4 Steps to Prevent Mold After a Home Flood

8/13/2020 (Permalink)

If your Edmond, OK, home is a victim of flooding, it’s susceptible to serious mold growth and damage.

Whether your home floods due to a hurricane or a burst pipe, the water will do a lot of damage in a very short time. Every second will mean more damage, so it’s crucial to remove as much water as possible as quickly as possible. Mold growth can begin within 24 hours of exposure to water, so in addition to standing water, all excess moisture in the area needs to be thoroughly dried. Take these steps to prevent mold after a home flood:

1. Circulate the Air
If it’s less humid outside than inside, open doors and windows to allow for better airflow throughout the affected area. Everything needs to dry as soon as possible.

2. Remove Unsalvageable Items
Remove anything that isn’t salvageable. Most porous materials, unfortunately, will probably have to be disposed of. Carpeting usually can’t be dried fast enough to save it since mold can begin growing within 24 hours of water exposure.

3. Clean and Sanitize
Everything that’s salvageable needs to be thoroughly dried, cleaned, and then, disinfected. Borax tends to be a good cleaner for mold removal from most surfaces. It’ll also prevent mold growth. Porous materials like drywall will probably be beyond reclamation.

4. Dry the Area
The area and contents need to be dried as quickly as possible. Industrial fans and dehumidifiers will probably be needed if things are still soaked. The relative humidity should be below 50% to keep mold from growing. Until the excessive moisture is gone, mold will still grow. Although some materials like plaster may be able to be dried thoroughly within a few days, it may be better to tear out and replace since mold is likely to begin growing within that time.

If your Edmond, OK, home is a victim of flooding, it’s susceptible to serious mold growth and damage. You can count on water damage cleanup experts to return it to its preloss condition as quickly as possible.