How to Kill Black Mold in Prescott and Ensure Your Home is Safe

Sinister sounding and potentially dangerous, toxic black mold can strike fear in the heart of any homeowner. But by being able to identify black mold and understand how to prevent and control its growth, you can help to keep your home free of toxic black mold.

Black mold is most likely to appear in areas of the home that are particularly warm, humid and damp. Basements or crawlspaces that may have leaks or other sources of moisture are often susceptible to toxic black mold growth. Black mold is readily identifiable by its color. Whereas most other molds are green or gray in color, toxic black mold is a dark black.

Black mold can cause an array of allergic reactions and health problems. In most cases, depending on the length of exposure and the number of spores inhaled, symptoms can include chronic fatigue or headaches, fever, irritation to the eyes, mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and throat, sneezing, rashes, and chronic coughing. In cases of prolonged or severe exposure, or cases exacerbated by an allergic reaction, more extreme symptoms can present, including nausea, vomiting, and bleeding in the lungs and nose

Once you’ve identified the presence of black mold in your home, it is important to take immediate action to treat and kill black mold through mold remediation. If faced with a black mold issue, the first thing to do is to immediately contact emergency mold remediation professionals, like the experts at ServiceMaster of Prescott. Our professionals have the training, experience, and equipment to safely treat and kill black mold. We can restore safety to your home by:

• Locating mold and water sources that feed mold in your home

• Assessing the damage caused by the mold

• Disposing of mold-infested porous materials

• Capturing, filtering, and scrubbing microscopic mold spores from the air

• Repairing and reconstructing damaged areas to restore your home to a safe level

• Isolating and containing the mold by using techniques like physical barriers and negative air pressure to prevent it from spreading

• Cleaning, sanitizing, and deodorizing belongings as needed

• Removing mold with antimicrobial and anti-fungal treatments

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After A Fire in Prescott! Returning to Normal

A fire will change your life in many ways that you cannot imagine. Knowing where to begin and who can help you is important. The U.S. Fire Administration hopes you find the following information useful in getting through the things you must do after the fire.

What to expect

• A fire in a home, whether you live in an apartment, a single family, or multifamily home, can cause serious damage. The building and many of the things in your home may have been badly damaged by flames, heat, smoke, and water.

• You will find that things the fire did not burn up are now ruined by smoke and soggy with water used to put out the flames. Anything you want to save or re-use will need to be carefully cleaned.

• The firefighters may have cut holes in the walls of the building to look for any hidden flames. They may even have cut holes in the roof to let out the heat and smoke. Cleanup will take time and patience.

Use Caution

It is important to understand the risk to your safety and health even after the fire is out. The soot and dirty water left behind may contain things that could make you sick.

Be very careful if you go into your home and if you touch any fire-damaged items. Ask the advice of the fire department, local building official, your insurance agent, and restoration specialists before starting to clean or make repairs.

Frequently asked questions about fire department actions

Q. Why did they break windows and cut holes in the roof?

A. As a fire burns, it moves up and down and across, growing very fast. Breaking windows and cutting holes in the roof is called ventilation. This slows the fire’s growth. It helps get rid of dark smoke that makes it hard for firefighters to see where they are going. It helps them fight the fire more quickly. In the end, ventilation can help save lives and property.

Q. Why do firefighters cut holes in walls?

A. This is done so that the fire department is sure that the fire is completely out and that there is no fire left inside the walls or in other hidden places.

Q. How can I get a copy of the fire report?

A. In most areas, a fire report is a public document. Ask for it at the fire department or fire marshal’s office. The fire report will help you with information that your insurance company and other official offices may request.

Do’s for House Fire Restoration

• Contact your homeowners’ insurance agent immediately after a house fire.

• Contact a professional restoration company to begin the cleanup, repair, and restoration process.

• Find a restoration company that works directly with your insurance company to ensure the best settlement possible.

