We’ve all seen mold. Mold is a woolly growth produced by a fungus, especially on moist or decaying surfaces. It can usually be found in dark or steamy areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, and spaces with poor ventilation. Damp basements, leaks in pipes or roofs, and any standing water can create a haven for mold. When mold spores are present in large quantities they can lead to property damage and a variety of health issues, including allergic reactions and respiratory problems for people and pets. Mold can form quickly and, once established, is almost impossible for homeowners to fully remove on their own.

If you have mold, then you need Branch Services.

Eliminating Mold At The Source

Branch Services knows that eliminating the moisture source is the first step in fungal remediation. After the moisture is controlled, then comes the removal of affected contents and the decontamination of replaceable materials. We’ll remove any moldy carpets and seal off the damaged area. We’ll then open up directly affected walls and bag any additional moldy materials. Debris is vacuumed and affected surfaces are scrubbed with a mold cleaner.

Drying of concealed wall cavities and enclosed spaces may also be required for full remediation. Branch Services begins the rigorous process of eliminating present and potential mold by using H.E.P.A. Vacs. High-Efficiency Particulate Air vacuums differ from conventional vacuums in that they are capable of trapping extremely small, micron-sized airborne particles. We also perform biocide cleaning of interior surfaces. Biocide kills disease-causing mold, fungus, bacteria, and viruses.

Next, we apply a mold/mildew-resistant encapsulant.

Unlike regular paint that will just cover up unseen mold—making it even more difficult to see and treat—encapsulant paint product contains antimicrobial ingredients that help fight mold. It also seals in any mold remaining on a material, like wood, so that it cannot continue to grow and spread.

Occasionally, it is extremely difficult or impossible to remove a material that is contaminated by mold. For instance, drywall and insulation can usually be easily removed and replaced, but the wooden studs inside a wall cannot. In such cases, as much mold as possible is removed from the surface of the wood. Then the wood is cleaned and treated with an encapsulant. Lastly, we perform air purification through ozone treatments, which kills and denatures mold on surfaces.

Mold can ruin your home and your health. Removing only some of the mold in your home is pointless. It will simply grow and spread, and you’ll eventually have a full-blown mold issue once again. Our pros will test your home for mold and tell you what kind of mold is growing there, the severity of your mold problem, and the location of mold you may not have spotted.

Devising an immediate and thorough remediation plan is essential for getting rid of the mold. Here at Branch Services, we break the mold! 

Our knowledgeable technicians will promptly find and stop mold, even when it hides in the most hard-to-reach places. Our competitors can’t match our level of expertise or customer service. When it comes to mold remediation, the highly skilled professionals at Branch Services are a breath of fresh air.

Mold spores are everywhere. You can’t get away from them; and when they take hold and begin to grow, they can pollute the air and cause issues for both people and pets. In addition to the damage, mold can do to your body, mold can also damage your home, gradually wearing away at the home’s structural integrity, and attacking walls, floors, or ceilings. 

If you see mold it is important to act quickly, but not knowing how bad a situation is can make it difficult to do so. Knowing the mold levels in your home helps bring clarity to the situation and lets you know how best to tackle it. 

Most industry experts divide the different stages of mold growth or damage into five distinct levels. Level one is the lowest degree of contamination, and four is the highest. The fifth level refers to a specific location for mold growth that can be especially complicated. Branch Services wants to share with you the standards for mold levels in the house.

Level 1:

This level is reserved for mold growth that has been contained to 10 square feet or less. Typically it can be found on ceiling tiles or wall panels that are exposed to high humidity or fluctuations in temperature. Fortunately, if caught quickly, the mold can be removed with relative ease. This is the type of mold you may find on bathroom tiles or walls. 

Level 2:

Contaminated areas of 10–30 square feet. If the mold has spread to cover a space over 10 square feet, it may hint at a more significant issue with plumbing or air conditioning systems—but not always. Typically there will be a source for all the moisture that may be difficult to find.

Level 3:

Covering a space between 30 to 100 square feet, the 3^rd level is the stage where you should start to worry. With such a large portion of the building being covered in mold, the house would now need to be tested. Contacting a professional cleaning service (like us here at Branch Services) should be your first step.

Level 4:

Any contamination that extends to over 100 square feet will require professional remediation. Also, at this level, any person with repository issues would need to evacuate, so cleaning professionals can get to work using materials to remove the excessive contamination.

Level 5:

Level 5 is specifically for HVAC systems. All remediation procedures for air conditioning units and HVAC systems also require a professional cleaning service. As a result of the level of contamination, the entire system will necessitate a shutdown as the professionals clean the area thoroughly.

Regardless of the level, if your home has issues with mold you should contact a professional cleaning service as soon as possible. Branch Services is here 24/7 at 1.631.467.6600. You can also email us at info@branchservicesinc.com.

We’ve had good luck with temperatures in the late fall, but now that winter is officially here temperatures are plummeting. That, combined with the cost of home heating fuel, means more people will be trying to save money by using space heaters. While this can work to save money, space heaters can still pose a threat of fire.

Here are some safety tips to ensure the safety of your family and pets during the colder weather and help to prevent a space heater fire. 

