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Tag Archives: Dehumidifier

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Relief From Springtime Mold Allergies

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Almost everyone looks forward to spring. Except maybe for those who suffer from springtime allergies and especially, mold allergies.

As temperatures heat up, so does the increase in mold. Each morning as the sun sparkles off that dewy lawn, mold forms and spreads.

Next to high pollen levels, increased mold levels can make allergy sufferers downright miserable.

Find out what you can do to fight back against springtime mold.

More Mold in Spring

Because humidity levels rise right along with the temperature, it’s the perfect breeding ground for mold spores and lots of them.

Another problem with mold spores is that they tend to become airborne. When they do, they scatter everywhere including on and inside your home. Mold spores enter your home through doors, open windows, even from your shoes and clothes.

When mold spores settle in your home, they land on surfaces such as window sills and walls. Airborne mold spores can also end up getting sucked into your vents and then are distributed throughout your living spaces via your HVAC system.

Fighting Back Against Springtime Mold Allergies

Anyone who deals with springtime allergies knows just how hard it can be to find relief.

Here are some tips to help reduce the symptoms of mold-related allergies.

  • Check daily outdoor mold spore levels as reported by the National Allergy Bureau. When mold counts are high, plan to spend as much time indoors as possible.
  • Mask up when spending time in the yard. Chores like gardening or mowing the lawn can disturb resting mold spores and send them airborne.
  • Wash clothes and bedding to remove mold spores.
  • Take allergy medication for relief especially when spending more time outdoors.

Reducing Mold in Your Home

  • Clean hard surfaces in the bathroom and kitchen with vinegar to stop the spread of mold.
  • Using a high-efficiency HEPA filter, vacuum up dust, pollen, and mold spores often.
  • Run the AC and change HVAC filters more frequently to trap as many mold spores as possible.
  • Run a dehumidifier to reduce humidity throughout your home, especially in damp spaces like the basement.
  • Fix any leaky pipes or cracks in the foundation where water can get inside.
  • Keep the gutters clean as the wet debris inside is a perfect place for mold to grow.

Conclusion

Springtime mold allergies are nothing to sneeze at. Consider using one or more of our tips to provide some relief for your allergy symptoms.

For professional help to locate and get rid of the mold in and around your home, contact the mold remediation experts at RCS in Santa Rosa.

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Dry Solutions for a Wet Crawl Space

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If you have standing water or a consistently wet crawl space, it spells trouble and headaches for you both now and in the future.

Learn what you can do to dry up the crawl space and enjoy a safer, healthier home.

Causes of a Wet Crawl Space

There are a number of reasons for a wet crawl space. Some of them include:

  • Heavy rains
  • High humidity
  • Sewer backup or clogged sewer lines
  • Leaking pipes
  • Poor air circulation and/or ventilation
  • Poor drainage
  • Broken sump pump

Wet Crawl Space Damage

The longer you wait to remedy the wet conditions in your crawl space, the higher the risk of expensive damage to your home.

Some of the damage to your home may include:

  • Damage to electrical or plumbing fixtures found in the crawl space
  • Damage to wood and structural components of your home located in the crawl space
  • Foundation damage
  • Wood rot
  • Active, spreading mold
  • Sagging interior floors
  • Permeating, lingering musty or foul odors
  • Pest and/or rodent infestation

Additionally, there are health concerns to consider:

  • Illness, breathing issues or allergic reactions to mold and rodent droppings
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Cold-like, allergy symptoms such as sinus pain, watery eyes, and coughing/sneezing

Drying Up Water in a Crawl Space

The first thing to do is remove as much of the water as soon as possible. The most effective way to remove excess water from a crawl space is either by using a wet/dry vac or water extraction pump.

The next step is to dry the area. Letting the crawl space air dry is not an option because it takes too much time. Concrete pads, dirt floors and wooden support beams absorb and retain water quickly and stay moist for a long time.

After vacuuming up the water, running a dehumidifier or two will help remove the moisture and humidity from the crawl space. Drying the space completely as quickly as possible is very important to prevent mold and mildew.

Identifying and Correcting Wet Conditions

After cleaning and drying the crawl space, your next goal is to find and correct the issue causing the problem.

Whether it’s due to leaking pipes, a broken sump pump, or poor drainage, the problem needs to be repaired as soon as possible. If there are unidentified reasons or several causes for the excess water, you should contact a professional water clean-up service for assistance.

