Dry Fog Archives | Pure Maintenance of Texas

Can Mildew Make You Sick?

by Gus Pullen | Apr 8, 2023 | CIRS, Dry Fog, Health, Mold Illness, Uncategorized

Mildew is something that you might not notice until it gets really bad. Most homeowners often overlook the small amounts of mildew in the shower or tub, but those dark spots can lead to bigger issues.

Mildew can spread quickly through your home if you don't do anything about it. Even though it does not appear as bad as mold, it can still cause various health problems and expose you and your family to harmful toxins.

But can mildew make you sick?

We'll look more closely at this danger that's hiding in your home and talk about what you can do to keep yourself safe.

What's mildew?

Mildew is a fungus that grows well in warm, damp places like bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms. Mold can be blue, green, or even black. On the other hand, mildew tends to be white or gray. It grows on things like walls, ceilings, and fabrics; if it isn't treated right away, it can spread quickly. Some common signs of mildew are a musty smell, discoloration, and a fuzzy feel.

Can mildew make you sick?

Yes, mildew can make you sick, especially if your immune system is compromised or you are allergic to it. Mildew spores in the air can cause a variety of health issues, including breathing difficulties, allergies, and headaches. These symptoms are more common in people with asthma or other lung problems. Mildew exposure can even cause more serious health problems, such as pneumonia or bronchitis in some cases.

What can you do to avoid the growth of mildew?

Reduce the amount of moisture in your home to prevent mildew from growing. This can be done by installing exhaust fans in the bathroom and kitchen, keeping the windows and doors open to let in more air when the weather is nice, and buying a dehumidifier to eliminate excess moisture in the air. It's also important to clean up any spills or leaks as soon as they occur and to dry wet areas thoroughly. If you notice mildew symptoms such as discoloration or a musty odor, you should address the issue as soon as possible before it worsens.

What should you do if you suspect your home has mildew?

If you suspect mildew in your home, the first step is to identify the source. This could involve hiring a professional to do a test or inspection. Once you've determined where the mildew is growing, you can take steps to eliminate it. Depending on the severity of the problem, you may be able to clean the area yourself using a bleach and water mixture. However, if the problem is more extensive, hiring a professional to handle the cleanup is best.

How can you stay safe when dealing with mildew?

When dealing with mildew, it's critical to take precautions to protect yourself and your family. Cleaning up mildew means wearing gloves, a face mask, and eye protection. If you use bleach, dilute it properly and avoid mixing it with other cleaning products, which can produce hazardous fumes. It's also a good idea to consult a healthcare professional if you have any existing health conditions or concerns.

To summarize, mildew may not be as visible as mold, but it is still a serious problem that can cause various health issues. You can avoid this danger by reducing the moisture in your home, immediately cleaning up any spills or leaks, and dealing with mildew symptoms as soon as they appear. If you do discover mildew in your home, you should take precautions to protect yourself and your family both while cleaning up and after the problem has been resolved. Staying informed and acting when necessary will keep you and your loved ones safe.

If you are ready to stop the cycle of mildew and mold, reach out to Pure Maintenance of Texas. Our team will provide long-term solutions that keep your home fresh and safe for years to come.

What Is Peracetic Acid, and Why Is It Used Against Mold and Bacteria?

by Gus Pullen | Mar 25, 2023 | Dry Fog, Mold, Pathogens, Peracetic Acid

If you have researched indoor air quality or dry fog services, you may have come across a compound called peracetic acid. It is widely used for disinfection and sanitization across industries, but most homeowners have never heard of it. Here is a plain-language look at what it is, how it works, and why it shows up in conversations about mold and indoor air quality.

What peracetic acid is

Peracetic acid, sometimes written as peroxyacetic acid or PAA, is a liquid compound formed from acetic acid (the acid in vinegar) and hydrogen peroxide. On its own, it is a powerful oxidizer, meaning it breaks down the cellular structures of microorganisms such as mold spores, bacteria, and viruses.

It has been used for decades well beyond the mold world. The food and beverage industry uses it to sanitize equipment and surfaces. Breweries, wineries, and agricultural operations use it to keep their facilities clean. Healthcare settings use it as a disinfectant. One reason it is so widely adopted is that, when used correctly, it breaks down into water, oxygen, and a small amount of acetic acid, leaving no lasting chemical residue behind.

Why it is used to address mold and bacteria

Mold and bacteria are living organisms. To deal with them at the source, you need something that disrupts them at the cellular level rather than just wiping them off a surface. As an oxidizer, peracetic acid does exactly that. It is recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an antimicrobial active ingredient, and it appears on the EPA's Safer Choice list of ingredients evaluated for lower concern based on available data.

That combination of effectiveness and a favorable safety profile is why peracetic acid is the active ingredient in a number of professional disinfection and indoor air quality applications, including some dry fog systems.

