Let’s face it: There are a lot of not-so-good mold remediators in Central VA, Northern VA, and Washington DC. The problem is figuring out who, exactly, these remediators are.
After all, you’re no mold remediation expert. Nor are any other homeowners. So you don’t know what proper remediation consists of… and what it doesn’t.
The good news is that you don’t need to have a PhD in mold removal to know if a mold remediator is worthy of your money. You can filter out 95% of the bad remediators just by paying attention to these 5 warning signs…
Killing mold is actually pointless. A dead mold spore causes the same health problems as a live mold spore. We discuss this in deep detail on our No Chemicals page.
As the ANSI/IICRC S520 Standard For Professional Mold Remediation states:
“Physically removing mold contamination is the primary means of remediation. Mold contamination should be physically removed from the structure, systems and contents…. Attempts to kill, encapsulate or inhibit mold instead of proper source removal generally are not adequate.” [Section 4.4 – Principles Of Mold Remediation; page 18]
So if a mold remediation company says they’ll kill your mold, tell them to take a hike.
This is basically a more specific version of Warning Sign #1. Fogging is the “lazy man’s” way to remediate. It doesn’t get rid of the problem… AND it can cause severe health issues.
Again, deep cleaning and demolition are the only correct way to solve a mold problem. The reason most remediators DON’T do it this way is because it’s hard, time consuming, and requires a ton of patience.
If a mold remediator tells you the demolition isn’t needed and fogging will work just fine, run away. Fast.
The average success rate of the mold-removal industry is 65%. That means 35% of mold remediation jobs do NOT pass mold testing the first time.
If you recall, a 65% is a “D” in school. It’s the edge of failure.
Remember what your parents would do if you got a “D” on your report card? Or what YOU do if YOUR child gets a “D” on a test? Exactly.
The reason, yet again, for failure is the mold industry’s reliance on chemicals.
Here is another excerpt from the ANSI/IICRC S520 Standard For Professional Mold Remediation:
“Source removal of mold contamination should always be the primary means of remediation. Indiscriminate use of antimicrobials, coatings, sealants, and cleaning chemicals is not recommended.” [Section 5.8.1 – Chemicals (Antimicrobials & Biocides); page 20]
Just how much more effective is the approach like ours? While the industry success rate is 65%, our success rate is 96%. Sticking with the school grades metaphor, that’s an “A.”
Bottom line: If a mold removal company says they rely on chemicals, odds are that they’re a “’D student.”
Air scrubbers absolutely do not need to run that long after remediation. If a remediator tells you this, they are either A) uniformed or B) trying to squeeze more money out of you.
We explain this in detail in this article: Exposed: The Daily-Rental-Fee Ripoff Of “Commercial” Air Scrubbers. Essentially, air scrubbers are quick and easy money for dishonest mold remediators. They sit back and relax while they rake in the cash.
Ask a mold remediator upfront about their post-remediation air scrubber practices. If they say they need to run air scrubbers for 2 to 3 days, find another remediator.
Some mold remediators say that negative air pressure is the “old” way of doing things because their modern air filters eliminate the need for it.
That is completely, utterly false.
Negative air pressure is vital for ensuring mold doesn’t escape the contained area. But, as we explain in this article, it has to be done RIGHT. Otherwise, it’s useless… and can actually be dangerous.
Most remediators don’t want to take the time to set up negative air pressure correctly. So they say their modern air filters are a superior method for keeping mold in the contained area. The truth, however, is that even the best air filters do NOWHERE near as good of a job as proper negative air pressure. Period.
Proper mold remediation is tough work. And it’s not exactly fun for homeowners. But it is CRITICAL for the health and safety of your home… and everyone in it.
If you’re in Central VA, Northern VA, or Washington DC, contact us to get your mold removed right. We’re the mold remediator that practices Open-Book Honesty and has by far the best success rate for removing mold. We also offer cutting-edge Mold Testing that’s instant, accurate, and cost-effective
Reach out today. We would be honored to speak with you.
We remove mold the right way… and it would be an honor to hear from you.
Your home is in the best hands—our chemical-free remediation has the highest success rate in the industry.
You get the answers you need—our special mold testing provides 99% accurate results on the spot.
You can trust our process—we’ve performed over 300 successful projects since we opened in 2006.
Fill out this form to contact us. We’ll follow up with 24 business hours.
Valor Mold Removal is a certified and experienced mold testing and remediation company. We are fully insured and fully licensed. We also provide crawl space encapsulation, soda blasting, humidity control, and air quality cleaning.