Conclusion

A flooded crawl space is nothing to ignore because the damage to your home and health are far too costly.

For assistance with crawl space clean-up, restoration, and repairs, call the professionals at RCS in Santa Rosa.

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The Importance of Dehumidifiers in Water Restoration Process

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After any kind of flooding or water damage incident, the affected areas may look nice and dry to the naked eye. Don’t be fooled.

Water soaks into floors, carpeting, drywall, wood, and other porous surfaces like a sponge. What may appear dry may be hiding a good amount of water that you can’t see.

Here’s how dehumidifiers help dry out the water you can’t see.

Undetected Water Damage

The damage from undetected water can spell disaster for a homeowner.

After drying up standing water, there is secondary water damage to deal with. Secondary water damage causes wood to warp or rot, mold to grow and leaves behind a very strong musty odor. In addition, it compromises structural integrity.

When a strong musty odor sets in, it’s very difficult to remove and is a telltale sign that mold is present.

Mold has been proven to cause health issues like runny eyes, sneezing, and other allergic reactions. For anyone suffering with a compromised immune systems or upper respiratory tract, mold presents a serious health risk.

The Drying Power of Dehumidifiers

A dehumidifier is one of the best tools to combat visible, undetected, and secondary water damage. It dries up residual moisture leaving your space thoroughly dry.

Dehumidifiers also go to work drying up hard-to-reach areas that are more difficult to access manually.

They are excellent for use in counteracting excessive humidity levels in your home left behind by a flooding event. High humidity levels create an environment that’s ideal for mold to set in, grow and spread.

Dehumidifiers vs. Fans

While water damage restoration technicians are likely to use both dehumidifiers and fans, there are distinct advantages to using a dehumidifier.

Fans

  • While fans help with the drying process, they also circulate highly humid moist air throughout the water damaged space.
  • The features of fans are limited. You can only adjust the height, tilt, turn the air on high or set to oscillate.

Dehumidifiers

  • A dehumidifier purposely removes moisture from the air. Removal of moisture and humidity is key to speeding up the drying process.
  • Dehumidifiers come in all sizes, which you can customize for either a small or large room.
  • More customized settings to choose from to run continuously, select running time, program running option for type/size of room, take advantage of the auto re-start feature or display humidity levels.

Conclusion

A dehumidifier is one of the best investments you can make after a water damage event. If you are fortunate enough to never experience flooding, a dehumidifier is still useful to consistently keep humidity levels down and comfort levels up.

If you need help drying out and cleaning up after water damage, the experts at RCS are available 24/7. For professional restoration services, call today.

 

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Getting Rid of Mold in Your Home

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Aside from the unsightly appearance, mold does more than signal a water or moisture problem in your home. Mold negatively affects overall air quality and in some people, triggers serious health issues.

Find out how to check for mold and what to do if you find it in your home.

What is Mold?

Mold, sometimes called mildew, grows in your home due to excessive moisture or water. It could be caused by a leak, flooding or improper ventilation.

Mold is a fungus that doesn’t need a host to grow. It’s capable of growing on its own.
In most cases, mold is black or gray, but can also be white, orange or green.

Where does Mold Come From?

Mold can grow in any damp area or on moist surfaces. You will find it growing on anything from wood, caulk around windows, ceilings, walls, floors, under carpeting, crawl spaces and even on appliances and your clothes.

If there’s a musty smell in your home, odds are there is mold growing somewhere in the house.
Homes near water or high humidity are more susceptible to a mold problem.

Health Issues Related to Mold

Health issues are not caused by the mold, but by the microscopic particles (or mold spores) which are released into the air. As you breathe the air in your home, you inhale mold spores which settle into the lungs.

While there is more to learn about the negative health effects of mold, what is known is that it can trigger serious health problems for many people. Those with pre-existing respiratory conditions are primary candidates for mold-related health issues.

Breathing in mold spores can cause wheezing, sneezing, headaches, fatigue, stuffy or runny noses and asthma attacks. Long-term exposure to mold increases the odds of developing an allergy to mold.

Getting Rid of Mold

The first thing to do is to find the source of moisture that is causing mold to grow. The only way to control and eliminate mold is to get rid of the sources of moisture.

To dry problem areas, run a fan or dehumidifier. Properly repair and seal areas in your home where water or moisture are found, such as windows and bathtubs.

