Remediation does Not address ongoing moisture issues!

5/22/2018 (Permalink)

We can all agree that the physical removal of mold under controlled conditions is the proper way to address remediation. Seasoned owners and technicians are often quick to remind people that, “as long as you remediate properly and keep the area dry once remediated, you wont have future problems”.

However, while this is true, the thing that this industry seems to be missing is the relationship with between temperature and humidity, otherwise known as dew point. It doesn’t matter how dry and area is today. If the dew point rises and condensation occurs, moisture content in structural substrate rises, producing conditions conducive to mold growth. We see examples of this daily in attics, basements, crawlspaces and exterior wall cavities. There was no water intrusion or no leaky pipes, but there was the condensation caused by temperature changes that resulted in hitting the dew point over enough cycles that moisture content increased and the resulting conducive condition lead to mold growth. So while, yes, keeping an area dry is an absolute must, it takes specific engineering controls to prevent condensation from leading to moisture content increases and therefore mold growth. Our crews here at SERVPRO west Kirkwood and Sunset Hills have all the necessary equipment to treat and make sure that everything is taken care of. Give us a call at 314-858-1688.