How it is applied as a dry fog

In a dry fog application, an EPA-registered solution containing peracetic acid is aerosolized into extremely fine particles, smaller than five microns. Because these particles are so small, they behave more like a gas than a spray. They remain suspended in the air and follow the same pathways as airborne mold spores and bacteria, reaching surfaces and spaces that wiping or spraying cannot easily reach.

The "dry" in dry fog matters. Unlike a wet fog or a liquid spray, a properly applied dry fog does not saturate surfaces or leave moisture behind. That avoids introducing new dampness into a home, which is important because moisture is the very thing that allows mold to grow in the first place.

Using it safely

Like any oxidizer, peracetic acid must be handled properly. In professional applications, the solution is used at controlled concentrations, the space is ventilated appropriately afterward, and people and pets stay out of the area during the application and air-out period. Used properly, it is considered a safe and effective option. Used carelessly, like any cleaning chemical, it can be an irritant. This is one of the reasons these applications are typically handled by trained technicians rather than as a do-it-yourself project.

The bottom line

Peracetic acid is a well-established disinfectant used across many industries because it is effective against mold, bacteria, and other microorganisms and breaks down cleanly without leaving a lasting residue. When delivered as a dry fog, it can reach throughout an indoor environment without saturating surfaces. If you are exploring options for a mold or indoor air quality concern in your home, understanding the science behind the methods can help you ask better questions and make a more informed decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is peracetic acid?

Peracetic acid, also called peroxyacetic acid or PAA, is a liquid compound formed from acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide. It is a powerful oxidizer that breaks down the cell structures of microorganisms like mold spores, bacteria, and viruses, and is widely used to disinfect across the food, agricultural, and healthcare industries.

Is peracetic acid safe?

Peracetic acid is recognized by the EPA as an antimicrobial active ingredient and appears on the EPA's Safer Choice list. When used at controlled concentrations with proper ventilation, it is considered a safe and effective option, and it breaks down into water, oxygen, and a small amount of acetic acid without leaving lasting residue. Like any oxidizer, it must be handled correctly, which is why it is typically applied by trained technicians.

How is peracetic acid applied as a dry fog?

In a dry fog application, an EPA-registered solution containing peracetic acid is aerosolized into particles smaller than five microns. Because the particles are so small, they stay suspended in the air and travel the same pathways as airborne mold spores and bacteria, reaching surfaces and spaces that wiping or spraying cannot easily access. A properly applied dry fog does not saturate surfaces or leave moisture behind.

Have questions about your indoor air quality? Pure Maintenance of Texas serves Sugar Land, Fort Bend County, and Greater Houston. Call 281-220-1425 or schedule a free evaluation.

Mold Illness Symptoms After Remediation

by Gus Pullen | Mar 22, 2023 | CIRS, Dry Fog, Health, Indoor Air Quality, Mold, Mold Illness

Mold Illness

After traditional remediation, why are so many homes still making family members sick? When a flood or severe leak occurred, the insurance company and a major mold remediation company came to the rescue. So why are we still sick? To understand this, remember that not everyone will get sick from mold. 27 percent of the population has a genetic trait that makes them more likely to get sick from mold. With that in mind, let's return to when the house was first built.

Day One of a Brand New Home

The mold spore count is almost identical to outdoor mold spores. Of course, you have them because they are everywhere. But the key here is that the home is not producing mold or mycotoxins; it simply mimics outdoor air. Now let’s jump ahead five years, and you develop a small leak under the sink. No big deal, a little bleach will clean that up. (not recommended by Pure Maintenance). Truthfully, it was never properly cleaned up, and you now have a little mold factory-producing mold spores under the sink. Your indoor level is now 10 percent higher than outside. This tiny little issue is now producing mold and mycotoxins.

Mold Load in the Home Increases

Jump ahead another year or so, and you find a wonderful used oak roll-top desk at a garage sale. Little did you know that the desk came from a mold-infested home and brought literally millions upon millions of mold spores into your home. The family sold the desk because they had odd mold symptoms. Jump ahead another four years, and the basement leaks through the foundation. It is noticed, but not until there is significant mold growth. Your neighbor said to put some fans on it and dry it out. The basement has a musty smell, but you're told that's common. Now you have another mold and spore source in the basement.

Once you hit this level, the mold really gets a stronghold in your home. Now, every time you take a shower, the mold grows and sends out spores. Every time you boil water, the mold grows and releases spores. Remember, mold only needs 60 percent humidity to thrive. You still can’t see it, but it’s there, and it’s growing at an exponential rate. Now there are a lot of mold-producing factories, including the bathroom, the front loading washer, the sinks, and the drains. When you come home from vacation, the house smells bad. That’s probably normal, you assume.

