Is black mold removal a do-it-yourself job? If you discover black mold in your home, what are your options?{"id":234,"date":"2013-06-24T12:41:04","date_gmt":"2013-06-24T12:41:04","guid":{"rendered":"\"https:\/\/www.hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/?p=234"},"modified":"2013-06-24T13:01:07","modified_gmt":"2013-06-24T13:01:07","slug":"why-diy-water-extraction-can-be-dangerous","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/why-diy-water-extraction-can-be-dangerous","title":{"rendered":"Why DIY Water Extraction Can Be Dangerous"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright\" style=\"border: 0px none; margin: 0px 5px;\" alt=\"DIY water removal\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hhenvironmental.com\/images\/Flooded-side.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"213\" \/>While a small water leak or spill can often be cleaned up by a homeowner, there are cases where professional water extraction services are required. However, water damage that is improperly cleaned up can become a much larger problem in the future.<\/p>\n<p>Here are several reasons why removing water after a flood or serious leak should not be done by an untrained homeowner.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Toxic Water Is Dangerous<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A small amount of water flooding can probably be handled be a homeowner, provided that there is not a large amount of water to clean up. Small leaks in a bathroom or kitchen can usually be handled with proper equipment and an attention to how much damage the leak has created. However, if the water is infected or toxic (like sewage), DIY self-restoration is extremely dangerous. Water that has been standing for a long time can be contaminated and should be treated professionally.<\/p>\n<p><strong>You Might Miss Some Water<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Professionals use specialized equipment that detects and maps the moisture automatically, even if it is hidden from the naked eye. If water damage is neglected, it can come back to haunt you later in the form of rotting drywall, weakened wooden beams or buckling floors.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Improper Dehumidification<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After water evaporates, it remains in the area as moisture. Ventilation must be used to to circulate the air or desiccants should be used to absorb the humidity. A high degree of moisture can result in <a title=\"mold growth\" href=\"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/mold-cant-grow-where-mold-cant-eat\">mold growth<\/a>, which can cause more damage and expense to remediate.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Long Term Damage Can Remain<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Even a small drip, left untreated, can cause lasting and permanent damage. It can weaken structural integrity of a building. Beams can rot, two-by-fours can weaken, and floors may eventually collapse. Mold and fungus may grow and spread, putting the occupant&#8217;s health in danger.<\/p>\n<p>Be sure to evaluate all your options before you decide to go the do-it-yourself route. Never be afraid to call water damage specialists. Professionals use <span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">up-to-date equipment to extract the water,<\/span><\/span><\/span> save your belongings, and quickly get your home back in order.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Have a flood water problem? H&amp;H <strong>Environmental Construction and Consulting<\/strong> water cleanup crews will respond within 30 minutes. We service <a title=\"New York Water Extraction\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hhenvironmental.com\/ny-flooding.html\" target=\"_blank\">New York<\/a>, <a title=\"New Jersey Water Extraction\" href=\"http:\/\/www.njstatemoldremoval.com\/nj-water-removal.html\">New Jersey<\/a>, <a title=\"Connecticut Water Removal\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ctstatemoldremoval.com\/ct-water-removal.html\" target=\"_blank\">Connecticut<\/a>, <a title=\"Massachusetts Water Extraction\" href=\"http:\/\/www.mastatemoldremoval.com\/ma-water-removal.html\" target=\"_blank\">Massachusetts<\/a>, <a title=\"Westchester Water Removal\" href=\"http:\/\/www.westchesternymoldremoval.com\/westchester-water-removal.html\" target=\"_blank\">Westchester<\/a> and <a title=\"Mold Extraction Services New York City\" href=\"http:\/\/www.nycitymoldremoval.com\" target=\"_blank\">New York City<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n  <div class=\"related-post grid\">\r\n      <div class=\"post-list \">\r\n\r\n            <div class=\"item\">\r\n          \r\n  <a class=\"title post_title\"  title=\"Mold Remediation &#8211; What is it?\" href=\"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/mold-remediation-what-is-it\">\r\n        Mold Remediation &#8211; What is it?  <\/a>\r\n\r\n  <p class=\"excerpt post_excerpt\">\r\n    Mold remediation (or mold removal) involves an expert assessment of a mold problem and its severity, removal of the mold, <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/mold-remediation-what-is-it\"> Read more<\/a>  <\/p>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n              <div class=\"item\">\r\n          \r\n  <a class=\"title post_title\"  title=\"Discovered: Fungus Spews Spores at 55 Mph\" href=\"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/discovered-fungus-spews-spores-at-55-mph\">\r\n        Discovered: Fungus Spews Spores at 55 Mph  <\/a>\r\n\r\n  <p class=\"excerpt post_excerpt\">\r\n    Scientists report in the journal PLoS ONE that fungi may be one of the fastest land species, clocking speeds of <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/discovered-fungus-spews-spores-at-55-mph\"> Read more<\/a>  <\/p>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n              <div class=\"item\">\r\n          \r\n  <a class=\"title post_title\"  title=\"Mold Inspections for Real Estate Closings\" href=\"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/mold-inspections-for-real-estate-closings\">\r\n        Mold Inspections for Real Estate Closings  <\/a>\r\n\r\n  <p class=\"excerpt post_excerpt\">\r\n    No one wants to buy a house with a mold problem. 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If you discover black mold in your home, what are your options?  <\/p>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n      \r\n  <\/div>\r\n\r\n  <script>\r\n      <\/script>\r\n  <style>\r\n    .related-post {}\r\n\r\n    .related-post .post-list {\r\n      text-align: left;\r\n          }\r\n\r\n    .related-post .post-list .item {\r\n      margin: 10px;\r\n      padding: 0px;\r\n          }\r\n\r\n    .related-post .headline {\r\n      font-size: 16px !important;\r\n      color: #999999 !important;\r\n          }\r\n\r\n    .related-post .post-list .item .post_title {\r\n      font-size: 16px;\r\n      color: #3f3f3f;\r\n      margin: 10px 0px;\r\n      padding: 0px;\r\n      display: block;\r\n      text-decoration: none;\r\n          }\r\n\r\n    .related-post .post-list .item .post_thumb {\r\n      max-height: 220px;\r\n      margin: 10px 0px;\r\n      padding: 0px;\r\n      display: block;\r\n          }\r\n\r\n    .related-post .post-list .item .post_excerpt {\r\n      font-size: 13px;\r\n      color: #3f3f3f;\r\n      margin: 10px 0px;\r\n      padding: 0px;\r\n      display: block;\r\n      text-decoration: none;\r\n          }\r\n\r\n    @media only screen and (min-width: 1024px) {\r\n      .related-post .post-list .item {\r\n        width: 45%;\r\n      }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px) {\r\n      .related-post .post-list .item {\r\n        width: 90%;\r\n      }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    @media only screen and (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 767px) {\r\n      .related-post .post-list .item {\r\n        width: 90%;\r\n      }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n      <\/style>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"  <div class=\"related-post grid\">\r\n      <div class=\"post-list \">\r\n\r\n            <div class=\"item\">\r\n          \r\n  <a class=\"title post_title\"  title=\"Mold Remediation &#8211; What is it?\" href=\"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/mold-remediation-what-is-it\">\r\n        Mold Remediation &#8211; What is it?  <\/a>\r\n\r\n  <p class=\"excerpt post_excerpt\">\r\n    Mold remediation (or mold removal) involves an expert assessment of a mold problem and its severity, removal of the mold, <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/mold-remediation-what-is-it\"> Read more<\/a>  <\/p>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n              <div class=\"item\">\r\n          \r\n  <a class=\"title post_title\"  title=\"Discovered: Fungus Spews Spores at 55 Mph\" href=\"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/discovered-fungus-spews-spores-at-55-mph\">\r\n        Discovered: Fungus Spews Spores at 55 Mph  <\/a>\r\n\r\n  <p class=\"excerpt post_excerpt\">\r\n    Scientists report in the journal PLoS ONE that fungi may be one of the fastest land species, clocking speeds of <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/discovered-fungus-spews-spores-at-55-mph\"> Read more<\/a>  <\/p>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n              <div class=\"item\">\r\n          \r\n  <a class=\"title post_title\"  title=\"Mold Inspections for Real Estate Closings\" href=\"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/mold-inspections-for-real-estate-closings\">\r\n        Mold Inspections for Real Estate Closings  <\/a>\r\n\r\n  <p class=\"excerpt post_excerpt\">\r\n    No one wants to buy a house with a mold problem. 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