When water damage occurs in a home due to flooding from a roof leak, pipe burst, or other cause, a quick and thorough cleanup must be completed to avoid mold growth. In less than the first 24 hours, mold can begin to develop in damp areas of a house. To prevent widespread mold due to water leak or other household flooding events requires thoroughly sanitizing the affected areas.
Mold is a biohazard. So, mold after water damage must be removed as quickly as possible after you discover an infestation in your home, to stop it from multiplying.
What is Mold?
Mold spreads by its airborne spores. The mold itself may be one of various colors, including white, green, brown, pink, orange, or black, among others. Black mold is common in moist areas of homes and is feared as an extreme health hazard, but in reality, many colors of mold can generate toxic material under some circumstances. Mold often emits a damp or musty odor.
Outside in nature, the role of mold is critical. It facilitates the decomposition of organic matter. But, of course, you donโt want it to do that to the structural studs that support the walls and roof of your house. So, if you have water damage, call for a professional mold inspection to locate the fungus breeding in your home. Just a few areas to check for mold growth include:
- The basement
- Under sinks
- Around doorways
- Around window glass
- In bathroom
- Behind walls
- Near plumbing lines
- In corners
- In attic
- On ceiling
- Under furniture
NOTE: Always use exhaust fans when causing steam in the kitchen and bathrooms.
Why Does Water Damage Always Cause Mold?
If you have water damage in your home due to flooding from a roof leak, burst pipe, ice damming, appliance leak, etc., you can expect mold growth. Sometimes, in under 24 hours, mold due to water damage will begin to grow, and it will continue to spread until it is thoroughly removed and thwarted from recurring. A mold infestation can continue to spread in any season, hot or cold, as long as the three elements it needs to thrive are present:
- Sugar or starch
- Oxygen
- Moisture
Is Mold Hazardous?
Yes, mold is a human health threat, and its likelihood of causing illness is increased by how easily it spreads, especially in some conditions. The minute spores can be scattered through the air, drawn into the HVAC system, and blown throughout all parts of every room in a home.
Mold devours organic material, including furniture, walls, and structural supports. That means that in addition to being harmful to your health, the fungus is dangerous to the structural integrity of your house. If mold is untreated, over time it can actually undermine the building structure.
Mold exposure can lead to:
- Chronic coughing and wheezing.
- Sneezing, eye irritation, and symptoms similar to hay fever.
- Difficult breathing
- Severe respiratory reactions in small children and elderly people.
- Headache
- Fatigue
People who have a mold allergy or who are exposed to toxic mold over an extended period may suffer long-term health effects. So, if you detect mold in your home, you should not wait to have it removed.
How To Stop Mold From Water Damage
If flooding occurs in your home due to a roof or pipe leak, etc., you need to take quick action to try to stop mold from growing. Hereโs how to prevent mold after water damage: As soon as you discover water leaking in your house:
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- Shut down the main water valve to your home.
- Open all the windows.
- Turn on all dehumidifiers and fans.
- Remove all affected furniture and carpeting.
- Take photos of all damaged areas for your insurance claim.
- Have a thorough professional mold inspection in your home, including:
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- Insulation
- Structures behind walls
- Attic
- Other areas of potential leaks
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- Have professional cleanup and structural drying with industrial equipment.
- Have professional mold removal.
Water Damage and Mold Remediation
Thorough removal of a severe mold infestation requires professional knowledge and experience and commercial-quality structural drying equipment. Though surface areas of walls and carpets may seem dry, the structural supports of a home behind walls, flooring under carpets, the inner parts of furniture, and other places mold spreads require much deeper drying.
Utah Flood Cleanup is your local professional water damage and mold remediation company. Our mold abatement specialists restore your home to safe and clean pre-flood condition for your family and prevent mold from returning.
Mold Abatement Experts โ Utah Flood Cleanup?
Typically, efforts to eliminate a mold infestation from a home are likely to be ineffective without professional intervention. The fungus can be concealed in many hidden areas throughout the house. Finding and removing all the mold without tearing down walls and thereby causing even more damage to your house requires commercial mold abatement processes, equipment, and materials.
For mold remediation, call Utah Flood Cleanup at (801) 416-2666, or contact us here online for information about our water & mold damage restoration services.
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