Now Jump Ahead a Few More Years

You realize that you have a significant leak in the water heater. The so-called professionals are called in. They arrive, and the first thing they do is confine the area with plastic. I have often wondered, "How does the mold get contained while workers walk in and out of the plastic?” Secondly, did the mold wait for the remediation company to show up before delivering mold spores throughout the home? Luckily, they got that plastic up just in time to stop them. Of course not. The spores have been released from the first few hours of the flood. Experts say 24–36 hours, but that is assuming no mold is there, to begin with.

Traditional Mold Containment Doesn't Work

Here is a little-known secret. The mold companies use the containment method more for the after-testing than for the safety of the occupants. If they can confine an area with plastic and then run “air scrubbers” within the confined area at the end of the project, you can run a test (with the confinement still in place) and declare the home safe. Sometimes they have to run these scrubbers for days to get a good test result. Wait a minute, are they not testing the whole home? No, just the area where the containment existed. News Flash #1 THE SPORES ARE THROUGHOUT THE HOME!!! As soon as the containment comes down, that area will be infected again.

Mold is Now Everywhere in the Home

Going back to the mold spore count within the home, you are now comfortably 100 to 1000 times higher than the outdoor level at a very minimum. Now it is manifesting itself in the bathrooms, on the window sills, and in your drains. Remember that we said it was “manifesting” itself in those places. It’s everywhere, but this is where it is visible because you have water for it to stick to, begin to feed on, and spore out. Your laundry stinks if left in the washer for a day, and your food gets moldy quicker than ever before. Now you're concerned and researching black mold symptoms!

Although you just had a traditional remediation company do their professional, 'insurance company' sanctioned, certified protocol, someone is still sick and complaining about mold exposure symptoms. Let’s throw in another variable to confuse the public. News Flash #2!! Air quality tests are extremely inaccurate. Everyone knows this. California won’t even accept them in litigation. California now says you have mold if you see mold or smell mold. Period.

An Air Quality Test is a Tool

To think that you can determine the moldiness of a home by pulling in 75 liters of air and hoping that (1) mold sticks, (2) mold is sporing out all the time, and (3) the airflow of the home is bringing the mold to the area being tested. Stachybotrys is a heavy spore that doesn’t remain aloft for long. Chaetomium spores inside a perithecium, which keeps them from becoming aloft easily, and every lab reads the tests a little differently. These are two of the most toxic molds in the world, and it's hard to pick them up in a test. We tell people that an air test is a tool, and that’s all it is. It is by no means a definitive measurement of the home's health.

Pure Maintenance Addresses the Health of the Entire Home

Even professionally remediated homes have potential issues with mold, mycotoxins, and bacteria/endotoxins. Additionally, it is difficult to measure the health of a home, and it’s impossible to declare the home safe unless the entire home has been treated. Pure Maintenance is one of the few companies in the country that understands that the entire home is sick, not just where the flood occurred, or the mold is manifesting itself. Mold and mold spores are everywhere. Pure Maintenance addresses the health of the entire home. People who have experienced mold illness symptoms for years are getting well after their home has received the Pure Maintenance 2-step dry fog treatment.

Take control of your home environment and protect it from mold with the experienced team at Pure Maintenance of Texas. From whole-home remediation to prevention tips, contact us today for more information!

Mold in the Attic

by Gus Pullen | Feb 19, 2023 | Dry Fog, Health, Mold

Attics can be susceptible to various issues, from pests and water damage to dangerous mold. This fungus thrives in humid environments and presents a health hazard. Homeowners must protect their property by understanding the causes behind attic mold, its effects on people’s well-being, and how to prevent it. Stay informed about preventing these unwanted visitors!

Dangers and Health Risks of Mold in an Attic

Attic mold can cause various health problems, including allergic reactions, respiratory problems, and other health issues. Coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes, and skin rashes can all be telltale signs of an underlying health issue. In addition, people with pre-existing asthma should take extra caution, as mold exposure can further aggravate breathing difficulties.

Mold in an attic can also cause damage to your home. Mold can weaken the structure of your attic and cause wood to rot, ultimately compromising your home's safety.

How to Treat Mold in an Attic

Treating mold in an attic can be complex, but addressing the problem as soon as possible is essential. If you suspect mold in your attic, it's best to call in a professional. They will assess the extent of the damage and recommend the best course of action.

Many companies specialize in mold remediation, but Pure Maintenance of Texas stands out. They use a unique, patented dry fog technology that is safe, fast, and effective in treating mold in the attic.

