Is black mold removal a do-it-yourself job? If you discover black mold in your home, what are your options?{"id":279,"date":"2013-07-22T12:58:30","date_gmt":"2013-07-22T12:58:30","guid":{"rendered":"\"https:\/\/www.hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/?p=279"},"modified":"2013-07-22T13:36:44","modified_gmt":"2013-07-22T13:36:44","slug":"why-heavy-rains-trigger-mold-troubles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/why-heavy-rains-trigger-mold-troubles","title":{"rendered":"Why Heavy Rains Trigger Mold Troubles"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-280\" style=\"border: 1px solid black; margin: 0px 5px;\" alt=\"mold from rain damage\" src=\"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/Misc-pictures-029-150x150.jpg\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/>Up in the Northeast, we&#8217;ve seen lots of rain these past few months. This has not been a good season for keeping our homes dry. Areas that already have problems, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/mold-infestation-continues-to-harm-hurricane-sandy-victims\">areas hit by Hurricane Sandy, are still suffering<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>There are a few ways that heavy rains can cause water problems in a home. Clogged gutters can back up under the eaves and drip water into the home. Improper drainage of rainwater away from a home can cause <a href=\"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/preventing-basement-water-damage\">water to accumulate near the foundation and make its way through the basement walls<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>If water gets under a crawl space and remains there, it will crate a large mount of humidity that can help grow mold. This can be a big problem when there are days of heavy rain and very humid weather.<\/p>\n<p>Mold and fungus building up in your walls or wooden structures could mean that you will need to replace your floor or other parts of your home. That can cost thousands &#8211; and if you live in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhenvironmental.com\/ny-flooding.html\">New York<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhenvironmental.com\/nj-flooding.html\">New Jersey<\/a>, it might not be something your insurance will cover.<\/p>\n<h2>Combat mold growth during the damp summer weather<\/h2>\n<p>You can help prevent mold growth in your home by keeping the humidity levels low (about 40 to 60%%). Use a dehumidifier in the basement, and run it from April to October. If you are unable to keep humidity levels within that level, then you may have a moisture problem that should be addressed by a professional.<\/p>\n<p>Make sure that you fix any existing roof, wall and plumbing leaks. Check regularly to make sure no new leaks appear.<\/p>\n<p>Exhaust fans should be installed in <a href=\"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/attic-mold-watch-out-for-bathroom-fans-and-attic-ventilation\">areas of high humidity such as bathrooms<\/a>, attics and kitchens. Your ventilation and air exhaust systems should be updated to keep moisture out and away from your home.<\/p>\n<p>If you do have a water emergency, be sure to <a href=\"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/carpet-mold-removal-get-rid-of-the-mold-or-the-carpet\">remove any water-logged carpets and dry flooded areas <\/a>within 24-48 hours of the occurrence. If the damage is extensive, it&#8217;s recommended to have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhenvironmental.com\/flood-service-areas.html\">professional water extraction<\/a> performed to prevent future mold and structural problems.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>H&amp;H Environmental Construction and Consulting provides mold testing and removal services for homes and businesses in <a title=\"CT Mold Removal\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hhenvironmental.com\/ct-mold-removal.html\" target=\"_blank\">Connecticut<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhenvironmental.com\/ma-mold-removal.html\" target=\"_blank\">Massachusetts<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhenvironmental.com\/nj-mold-removal.html\" target=\"_blank\">New Jersey<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhenvironmental.com\/ny-mold-removal.html\" target=\"_blank\">New York<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hhenvironmental.com\/pa-mold-removal.html\" target=\"_blank\">Pennsylvania<\/a>. Call us today for more information!<br \/>\n<\/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. Unfortunately, mold problems are not always easy to detect. <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/mold-inspections-for-real-estate-closings\"> Read more<\/a>  <\/p>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n              <div class=\"item\">\r\n          \r\n  <a class=\"title post_title\"  title=\"Black Mold Removal &#8211; A Do It Yourself Job?\" href=\"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/black-mold-removal-a-do-it-yourself-job\">\r\n        Black Mold Removal &#8211; A Do It Yourself Job?  <\/a>\r\n\r\n  <p class=\"excerpt post_excerpt\">\r\n    Is black mold removal a do-it-yourself job? 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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The aftereffects can be just as damaging as <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/mold-damage-often-follows-flooding\"> Read more<\/a>  <\/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},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[56,49,55],"class_list":["post-279","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-flooding","tag-basements","tag-hurricane-sandy","tag-rain"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=279"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":285,"href":"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279\/revisions\/285"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=279"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=279"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hhenvironmental.com\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=279"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}