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Archive for the ‘Ask A Professional…’ Category
Monday, August 9th, 2010
Monsoon Season is HERE… Water Damage Repair and Storm Clean up
The storms are amongst us. We understand how stressful of a situation it is to have your home and belongings flooded, that is why we are always on site within 90 minutes or less to help minimize damage and begin the dry out process. The longer a flood is neglected the more and more damage is caused. We are equipped to handle any flood and all of our employees are properly trained and ready to assist with whatever job your situation might bring forth.
We specialize in Water Restoration, 24 Hour Emergency Response Services, Flood Damage Repair, Water Removal, Flood Extraction, Carpet Drying, Structural Drying, Water Damage Repair, Emergency Flood Repair, Water Cleanup, and Flood Restoration. If you live in the following cities Anthem, Apache Junction, Avondale, Buckeye, Carefree, Casa Grande, Cave Creek, Chandler, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Glendale, Gold Canyon, Maricopa, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Queen Creek, Scottsdale or Tempe don’t hesitate call us today, we’ll get you cleaned up and on your way.
Monsoon Season is HERE… Water Damage Repair and Storm Clean up
The storms are amongst us. If the rain has poured down and flooded your home or office call F N F Restoration at (480) 314-4800. We understand how stressful of a situation it is to have your home and belongings flooded, that is why we are always on site within 90 minutes or less to help minimize damage and begin the dry out process. The longer a flood is neglected the more and more damage is caused. We are equipped to handle any flood and all of our employees are properly trained and ready to assist with whatever job your situation might bring forth.
We specialize in Water Restoration, 24 Hour Emergency Response Services, Flood Damage Repair, Water Removal, Flood Extraction, Carpet Drying, Structural Drying, Water Damage Repair, Emergency Flood Repair, Water Cleanup, and Flood Restoration. If you live in the following cities Anthem, Apache Junction, Avondale, Buckeye, Carefree, Casa Grande, Cave Creek, Chandler, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Glendale, Gold Canyon, Maricopa, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Queen Creek, Scottsdale or Tempe don’t hesitate call us today, we’ll get you cleaned up and on your way.
Tags: 24 Hour Emergency Response Services, Carpet Drying, Emergency Flood Repair, Flood Damage Repair, Flood Extraction, Flood Restoration, Structural Drying, Water Cleanup, Water Damage Repair, Water Removal, Water Restoration
Posted in Ask A Professional..., Water Damage Restoration | 71 Comments »
Friday, December 18th, 2009
Molds, mushrooms, mildews, and yeasts are all classified as fungi, a kingdom of organisms distinct from plants and animals. Fungi differ from plants and animals in several respects. Unlike animals, fungi have cell walls. However, unlike plants, which also have cell walls, fungal cell walls are made mostly of chitin and glucan. Fungi cannot produce their own nutrients as plants do through photosynthesis. Fungi secrete enzymes that digest the material in which the fungi are embedded and absorb the released nutrients. Multicellular fungi do not differentiate into different organs or functional components the way plants and animals do.
Approximately 100,000 species of fungi exists; fewer than 500 fungal species have been described as human pathogens that can cause infections. Visible growth of multicellular fungi consisting of branching filamentous structures (mycelia) are known popularly as molds.
Molds are ubiquitous in nature and grow almost anywhere indoors or outdoors. The overall diversity of fungi is considerable. For example, the genus Aspergillus has at least 185 known species. Molds spread and reproduce by making spores, which are small and lightweight, able to travel through air, capable of resisting dry, adverse environmental conditions, and capable of surviving a long time. The filamentous parts of mold (hyphae) form a network called mycelium, which is observed when a mold is growing on a nutrient source. Although these mycelia are usually firmly attached to whatever the mold is growing on, they can break off, and persons can be exposed to fungal fragments. Some micro-organisms, including molds, also produce characteristic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or microbial VOCs (mVOCs). Molds also contain substances known as beta glucans; mVOCs and beta glucans might be useful as markers of exposure to molds.
Some molds are capable of producing toxins (sometimes called mycotoxins) under specific environmental conditions, such as competition from other organisms, these types of molds (often classified as black toxic mold) are toxic and should be inspected by a mold remediation professional, after a mold test is conducted a mold removal might be necessary. Molds capable of producing toxins are popularly known as toxigenic molds; however, use of this term is discouraged because even molds known to produce toxins can grow without producing them. Many fungi are capable of toxin production, and different fungi can produce the same toxin. Black toxic mold is an example of this type of mold
Tags: black toxic mold, Mildew, Mold, Mold Information, Mold Remediation, Mold Removal, Mold Test
Posted in Ask A Professional... | 32 Comments »
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
What is Relative Humidity (RH)?
