An excessive amount of water in your property might indicate the development of stress and mold. Mold may grow on your property if a pipe bursts or leaks pool water. If your property has experienced water damage, read our guide on how to prevent mold after water damage as soon as possible. Mold spreads quickly, so don’t take your time.
Understand What Is Mold
Everybody has heard about the potential risks that mold might pose to your health and safety as well as the structural strength of the surfaces it infects.
After water damage has occurred, the first step in preventing mold from growing on your property and affecting your way of living is understanding how it grows.
After being exposed to water, mold can grow in as little as 24 to 48 hours, so clean up the mess right away and restore your home to a dry state. Certain spores can travel through the atmosphere in trying to find an appropriate habitat since they are minuscule. You can limit possible mold growth and minimize the health concerns linked with it sooner if you act quickly.
Water leaks can cause discolouration, fuzzy growths, and musty odours in the hours and days that follow. These are all disgusting indicators that mold is growing on your property.
Individuals living on the property may develop mold allergies if you do not prevent mold after water damage. These allergies can cause severe and uncomfortable symptoms in both adults and children, such as the following:
- Asthma
- Coughing
- Dry skin
- Eye irritation
- Headaches
- Itching
- Infections
- Pneumonia
- Rhinitis
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Wheezing
Guide to Prevent Mold After Water Damage
If water damage fails to be addressed, mold can become a major issue. Alright, let’s get started to prevent mold after water damage.
#1 Locate The Source and Stop It
Locate down the source of the leak that is flooding your property or any other possible sources of unpleasant water. If it’s safe to do so, shut off the main valve after a burst pipe and contact a nearby emergency plumber.
#2 Remove The Water
Remove the water from the damaged area. By taking immediate action, the possibility of mold growing in the area will be reduced.
Using plastic buckets is an easy, quick, and affordable way to remove a lot of water. This strategy can be physically exhausting despite being economical and effective. Utilizing a wet-dry vacuum is a less time-consuming and more comprehensive strategy.
#3 Use Towels Or Rags
It is always a good idea to use towels or rags to dry the affected areas before making any significant adjustments to damaged objects or surfaces. By just placing towels down to absorb most of the water from your floors and furnishings, you may remove a significant amount of moisture.
#4 Take Away Wet Flooring Or Carpets
Take away all damaged surfaces from your flooring or carpets that may have been affected by water. Particularly with surfaces that have grooves, like stone-tile floors, where moisture can readily get trapped.
Since carpeting gives mold a warm, moist environment to develop in as well as dust that spores can feed on, it can also pose a significant risk for mold growth.
Make sure you call your Insurance provider before taking away these things.
#5 Use Dehumidifier
Keep your property’s humidity level low to prevent the development of mold. Humidity level can be defined simply as the concentration of water vapor in the air relative to its capacity to hold it at a particular temperature.
The simplest way to do this is to use a dehumidifier in and around any areas of your property that have been damaged. By drawing in warm, humid air and releasing cooler, drier air into your property, dehumidifiers reduce the amount of moisture and mold development in the area. Similarly, a strong fan can work.
#6 Disinfect The Surfaces
Apply a standard disinfectant to surfaces that don’t have any pores. After drying, apply a mold-prevention solution to porous surfaces and damp items.
Keep in mind that even though mold does not always develop throughout a flood or pool of water, moist conditions might eventually foster the development of mold. Water damage should therefore be addressed immediately.
Different actions are needed for each flood situation to fully resolve it. Make sure you take all the required precautions to safeguard your property by working with a restoration and water removal professional.
#7 Replace Any Damaged Items
In many cases, it is best to replace water-damaged items completely, especially if the surface or item’s structure has been damaged. However, repairs can be made in some cases.
Replacing every item that has sustained significant damage may seem overwhelming at first, particularly if it involves walls or floors. However, doing so in advance of mold development can save a great lot of stress and money.
#8 Allow Your Property To Dry
To release humid air, open all of the windows and doors, arrange multiple fans to face the windows and doorways, and leave the dehumidifier running for a few days.
To save on frequent emptying, look for a humidifier with a larger tank that can hold 60 quarts or more of water per day. Keep an eye out for moldy odours that have a musty scent.
#9 Set Up Humidity Sensors – Optional
Setting up humidity sensors on your property will serve as a preventative step by warning you when the humidity gets too high or too low. Bath fans with humidity sensors are also available; these smart fans will activate when the moisture content is high and switch off when it returns to normal, saving you the trouble of remembering to leave the fan on every time you take a shower.
Call A Professional Restoration Service!
Even if you did everything to prevent mold after water damage, there are circumstances in which mold development persists. Since mold develops best in moist conditions, it often appears after water damage. Calling Major Restoration Services will ensure that the mold won’t return.
Our team of professionals will help you eliminate the mold while preventing it from returning.
Never be afraid to get in touch with us if you need assistance or have any questions!
