Category Archives: Mold Remediation

Dehumidifiers and Mold Control – What to Know

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What Does Humidity Have to Do With Mold?

What Does Humidity Have to Do With Mold? 

Mold is plentiful and common. One-in-three residential and commercial buildings offer an ideal environment for mold growth, making mold control measures such as dehumidifiers a popular addition. How much do dehumidifiers help in the mold prevention battle? The Manhattan mold removal experts offer this advice.

Low Relative Humidity Thwarts Mold Growth

Dehumidifiers work by pulling moisture from surrounding air. To prevent mold from growing and spreading, a RH humidity level at or below 50% is essential. However, a low RH won’t kill mold that has already grown.

What Happens to Existing Mold at Low RH?

Below 50% RH, mold remains dormant and does not spread. To get rid of it permanently, however, you must remove or destroy mold in addition to using a dehumidifier to keep RH low. 

Once mold has been treated, adding a dehumidifier after treatment will prevent future growth in susceptible environments.

Buyer Beware: Dehumidifiers Can Foster Mold Growth without Proper Care

Dehumidifiers are a great tool for preventing mold growth. However, they require regular cleaning, particularly portable models. The reservoir of portable models, which collects moisture pulled from the air, must be regularly emptied and cleaned per the manufacturer’s instructions to prevent mold and mildew growth in the tank. For this reason, some prefer whole house dehumidifying systems. Though higher in cost, this style of dehumidifier requires less maintenance, incorporating into your HVAC system and including a drainage system.

Don’t let mold problems grow on you. Contact the Manhattan mold removal services of Stern Mold today.

Posted in Mold Information, Mold Remediation, News

Levels of Mold Damage/Infestation Explained

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Determine Your Mold Damage Level

Determine Your Mold Damage Level

Do you have a mold problem? How do mold experts determine the severity of the infestation? How do you? Thankfully, with the help of Stern Mold’s Manhattan mold removal team, you’ll be able to decipher the severity of your problem according to the specific mold damage levels experts look for.

It’s On the Level

Mold spores aren’t selective. If there are vulnerable materials nearby and high humidity, mold spores will multiply! Below is a brief description of each level and what characteristics differentiate between the levels:

Level 1 – Not So Bad

Level 1 is the least severe of the levels. Contaminated ceiling tile, baseboards and any affected surfaces that are under 10 square feet may not require professional remediation.

Level 2 – Warning Signs

A contaminated space that is 10 to 30 square feet is signaling you might have a plumbing issue or should troubleshoot your air conditioning system. Any infected material that you remove needs to be sealed before being moved. This helps to prevent mold spores from spreading to other areas. It may serve you well at this level to hire a Manhattan mold removal team for extra security.

Levels 3, 4 and 5 – Huge Red Flags

Any infested areas that are 30 square feet and larger should be remediated quickly. Stern Mold’s Manhattan mold removal professionals know that these levels can threaten the welfare of everyone in the vicinity. Contact Stern Mold as soon as possible to get an inspection. We help you eliminate the hazards that threaten you!

Posted in Mold Information, Mold Remediation, Mold Treatment

What to Know About Mold Spores to Protect Your Health

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You Can Effectively Control Mold

You Can Effectively Control Mold and Their Spores

Mold inside homes and buildings has been recognized as a potential health risk, but mold itself is not the problem. The danger arises from microscopic mold spores entering your respiratory system. Here’s some important information from our Manhattan mold removal team about mold spores and their effect on your health.

What Are Mold Spores?

Spores are reproductive units of mold and other fungi as well as many species of plants such as ferns and algae. Mold spreads when spores circulate through the air and come to rest on a surface that provides the right elements for growth, moisture in particular.

Mold Spores and Your Health

Since mold spores are invisible to the naked eye, the simple act of breathing draws them into your respiratory system. Their minute size makes it possible for mold spores to easily evade the body’s filtering mechanisms that normally catch foreign substances.

