Condo Management 101: How to Get Rid of Mold

Condo Management 101: How to Get Rid of Mold

Mold is a serious problem, one that you don’t want to have to deal with in your condominium association. However, it can happen. A leaky plumbing pipe or water damage in an unseen area of the property can easily lead to a mold issue. Mold can be tricky to detect and expensive to remove. It is essential to find mold problems quickly so that the issue can be taken care of as soon as possible. Learn more about mold detection and remediation. Then rely on your Chicago condo management team to get to work helping to resolve the issue.

Early Detection

Detecting a mold issue early is important for health as well as your budget. However, a mold problem is not always obvious. Because mold can be difficult to spot, it is important to review your property on a regular basis. Have your Chicago property management set up regular check points for each property.

Mold sports are microscopic and can be found anywhere. You can see the mold once it starts to settle and grow. Mold requires moisture and a damp area to grow. It is often seen underneath sinks or in kitchen, laundry or bathroom areas. Pay special attention to theses areas and look for signs of mold.

Mold can be dark colored spots that have visible areas, on surfaces like fabric, carpeting, ceilings, walls and floors. If the rental has a musty smell, this could be a sign of mold. Mold has a mildew like odor. If you smell such an odor, investigate to see if you can locate the problem.

Your association residents may also start to have allergy symptoms like sneezing, red eyes, irritated throat, rash, etc. If your residents are complaining of such symptoms, it’s time to review the property.

Removal and Remediation

If mold is found on-site, you need an expert opinion on how to remedy the situation. In some cases, the mold can be quite dangerous. Black mold is a serious issue and requires strict guidelines to be followed in order to safely remove the mold.

If you are removing a mold spot yourself, you must start over with a clean surface. In many cases, such as with drywall or flooring, it is best to add new materials to ensure the mold is removed completely. Porous materials like drywall, baseboards or insulation that are affected by mold must be replaced as they cannot be restored.

As far as remediation is concerned, have your Chicago property management team focus on the issue behind the mold. If you had mold under the sink, have any water problems resolved. Leaky pipes or other issues need to be taken care of along with removing the mold so you do not have this problem in the future.

When cleaning up areas, be sure to wear gloves, a mask and goggles. You should also wear old clothes so you can throw them away once finished with the job.

Take any mold situation seriously. Contact an expert if you are unsure about the situation or how to handle the mold problem. This way, you can ensure your safety as well as your association residents.