5 Steps To Prevent Mold After Water Damage
Not only is mold unsightly and smelly, it can present a very real danger to you and those residing in your home. After water damage has occurred to your home, the presence of mold becomes a very real possibility. Throughout the course of this brief article, you will learn about some preventative measures you can take to stop the growth and spread of mold throughout your house after it has received a bit of water damage.
Inspection
Thoroughly inspect your home after it has experienced water damage. Make sure you log which rooms have received damage, as well as any rooms that you suspect could suffer the adverse effects of water damage, despite looking fine. Make sure you inspect every room in your house and note any abnormalities, even if it's not something you necessarily see, but feel. For example, if a room is far more humid than it is in normal conditions, make a note.
Drain Water
Perhaps the most important step is draining the actual water from your home. It is recommended that you utilize a wet vac in order to get rid of the standing water that is present in your home. Wet vacs can generally be rented from a trusted hardware store, or water damage professionals will have one at their disposal if you so choose to hire their services. After the water has been drained, remove any items that cannot be recovered due to heavy water damage from your home.
Cleaning
Make sure that all of the areas that have been affected by water damage are sufficiently clean so that conditions cannot get to a point where mold can grow. Use a HEPA vacuum and make sure that any deposited loam or soil is removed from your house. Make sure to scrub down the molding along your house with a mild detergent and to really clean out every nook and cranny that might otherwise go ignored.
Dry Your Home
If your home continues to stay moist and humid after water damage, it does not matter how clean your house is: mold will form. It is recommended that you dry the offending 24 to 48 hours after you have completed cleaning. Use numerous fans and dehumidifiers throughout these rooms in order to rob them from moisture so that mold cannot find the conditions to grow.
If you believe the task is too big or the damage to thorough to take care of yourself, it is highly recommended that you call on the services of a water damage repair service like Environmental Hazmat Services Inc.