If your home has experienced water damage due to flooding, a sewage back up, an overflowing sink or any other water related incident, it’s important to act fast. Mold can start to grow on a damp surface(s) within 24 to 48 hours.
Once an area becomes damp, mold begins to reproduce by spores – tiny, lightweight “seeds”- that travel through the air. Even worse, it will continue to grow until steps are taken to eliminate the source of moisture, and effectively deal with the mold problem.
What’s The Best Way To Prevent Mold After Flooding?
Cleaning your home on your own can help prevent mold from growing and spreading, allowing you to inhabit your home until a home mold inspector can verify that all traces of mold have been removed.
Here are 6 steps to take to prevent mold after flooding:
- If the weather is less humid outside, open any windows and doors in the area to let fresh air in.
- Remove all wet items from the area. Clean all exposed surfaces with disinfectants or sanitizers.
- Get rid of any soaked porous or absorbent items. For example: ceiling tiles, paper products, furniture and even water-damaged drywall, carpeting and insulation
- If you can’t get rid of saturated carpeting right away, remove water from it with a carpet extractor or wet/dry vacuum.
- Use fans to circulate air into the space and speed evaporation.
- Use dehumidifiers to reduce the moisture content of the air and help things dry more quickly, especially in closed areas.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) created this graphic to assess the extent of water damage in your home. MoldGone recommends you answer these questions and follow the guidance to remedy your situation.
Image shared from https://www.fema.gov/pdf/rebuild/recover/fema_mold_brochure_english.pdf
Questions to determine if you need to consult a home mold inspector to help prevent mold after flooding:
- Do you have visible mold?
- Can you smell the mold? (usually the air smells musty)
- How much mold is present?
If you answered these questions and your answers determined that you need to “Identify & Eliminate Source Of Moisture” or “Consult A Professional Contractor”, MoldGone recommends you schedule a mold remediation appointment.