Water damage can occur in many forms, including plumbing failure, flooding, or even high humidity. No matter what source of moisture is affecting your home, the correct cleanup strategy is needed to restore your property and prevent mold.
Mold Prevention Tips
Since excessive moisture is a key ingredient for mold growth, it’s critical to dry standing water as soon as possible. Follow these tips to prevent mold after a flood, ceiling leak, or other type of water damage:
- Cut off the water source: If your pipes are leaking or have burst due to low temperatures, turn the main water shut-off valve to limit the damage.
- Act fast: You have 24 to 48 hours to dry your water-logged belongings. Otherwise, mold could set in. Begin the drying process by using mops and wet-dry vacuums.
- Remove damp objects: Pick up items from the floor that have gotten wet or could get wet if you don’t remove them. Place belongings outside to dry in the sun, which reduces the risk of mold contamination.
- Lower the humidity: To decrease the relative humidity and speed up the room-drying process, run a dehumidifier or open the windows, weather permitting.
- Arrange professional air drying: Consumer-grade equipment is insufficient to detect and remove hidden pockets of moisture that facilitate mold growth. The only way to fully dry the structure is with professional air drying.
Getting Rid of Mold After Water Damage
If you didn’t act fast enough, you might now be facing a mold problem. Mold from water damage can cause numerous health risks, including hay fever-type symptoms, asthma attacks, and eye and throat irritation. Here’s how to remediate mold growth quickly and effectively to preserve your family’s health:
- Scrub mold from hard surfaces: Donning the proper protective clothing, scrub visible mold using detergent and water.
- Dispose of porous materials: Items that absorb water, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, should be thrown away if they become moldy.
- Don’t paint over moldy surfaces: Hiding mold with paint or caulk is not recommended. The paint is likely to start peeling soon after application, creating more of a mess than you started with.
- Hire a professional for help: According to the EPA, you can probably handle mold cleanup yourself if the affected area is less than about 10 square feet. However, you should hire a professional if the damage is extensive, you have health concerns, or you’re not sure how to clean the object in question. Sewer water damage and contaminated HVAC systems also demand professional attention.
As an expert at creating and maintaining healthy living environments, Bactronix is your go-to source for mold remediation in Pittsburgh. We can test for mold after water damage, as well as treat and remediate any problems we find. Once the job is complete, we certify and guarantee the health of your home for one year! For more information or to request a mold remediation quote, please call 412-375-7886 or contact us online.
