Mold growth is a serious and dangerous issue if not taken care of promptly. Mold can start growing in a matter of 24 to 48 hours after water damage/excessive moisture occurs. And grow best in warm, dark (like under cabinetry and behind your walls), and moist environments.
No matter the amount of water you find in your home, it can do a lot of harm if the proper steps are not immediately taken to lessen the water damage and moisture. The restoration experts at Onsite Restoration share some ways that can help prevent mold and mildew after water damage:
How to Prevent Mold Growth
When you experience water damage or flooding, it is extremely important to act fast. By mitigating the water damage you can help prevent and reduce future mold growth. Our IICRC certified technicians recommend following these seven steps to help prevent mold growth after water damage or flooding.
1. Look for the source of the water.
If the water is coming from your home turn off the water supply to your house. If the water is coming from a leak in the roof or a rotted window, use a tarp or water-resistant barrier to reduce the amount of water that comes in until a roofing expert or insurance adjuster can take a look at the extent of the damage.
2. Pick up any personal items from the floor, if it is safe to do so.
In addition to your water shut off valve, you may want to turn off all the electricity in the exposed area too. Unless you turn off all of your power, you’ll still want to be careful of electrical outlets and any items plugged into them, you don’t want to run the risk of hurting yourself.
3. Move furniture out of the way, or elevate them to keep it out of the water.
Again, only do this if it is safe to be in your home. The water should be turned off, exterior breeches covered, and if flooding all flood water receded and no more flooding is expected in your area. Flood water especially can happen quickly and while you want to protect your belongings, you and your family are more important.
4. Remove the water quickly!
Use a wet/dry vacuum to clean up the water as quickly as possible. You may be able to rent these from a local hardware store or you can call Onsite Restoration and let our certified technicians near Tampa do the cleanup for you.
5. Use fans to dry any carpeted surfaces.
DO NOT use fans if you have delayed cleanup or suspect mold growth already. Fans will blow and spread mold spores that may already be forming, which will likely do more harm than good.
6. Use a dehumidifier to remove excessive moisture.
Dehumidifiers help dry out the air and limit mold and mildew growth.
7. Clean and sanitize hard surfaces.
Clean all walls, baseboards, and hard-surface floors with soap and water. You can sanitize these surfaces with a ratio of 1.5 cups of chlorine bleach to one gallon of water.
It is important to take pictures and document all your water damage along the way. This is especially important for insurance purposes if you are moving furniture and possessions out of the way. Do not throw anything away, our certified technicians at Onsite Restoration in Tampa, FL oftentimes can save and restore items back to pre-loss condition. Call our professionals!
Prevent Mold Growth
Mitigating the damage to your home after water damage or flooding is important in the prevention of mold growth. By properly mitigating—or lessening the severity of the problem—you can deprive the mold and mildew of the conditions it needs to grow and thrive.
But having the proper equipment on hand is not always possible. The Institute for Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) recommends that in the aftermath of a storm or flood that a certified mold restoration service provider, such as Onsite Restoration, evaluate the water damage and remove any mold present.
Not only are our technicians IICRC certified, but we are available 24/7, 365 days a year. If you are in either Hillsborough, Pasco, or Pinellas County contact Onsite Restoration at 813-579-5789 or email us to schedule a consultation that will begin your mold mitigation & restoration process!
