A new and very simple means of mold removal is being publicized by some companies as an effective, environmentally-friendly, and easy way to remove mold in homes and buildings. This process involves applying heat to a building so that any living organisms within, including mold, will die from the spike in temperature. While heat treatment is environmentally-safe, it is not entirely effective and, worst of all, it doesn’t actually remove any mold at all.
Many mold removal companies using this technique will stress the fact that heat “kills” mold. This is mostly true; enough will kill any living thing. But just killing mold is not the solution that you should want. The mold is still in your house and it is still affecting you. Dead mold is still mold and the allergens and irritants that cause negative health effects are still present.
Heat has been used to kill bugs and bacteria in the past. But the goal of mold remediation is not to kill mold, it is to remove it from your house. That’s the only way to stop mold from harming occupants with spores and contaminants.
Heat treatment sounds like a simple solution – just seal the house, crank up the heat, and burn the mold. And being able to understand the process certainly makes it more appealing to laymen. But heat treatment is not mold remediation, and actually hasn’t proven to be effective in killing hidden mold. Mold growing in wall cavities, crawl spaces, and other unseen places tends to survive heat treatment.
What should heat treatment be used for? Heat treatment is actually a useful preventative technique for mold after flood damage. Heat can quickly dry a home that has been ravaged by hurricane and flood waters so that the moisture will not lead to mold growth. However, in this case, the house must have adequate ventilation so any evaporating water will not increase the relative humidity inside the home.
The main selling point of heat-based remediation is that it is non-pollutant. It does not introduce harmful chemicals into the building or environment. But there are other green solutions available for more effective mold removal, including organic, enzyme-based products.
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