In an effort to expel the irritating mold spores, your respiratory system produces common allergic reactions which may include sneezing, coughing and watery eyes. These symptoms can become more severe in people who already suffer from allergies or have a chronic respiratory illness such as asthma.

Fighting the Effects of Mold Spores

We are constantly surrounded by mold spores, indoors and outdoors, so they’re impossible to avoid. The best defense is minimizing dampness in your home or business to eliminate opportunities for mold to colonize.

Stern Mold: Your Top Choice for Effective Manhattan Mold Removal

Traditional mold remediation is invasive, time-consuming and costly. Our proprietary MoldExterm program requires no removal of materials and can usually be completed in one day. Contact us for all your Manhattan mold removal needs.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Information, Mold Remediation, Mold Treatment, News, NJ Mold Removal, NYC Mold Removal

What to Know About Indoor Mold Assessments

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What to Know About Mold Assessments

What to Know About Mold Assessments

If you’re Manhattan local who is determined to rid your home or business of mold spores, an indoor mold assessment can help you achieve that. You need experts in the field on the frontlines searching for the cause of a mold infestation.

Stern Mold’s Manhattan mold removal professionals use advanced technology and some in-depth detective work to discover how and why mold is thriving in your space.

Prepping For a Stake-Out (on Mold)

What can you expect when you call in the experts? Here’s a brief list of what our qualified Manhattan mold removal professionals may do when they investigate potential mold spore break-in areas:

– If there’s an area where suspect moisture is found, moving furniture, removing carpet, or wall cavity exposure could occur.

– Experts may look behind panels, wallpaper, drywall or other potentially contaminated materials if signs of mold spores are found.

– Air, surface, dust, bulk, personal and swab samples may be taken (following the recommendations and guidelines of the EPA and other qualified administrations.)

Surface sampling allows our Manhattan mold removal professionals to decipher the level of mold spore deposits on infected surfaces using swabs. These samples are then sent to a mold testing facility. Personal samples may be taken from residents or employees to determine how much mold exposure has occurred in the affected area.

Stern Mold’s Trusted Assessment

Our expertise can help you determine the source of your mold problem. We find out how mold is getting in and use our knowledge and technology to stop mold spores from infiltrating your property. Schedule an inspection today and allow us to help you feel safe in your own space again!

Posted in Mold Information, Mold Law, Mold Remediation, News, NJ Mold Removal, NYC Mold Removal

Mold in Your Bedroom – Know the Health Implications

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Luxury bedroom carved wood furniture set

Know the Dangers of Having Mold in Your Bedroom

Mold spores love New York, a state that’s home to one of the most humid cities in the contiguous United States. What does that mean for you? If you’re a NYC resident, your home may be one of the 10 to 50 percent of homes estimated to be plagued by damp conditions.

Dampness and humidity condition your home to accept mold growth. Does your bedroom have poor ventilation? Mold spores enjoy poorly ventilated areas!  You don’t have to share a room with mold spores; your local NYC mold removal experts can help!

Bunking with Mold

As soon as mold spores go through their reproduction process, the spores will be airborne and spread. When mold spores spread, you’re more likely to suffer from symptoms linked to mold exposure. Different types of mold spores can trigger harmful health reactions like these:

– Hay Fever

– Asthmatic Symptoms

– Allergies

– Other Respiratory Problems

If you or your loved ones are experiencing serious symptoms such as:

– Breathing Problems

– Dizziness

– Hearing/Memory Loss

– Vomiting/Nausea

– Lung Bleeding

Seek professional help as soon as possible because toxic black mold exposure triggers the most serious of health symptoms of all the mold types. Thankfully, the presence of toxic black mold isn’t common. It will be beneficial to receive a thorough mold inspection of your home to determine if your symptoms have been triggered by exposure.

Stern Mold Removal

Our Stern Mold NYC mold removal team is serious about helping you live a normal mold-free life. You shouldn’t have to live in fear in your own home. Contact Stern Mold today! We can help rid your sleeping quarters of unhealthy mold spores!

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Information, Mold Remediation, News, NJ Mold Removal, NYC Mold Removal
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