Are Toxic Mold Spores Growing in Your Home?

Toxic mold can grow even at low temperatures. In the winter, mold usually grows in uninsulated areas that aren’t heated. Heated air rises to cold, therefore under-insulated places like the attic and can cause condensation allowing mold to grow. Cold temperatures can temper mold growth, but won’t kill spores. If you have a mold problem in the cold weather months you best believe it will worsen in the dog days of summer.

Mold, while not a scientific term typically, is best used to describe multiple types of fungi is ugly, furry, and oftentimes smelly. Found both indoors and out, toxic mold is unpleasant and unsightly.

Positively speaking, molds also create penicillin and cheese producing yeasts used to make bread, beer and wine. Mold spores are pretty much everywhere there’s moisture.

Consequently, moisture creates mold and if you don’t want mold you need to get rid of the moisture that’s creating it. Damp environments are the perfect place for mold and fungi to live. Whether in basements, attics, garages, or under sink cabinets mold can be found along with these:

Bacteria
Dust mites
Bi-products of bacteria
Airborne chemicals/gasses

Ugly mold and musty odors are the bi-product from the breakdown of matter. Anything it grows on can pose potential health problems and structural damage. Mold can cause allergies, infections and at its worst, a sick building that can affect quality of life. When people spend time in an environment where mold or fungi are present they can experience respiratory problems. Respiratory issues such as asthma, headaches, infections, and other symptoms are common.

Mold remediation expert, Spencer Yaklin, CEO of Advance Restoration gives us some perspective, “If you ‘re experiencing respiratory issues with no known cause and, you are concerned about mold, you can have the moist areas tested to determine the mold species by a professional hygienist. Large amounts of mold will require specialized techniques. Personal protective gear is necessary for proper and safe removal. Hiring a professional to remediate the mold based on testing is the best course of action. Remediation is critical to stopping the growth of mold and avoiding its return”.

Furthermore, any mold professional should insist on a test by a mold hygienist. The test will reveal the type of mold you are dealing with and let you know if you need a professional to then remediate the mold going forward. It’s important to hire an expert mold remediation team like Advance Restoration, or one that will:

What to expect from a mold remediation professional

Proper safety PPE equipment
Containment to Isolate mold work area
HEPA air scrubbers and HEPA vacuums
Commercial Strength dehumidifiers
Discard moldy porous building materials
Anti-microbial disinfectants to clean and sanitize
Professional sealants to encapsulate treated areas

To remove mold and odors, call today to help return your commercial or residential property to pre-mold condition.

August 23, 2021August 23, 2021

Water Damage —7 Tips To Dry Out Quickly

Things you can do to mitigate water disaster and save your belongings

Many homeowners and businesses in southeastern Michigan have experienced flooding, sewage backups, and mold due to the extreme weather conditions this summer. Getting dried out after water damage is critical in the first 48 hours. Salvaging wet, soggy goods like rugs, clothing, and furniture will depend on how quickly the water is mitigated.

Circulate Air-keep air circulating by opening windows and doors. Open closets, cabinet doors, and drawers to move dryer air through them.
Create Air– Use high-powered fans to amp up the air circulation place high-powered fans around the room.
Dehumidify– Remove water vapor from the rooms that are damaged by running a dehumidifier that covers the appropriate square footage of room. You may need more than one. Close windows and doors to prevent more humidity from entering the area.
Pump it-If standing water is present, try a sump pump to extract excess water to the outside.
Shop Vac-Invest in a good wet/dry shop vac and use it to extract water from floors, carpet, and upholstered furniture.
Remove Contents-Remove any wet textiles such as rugs, curtains, toweling, clothing, wet insulation, drywall, and basically anything that absorbs water or that water can get underneath.
Deep Freeze-Any documents, photographs, books or other small items made of paper or cardboard can be put into the freezer to stop them from further deterioration until you can give them over to a professional document restorer.

Restoring your property after water damage can be daunting. Some homeowners prefer to DIY and these tips will help in that effort. If you find yourself overwhelmed by the process, contact Advance Restoration at 866-465-2409. One of our friendly operators will be happy to set up an appointment for service. Our water damage experts can ensure that the area is safe, remove the water, and repair any damages.

