Bathroom mold in Los Gatos, Ca

1/17/2019 (Permalink)

We do it all!!

Working to help a customer in Los Gatos deal with a leaking wax ring from a toilet.  They saw a gradual widening of discoloration in a ring pattern in the vinyl up their upstairs bathroom - then one day this nasty spot appeared on their hallway ceiling below!  Luckily for them the amount of sewage was small and we were able to catch it in the initial stages.  We performed their water damage cleanup and sanitized the affected areas.

Customers often ask us if there is anything they can do to help prevent this type of damage.  The best advice in this instance would have been to investigate the vinyl discoloration in the upstairs bathroom at the very beginning.  Frequent inspections are often a good way to prevent leaks.

Mold in San Jose, Ca

1/15/2019 (Permalink)

This week a customer telephoned us to report that her kitchen hardwood has been gradually discoloring over several months, in particular over a high traffic area.  They were at a loss as to what was causing the discoloration.  They contacted their insurance agent and he suggested to call us for a no-obligation inspection.

We sent out a technician who performed a moisture mapping of their floor.  He determined not only was there water present under the floor, but also under the carpeting of the family room that is located adjacent to the kitchen.

Our tech carefully peeled back the carpeting to discover a crack in the customer's concrete foundation where water was emanating from. 

No customer ever wants to hear the news there is a crack in their foundation - but boy was she relieved to finally know the cause! 

Mold on floor in San Jose, Ca

1/2/2019 (Permalink)

We can take care of your floor.

This week a customer telephoned us to report that her kitchen hardwood has been gradually discoloring over several months, in particular over a high traffic area.  They were at a loss as to what was causing the discoloration.  They contacted their insurance agent and he suggested to call us for a no-obligation inspection.

We sent out a technician who performed a moisture mapping of their floor.  He determined not only was there water present under the floor, but also under the carpeting of the family room that is located adjacent to the kitchen.

Our tech carefully peeled back the carpeting to discover a crack in the customer's concrete foundation where water was emanating from. 

No customer ever wants to hear the news there is a crack in their foundation - but boy was she relieved to finally know the cause! 

Bathroom mold in Los Gatos, Ca

12/26/2018 (Permalink)

We remove the mold and help you from beginning to end.

Working to help a customer in Los Gatos deal with a leaking wax ring from a toilet.  They saw a gradual widening of discoloration in a ring pattern in the vinyl up their upstairs bathroom - then one day this nasty spot appeared on their hallway ceiling below!  Luckily for them the amount of sewage was small and we were able to catch it in the initial stages.  We performed their water damage cleanup and sanitized the affected areas.

Customers often ask us if there is anything they can do to help prevent this type of damage.  The best advice in this instance would have been to investigate the vinyl discoloration in the upstairs bathroom at the very beginning.  Frequent inspections are often a good way to prevent leaks.

Mold in Bathroom in San Jose, Ca

12/21/2018 (Permalink)

We do it all!!

With all the rain we've had this season, it's no wonder clients are calling SERVPRO of SW San Jose this winter about mold issues with their properties.  In this case, a tenant phoned her landlord complaining of mold growing on her contents being stored in her bedroom closet.

The landlord contacted SERVPRO of SW San Jose for a moisture inspection of the property.  When we inspected it we found no active water sources, but the humidity in the house measured around 74%.

To avoid mold issues, the EPA recommends you keep humidity levels below 60%, preferably between 30% - 50%. 

In the case of old homes that may not contain insulation in the walls, running a dehumidifier can go a long way as a temporarily measure to prevent mold. 

Check out the EPA website for more info:  https://www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home

Indoor Humidity!

12/3/2018 (Permalink)

Bathroom with mold from humidity. We can do all the work.

With all the rain we've had this season, it's no wonder clients are calling SERVPRO of SW San Jose this winter about mold issues with their properties.  In this case, a tenant phoned her landlord complaining of mold growing on her contents being stored in her bedroom closet.

The landlord contacted SERVPRO of SW San Jose for a moisture inspection of the property.  When we inspected it we found no active water sources, but the humidity in the house measured around 74%.

To avoid mold issues, the EPA recommends you keep humidity levels below 60%, preferably between 30% - 50%. 

In the case of old homes that may not contain insulation in the walls, running a dehumidifier can go a long way as a temporarily measure to prevent mold. 

Check out the EPA website for more info:  https://www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home

Mold hardwood floor in San Jose, Ca

1/11/2018 (Permalink)

Mold under hardwood floor in living room.

This week a customer telephoned us to report that her kitchen hardwood has been gradually discoloring over several months, in particular over a high traffic area.  They were at a loss as to what was causing the discoloration.  They contacted their insurance agent and he suggested to call us for a no-obligation inspection.