To clean mold, use a mixture of one cup bleach to one gallon of water. Spray the mixture directly onto areas affected by mold, let soak for a few minutes, wipe/brush off and dry completely.

If mold continues to re-surface, call in a professional. Since 1975, the professionals at RCS have provided complete mold/water damage assessments, mold removal and prevention services.

Contact us with any mold-related questions or to schedule a free consultation.

Humidifier front panel

Do Dehumidifers Work in Crawl Spaces?

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A dehumidifier is designed to monitor and remove humidity from the air. This not only prevents the space from getting stuffy but can improve the air quality. Because of this, the tool is often recommended to place in crawl spaces. Below you’ll discover more about this important gadget and how to use it in a crawl space.

Does a Dehumidifier Improve Crawl Spaces?

Dehumidifiers are a great tool to use to combat common crawl space problems. Crawl spaces are situated beneath homes and often closed off. This makes them a very dark and damp place and susceptible to mold, water damage, and pest issues.

You might also be surprised to find that air from the crawl space rises. As it moves upward and into vents, the contaminated air will eventually get sent into your home.

By simply absorbing moisture, dehumidifiers keep the space clean and dry. This prevents frequent crawl space problems and keeps its structure in good condition. It also stops you from breathing in toxins.

How to Use a Dehumidifier in a Crawl Space

A simple way to utilize a dehumidifier in your home’s crawl space is by running a small one in it. This simple choice is ideal for small-scale crawl spaces. Keep in mind though that you need to monitor this device as it runs. This will prevent it from overheating and gives you time to empty its canister if necessary.

You could also opt for an industrial one to be professionally installed. While a bit pricier, this selection tends to be more powerful and has more unique features, such as an auto pump and programmable settings.

Should I Clean the Dehumidifier?

Because this device often removes tainted air, it’s ideal to wash its tank out at least once a month. This will remove any mold spores or bacteria lingering within it that could get sent back into the air.

To clean the tank, simply take some warm water and disinfectant soap and scrub it around. After rinsing it off, dry it, and place it back in the device.

If there’s a filter, make sure to remove and rinse it off as well. This will get rid of dangerous particles and encourage the device to work better.

Dehumidifiers are a helpful gadget to store in your crawl space. If you’d like to learn more about this useful tool or are concerned about some other crawl space issues, contact RCS in Santa Rosa, CA. We’ll be happy to answer your questions and fix any crawl spaces problems your home has.

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How Summer Affects Your Crawl Space

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As summer continues to linger, it can cause many issues for your crawl space. While this might not seem like a big deal, if your crawl space is having problems, it will eventually affect your home and health. Below is a bit more about how this season can wreak havoc on this area and a few things you can do to protect it.

Common Summer Crawl Space Concerns

Summer’s heat and humidity can result in moisture. This can make the crawl space very damp which can cause its temperature to fluctuate and encourage mold growth.

If not fixed, these issues can soon create even more concerns. These range from structural damage to poor home air quality.

3 Ways to Protect It

If you want to make sure these issues don’t happen, there are a few steps you can take.

Ensure There’s Proper Ventilation: The key to stopping summer crawl space problems is to make sure there’s good ventilation. One easy option is to blow a fan in it. This can keep it cool while drying out moisture.

Besides this, check that its vents are open. While they should be closed during the winter, during the summer they’ll keep air circulation flowing. This can significantly cut back on condensation.

Verify It’s Sealed: Another critical aspect to check is if the crawl space is sealed. If not, it could cause rain and other liquids to seep into it. If you’re not sure, look at the walls. Does a plastic sheet cover them? Do you notice thick caulking? If not, the space probably isn’t. You’ll want to seal it yourself or have a professional do so for you.

Install a Dehumidifier: A dehumidifier absorbs moisture by sucking it out of the air and then pushing it through its coils. After reaching the coils, the gadget will remove the condensation and then release the remaining air.

This makes it a critical tool to utilize in crawl spaces during the summer. You can plug one in and place it in the middle of the space for a few hours. You’ll want to check on it often and empty its bin so it works well.

Ideally, choose a dehumidifier designed specifically for crawl spaces. These tend to be more compact and powerful than ones built for regular indoor usage.

Summer can be a crawl space’s biggest nemesis. But, with these tips, you can work to fully protect your home.

If you’re worried the season might have already caused some crawl space problems, contact RCS in Sonoma County. Our team will be happy to inspect the area and get to work fixing any issues that might be of concern.