April 13, 2021April 19, 2021

How to Avoid Property Damage

3 Spring Tasks Homeowners Always Do to Avoid Property Damage

Easy April projects that keep your home safe

#1 Green Up to Avoid Property Damage

Patching those bare spots in the lawn can keep water out of your home as spring rains and storms roll in—make this one of your annual spring duties to avoid property damage.

Grass is an effective barrier for excess rain. Those in-the-know use grass and valleys to redirect water away from a home’s foundation. And the best news is, it saves you thousands of dollars compared to other waterproofing methods.

#2 Become an Inspector!

Investigate your roof for leaks—taking a close look at your roof after a long winter is the ideal way to avoid leaks and roof repair down the road..

Slink around the outside of your house with some binoculars. Yes, we said slink. Binoculars give you a closer looksee and is much safer than roof walking. Look for signs of property damage such as:

Loose shingles
Damaged or clogged gutters
Peeling paint
Foundation cracks
Detached downspouts

Most of these issues can, and should, be easily repaired at a relatively low cost to protect the inside of your home from water damage that can become even more costly.

#3 Change the Battery—Chirp, Chirp

Smoke detector batteries lose charge over time—change them twice per year to avoid the dreaded chirp!

What better time to refresh those batteries than spring and winter? Almost all types of smoke detectors chirp to let you know it’s time to change the battery. However, why is it that chirp always seems to happen in the middle of the night?

Getting ahead of the game by scheduling a battery swap can go a long way to keeping your sanity intact while protecting your home from disaster.

That about sums up our Spring to-do list. If you find property damage during your inspection and you’re not sure what to do, contact Advance Restoration at 8 77-363-7462.

February 16, 2021February 16, 2021

Ice Dams Services in Metro Detroit Busy After Heavy Snowfall

Heavy Snowfall recently has homeowners on the look out for ice dams that could be the cause of roof damage requiring ice dam services to homes in Metro_Detroit over the coming days.

How are ice dams formed?

Ice dams are created by the buildup of ice along the overhang of rooflines where there is no heat source to melt off ice and snow. Furthermore, ice slowly accumulates after heavy snowfall forming an ice wall that continues to grow as water pools up behind it forcing water under shingles and eventually into your home. As a result, ice dam roof damage is a major culprit of roof leaks in the winter months.

The easiest preventative measure is to rake your roof. Raking just three to five feet up from the gutters can avoid buildup of ice. “Once you see a leak inside your dwelling, there is more damage than meets the eye. Your house is full of insulation that literally soaks up the water like a sponge”, said Spencer Yaklin, CEO of Advance Restoration, a company that specializes in water damage issues. “By the time your insulation is fully saturated and starts dripping into the house, the problem is much bigger than it appears. Now, you have to remove sheetrock and insulation, dry out the area, and spray for mold growth. As a result, it makes for much more work that can be expensive and lengthy to repair.”

If you already have ice dams, break them up, remove frozen water from gutters or call someone to fix it.

Experiencing a leak inside your dwelling? It may be time to call in a professional ice dams services company. An expert understands how to stop the water at its source and repair the damages. Consequently, if you want to learn more about ice dam repairs visit Advance Restoration for more details or to make an appointment with an expert in roof damage repairs.

February 12, 2021March 12, 2021

How to Identify Roof Damage and Spot a Leak

So you want to learn how to identify roof damage and spot leaks in advance. Fortunately, there are many telltale signs that make it easy to identify roof damage allowing you to avoid expensive roof damage repairs down the road.

The first signs of a roof leak often are most visible long after a small leak has done its damage. It is important to identify roof damage before leaks can do secondary damage. A small leak can cause extensive water damage over a length of time therefore, it is important to identify roof damage before leaks get out of hand.

In this article we identify ways to locate, prevent, and fix leaks in your home or business structure.