We sent out a technician who performed a moisture mapping of their floor.  He determined not only was there water present under the floor, but also under the carpeting of the family room that is located adjacent to the kitchen.

Our tech carefully peeled back the carpeting to discover a crack in the customer's concrete foundation where water was emanating from. 

No customer ever wants to hear the news there is a crack in their foundation - but boy was she relieved to finally know the cause! 

Bathroom mold in San Jose, Ca

1/3/2018 (Permalink)

Bathroom mold.

A mother of two young children contacted us because of a mold concern.  Here is her story:

“Mold is growing on the sheet rock in my bathroom.  I’ve sprayed it down with bleach and cleaning solution a number of times, but it always seems to grow right back”!  It measures about 25 sq ft in total.   My husband says  he can cut out the affected sheet rock and hang new sheet rock, but I’m afraid of he and my children getting sick.  What should we do?

According to EPA Guidelines, what type of Containment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are suggested to remediate 25 sq feet of mold?

There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.  Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any substance, providing moisture is present.  They can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods – this is why when you leave open bread on a counter, it begins to become moldy in a few days.  Mold is a part of our everyday environment.

Mold under hardwood floor in San Jose, Ca

1/2/2018 (Permalink)

Stain darkening on hardwood floor

This week a customer telephoned us to report that her kitchen hardwood has been gradually discoloring over several months, in particular over a high traffic area.  They were at a loss as to what was causing the discoloration.  They contacted their insurance agent and he suggested to call us for a no-obligation inspection.

We sent out a technician who performed a moisture mapping of their floor.  He determined not only was there water present under the floor, but also under the carpeting of the family room that is located adjacent to the kitchen.

Our tech carefully peeled back the carpeting to discover a crack in the customer's concrete foundation where water was emanating from. 

No customer ever wants to hear the news there is a crack in their foundation - but boy was she relieved to finally know the cause! 

Mold in bathroom

12/22/2017 (Permalink)

Staining in ceiling below source room.

Working to help a customer in Los Gatos deal with a leaking wax ring from a toilet.  They saw a gradual widening of discoloration in a ring pattern in the vinyl up their upstairs bathroom - then one day this nasty spot appeared on their hallway ceiling below!  Luckily for them the amount of sewage was small and we were able to catch it in the initial stages.  We performed their water damage cleanup and sanitized the affected areas.

Customers often ask us if there is anything they can do to help prevent this type of damage.  The best advice in this instance would have been to investigate the vinyl discoloration in the upstairs bathroom at the very beginning.  Frequent inspections are often a good way to prevent leaks.

Mold after water damage!!

12/14/2017 (Permalink)

Leak from drain pipe inside wall cavity - cavity and floor water damage

We received a call last week from a customer who was noticing some discoloration in his wall.  He wasn't sure if it was water damage and requested an inspection. He wanted SERVPRO to come out before they got mold. 

Primarily we use non-intrusive moisture meters to detect water damage.  The advantage of this type of moisture meter is that it does not physically damage the materials that it is testing.  This is compared to some moisture meters that use metal probes that pierce the object being tested.

Our inspection revealed that not only was his wall cavity affected, but a fair sized amount of flooring.  Look in the photo how we found another layer of tile below the floating floor. Customers are often surprised to find one, two, or sometimes even three old floors under a laminate floor.  

Indoor Humidity?

12/1/2017 (Permalink)

Mold growing on shoes after being stored under elevated humidity.

With all the rain we've had this season, it's no wonder clients are calling SERVPRO of SW San Jose this winter about mold issues with their properties.  In this case, a tenant phoned her landlord complaining of mold growing on her contents being stored in her bedroom closet.

The landlord contacted SERVPRO of SW San Jose for a moisture inspection of the property.  When we inspected it we found no active water sources, but the humidity in the house measured around 74%.

To avoid mold issues, the EPA recommends you keep humidity levels below 60%, preferably between 30% - 50%. 

In the case of old homes that may not contain insulation in the walls, running a dehumidifier can go a long way as a temporarily measure to prevent mold. 

Check out the EPA website for more info:  https://www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home

CE course on mold

11/13/2017 (Permalink)

Mold growing on sheet rock inside a home

Property Managers & Real Estate Agents:  Ever run into a mold problem at one of your properties?  Do you want to learn more about how to prevent a mold problem and how to handle one if it already exists?

Understanding Mold in the Restoration Industry is a 3-hour CE course taught by SERVPRO and designed for Real Estate Professionals.  The purpose of this course is to educate Real Estate professionals on the real effects of mold growth in residential & commercial structures.  Mold growth requirements will be reviewed so the real estate professional can recognize potential mold dangers in real property.

SERVPRO gives CE classes about restoration every year. SERVPRO of SW San Jose can help Real Estate and Property Managers with mold or water damaged.