The sound of trickling is just the start of your problems when it comes to having water in your house. Unfortunately, mold that can cause illness can grow quickly after water damage. Early detection of mold growth can help to keep your house safe, as it typically begins to grow 24 to 48 hours after water damage. This is the exact reason you should be aware of how to check for mold after water damage.
Ways How To Check For Mold After Water Damage
Knowing how to check for mold after water damage is crucial since mold can lead to health issues and damage to your property. Here are some ways:
Provide A Mold-Detection Safe Space
Make sure the space is safe before beginning any mold detection or repairs if you’ve found water damage in your house. Cutting off power to the affected area is the best course of action in this situation.
It’s advisable to use a mask and other protective gear when doing a mold inspection of the house to prevent coming into touch with mold spores.
Look For Mold
You could be looking directly at the mold. Look for obvious evidence of mold on walls, ceiling corners, floors, and ceilings. Look for discoloration on all walls, baseboards, ceilings, and flooring. It could be necessary for you to lift rugs, move furniture, and remove drapes for this.
It’s useful to know that mold can have a range of colors, including black, white, and green while learning how to check for mold after water damage.
Have Faith In Your Scent Sense
A musty scent in your house is a clear indication that there is mold growing there. As mold spores proliferate, they release gasses that give the impression of the characteristic mold stench. Even though you might be likely to cover up the unpleasant odor, mold treatment is necessary if your house has a musty smell.
Step Barefoot Around The Carpets
DIY steam cleaning makes water-damaged carpets look better, but the moisture continues to remain there. Dark patches that feel wet or spongy beneath bare feet develop when mold grows through cushioning and fibers.
Don’t attempt to remove the mold yourself if you think it may be growing in the carpet. Let professionals in water damage take on the labor-intensive work.
Look Into The Basement
When the basement floods due to severe weather or a busted pipe, the porous concrete quickly becomes infested with mold. After any kind of water damage, look for indications of mold on the walls, ceiling, and floor of the basement.
To test for powdery white growth on basement walls, place a small bit in a glass of water. If it dissolves, it’s called efflorescence, a harmless kind of salt deposit.
Light Up The Dark Corners
Inspect the pantry and closet spaces close to areas that have been soaked thoroughly. Although they might seem dry, moisture can seep through wall cavities and create an ideal environment for the growth of mold.
It is simpler to inspect gloomy areas in storage places when you use a headlamp. Also, the personal lighting system ensures the safety of mold testing in the basement and attic.
Check Plumbing Repairs Again
If a plumbing malfunction caused the water damage, take the next few days to inspect for mold growth around the repaired pipes. For a further month, just to be sure, do a weekly double-check of the affected area.
Make use of this double-checking technique behind, beneath, and around any previously repaired appliances.
Take A Mold Swab Test
A do-it-yourself mold swab test can help you in identifying any mold growth in the walls of your house, even though it is not 100% accurate.
Use a pail in an open area to combine one part bleach with sixteen parts water to do this test. Next, dab the area where you think mold is growing with a cotton swab that has been dipped in the solution. Indicators of mold growth in your walls are strong if you notice the spotlighting up quickly.
Hire A Professional Mold Tester
For most homes, hiring professional mold testers is the only method for getting conclusive answers regarding the possible development of mold. Professional mold testers can give you an accurate assessment of mold growth throughout your house by analyzing air quality and direct sample analysis.
Choosing the appropriate mold treatment method may depend on this.
The Importance Of Mold Inspection
Hidden in the corners of your house, mold growth can be a silent potential danger. After water damage, putting off the need for a comprehensive mold inspection can result in several problems that could endanger the health of your family and your property.
Benefits To Expenses
It is significantly less expensive to deal with mold problems in their early stages compared to severe mold remediation. A professional mold inspection immediately might save you a significant amount of money on future repair expenses.
Benefits To Health
Mold is well known for causing problems with breathing, allergies, and other health concerns. By doing a thorough inspection and taking immediate action to get rid of mold growth, you’re protecting the health and well-being of your family.
Benefits To Peace Of Mind
Peace of mind comes from knowing that mold is not a problem in your house. You can relax knowing that your house is kept in top condition and that the air your family breaths is safe and clean.
Benefits To Property
Beyond health risks, mold can seriously damage the structural integrity of your house. Decreased property value and expensive repairs are some of the effects of extensive mold infestations. You can protect your investment and extend the life of your house by finding mold early on.
Ways To Prevent Mold
Even after water damage, some routines and some planning can help prevent future mold problems. Use these simple methods to prevent hazardous mold growth.
- Gutter blockages and overflow into wall voids should be prevented to keep interiors dry.
- Maintain laundry rooms, bathrooms, and kitchens a good ventilation.
- On your list of monthly maintenance tasks, include a short, comprehensive house plumbing inspection.
- Raise cardboard boxes off the ground to mitigate the possibility of mold growth in storage spaces.
- Regularly inspecting the basement for wall cracks will help to lessen the likelihood of mold growth.