Locating Leaks

Water often follows the path of least resistance
Stained ceilings can indicate leaks from above
Mold and mildew indicate moisture from leaks
Missing roof shingles could be the source
Cracks in caulk or missing flashing are often the culprit of a leak
Gutters that are damaged or cracked can be source of a leak

Preventing Leak Repairs

Inspect your roof routinely
Keep branches trimmed and away from roof
Fix any loose shingles immediately
Keep gutters free of debris and ice
Break up ice dames before they get out of hand

Repairing Leaks

Remember, yearly inspections can yield early signs that water has compromised your roof and may allow you to prevent water from making its way inside. Of course, the best way to fix a leak is to prevent one from happening in the first place. Therefore, If you find you have a leaky roof and the damage has been done, call a professional who has experience in locating the source of water damage leaks. A professional restoration company is knowledgeable in stopping the water at its source, performing professional water extraction and dry outs, and can remediate mold as well as provide reconstruction of the damaged structure. Lastly, it is important to fix the damage as soon as possible to reduce the risk of secondary damages which can drive cost of repairs immensely high.

If you have are experiencing leaks and water damage give us a call at 866-505-3166.

June 16, 2020March 12, 2021

Got Water Damage and Mold During Covid Pandemic?

We’re there when you need us. Even during Covid Pandemic

Water damage from leaks due to rain, drain water backup, or other moisture issues don’t stop just because there is a Covid pandemic.

Commercial and residential property owners still need to find a reputable restoration company nearby to remediate and mitigate these structural and health hazard issues. If you are experiencing water or moisture problems, these can lead to mold growth which can become toxic and unhealthy for those who are exposed and are more susceptible or immunocompromised.

Advance Restoration has been working throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic. Deemed an “essential business” from the start, we have continued to perform restoration work while adhering to CDC guidelines. Although in our line of work, restoration experts have always worn PPE and utilized containment and proper protocols for mold remediation and water damage as outlined not only by CDC, but the EPA and our own industry gold standard organization, the IICRC. As an IICRC certified firm, you can rest assured our company, located in Macomb County and throughout Southeast Michigan, is trained and equipped to manage your mold or water damage now or during the next Covid wave.

Need services now? Call 866-505-3166 to speak to one of our friendly customer service agents.

May 8, 2020March 12, 2021

What is the Polar Vortex Hitting Southeast Michigan, and Why Do We Care?

Although Metro Detroit is nearly halfway through our spring season, we are expecting snow this weekend. A band of colder-than-usual weather is scheduled to hit the Great Lakes region causing lower than normal temperatures hovering in the 30s and low 40s—a veritable Polar Vortex.

According to the National Weather Service, the polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding both of the Earth’s poles. It always exists near the poles, but weakens in summer and strengthens in winter. The term “vortex” refers to the counter-clockwise flow of air that helps keep the colder air near the poles. Many times during winter in the northern hemisphere, the polar vortex will expand, sending cold air southward with the jet stream. This occurs fairly regularly during wintertime and is often associated with large outbreaks of Arctic air in the United States.

But it’s spring!

Yes, the metro Detroit area is slated to get the core of the frigid air starting as soon as today. Freeze warnings and snow have been issued but even if the flakes don’t fly, temperatures in southeast Michigan are expected to be in the high 30s to mid 40s making Mother’s Day feel more like Christmas! Add to that the flood warnings along the shoreline and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

Why do we care?

We care because it’s just one more thing to worry about, as if we didn’t have enough already what with the pandemic and all.

The good news is that as the vortex spins its way southward and loops its way around the Great Lakes and northeastern U.S., it might just be good for social distancing!

As a water damage restoration company in Southeast Michigan, Advance Restoration, never thought we would have to be discussing burst pipes in May and, during a pandemic of all things. But, despite all that, as an essential business—we are open and here to support commercial and residential property owners that experience flood damage from lakeshore issues and frozen or burst pipes due to the polar vortex. For help now in southeast Michigan, call 866-505-3166.

March 25, 2020April 13, 2021

Restoration Services Designated “Essential Business” during Coronavirus pandemic

Advance Restoration is designated as an “essential business” during the Coronavirus pandemic as deemed by Homeland Security and CISA.

Currently, as of the date of this article, there is no CDC or EPA approved cleaning or disinfecting agent(s) guaranteed to kill the Covid-19 pathogen. Since we are a designated essential business, we are continuing service to customers in extreme emergency situations for water, fire and mold damage while using precautions to ensure their safety and the safety of our field staff according to government guidelines.

