Job Stories

Recently, I was sent to a residence in Manasquan, NJ to treat a mold problem resulting from a small leak in their bedroom window. Any water intrusion, moisture, or humidity problem can trigger dangerous mold growth inside a home. Here, the leak damaged the drywall, causing mold growth on the wood framing.  The homeowner already had the water-damaged drywall removed prior to my arrival. There was no loss of structural integrity to the wood framing, and i was able to directly treat the mold with no further tear-out of building materials. I first rating the framing with an EPA-registered antimicrobial (MAPS 1) and thoroughly scrubbed the wood to remove all visible mold growth. Mold spreads through microscopic airborne mold spores that travel on air currents and reattach elsewhere on other surfaces. During the mold treatment, I remove the mold to prevent any further re-colonization. After waiting for the anti-microbial to dry, I treated the area with our second application, a patented sealant that actually encapsulates the mold, destroying it at the cellular level and rendering it inert and harmless Whatever remaining mold that I would not scrub off or be neutralized by the anti-microbial would definitely be destroyed with this sealant  Our two-application process ensures that all of the mold is eliminated. Also, this sealant has a unique quality. It is moisture sensitive and will reactive if there are damp conditions that are ripe for mold growth. Should new mold attempt to grow in the treated areas, it too will be automatically killed.   With the bedroom mold treated, the homeowner could now safely replace the drywall without worrying whether there was still active mold in the home. In less than a day, I successfully treated the mold with minimal inconvenience to the homeowner. This job was typical of our mold treatment services  — a quick, effective, and permanent solution for resolving a residential mold problem.  

This homeowner in Brielle, NJ wanted a better alternative to a store-bought dehumidifier for her damp basement. According to the homeowner, the humidity  level in her basement was so high that, on some days, she had to empty the water pan two or three times a day — and this was a low capacity dehumidifier, not even a commercial-grade machine designed to work in a crawl space or basement.  We replaced her dehumidifier with a hassle-free SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier. Now, she will never have to go down to the basement to empty the machine. With these SaniDry dehumidifiers, there are no messy trays or buckets of water that fill up and can overflow. Rather, the machine is directly connected to the sump pump or other drainage system, so the whole process requires no human intervention. They work automatically and are maintenance-free.  When installed in a basement or crawl space, this dehumidifier helps prevent mold and reduces musty odors. It produces dry, healthy air without that musty smell you often find in damp, moist areas of the home. This particular dehumidifier has the capacity to remove 100 pints per day of water out of the air and moves over 300 cubic feet per minute of dry air around your crawl space or basement. Mold will thrive if the moisture content in the air is too high. Many homeowners mistakenly believe that you need a leaky pipe, a flood, or some other water intrusion for mold to form. That’s not true!  High indoor humidity is more than enough to trigger dangerous mold growth. This dehumidifier will keep your basement or crawl space below 55% relative humidity, and this level is too low for mold to grow. Also, with this lower humidity, dust mites will die off. Dust mite fecal matter is the primary cause of indoor allergies.By improving indoor air quality and preventing mold growth, these commercial-grade SaniDry dehumidifiers are a great investment for your family’s health.

This homeowner in Brielle, NJ, called Mold Solutions after noticing a massive amount of mold growth throughout his attic. Once we arrived and started inspecting the attic, we found a few leaks in the roof. Unlike other areas of the home that are used on a regular basis, a leak that drips into an attic may go unnoticed for a long period of time. Roof leaks may not be noticed until the leak progresses enough to damage the top floor’s ceiling, and by that point, the attic’s mold growth could be extensive. After reporting what the cause of the mold growth was, the owner immediately called a roofer to come out and fix the leaks in the roof. In the meantime, we began our treatment for the mold. First, we treated the attic with our EPA registered antimicrobial called Mold Abatement Polymer Solutions 1, or MAPS 1 for short. This solution attacks mold at a cellular level and immediately kills it. Afterward, we applied our mold stain remover and scrubbed away all the mold stains. Lastly, we applied MAPS 2, which is our patented sealant that encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it harmless, inert, and non-allergic. MAPS 2 is also sensitive to moisture and will reactivate whenever it gets wet to prevent any future mold growth.