It is extremely important that you contact your homeowners’ insurance agent directly after a house fire, as time is of the essence when dealing with fire and water damage. Mold and mildew can begin growing within 24 hours after a house fire, so it is essential to begin the house fire restoration process as soon as possible. It is always best to contact a professional restoration company that works directly with your insurance company, as this ensures the two companies have a working relationship and are likely to come to a reasonable settlement so you have as few out-of-pocket costs as possible. It also guarantees the company you hire employs reputable contractors that operate using solid business practices and do everything they can to work with your specific needs.

Don'ts for House Fire Restoration

• Do not enter your home after a house fire.

• Do not attempt fire damage cleanup yourself.

• Do not tamper with anything in or around your home after a fire.

You should never enter your home directly after a house fire, as this can damage your home further and cause unnecessary danger to you and your family. It is also dangerous for you to attempt house fire restoration yourself, as doing so requires professional-grade equipment most homeowners do not have and expertise that only a professional fire restorer has. You should also avoid tampering with anything in or around your home after a house fire, as this can negatively influence your insurance company’s estimate if they are unable to examine everything in its original state.

House fire restoration is something you should always leave to a professional restoration company, as they have the proper tools, expertise, and experience necessary to handle any job. For more information about things you should and should not do after a house fire, it can be helpful to contact a professional restoration company.

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Basement Flooding in Prescott

A wet basement is more than a nuisance. If your basement includes finished living space, any kind of moisture can ruin carpeting, drywall, and framing. Even if you have a crawl space or just use your basement for storage, a simple case of condensation can buckle hardwood flooring on the level above and spawn harmful mold.

If you have a soggy basement, you're not alone. The American Society of Home Inspectors, based in Des Plaines, IL, estimates 60 percent of U.S. homes have wet basements, and 38 percent run the risk of basement mold.

The water most often comes from rainfall and melting snow. Even a small storm can trigger a deluge a house with a 1,500-square-foot roof sheds 1,000 gallons of water for every inch of falling rain. In tougher cases, the problem is rising groundwater, which may even be fed by an underground spring. Once the water accumulates around your foundation, it works its way inside through cracks, joints, and porous material.

What to do if Your Basement Floods

If your basement has flooded, there are some really important things you should know. When in doubt, don’t enter the flooded area until you are told it is safe by a professional qualified to do so.

First and foremost, consider your family’s health and safety.

Entering a wet basement could be hazardous! Before you enter your basement, consider the following:

• Electrical Shock – When your basement is wet, there is a legitimate risk of electrical shock. If you are positive that you can safely do so, turn off your home’s power at the main breaker switches.
• Gas leaks – Protect yourself against gas leaks. If you smell gas, leave the house right away
• Pollutants – Sewage can contain bacteria and transmit disease and the floodwater in your basement may have originated from the sanitary sewer and contain raw sewage. Wear protective items including gloves, safety glasses, a face mask and be sure to wash thoroughly after any contact with sewage or items touched by sewage.
• Chemicals – Cleaning may expose you to a wide range of contaminants, including those from the cleaning agents being used, as well as those that may have entered from flood waters. When you get to the cleaning stage, be sure to ventilate well and limit your exposure to contact and exposure as best you can.
• Structural damage – While this is not that common, a flood with certain conditions may weaken walls or even ceiling structures. If there is any concern that structural integrity has been compromised, or you simply don’t know, leave the area and call in the experts.

Call a ServiceMaster of Prescott immediately.

Depending of the nature of the flooding, also consider…
If the flooding is due to a burst water supply pipe in your home, and if you are safely able to do so, shut off the main incoming water valve as this could help minimize the damage. You will probably know this is the case because the water will be clean, and likely coming down through the house from an upper level. In the future, make note of where this shut-off is and keep access clear.
If the flooding is due to a sewage backup (or you are not sure), do not flush the toilet, run a washing machine, dishwasher or any other feature with a drain since this is likely to increase the flooding.