Safety Certification: When purchasing a space heater, look for a safety certification from a well-known source, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

Make Sure It Has Auto Shut Off: Auto shut-off features are beneficial to prevent overheating and hazards if the space heater tips over. Many fires occur when a space heater is knocked over.

Make Room: Make sure there is at least 3 feet of space around the space heater and anything that could set fire. Take care to remove flammable materials such as curtains, bedding, and clothing. Aside from cooking fires, space heater fires that start because they are placed too close to a combustible surface are the second most common type of house fire.

Keep Them Out of the Bathroom and Kitchen: Space heaters do not typically come with GFCI plugs. To prevent electrocution keep the heating unit away from water. Bathrooms and kitchens are a bad idea for electric space heaters.

No Extension Cords: Plug only the space heater into the wall outlet so as not to overload the circuit. Never use an extension cord with space heaters because the amount of power drawn from these units is too much for a low-amp extension cord to handle. It can cause the cord to overheat and spark a fire.

Keep It on the Floor: Keep the space heater on the floor, preferably wood or tile. Low-pile carpet is acceptable but stay away from high-pile and shag carpeting because it can easily catch fire. Heaters kept on shelves or tables can knock over and spark a fire.

Keep Away From Children and Pets: Kids and pets can be burned, electrocuted, or can start a fire by knocking it over or putting things like blankets and toys too close to the heater.

Turn Them off When Not in the Room: Make sure to turn off the heating unit when leaving the room or going to bed.

Check the Wires: Check for worn or frayed wires before using the space heater. Don’t use it if wires are worn or broken.

Even when we take precautions, accidents can happen. If you experience a fire in your home you can always rely on Branch Services to be there to clean it up.

Lead has proven to be a dangerous substance and as such, it is vital, particularly during renovations, that it be removed carefully and completely. 

Lead abatement is the process of removing or reducing the level of lead in a home or business. When lead abatement is done in a home, the process is designed to permanently eliminate lead paint-based hazards. These work practices are important to prevent children and adults alike from developing lead poisoning. Even pets may be in danger from the presence of lead. The only way to prevent lead poisoning is to remove lead from the environment. Once the lead is abated, the lead risk is gone and a home can be considered “lead safe”.

Renovation and Lead

In houses built prior to 1978, lead abatement activities are very important when any kind of renovation is taking place. Paint chips or even the lead dust from sanding lead paint can create an extreme hazard leading to elevated blood lead levels. During the renovation, repair, and painting of these homes, it is important to have a lead abatement contractor work on the job. An experienced lead risk assessor should be present to determine if lead paint stabilization, paint abatement, or a full lead abatement project needs to occur. 

Lead is not only dangerous when swallowed. It is also dangerous when it is inhaled. That means that even if the paint is not peeling it can be a problem. Lead paint is very dangerous when it is being stripped or sanded and lead particles fill the air.

The work performed during lead paint removal can be extremely dangerous and difficult. The EPA requires individuals and firms who perform abatement projects in pre-1978 target housing and child-occupied facilities to be certified and follow specific work practices.

If you decide to attempt to tackle this dangerous project on your own you can look to our previous blog posts for tips on the best way to contain and remove lead-based paint. However, it is highly recommended that you consider hiring a Certified RRP (Renovation, Repair, and Painting), Contractor. Remember, ANY dust leftover from your renovation can be a risk to your family and pets, so take this risk seriously and give us a call if you have questions about your work or need lead abatement completed on your property. 

You may have noticed that over time, musty smells may begin coming from your vents and filling your home. This can be a sign of mildew and mold in the system. Read on for tips on how to get that musty smell out of your house, for good!

Allergies, sinus infections, asthma, and other respiratory problems may be caused by dirt, debris, or mold spores caught in your ductwork, so it’s important to keep up with regular system maintenance. 

Replace Your Air Filter

When your air filter gets clogged, it can cause smells to back up into your home. Remember, your filter is there to trap mold, dust, and allergens, so when it’s completely clogged they have nowhere to go but back into your house. If you have a smart thermostat, it may remind you when to change your air filter. If not, it is recommended to change them every 30 to 90 days. If you smoke or have more than one pet, you may need to change it every 30 to 60 days instead. 

The MERV rating on your filters will show how effective your filter is at trapping debris, mold spores, and bacteria in the air. The higher the MERV rating, the smaller the particles it can capture. 

If after changing out your air filter you still have musty smells, you may need a professional to intervene.

Check for Infestation

It’s sometimes hard to tell if there are animals in your ductwork without cameras, but use the senses you have at your disposal and they’ll give you a good hint. If you have unusual smells or hear something in your ducts, those are good clues. If you are unsure if you have an infestation, we recommend you call us immediately. 

Visible Mold

The most obvious sign of mold growth in your home is a black growth near the vents. While you are most likely unable to check out the entirety of your system, if there is mold at the vents, it’s blowing all throughout your home. If you see mold such as this, call us immediately. The CDC reports that recent studies suggest a potential link between early mold exposure and asthma in children, so for the health and safety of your family check all of your vents at least twice a year. 

If you haven’t had your ducts or HVAC system checked in over a year, or if you believe your home may be contaminated, call Branch Services at 631.467.6600. We are open 24 hours a day and will do our best to resolve your HVAC issue before the really cold weather gets here!