If you spot mold growth or notice a persistent musty odor in your home or business, you should contact a mold remediation specialist as soon as possible. The faster you act, the less damage mold can do to your home, belongings and your health. However, you should take the time to interview a few mold removal professionals to ensure you choose a reputable one. Here are five questions to ask a mold remediation company.
How much experience do you have?
Because mold removal is a complex, hazardous task, you should only hire a professional with at least a decade of experience. This ensures the technicians who come to your door are equipped to handle any situation they might find.
What type of mold testing do you do?
You may suspect mold is growing because you can’t get rid of that wet, musty smell, but if you can’t see it yet, you may need a professional to test for mold. This involves taking readings of indoor air to help identify where the mold problem is located. Please understand, some states require an independent licensed mold assessment consultant, who is not affiliated with the remediation company, to perform any mold tests. These include the initial assessment test to provide the remediation company with the required information to complete the removal properly, and the follow up test after the remediation to ensure that all traces of mold have been removed.
Are you insured?
Some mold remediation service providers skip buying insurance because of the cost. However, liability insurance is vital to ensure you’re not held responsible if an accident occurs on your property.
Are your technicians trained and certified?
Ask what training the company’s technicians must undergo to become mold remediation specialists. To ensure the best results, only allow certified professionals into your home.
What should I expect from the mold removal process?
When you call a mold remediation company, the person you speak to should be able to explain the process with ease. You should be informed if your state requires a separate individual to perform the mold tests, that the remediation company will visually inspect the potential mold issues, but cannot proceed with the job until a licensed mold assessment consultant performs air tests to provide them with the assessment protocol to ensure the job is completed properly.
The remediation company should also explain the safety attire for the technicians: protective gloves, safety masks and bodysuits. They will seal off the work area to prevent mold spores from spreading to other areas of the house and will salvage as many materials and belongings as possible; but be aware that extensively contaminated products may need to be replaced. The technicians will then use special equipment – such as HEPA vacuums, HEPA air scrubbers, commercial dehumidifiers and antimicrobial chemicals – to physically remove mold and stains and clean the air of spores.
Following the removal process, the experts will advise how to avoid future mold growth and whether the problem stemmed from a plumbing leak, high humidity or flood. Then, a follow up test will be performed – often times by the same licensed consultant who ran the initial assessment test.
Contact a Mold Remediation Specialist
DKI Services is North America’s largest disaster restoration contracting organization with 48 years of experience in mold remediation. Our trained and certified technicians follow industry standards and use safe, effective techniques to restore your building to a healthy, mold-free state – once and for all! If you experience mold in your home or business, contact DKI Services right away by calling 877-533-0210.