walk you though everything that was completed. 

If you have any questions about what to do with a mold loss, do not hesitate to contact us. 

Remediating Mold in your Home

9/13/2017 (Permalink)

Mold on furniture

If you find mold in your home it is important that you follow the proper schedule of treatment. After an environmental hygienist determines what kind of mold it is, the mitigation process can begin by a licensed mold remediation contractor.  

SERVPRO of Jamestown/ Olean is trained and qualified to handle any size mold loss from start to finish. We carefully follow each step recommended by the environmental hygienist to make sure everything is done correctly. 

SERVPRO makes sure each job is well documented by taking plenty of photos and notes. We make sure that each client understands the process from start to finish. If you have any questions or situations in where you need help, do not hesitate to reach out to us. We have team members that are qualified to help you. 

Mold Damage in Jamestown, NY

9/8/2017 (Permalink)

Mold Damage Remediation job in Jamestown, NY

SERVPRO of Jamestown/ Olean specializes in handling mold remediation projects of any size. Our crew and team is equipped to handle any size mold loss in commercial and residential buildings. 

Many individuals have questions when it comes to mold projects. It is important to make sure that all of your questions are answered before, during and after any project. SERVPRO of Jamestown/ Olean is very passionate about documenting each job from start to finish. 

We also make sure each of our crew members are trained and uniquely qualified to handled a mold remediation project. Safety is a big priority to us and we always follow the proper industry guidelines. 

If you have any questions on mold remediation, do not hesitate to reach out to us at any time at (716) 338-4901 or by visiting our website at http://www.SERVPROjamestownolean.com/ 

The Proper Steps for Handling Mold Damage

8/23/2017 (Permalink)

The Proper Steps for Handling Mold Damage

One of the first things people ask when they suspect mold in the home or commercial mold damage is how they handle the mold removal process. Do they attempt to handle mold removal on their own or do they call a professional restoration company for mitigation and remediation in addition to mold removal? Unlike some at-home situations where home and business owners get to decide on their own whether to do it themselves or call the pros, the art of mold removal must be handled by a restoration company.

Without proper removal techniques, remediation, and mitigation, mold in the home and commercial mold damage are more likely to return and to cause far more expensive damage. It’s never safe to try DIY mold removal, though there are a few things home and business owners can do to help. If the mold growth is due to a flood, it’s imperative homeowners and business owners begin removing water from the building immediately. They can turn off the air and heat to prevent the additional spread of mold spores, and they can learn to recognize the signs of mold growth in plain sight as well as mold growth behind the walls.

Recognizing Mold Growth

Mold growth can occur visibly in any home or office, but mold growth behind the walls is very likely to occur without anyone noticing. Some of the most common commercial mold damage as well as mold in the home is caused by mold growth behind walls, and it’s often unnoticed until it’s too late. Most people report smelling a smelly odor with a slight musty scent. They use deodorization such as lighting candles and spraying air freshener, but they quickly realize deodorization isn’t getting rid of the smelly odor.

This is likely due to the fact that the smelly odor is from mold growth behind the walls. Deodorization is fine if it’s just to mask the smelly odor to make things more pleasant at home or work, but it’s not a solution. Additionally, without professional restoration, remediation, and mitigation, the smelly odor might not disappear. It requires professional deodorization to handle this.

Mold is a fungus, so the presence of any fungus or even mildew in a home or office is a sign of potential mold damage. Many home and business owners ignore mold damage because they assume mildew and fungus growth in certain rooms are normal. Mildew and fungus both need high humidity and moisture to thrive, which is the same thing mold needs. Commercial mold damage and mold in the home are both sometimes accompanied by the discovery of dry rot.

Dry rot is caused by moisture, and dry rot is an indication mold damage is an issue. It’s not a guarantee, but any home or business owner who notices dry rot should call a restoration company.

Helping with Mold Removal

No one should do it themselves, but they should call a restoration company. The best thing home and business owners can do if they find mold or mildew or fungus at home is leave it alone. They can clean up any water damage as quickly as possible, but it’s imperative they do not touch mold. It makes it spread faster, which could create further mold damage.

One more thing home and business owners must know is black mold is not the only problematic mold. Black mold is discussed commonly, and most people think they know all about black mold and what it means. The truth is that most mold is black mold, and it all comes with a different level of seriousness. This is why it’s best left to the professionals.

Calling for professional help handling mold is the only solution for business and homeowners who find mold damage. It’s not something anyone can or should attempt alone. It’s a problem that only becomes more serious and more expensive the longer it’s ignored. Remediation and mitigation cannot wait.
Visit http://www.SERVPROjamestownolean.com for more information on mold.

Professional Mold Remediation for Your Residence

7/27/2017 (Permalink)

Professional Mold Remediation for Your Residence

Residential mold damage, or mold in home, can have devastating consequences if not properly addressed. Residential mold damage can cause permanent damage to a property and can result in serious consequences as well.

Because of the truly serious nature of mold damage, when this type of situation occurs, a home or business owner needs to access a reliable, reputable mold mitigation and remediation service. There are a number of key factors that must be considered when it comes to engaging the professional services of a mold damage restoration company.


A restoration company must be keenly aware of the health consequences of mold. A mitigation professional must have the experience and equipment necessary to minimize the risks associated with mold. A restoration company must also be trained in ensuring mold spores do not unnecessarily spread during the mold removal process.

An example of where a mold damage and mitigation professional must pay attention is in regard to black mold. Black mold is a significant issue in this day and age. If black mold is left unaddressed, or it is not removed in a proper manner, it can cause significant health issues. When considering engaging a mold removal and remediation service, you need to find out the level of experience when it comes to black mold and similar problems.

The Importance of a Thorough Inspection

If you are concerned about mold growth, including mold growth behind wall, there are some early telltale signs to note. If you have experienced water in your home or business, mold growth, including mold growth behind wall, may be an aftereffect. In addition, if you detect mildew or fungus in your residence of business, mold growth, particularly mold growth behind wall, may also be occurring.

You need to make haste to get a mold remediation professional to your residence. A mold mitigation professional will perform a multifaceted inspection of the premises. The inspection process will effectively identify mold growth, including mold growth behind wall. In addition, a mold removal pro will provide you with an accurate, reliable estimate of costs associated with mold damage mitigation.

Comprehensive Mold Damage Remediation

When seeking professional assistance for a mold issue in your home, you need to ensure that a specialist provides comprehensive services. A professional needs to be able to fully mitigate mold damage. In addition, a specialist must be able to address serious, associated issues like dry rot, smelly odor, and deodorization.

When it comes to comprehensive mitigation, including dealing with dry rot, smelly odor, and deodorization, you need to inquire about the equipment used by a specialist. There can be some fairly significant disparities between the technologies employed by specialists when it comes to addressing problems like dry rot, smelly odor, and deodorization. In order for a residence to be returned to a fully usable condition, issues like dry rot, smelly odor, and deodorization must be completely addressed.

Reoccurrence of Mold

Because of the nature of mold spores, mold can rapidly redevelop. Therefore, you will want to make sure that a follow inspection occurs after the initial remediation process completes. This particularly is the case if fungus and mildew appears, or reappears, at the premises. As mentioned previously, fungus and mildew can be a warning side that mold exists. The presence of fungus of mildew after mold eradication can be indicative of an ongoing and unresolved water-related problem as well.
Visit http://www.SERVPROjamestownolean.com for more information on mold.