The owners of this commercial building in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ were having trouble controlling the moisture and humidity in the basement. Chronic moisture and humidity problems can trigger dangerous mold growth and attract insects and other pests that thrive in damp, dark conditions.  The owners knew they had potential problems on their hands if this situation was not resolved, and contacted Cowleys for help. The single best long-term solution to prevent high humidity and moisture conditions in basements and crawl spaces is by installing a commercial-grade dehumidifier. As long as humidity levels are kept low (below 55% relative humidity),  mold can’t take hold. Also, the occupants of a home or commercial structure benefit as well. Air currents circulate basement or crawl space air throughout the entire structure, and dehumidifying these non-living spaces improves the indoor air quality throughout the entire structure and gets rid of those stinky musty smells that carry upward from those damp moist areas.  At Mold Solutions by Cowleys, we install SaniDry dehumidifiers. These fully automatic workhorses are specially designed to work in crawl spaces and basements. They are daily maintenance-free with no water pan to empty or worry about overflowing. With this particular installation, we installed the dehumidifier with a  condensate pump that drains directly into the main sewer line. Often, we are able to have the dehumidifier to drain the water extracted out of the air directly into the sump pump. 

Cowleys installs and services Sanidry commercial-grade dehumidifiers that are specifically designed to maintain an ideal relative humidity level in basements and crawl spaces, stopping mold and mildew, and eliminating those stinky musty odors that accompany these problems. Crawl spaces and basements are common high humidity “troublemakers” in a home where problems can stay hidden for quite awhile because these subterranean spaces are rarely visited let alone inspected. Often, water, moisture, mold, and insect problems are not discovered until the problem starts to spread to the living areas of the home above (for example, you start noticing a woodsy, musty smell rising up from below) or the problem is found at the worst possible time — during a home inspection on a pending sale!  These dehumidifiers, by keeping indoor humidity levels low, prevent mold growth from high moisture conditions. Also, a home’s indoor air quality is dramatically improved by these machines pumping out clean, dry air. These units have a two-stage filtration that captures mold spores, dust mites, and other pollutants.  Just as important, these machines are “set and forget.” First, there is no water pan to empty or worry about overflowing. Instead, the water extracted from the air drains directly to the sump pump, french drain, or a hose that exits the home. Second, these machines are energy-efficient. They have a built-in auto-humidistat that senses the moisture level in the space that automatically turning the unit on and off as necessary to maintain the desired humidity level. However, just like with your furnace and air conditioning units, annual servicing is essential to keep these machines performing at their best and preventing malfunctions and costly repairs. Our trained technicians inspect, clean, and replace the filter and any parts so the dehumidifier keeps working at optimal efficiency.  This photo show the servicing of one of these dehumidifiers for a homeowner in Shrewsbury, NJ.

While this homeowner in Neptune, NJ was away on a business trip, a pipe had burst in her bathroom and flooded that area and the family room. The owner did hire someone to fix the broken pipe, but the damage was done and mold had grown all over the paneling and behind the sheetrock. The damage was so severe that a full mold remediation had to be done. First, we removed all the sheetrock and paneling that lost its structural integrity. To treat the mold, we applied our EPA-registered antimicrobial called MAPS 1. This application attacks mold on a cellular level and immediately kills it. Next, we used our mold stain remover, scrubbed away all the mold growth, and applied MAPS 2. MAPS 2 is a moisture-sensitive application that encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it harmless, inert, and non-allergenic. MAPS 2 is also moisture sensitive and will reactivate whenever it gets wet to prevent future mold growth. 