Relative humidity is defined as the ratio of the water vapor pressure or water vapor content to the saturation vapor pressure or the maximum vapor content at the temperature of the air or gas. The saturation vapor pressure in the air varies with air temperature: the higher the temperature, the more water vapor it can hold. When saturated the relative humidity in the air is 100% RH.
According to the EPA, the relative humidity recommended for houses is between 30% and 50%. This level of humidity is not always easy to maintain, especially in certain problem areas of the home. A dehumidifier is often needed in basements and crawlspaces where humidity can be very high. However, in the winter months, the use of the furnace may contribute to most parts of your home suffering from the opposite problems: a lack of humidity. Therefore, monitoring RH levels in your home will allow you to maintain all areas it at the recommended levels and deal properly with seasonal variations.
Examples of How Relative Humidity Changes Occur
On a 30 degree F day with an outdoor RH of 60%, the relative humidity indoors can drop to levels as low as 15% when the air is heated to 70 degrees F (as the air is heated it expands giving it the capacity to hold more moisture. If moisture is not added to the air as it is heated the RH level may drop considerably). If the outdoor temperature is 10 degrees F, the indoor relative humidity may fall to 8% or less. These are extreme levels of dryness. As a comparison, the average relative humidity in the Sahara Desert is 25%.
Since warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air, the relative humidity of the air can be changed by simply changing its temperature. If in the winter, outside air at 20 degrees F and 65% RH is drawn inside and heated to 70F without humidification, its RH drops to about 10%. In summer, outside air at 70F and 60% RH flows into a basement at 60F causing an increase in RH up to 82%. In Phoenix Az, Mesa Az, Tempe Az, Scottsdale Az, Chandler Az, Peoria Az, Glendale Az, Avondale Az, Queen Creek Az, Cave Creek Az, Carefree Az, and Gilbert Az the temperatures are very warm so this can have a direct effect on the relative humidity.
You can see from the above examples why it is important to measure and control relative humidity levels throughout the entire home or building, since the humidity levels in the air may change drastically through the heating and cooling processes. These processes can then lead to extreme highs or lows in the relative humidity levels indoors. Humidity is an important factor when it comes to mold growth. If you believe you have a mold growth problem contact F N F Restoration for an inspection. We will be able to determine if you need mold remediation or mold removal services. If you need either mold removal or mold remediation services it is recommended that we conduct a mold test to determine the full extent of the mold damage we will be working with.
If you suspect unhealthy conditions in your home due to humidity being too high or too low, it is prudent to utilize a tool known as a digital thermo-hygrometer (a.k.a. moisture meter or humidity sensor). This handy instrument digitally calculates temperature and measures indoor relative humidity levels. It can store the minimum and maximum temperature and relative humidity as well as provide up-to-date readings of the present conditions. Using a thermo-hygrometer is the best way to learn about and understand your indoor environment. This unit allows you to evaluated the RH levels in your home and understand the RH patterns, such as highs and lows, that exist.
If you do have excessive humidity, and see evidence of a mold problem (Signs of a Mold Problem), then you may need an air purifier to remove mold spores from the air.
Ionizers are typically better than air filters, since they can remove smaller particles from the air, and do not rely on particulate passing through them in order to remove them from the air.
Relative Humidity
What is Relative Humidity (RH)?
Relative humidity is defined as the ratio of the water vapor pressure or water vapor content to the saturation vapor pressure or the maximum vapor content at the temperature of the air or gas. The saturation vapor pressure in the air varies with air temperature: the higher the temperature, the more water vapor it can hold. When saturated the relative humidity in the air is 100% RH.
According to the EPA, the relative humidity recommended for houses is between 30% and 50%. This level of humidity is not always easy to maintain, especially in certain �problem� areas of the home. A dehumidifier is often needed in basements and crawlspaces where humidity can be very high. However, in the winter months, the use of the furnace may contribute to most parts of your home suffering from the opposite problems: a lack of humidity. Therefore, monitoring RH levels in your home will allow you to maintain all areas it at the recommended levels and deal properly with seasonal variations.
