How to Prevent Mold After Water Damage

Unfortunately, water damage can happen at anytime, anywhere and without warning. Water damage is a huge issue in the United States because of the climate and geographical conditions. In fact, it has been reported that one out of every five homes will experience water damage throughout their lifetime. Water damage not only affects your home or office, but it can also be a health risk and cause other serious problems. Water damage causes over nine billion dollars in damage annually and mold growth can quickly occur after water damage has occurred. Water damage is the leading cause of mold growth and must be dealt with immediately. Water damage not only increases the possibility of mold growth throughout your home or office, but it can also cause serious health problems. Water damage is not something to be taken lightly because if left untreated, the problem only gets worse over time, and mold growth begins to take hold of your home or business. Water damaged homes are at risk of developing certain respiratory illnesses, allergies, asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis which is a lung disease. Water damage should be dealt with immediately by a professional water damage restoration company that has experience in flood restoration services. If you have experienced water damage at your home or office, the following steps will help you prevent mold growth from occurring after water damage:
Steps to Take After Water Damage:
Ensure the water has been turned off and never turn it back on yourself. Call a plumber for this task, as you will probably cause more damage by turning the water back on incorrectly. Water can drip down behind walls and floors, where you won’t see it but where it will be very hard to remove the water from. Water damage restoration professionals have special equipment to deal with this type of problem.
Inspect and Assess: Check for damage, and take note of any visible mold, mildew or obvious musty smells. If you notice any of these problems, then you should continue reading below about what needs to be done to prevent mold.
Clean and Dry: After you’ve turned off the water and inspected, it’s time to clean up and dry out your home. If there is significant damage (mold in walls and flooring) then you may need professional help with repairs and cleanup. Water damage Hobart offers water damage restoration services that will help minimize mold after a flood or similar event.
While the above steps are important, they only paint half of the picture when it comes to mold prevention during water damage emergencies like flooding or leaks from pipes or appliances inside your home. The next step – preventing mold growth – is equally if not more important!
How to Prevent Mold through Water Damage Restoration
Mold prevention is the best defense against mold. Water damage restoration companies offer water damage repair services that can be beneficial if you have experienced flooding in your home resulting in mold growth. Water Damage Restoration Services Sunshine Coast offers water removal, water cleanup and structural drying. Water Damage Repair Sunshine Coast also carries a line of mold retardants designed to prevent problems instead of clean them up after the fact.
Steps to Take If Mold Already Present
If you find mold already present, then there are steps you can take to get rid of it – including killing it with chemicals or removing it by physically cleaning the surface where the black mold grows. Simply cutting off water supply will not kill existing mold spores that are thriving on surfaces that may already be wet and remain moist. Mold remediation Denver professionals can help prevent existing mold from continuing the cycle of growth and reproduction.
Prevention is key
Prevention is often better than cure. Water damage and mold growth go hand-in-hand – once water damage has occurred, mold will start to grow almost immediately. Water does not need to be present for long periods before it starts to cause health problems such as allergies and respiratory diseases (and the list goes on). Also, water damage can cause structural problems such as warping and cracking of floors, walls and ceilings. Water damage can also lead to rot in timber constructions, which will eventually impact the structure of your home.
Water leakage is difficult to prevent – we live in a rainy country and it is next to impossible to totally stop water from entering our homes. Water damage can occur due to number of reasons, including but not limited to faulty plumbing, burst water pipes, leaking roofs, overflowing bathtubs and dishwashers. Water damage can also occur if the building is on a flood plain or is located near a major waterway.