Quick answer: A Pure Maintenance treatment starts with an inspection and usually testing, then a scheduled treatment day when a two-step dry fog and surface treatment is applied throughout the home. Pure Maintenance says typical home treatments take about 4 to 6 hours, with people and pets out of the house. Most belongings stay put, and follow-up air samples go to an independent lab.
How does the process start?
With a phone call or the online contact form. The Pure Maintenance of Central Texas team follows up to set a time for a Comfort Advisor to visit. Before any treatment gets scheduled, someone needs to figure out why there’s a problem in the first place, because the treatment works best when the cause is already fixed.
If you’d like some background on the technology before your visit, our Pure Maintenance dry fogging guide covers the basics.
Step 1: What happens during the inspection and testing?
The technician walks the home looking for moisture sources and signs of mold, checking bathrooms, closets, windows, the attic and the HVAC system. Pure Maintenance says technicians may use tools such as hygrometers, moisture meters and thermal imaging cameras. In Central Texas homes, the usual suspects include:
- Condensation or standing water around the indoor coil, drain pan or drain line
- Sweating supply ducts or registers in a humid attic
- Indoor humidity that stays high because the AC short-cycles or isn’t pulling out enough moisture
- Slow plumbing leaks under sinks or behind appliances
- Roof, window or door leaks after one of our gully-washer rains
Air samples are commonly taken before treatment to set a baseline for later. Outdoor samples are often taken at the same time, because indoor spore counts are usually judged against what’s floating around outside.
Step 2: What happens when you review the results?
The Comfort Advisor walks you through the findings and your options. That may include dry fogging, repairs, HVAC work, humidity control or, when there’s significant growth on building materials, remediation under the Texas mold rules. Dry fogging isn’t the right answer for every home, and you should get a clear explanation of what needs to happen first. For more on that decision, see dry fog treatment vs. traditional mold remediation.
Step 3: Why fix the moisture source first?
Because mold comes back wherever water keeps showing up. Leaks, drainage problems and humidity issues should be corrected before treatment, and Pure Maintenance says water issues must be solved for the treatment to be effective long term. Treating first and fixing later is a common reason results don’t last. It’s like mopping under a dripping faucet.
Step 4: How do you prepare for treatment day?
Mostly by planning where you, your pets and a few specific items will be. When the date is set, the team reviews what your home needs. Instructions vary, so follow what your technician gives you. Things to plan for and ask about:
- People and pets: Plan for everyone, pets included, to be out of the house. Pure Maintenance says people and pets must be out of the building while the treatment runs. Line up boarding or a pet-friendly place to spend the day.
- Belongings: Pure Maintenance recommends leaving as many personal belongings in the home as possible, so they’re treated along with the rest of the space. You generally don’t need to empty closets or haul furniture out.
- Brass: Pure Maintenance asks homeowners to tell the technician about any brass items so the treatment can be applied accordingly.
- Plants, food and aquariums: Ask your technician whether houseplants should go outside, how to handle open food and pet food, and what to do with fish tanks or other animals that can’t easily leave.
- Access: Make sure the team can reach the attic, the air handler, closets and every room included in the treatment.
- Thermostat and schedule: Ask how the HVAC system should be set and when you can expect to get back in.
Step 5: What happens on treatment day?
Two steps: a dry fog, then a surface treatment. Technicians wear protective equipment and set up the fogging equipment. First, the peracetic-acid-based product is released as a very fine dry fog that fills the home, including the HVAC system where appropriate. The droplets are small enough to stay suspended and drift into hard-to-reach areas without soaking materials. Second, an antimicrobial surface treatment is applied, which Pure Maintenance says is designed to help inhibit mold and mildew growth on eligible treated surfaces when applied according to its EPA-approved label.
Pure Maintenance says typical home treatments can be completed in about 4 to 6 hours, depending on size and scope. Larger homes, or ones with more complicated layouts, may take longer.
Step 6: When can you go back inside?
When the technician says so, after the home has been ventilated. Ask for an estimate when you schedule so you can plan your day around it. Pure Maintenance says you shouldn’t see any visible residue once the treatment is complete.
Step 7: How are results checked?
With lab numbers. Pure Maintenance says post-treatment air samples are sent to a third-party, accredited laboratory, which reports spore counts per cubic meter and the types of mold detected. Comparing those results to the baseline and to outdoor levels gives you data instead of a hunch. Keep a copy of the report with your home records.
What should you do after a Pure Maintenance treatment?
Keep the house dry. The habits that matter most:
- Keep indoor humidity in check. Pure Maintenance of Central Texas recommends about 45% to 55%; TDLR’s tenant guidance suggests no higher than 50%.
- Keep up with HVAC maintenance, filter changes and a clear condensate drain line. A home maintenance plan makes this easier to remember.
- Run bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans, and fix any new leaks right away.
- Keep up routine cleaning so dust and debris don’t build back up.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to wash everything after the treatment?
Pure Maintenance says there shouldn’t be visible residue, and belongings are meant to stay in place during treatment. Ask your technician about anything you’re unsure of, such as children’s items or food-prep surfaces.
Can I stay in one room during the treatment?
No. Pure Maintenance says people and pets need to be out of the building during treatment.
Is the HVAC system included?
It usually is, because the dry fog is designed to reach the ductwork and air handler. If there’s visible growth or debris inside the system, it may need cleaning or repair as well.
How far in advance should I schedule?
Pure Maintenance of Central Texas says its team contacts you within 24 hours of a form submission to set up an appointment. Treatment dates depend on the inspection and any repairs needed first.
The bottom line
For most homes, a Pure Maintenance treatment is a planned, one-day event: inspection and testing, repairs to the moisture source, a few hours out of the house on treatment day, and lab results afterward. Good prep beforehand and good habits afterward, especially humidity control and HVAC care, make the biggest difference in how well the results hold up.
Related guides: Pure Maintenance Dry Fogging: How It Works and When It’s Used, How Long Do Dry Fog Mold Treatment Results Last? and Mold Treatment for Home Sales and Inspections in Austin.
About Gold Eagle Services: This guide comes from the team at Gold Eagle Services, a family-run Austin HVAC, indoor air quality and mold remediation company founded in 2017. We’re licensed (TACLA119235 and RCO1783), insured and bonded, and we serve homes across the greater Austin area.
Need help with this in your home? Pure Maintenance treatments in Central Texas are provided by Pure Maintenance of Central Texas, a Gold Eagle Services company. Learn about our indoor air quality solutions, or call Pure Maintenance of Central Texas at 512-904-4646 or schedule a visit.
