Need for Deodorization in North Syracuse Homes after Mold Damage

6/21/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO professionals in North Syracuse are trained to handle every level of mold damage, including the odors that come with it. Call us today!

SERVPRO Eases North Syracuse Mold Restoration Processes

A house with mold is readily identifiable since the contamination causes deterioration of surface finishes leaving flaking paint and discolored or stained patches. Another sign that a North Syracuse home has mold damage is deteriorating indoor air quality or bad smell. Deodorization is as crucial as other mitigation steps.

A musty smell is a likely change you might experience in your North Syracuse home after mold damage. The unique scent is emitted by the mycotoxins released as the colonies develop across surfaces. Since mold causes deterioration similar to rot in materials, odors can also be emitted by the deteriorating material. SERVPRO has abundant deodorization resources for different restoration tasks, so it is easy to deal with odors generated from microbial growth processes.

Helpful mold deodorization resources:

• Ozone and hydroxyl generators
• Thermal foggers
• Air filtration devices

Odors may be invisible, but that does not mean they are not physical. Odorous compounds such as mold colonies are volatile and continually release molecules into the air, which are felt as unpleasant smells. Combating the moldy odor in your house requires neutralizing the source. One way to achieve this is by using a chemical agent that pairs with the odor molecules, offsetting them. Our SERVPRO technicians use thermal foggers, which heat solvent-based deodorizers, vaporizing them and allowing deep penetration into materials where they can pair with the molecules and neutralize them. 

Using activated oxygen is another alternative. Ozone and hydroxyl generators are handy for this purpose. Ozone is an unstable oxygen molecule that works when the extra atom mixes with odor molecules changing their chemical structure and thus neutralizing them. Hydroxyl generators are another alternative that works by releasing hydroxyl radicals that combine with odor molecules releasing carbon dioxide and water.

Dealing with Airborne Odors

The unpleasant moldy odor in your house might remain in the air rather than materials because of the particulate matter and aerosols released into the air during demolition and cleaning processes. Dealing with these issues requires elaborate air purification processes.

Various air purification resources:

• Electronic filters
• Ventilators
• Air scrubbers

Electronic filters help remove microorganisms from the air. The system works by passing the contaminated air through an electrically charged grid, thus killing the microorganisms. Air scrubbers may be more efficient for moldy residues since they manage odors and improve air quality. The air scrubber draws in polluted air and passes it through activated charcoal and HEPA filters. In terms of odor management, activated charcoal plays the primary removal role. 

Ventilating an area is a physical way to remove polluted air from a house. Because the approach tends to spread residues, it might be counterproductive in a moldy environment where fine residues and microscopic spores are abundant and can be distributed around the property by the high volumes of fast-moving air. Therefore, this method is rarely used as a primary odor control solution, but it can help improve other processes. For instance, after dry fogging a house to deodorize it, ventilation is essential to remove all the remaining fumes. Our SERVPRO technicians have all these categories of deodorization resources and thus can use them where we deem necessary.

SERVPRO of North Onondaga County works diligently to address all issues triggered by mold damage restoring everything to its preloss state. You can reach us at (315) 457-3432. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.