Stop Mold in Its Tracks After a Home Flood

8/31/2023 (Permalink)

A flooding can cause severe damage to your home.

Mold is virtually everywhere all the time; there's really no getting away from it. However, most of the time, it doesn't cause problems. If your floodwaters enter your Bountiful, UT, home, though, a mold problem can develop quickly and can get out of hand fast. Mold growth will begin approximately 24-48 hours after water exposure, so it's essential to start the remediation process as soon as possible.

How to prevent mold growth

1. Wear Personal Protective Equipment

Before you begin the cleanup process, whether you know there is mold or not, it's vital to wear PPE to protect yourself from whatever is in the water, whether mold, bacteria, or harmful chemicals. Safety goggles, respirators, and gloves are the minimum gear you should wear. You can also wear hair covers, coveralls, and shoe covers for a more severe job.

2. Let the Fresh Air In

If the humidity outside is less than the relative humidity in the house, open windows and doors to let some fresh air blow through. You can begin using fans and dehumidifiers to help the drying process along.

3. Extract All Excess Water

The easiest way to remove all standing water is with a wet/dry vacuum. If you don't have one, you can rent one at a hardware or home improvement store. Mops and towels will also do the job, but a wet/dry vacuum is the easiest and most efficient way to quickly extract the water and small, floating debris.

4. Remove Soaked Materials

All soaked materials that can be removed must be removed. Wet items will just add to the excess moisture of the area, further promoting mold growth. Anything porous, including wooden and upholstered furniture, carpeting and padding, drywall, insulation, papers, and stuffed toys, are just a few of the items that will be affected by floodwaters and moisture. Anything that can't be completely dried within 24-48 hours will generally not be salvageable.

5. Inspect for Mold

Next, it's essential to inspect for mold. You might smell a musty odor but see no signs of mold. Still, if you smell this odor, mold is probably growing somewhere in the area. Some areas to look for mold are on baseboards, ceilings, under flooring, and behind drywall. The only sure way to find all the mold, if there is any, is to hire mold remediation experts to do a thorough professional inspection.

6. Clean and Disinfect Everything

Next, it's time to clean and disinfect the affected area. If you discover mold, a detergent and clean water will get rid of it and help prevent it from coming back.

7. Dry Everything Completely

Finally, it's essential to dry the area completely before doing structural repairs or moving belongings back into place. You can run fans, heaters, dehumidifiers and open the windows and doors.

When you experience a home flood, drying everything is one of the most essential tasks to begin immediately. Removing the standing water and excess humidity within 24-48 hours will help minimize or even totally avert mold growth. Once you've finished all your restoration work, have a final inspection performed to ensure no mold remains.