This customer in Mantoloking, NJ had a serious mold issue in his basement. There was black mold all over the walls, on some of the shelves, and in several storage containers. Unfortunately, a majority of the items inside the containers had to be disposed of. After inspecting the area, we determined that the excessively high humidity levels in the basement lead to the mold growth.  In order to remove the severe mold growth, we applied our antimicrobial solution called MAPS 1, which kills mold on a cellular level. We then used our mold stain remover and scrubbed away all the excess mold staining throughout the basement. Next, we applied our patented sealant called MAPS 2. This application encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it harmless and non-allergenic. MAPS 2 is also moisture-sensitive and will reactivate whenever it gets wet to prevent future mold growth. Finally, to control the humidity levels in the basement we installed a Sani-Dry Sedona dehumidifier. This dehumidifier can effectively cover indoor living spaces over 3000 square feet, making it well-suited for basements and crawl spaces over 40" high! Now the mold is removed for good and the homeowner once again has a healthy, mold-free basement.

An elderly homeowner in Mantoloking, NJ called our office concerned that he might have mold in his attic. Once we arrived, we equipped our personal protective equipment and began inspecting the attic Unfortunately, within a few moments of our inspection, we found mold all over the rafters. After a thorough inspection we determined that the cause of the mold was due to improper ventilation.    One of the main causes of mold in an attic is due to poor ventilation. Mold is a living, breathing fungus that multiplies and will continue to spread as long as the conditions in the home remain conducive to mold growth. Fortunately, the homeowner just recently had an attic fan installed, so the cause of mold has been addressed and all that's left is to remove the mold. In order to remove the severe mold growth, we applied our antimicrobial solution called MAPS 1. MAPS 1 (which stands for Mold Abatement Polymer Solution) kills mold on a cellular level. We then used our mold stain remover and scrubbed away all the excess mold staining throughout the attic. Next, we applied our patented sealant called MAPS 2. This application encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it harmless and non-allergenic. MAPS 2 is also moisture-sensitive and will reactivate whenever it gets wet to prevent future mold growth.

One day, this homeowner in Mantoloking, NJ, realized that mold was growing around his A/C unit. Concerned, he called Mold Solutions for help. As we started inspecting the area, we discovered that the A/C unit was leaking behind the wall! Not only that, but there was black mold growing behind the sheetrock, on the insulation, and on the wooden beams. Unfortunately, a full mold remediation was needed.  First, we removed all the contaminated sheet rock & insulation and properly disposed of them. Next, we treated the area with our EPA registered antimicrobial called MAPS 1. This solution attacks mold at its DNA and immediately kills it. Afterward, we applied our mold stain remover and scrubbed away all the mold stains. Lastly, we applied MAPS 2, which is our patented sealant that encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it harmless and non-allergic. MAPS 2 is also moisture sensitive and will reactivate whenever it gets wet to prevent any future mold growth. Now that the mold is gone, the owner will contact a contractor to replace his broken A/C line and repair the damage to the wall. 

A new homeowner in Belmar, NJ had mold growing in her crawl space. This crawl space was wide open to the elements. As often happens, moist outdoor air enters this area resulting in high indoor relative humidity levels, and in turn, this sets the stage for mold growth. Unfortunately, mold formed on the damp insulation, contaminating it. Because the insulation is porous, once contaminated, it is not salvageable and needs to be removed. The homeowner will be installing new insulation after the mold problem is resolved. We first treated the affected areas by applying our EPA-registered anti-microbial called MAPS 1. This application attacks mold on a cellular level and immediately kills it. Next, we used our mold stain remover and scrubbed away all the mold growth throughout the area. Afterward, we applied our patented sealant called MAPS 2. MAPS 2 is a moisture-sensitive application that encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it harmless, inert, and non-allergenic. One of the best features of MAPS 2 is that it will reactivate whenever it gets wet to prevent future mold growth. We also installed an EverLast™ crawl space vent door. These doors are made with a hard durable plastic that is installed against wood framing or masonry and creates an airtight, waterproof seal between the crawl space and the cold or humid air.