Weather changes are inevitable. Floods, heavy rain, hurricanes, or other storms will undoubtedly occur from time to time. Occasionally, these water events can cause water damage, which is stressful, particularly if you have essential items soaked. Unfortunately, drenched essentials can just be the start of your problems if mold growth is then detected.
Mold is hazardous and posses many health risks. Acting swiftly and safely to prevent the spread of mold after water damage is absolutely imperative.
The process for preventing mold growth may sound too complicated if you have never done it before. For this reason, it is HIGHLY encouraged that you call an expert mold remediation company, such as Insight Restoration, to ensure the growth of mold is eliminated in a safe & professional manner.
With that being said, in this blog we will go over a few tips on how to prevent mold growth after water damage so you can minimize damage until professional help arrives.
But first…let’s discuss what makes mold actually grow.
You cannot successfully prevent mold growth if you do not understand what makes mold grow and how it grows…
Mold, just like mildew, is a fungus that thrives in wet and dark areas. The microorganisms that causes mold exists everywhere and are always waiting for optimum conditions to develop. It only takes between 24 to 48 hours after water exposure for mold to begin growing and spreading. As long as there is still moisture in the affected area, mold will continue to grow.
Apart from humidity, mold also needs starch or sugar, oxygen, and temperatures between 41 and 104 degrees F.
4 Tips For Preventing Mold Growth After Water Damage
There are a few approaches you can take towards preventing mold growth. However, everything boils down to ensuring your surroundings are dry.
Here are 4 tips you can use to prevent further mold growth after your building sustains water damage:
1. Open The Building
Mold thrives in humid areas, and you should work towards reducing the humidity level after water damage. Opening your indoor spaces helps to dehumidify your building naturally and plays a significant role in preventing mold. Open your building during the day and close during the night.
2. Get Rid Of The Water
If possible, remove all the water from the area immediately after the flood, storm, or leakage. We recommend using a water vacuum if the water is minimal. Although, if the water proves to be too much, professional help is likely needed.
In terms of natural flooding or sewerage, these waters are nothing to play with! It’s impossible to know what, exactly, is floating around so we caution you to use the proper protective gear. Again, we encourage involving professionals, such as Insight Restoration, for this process.
3. Remove All Damp Items
Preventing mold does not stop at removing water. You also need to remove anything soaked to avoid providing a growth medium for mold. This could include absorbent or porous items like papers, ceiling tiles, carpets, and rugs. If at all possible, clean them to eliminate germs and contaminants, then set them in the sun to dry.
4. Clean and Dry Wet Surfaces
The next step should be to eliminate moisture by removing debris and drying all the wet surfaces. While a water vacuum draws water faster, there are places water vacuums cannot access. So,
use rags or mops to dry all the areas. Since you will be running against time and your spaces can be large, you can rent an industrial fan.
Once there are no longer any traces of water, work towards ensuring that the room remains dry. You can use a humidifier to keep humidity levels at under 50%. Maintain this for a few days after water damage to keep mold at bay.
Once all surfaces are dry, use cleaning solutions to sanitize your spaces.
What to Do in Case of Mold Infestation
Mold can still occur if you do not follow the above steps correctly and within the recommended time. In the event of mold infestation, you can use commercial mildew and mold removers. Some other alternatives are to use bleach or washing soda.
While the above steps sound pretty simple, they are very labor intensive and time consuming. Furthermore, in the event of a natural disaster, trying to find the needed equipment can be hit or miss as everyone will likely be looking for the same supplies as you.
The most sure-fire way to achieve success in preventing mold growth after water damage is to consider hiring a professional mold remediation company like Insight Restoration.
