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Mold Prevention And Flood Damage Cleanup
Did you experience home water damage as a result of Hurricane Irene?
Now comes the hard task of flood clean-up and mold prevention.
Why Mold Prevention After Flood Damage Is Important
Dealing with a flooded house and flood cleanup is not just a matter of getting the water out.
Mold prevention should be a primary concern because black mold is likely to start growing within 24 to 48 hours after a house is flooded.
Many people are simply focused on the immediate flooding situation not realizing that mold growth can be a much greater health problem and one that can persist long after the initial flood cleanup.
Mold Prevention After Flooding Requires Fast Action
It is important to take immediate action to prevent mold growth from occurring.
When major flooding from a natural disaster like Hurricane Irene occurs the extent of flood damage is great.
We advise using a water damage restoration service or mold remediation company because time is of the essence in preventing mold growth and getting your home dried out.
Most homeowners do not have the manpower or equipment needed to do this quickly enough.
Because of the extensive water damage, many contractors in your area will be working on their own homes or those of friends and family.
Drying out a home fast enough to prevent mold growth requires a lot of equipment and resources will be limited.
This is one time where if you can grab a water damage restoration company you should do so without any lengthy investigation or you will lose out.
Flood Damage Cleanup And Mold Prevention – Doing It Yourself
If you can’t get a water damage restoration contractor there are some steps you can take yourself for mold prevention and flood damage cleanup.
Get all the water out as soon as possible. You should wear protective clothing if possible because the water, mud and debris may have been contaminated by sewerage.
- Remove carpeting, padding, and carpet strips from all flood-affected areas.
- Baseboards should be removed and all drywall should be removed a foot above the waterline.
- Remove all wet insulation.
- Remove all flooded cabinets, appliances, and fixtures
Items like mattresses, furniture, books, or other personal belongings that can not be washed or disinfected should be thrown away.
Successful mold prevention is dependent on removing all porous items where mold can easily grow.
Time is of the essence for mold prevention. Use a shop vac to pull up as much remaining moisture as possible.
Clean all remaining items and interior surfaces with hot water and detergent.
Set up fans and dehumidifiers to get your home dried out as quickly as possible.
DO NOT TRY TO DRY YOUR HOME OUT BY TURNING THE HEAT ON!
Mold grows best at higher temperatures.
You will not be able to dry things out and lower humidity fast enough to keep up with the accelerated growth rate this will cause.
Monitor your home closely after the flood clean-up for signs of mold growth because you need to know if additional steps will be required for mold prevention.
Flood Clean Up And Mold Prevention Conclusion
Flood damage cleanup and mold prevention are important to prevent long-term health problems.
Homeowners should take immediate action to remove all water, mud, and debris from their homes.
Carpeting, padding, and carpet strips should be removed from all flood-affected areas.
Baseboards and drywall should be removed a foot above the waterline.
All wet insulation should be removed. Porous items that can not be washed or disinfected should be thrown away.
Fans and dehumidifiers should be set up to get the home dried out as quickly as possible.
Homeowners should monitor their homes closely for signs of mold growth after the flood clean-up.
If mold growth is found, additional steps will need to be taken for mold prevention.
https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/BePreparedBeSafe/Floods/Cleanup