Here's how it works

Assessment: A Pure Maintenance of Texas technician will assess the mold problem in your attic, identifying the extent of the damage and the type of mold present.
Containment: They will contain the affected area to prevent the spread of mold spores to other parts of your home.
Dry Fog Treatment: Pure Maintenance of Texas uses a patented dry fog technology that disperses a dry vapor of atomized particles throughout the affected area. This vapor can penetrate every nook and cranny of the attic, killing mold and its spores on contact.
Post-treatment Assessment: Pure Maintenance of Texas guarantees successful mold remediation with a comprehensive post-treatment evaluation following the dry fog application. The assessment ensures that your environment is safe.
Prevention: They deliver reliable protection against mold through comprehensive prevention strategies and a 1-year guarantee. Customers can enjoy long-term peace of mind.

One of the benefits of Pure Maintenance of Texas’ dry fog technology is that it is non-invasive, meaning that it doesn't require tearing out walls or insulation, making it less disruptive and time-consuming than traditional mold remediation methods. In addition, the technology is safe and eco-friendly, with no harsh chemicals or toxins.

In summary, Pure Maintenance of Texas is an excellent choice for treating mold in your attic. Their dry fog technology is fast, effective, and safe, and their ongoing prevention strategies can help keep your attic mold-free. If you're dealing with mold in your attic, consider Pure Maintenance of Texas as an option for treating the problem.

Contact us today to learn more!

Dry Fog Mold Remediation: Is it Effective?

by Gus Pullen | Feb 18, 2023 | Dry Fog, Mold

Mold growth in your home or office can be a severe problem and lead to health complications if left untreated. The most popular method is to remove any items that have been contaminated from the area and replace them entirely if necessary. This may include walls, cabinets, and even flooring!

That’s where dry fog mold remediation comes in. Our approach uses patented fogging technology to safely remove mold from your home without harsh chemicals or manual labor. Let’s take a closer look at how effective this method is compared to other mold removal methods.

How it Works

Dry fog technology converts antifungal agents into tiny particles released into the air, similar to a smoke machine used for special effects at concerts and other events. These particles are then dispersed throughout the affected area, covering every surface and penetrating even the most hard-to-reach places easily.

As a result, dry fog can reach areas that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to reach with traditional cleaning methods, such as behind walls, ceilings, or under furniture. This makes dry fog an effective way to target even the most stubborn areas of mold growth in your home.

Efficiency Compared to Other Methods

Dry fog is more effective than traditional methods, such as containing, tear-out, and rebuilding, because it can reach areas that would otherwise be inaccessible with manual labor or chemical solutions.

It is also much less time-consuming than manual labor and requires no additional equipment beyond our patented fogging machine —making it an ideal solution when time is of the essence.

Furthermore, dry fog is as effective in removing tough mold stains as chemical solutions while being significantly less toxic—ensuring a safe environment for all occupants after treatment.

In conclusion, dry fog mold remediation effectively remediates mold from your home quickly and efficiently without relying on hazardous chemicals or manual labor.

In addition, it can reach difficult or impossible areas for traditional cleaning methods, making it better equipped for tackling stubborn areas of growth that may have otherwise gone unnoticed until now.

If you are looking for an efficient way to remove mold from your home without risking damage from harsh chemicals, then dry fog may be just what you need!

Contact Pure Maintenance of Texas today to learn more!

What is Dry Fog Mold Remediation, and How Does It Work?

by Gus Pullen | Jan 26, 2023 | Dry Fog, HVAC, Indoor Air Quality, Mold, Pathogens

Pure Maintenance's Sugar Land mold remediation is an innovative two-step process that ensures all indoor spaces are free from pesky and potentially hazardous growth. Our patented dry fog technology produces a safe, ultra-fine vapor comprised of water and an environmentally friendly biocide that effectively penetrates even the most difficult-to-reach areas like air ducts or behind walls for complete coverage against existing mold spores.

A Comprehensive Process

At the start of any mold remediation job, our team begins with a comprehensive evaluation to determine all areas affected. Following this, we utilize advanced dry fog equipment and EPA-approved products that work in perfect synergy to eliminate visible and hidden mold - preventing it from coming back for good.

Non-Destructive

Our process offers a non-destructive way to fight against potentially hazardous mold. No expensive tear-out or sanding is needed, so you can keep furniture, clothing, and other items safe - plus, the process takes only 4–6 hours! Save energy (and money!) while getting your home clean fast with minimal disruption.

Commercial Properties

The treatment is also suitable for larger commercial properties where mold is often a problem. Our equipment is able to cover large areas quickly and effectively, eliminating mold in a matter of hours and allowing the business to resume operations as soon as possible.

Conclusion

Dry fog remediation is an incredibly efficient way to remove mold and ensure the health of any indoor space. This non-invasive method can be used in residential or commercial buildings and penetrates even hard-to-reach areas like air ducts, completely eliminating all traces of dangerous spores for good. With dry fog technology, users are guaranteed a safe environment free from hazardous fungal growth!

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