Here is what we are doing:

Following the CDC guidelines for employers to manage the spread of coronavirus in the workplace and in the businesses and residences we provide services for.
As always, following the IICRC standards for the cleaning and restoration industry.
Providing work for emergency services only, prioritizing highest need for customer health and safety first.
Emergency work we perform includes fire damage, water damage, wind damage, and mold remediation. We do not treat Covid-19 at this time.
Applying and cleaning surface touchpoints contaminated by toxins, mold or water using approved sanitizing agents.
Ensuring our cleaning and sanitization experts are healthy and properly outfitted with hazmat biohazard suiting, booties, and N95 masks before entering any commercial building or residence.

If you have an emergency for fire damage, water damage, storm damage or other residential or commercial disaster—we’re there when you need us. Our staff will be masked up and ready to solve your property restoration issues quickly and efficiently with as little disruption as possible.

Please don’t hesitate to call Advance Restoration at 866-505-3166 for help with your disaster emergency. One of our representatives are standing by to take your call immediately 24/7.

Stay Home. Stay Safe. Save Lives.

March 19, 2020July 16, 2020

How To Prevent Mold Growth In Your Home This Spring

Spring has been a long time coming for certain. We are all looking forward to the melt-off of snow and ice however, with that comes the potential for higher concentrations of moisture creating the ideal growth conditions for mold growth in your home. As we awaken from winter’s hibernation and begin our spring cleaning be alert to areas where moisture tends to collect such as window sills or ceilings. These moist areas are prone to mold growth and may require mold testing and remediation to completely eradicate all spores and prevent it from returning.

Controlling the moisture can control the mold so prevention is the key to warding off mold.

Here are some suggestions for keeping mold at bay:

Maintain a moisture level of 30-50% in your home.
Clean gutters so water can escape
Repair water leaks from faulty plumbing immediately
Keep condensation from collecting on windows, pipes, and walls by wiping dry
Empty and clean drip pans from refrigerators and air conditioning units

Mold can be a dangerous substance and difficult to remove once it takes hold. For the best and most complete results, hire a professional with equipment like hygrometers that can detect moisture inside walls, attics, crawl spaces and areas that can’t be seen with the naked eye. A mold specialist will test the mold to determine its mold type via mold science and corresponding treatment options. Improper cleaning methods can disturb mold colonies and release damaging spores into the air to land on other surfaces where mold can take root.

Spring can be a beautiful time of year when everything comes alive, but moisture that spring brings can also create the perfect climate for mold. Taking precautionary measures can help to prevent mold growth, but if you experience musty smells and have visible mold growth in your home, be sure to contact a professional mold remediation expert—because protecting your family’s health and the health of your property is important.

February 17, 2020March 12, 2021

Can You Get Sick From Mold In Your Home?

The short answer—yes. If you have allergies such as asthma or a compromised immune system, mold in your home can make you sick. Hiring a mold remediation expert for mold damage is the best possible way to identify mold types and eradicate them properly and avoid return. It is near impossible to get rid of mold without proper testing and treatment with custom commercial cleaning agents.

Who is Most at Risk?

For people with allergies or sensitivities to mold, breathing in spores can cause severe reactions and pose risks to their health. Those most at risk include:

Infants and children
Elderly age groups
People with compromised immune systems
Those with chronic lung disease

Why does Mold Grow?

A type of fungus consisting of small organisms, mold is found almost anywhere. Whether it’s fuzzy patches on your basement floor, black spots on the shower curtain, or slimy orange goo that forms on your drain, mold in your home can harm your health. Mold can’t grow without the presence of moisture so you will most likely find mold in damp places such as kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, basements and crawlspaces. it’s important to keep these areas dry to prevent or eliminate mold damage.

Tips for Controlling Mold:

Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners in humid areas to reduce moisture
Keep humidity below 60% if possible
Check drain lines for obstructions and proper flow
Air conditioning drip pans should be cleaned regularly
Add insulation to exterior walls, windows, and floors to reduce condensation
Check often for leaks and seepage at your roofline, around kitchen sinks, ice makers and other sources of water, repair if needed

If you are experiencing mold growth on walls, ceilings, basement or elsewhere in your home and you need a mold remediation company nearby who can help, just contact Advance Restoration at 866-505-3166 and one of our friendly representatives will set an appointment with you for mold testing, cleanup and remediation.

Category: Water Damage