Preventing Mold After Water Damage: Essential Tips for Homeowners

It’s a scenario that brings anxiety to every homeowner. Maybe you wake up after a storm to find a wet spot on your ceiling. Or you come home from work to find a flooded basement after a water heater burst. Whatever the cause of excess water in your home, time is always of the essence to mitigate damage.

But even once you remove the water and dry any damaged surfaces, preventing mold after water damage should be your primary concern. Luckily, there are a few actions you can take to make the restoration process smoother and limit the opportunity for a mold outbreak.

How to Prevent Mold After Water Damage

Mold can start growing on a damp surface within a single day. So your first step in preventing mold after water damage is to remove as much water as possible and completely dry an affected area.

Large-scale water damage situations require the help of a professional water damage restoration team. But if the water has only impacted a small area of your property, you may be able to utilize household items like large wet/dry vacuums and fans to dry the area.

Even if you need to bring in professional help, it’s good practice to at least start the removal and drying process as best you can.

Quick Actions to Prevent Mold Growth

Once you begin the drying process, there are a few other actions you can take to help stop mold growth in its tracks:

• Remove all wet materials: Immediately discard any removable items or surfaces affected by the water damage, including ceiling tiles, drywall/insulation, rugs, and furniture (if unsalvageable). By removing potentially affected areas, you can mitigate the spread of mold spores that may have already started growing.
• Clean and disinfect: Use a combination of detergent and water to clean any affected surfaces or items. For hard surfaces like tile and wood, you can use soapy water and a bristle brush.
• Ventilate the space: Open doors and windows to allow fresh air in and continue to dry out the space. If the excess water occurred in a room with an exhaust fan, turn it on and let it run.

While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approves of a DIY approach for moldy areas less than about 10 square feet (roughly 3 feet by 3 feet patch), anything larger or visible mold that won’t go away after vigorous cleaning should be handled by a professional mold remediation team.

The Flood Response Mold Remediation Process

Our process for mold removal starts with a thorough visual inspection. Once we have located the mold, we can immediately begin using industry-standard treatments to target both the mold growing on your home’s surfaces and any spores released into the air:

1. Containing the affected areas to prevent further mold spread.
2. Safely removing mold from all affected surfaces, without contaminating air quality or contaminating other areas of the structure.
3. Identifying and addressing any root causes of mold growth.
4. Preventing future mold growth through moisture control measures and repairing any damaged areas (roof leaks, flood risk areas, etc.).

Flood Response mold remediation services also include odor treatments, replacing affected carpets, foam, or sub-flooring, cleaning your air ducts to help remove spores, and cleaning and sealing any tiles.

Preventing Mold After Water Damage: Additional Long Term Tips

You can’t always predict when disaster will strike, but you can put yourself in the best possible position to keep the likelihood of mold growth as low as possible. Here are a few additional steps you can take in your home to mitigate your mold risk:

• Keeping your home dry in general; don’t allow water build up anywhere, including shower walls or wet clothes in the washing machine.
• Use mold-killing cleaning products on shower curtains and bathroom tiles regularly.
• Be mindful of indoor plants and the mold that can grow in soil.
• Use exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom to limit moisture in the air.
• Act quickly and fix any leaks when you notice them.
• Keep basements and garage areas well-ventilated and consider utilizing dehumidifiers in hot or humid seasons.
• Use waterproof materials in areas that may have regular exposure to water (windowsills, exposed plumbing, bathroom rugs, etc.).
• Consider investing in a moisture detector if you suspect there may be water behind your walls or under your floors.

Make Your First Response, Flood Response Whenever Disaster Strikes.

Home disasters can be scary and overwhelming, but you don’t need to face the unknown alone. From the aftermath of a storm to plumbing disasters that get out of control, our water damage restoration and mold remediation experts are here to address the issue and return your home to its previous condition.

At Flood Response Restoration Services, our IICRC-trained and certified technicians, experienced licensed general contractors, and property restoration experts will arrive quickly to begin emergency water extraction, mold removal, and any reconstruction services needed.

For over 20 years, we’ve helped families and business owners in the Coachella Valley area take the right steps to restore their properties and rebuild their lives in the face of disaster. Are you looking for a reliable, full-service disaster recovery service in the Coachella Valley or the surrounding area? Contact Flood Response today!