Examples of How Relative Humidity Changes Occur
- On a 30 degree F day with an outdoor RH of 60%, the relative humidity indoors can drop to levels as low as 15% when the air is heated to 70 degrees F (as the air is heated it expands giving it the capacity to hold more moisture. If moisture is not added to the air as it is heated the RH level may drop considerably). If the outdoor temperature is 10 degrees F, the indoor relative humidity may fall to 8% or less. These are extreme levels of dryness. As a comparison, the average relative humidity in the Sahara Desert is 25%.
- Since warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air, the relative humidity of the air can be changed by simply changing its temperature. If in the winter, outside air at 20 degrees F and 65% RH is drawn inside and heated to 70F without humidification, its RH drops to about 10%. In summer, outside air at 70F and 60% RH flows into a basement at 60F causing an increase in RH up to 82%.
You can see from the above examples why it is important to measure and control relative humidity levels throughout the entire home or building, since the humidity levels in the air may change drastically through the heating and cooling processes. These processes can then lead to extreme highs or lows in the relative humidity levels indoors.
If you suspect unhealthy conditions in your home due to humidity being too high or too low, it is prudent to utilize a tool known as a digital thermo-hygrometer (a.k.a. moisture meter or humidity sensor). This handy instrument digitally calculates temperature and measures indoor relative humidity levels. It can store the minimum and maximum temperature and relative humidity as well as provide up-to-date readings of the present conditions. Using a thermo-hygrometer is the best way to learn about and understand your indoor environment. This unit allows you to evaluated the RH levels in your home and understand the RH patterns, such as highs and lows, that exist.
If you do have excessive humidity, and see evidence of a mold problem (Signs of a Mold Problem), then you may need an air purifier to remove mold spores from the air.
Ionizers are typically better than air filters, since they can remove smaller particles from the air, and do not rely on particulate passing through them in order to remove them from the air.
Tags: Avondale Az, Carefree Az, Cave Creek Az, Chandler Az, Gilbert Az, Glendale Az, Mesa Az, Mold Information, Mold Remediation, Mold Removal, Peoria Az, Phoenix Az, Queen Creek Az, Scottsdale Az, Tempe Az
Posted in Ask A Professional..., Mold Damage Restoration | 92 Comments »
Monday, December 14th, 2009
Black Mold or Black Toxic Mold can be found anywhere it can acquire an appropriate food source, desired levels of moisture, and simply a place to grow. After a water intrusion mold spores can begin to germinate in as little as 24 to 48 hours
You can see from this picture that the mold was able to find a food source and ample levels of moisture. This mold damage was probably caused by a leak in the pipe, and the excess water allowed mold spores to germinate. If you have mold underneath your counter make sure you call F N F Restorations (480) 314-4800 for FREE professional advice before trying to remove any mold damaged materials. By trying to remove it yourself you might accidentally send it airborne allowing it to contaminate other parts of the home or commercial property. Even if it doesn’t need a professional mold remediation it is still better to get professional advice before attempting anything risky with your home or business.
What if there isn’t as much black mold as in this picture though?? In some cases it might be much more difficult to visually determine the extent of damage caused by the black mold from simply looking at it. In some instances there might only be a small surface amount of mold showing but behind the wall all of the building materials are covered by mold. That is why mold remediation companies typically suggest getting mold testing services done before ever starting the remediation. By doing this they are able to establish the exact spore count of the mold infestation, which makes determining and predicting the total amount of remediation much more accurate.
Tags: Black Mold, black toxic mold, Commercial, Mold, Mold Damage, Mold Information, Mold Remediation, Mold Remediation Companies, Mold Spores, Mold Test, Water, Water Intrusion
Posted in Ask A Professional... | 45 Comments »
Sunday, December 13th, 2009
If you have recently experienced a flood damage or water damage situation in your home or business you will more than likely need to contact your insurance company. However, this should not be done until you have had F N F Restorations a professional water restoration company come out and inspect the damage. We will be able to guide you through the insurance claim process or even get it completely taken care of for you. If you have a mold damage problem it more than likely will not be covered by your insurance but we highly recommend checking first to find out. So remember, before calling your insurance company make sure you allow F N F Restorations to come out and inspect the flood situation so we can assist you with the proper insurance claim procedures.
