Winter is a tricky time of year for commercial buildings. The heat stays on while the windows remain tightly shut. This lack of fresh air creates a greenhouse effect in which moisture from breath, coffee pots, and humidifiers gets trapped inside. When this warm air hits a cold exterior wall, it turns into water droplets that soak into your wallpaper and ceiling tiles, encouraging mold spores to grow.
Mold is a biological hazard that requires a highly trained and experienced expert to remove. Attempting to fix a large-scale mold issue with a bucket and a sponge is like trying to put out a forest fire with a garden hose. You might clear the surface, but the root of the problem will remain. Here are some tips that actually work to eliminate mold from your commercial establishment during the winter.
Check for Trouble Spots
The first professional tip for any business owner for removing mold during the winter is to go around the building to search for any trouble spots. Do this once a week. High-risk areas where mold is likely to grow include bathrooms, break rooms, storage areas, kitchens, and basements. Signs of mold presence include a damp smell, although walls and floors are dry, and discolored patches on the ceiling or a fuzzy texture on the backs of wooden doors.
If you notice signs of mold growth, do not touch these areas or try to scrape them off. Disturbing a mold colony without professional containment is dangerous. It sends millions of invisible spores into your HVAC system. Once those spores have made their way into the ducts, they will travel throughout your entire building and make the issue much worse than it originally was. If you spot a suspicious area, the best tip is to seal off the room and turn off the air vents there until a remediation expert can mitigate the issue.
Understand the Limits of Standard Cleaning
Many business owners make the common mistake of thinking that their nightly janitorial crew can handle a mold outbreak as part of their regular cleaning routine. Standard cleaning chemicals will not remove the mold effectively. A regular vacuum is also not designed to contain mold spores. While it runs, it will actually blow the spores right back out the exhaust and into the air your employees breathe.
Licensed mold remediation professionals use specialized tools and equipment for mold removal, such as safety clothing, HEPA vacuums, and antimicrobial treatments. Mold remediation specialists also go through hours of training that a typical janitorial crew does not. As soon as your janitor reports a mold issue, you need to contact a certified remediation company.
If mold is causing trouble, act quickly. The health of your employees and customers depends on it. Contact J Brian Day for professional commercial restoration services so that your Bellingham, MA business can continue to thrive.