For more information on restoration services see ServiceMaster of Prescott

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Mold Removal in Prescott

Mold is a major-league nuisance. It blackens the grout lines in your shower, discolors drywall, shows up as black spots on siding, darkens decks, and grows on and rots damp wood everywhere. Even worse, it can be bad for your health. It releases microscopic spores that cause:

• Allergies
• Nasal and sinus congestion
• Cough, sneezing and respiratory issues
• Throat irritation
• Eye irritation

Reducing mold exposure in the home or office can help to reduce the negative health consequences of the fungus. Once you have identified signs of mold exposure to your property, the next step is to call a professional—like the experts at ServiceMaster of Prescott—to assist with mold exposure treatment.
These health signs and symptoms can indicate a need to check for mold exposure—especially if there is visible mold around the house.
Almost every home gets mold infestations. The trick is to stop them before they get big and harm both you and your home.

Big infestations can be bad for your health, particularly if you are an allergy sufferer or have a weakened immune system. When you discover an extensive mold problem, we recommend that you call ServiceMaster of Prescott.


We can help reduce mold exposure and restore safety to your property by:

• Locating mold and water sources that feed mold in your home
• Assessing the damage caused by the mold
• Isolating and containing the mold
• Capturing, filtering, and scrubbing microscopic mold spores from the air
• Removing mold with antimicrobial and anti-fungal treatments
• Disposing of mold-infested porous materials
• Cleaning, sanitizing, and deodorizing belongings as needed
• Repairing and reconstructing damaged areas to restore your home to a safe level

For more information on cleaning services see ServiceMaster of Prescott

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Steps To Successful Water Damage Restoration in Prescott

When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. ServiceMaster of Prescott Professionals respond immediately and we use advanced equipment and techniques to remove the water quickly. We closely monitor and document the drying process to verify your property is dried properly and thoroughly. 

Water damage happens—floods, plumbing leaks, broken pipes, storms, sewage backups, fires, and appliance malfunctions can all cause unexpected water-related destruction in your home or business. The extent of the loss caused by water damage, however, depends largely on the speed and effectiveness of water damage cleanup and restoration. When the worst happens, follow these steps to water damage restoration and get back to normal as soon as possible.

What To Do First

• The first step in successful water damage restoration is to contact emergency restoration professionals, like the experts at ServiceMaster of Prescott.

• We take control of your situation. By inspecting and assessing the water damage, restoration professionals are able to determine the most effective way to cleanup the mess before more damage can be done.

• Once we have a plan, we will remove and extract as much water as possible to mitigate and prevent further mold and water damage to your property.

• Next, our restoration team will dry and dehumidify the area to further remove water and moisture from the area.

• Once the area is dry, we will then clean and sanitize so that you can begin the restoration process with a clean start.

• Finally, our team will repair damage as necessary to complete the successful water damage restoration process.

What You Can Do Until Help Arrives

• After any water damage situation, your primary focus should be safety:

• Is it safe to stay in the house?

• Electrical and "slip and fall" hazards are some of the most prevalent concerns.

• Only do activities that are safe for you to perform.

• Wet materials can be VERY heavy. Be careful!

What To Do After Flooding

• Remove excess water by mopping and blotting.

• Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removal of lamps and tabletop items.

• Remove and prop wet upholstery and cushions.

• Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting.

• Turn air conditioning on for maximum drying in summer.

• Remove colored rugs from wet carpeting.

• Remove art objects to a safe, dry place.

• Gather loose items from floors.

What NOT To Do After Flooding

• Don't leave wet fabrics in place. Hang furs and leather goods.

• Don't leave books, magazines or other colored items on wet carpet or floors.

• Don't use your household vacuum to remove water.

• Don't use television or other household appliances.

• Don't turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet, and keep out of rooms where ceilings are sagging.

Don’t wait! Call ServiceMaster of Prescott, the AZ monsoon specialists, open 24/7 365 days a year serving all of Yavapai county.


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