Tags: Flood, Flood Damage, Insurance, Mold Damage, water damage, Water Restoration Company
Posted in Ask A Professional... | 3 Comments »
Saturday, December 12th, 2009
Moisture and Mold Prevention and Control Tips
- When water leaks or spills occur indoors – ACT QUICKLY. If wet or damp materials or areas are dried 24-48 hours after a leak or spill happens, in most cases mold will not grow.
- Clean and repair roof gutters regularly.
- Make sure the ground slopes away from the building foundation, so that water does not enter or collect around the foundation.
- Keep air conditioning drip pans clean and the drain lines unobstructed and flowing properly.
- Keep indoor humidity low. If possible, keep indoor humidity below 60 percent (ideally between 30 and 50 percent) relative humidity. Relative humidity can be measured with a moisture or humidity meter, a small, inexpensive ($10-$50) instrument available at many hardware stores.
- If you see condensation or moisture collecting on windows, walls or pipes ACT QUICKLY to dry the wet surface and reduce the moisture/water source. Condensation can be a sign of high humidity.
Actions that will help to reduce humidity
- Vent appliances that produce moisture, such as clothes dryers, stoves, and kerosene heaters to the outside where possible. (Combustion appliances such as stoves and kerosene heaters produce water vapor and will increase the humidity unless vented to the outside.)
- Use air conditioners and/or de-humidifiers when needed.
- Run the bathroom fan or open the window when showering. Use exhaust fans or open windows whenever cooking, running the dishwasher or dishwashing, etc.
Actions that will help prevent condensation
- Reduce the humidity.
- Increase ventilation or air movement by opening doors and/or windows, when practical. Use fans as needed.
- Cover cold surfaces, such as cold water pipes, with insulation.
- Increase air temperature.
Testing or Sampling for Mold
Is sampling for mold needed? In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary. Since no EPA or other federal limits have been set for mold or mold spores, sampling cannot be used to check a building’s compliance with federal mold standards. Surface sampling may be useful to determine if an area has been adequately cleaned or remediated. Sampling for mold should be conducted by professionals who have specific experience in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling methods, and interpreting results. Sample analysis should follow analytical methods recommended by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or other professional organizations.
Tags: Mold, Mold Information, professionals, remediated, sampling, Water
Posted in Ask A Professional..., Mold Damage Restoration | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
Have you been getting sick lately or possibly suffering from reoccurring headaches?? does your house have a musky or earthy smell?? It may be that you have some sort of mold or black toxic mold problem and are in need of a professional mold remediation company. A professional mold removal company will be able to do air quality testing and perform mold removal services or mold remediation services if necessary. The first thing that should be done is air quality testing or mold testing to determine the extant of the mold contamination. Even if there is no visible sign of mold growth it may still be present and endangering your health. It may be in your walls, under your cabinets, spread behind your drywall, in your ventilation or even underneath your carpet pad. Water damage or water intrusions are typically the primary reason for mold growth so if you have a flood or large amount of water in your home make sure you consult a water removal, water extraction, or water restoration specialist. In most cases your home owners insurance will cover your flooded house water damage and we work directly with you insurance company to save you the trouble. In many cases we will even be able to cover a portion of your deductible. However, if you wait to get your disaster situation taken care of your insurance might not cover it because of “neglect”. So always make a mold removal, water damage repair, or mold remediation company your first call. F N F Restoration services the phoenix metro area and can be reached for emergency response services at 480-314-4800
Tags: Air Quality Testing, black toxic mold, Flood Removal, Mold Remediation, Mold Removal, Mold Testing, Water Damage Repair, Water Restoration
Posted in Ask A Professional... | No Comments »
Sunday, December 6th, 2009
Suspicion of Hidden Mold?
You may suspect hidden mold if a building smells moldy, but you cannot see the source, or if you know there has been water damage and residents are reporting health problems. Mold may be hidden in places such as the back side of dry wall, wallpaper, or paneling, the top side of ceiling tiles, the underside of carpets and pads, etc. Other possible locations of hidden mold include areas inside walls around pipes (with leaking or condensing pipes), the surface of walls behind furniture (where condensation forms), inside ductwork, and in roof materials above ceiling tiles (due to roof leaks or insufficient insulation).
Investigating Hidden Mold Problems…
Investigating hidden mold problems may be difficult and will require caution when the investigation involves disturbing potential sites of mold growth. For example, removal of wallpaper can lead to a massive release of spores if there is mold growing on the underside of the paper. If you believe that you may have a hidden mold problem, consider hiring an experienced professional.
Posted in Ask A Professional... | 3 Comments »
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