Avoid Mold After a Flood

7/28/2020 (Permalink)

Although mold growth may not immediately come to mind after unwanted water enters the home, it needs to move up the priority list.

If dealing with flooding in your Stillwater, OK, home, the number of things to worry about seems to be endless. Alongside the water damage, insurance claims, and destruction of personal belongings, there is another concern that needs immediate action: mold growth. Floodwaters in a home with organic material and warm temperatures produce the perfect environment for this fungus to flourish, and it does so quickly.

A Fast Grower
Mold is actually everywhere, it is just usually lying dormant waiting for the right conditions to flourish. Once that comes together, the timeline for an infestation is rapid.

Most types of mold can germinate within 24 hours. Although still microscopic, the tiny spores can begin to spread to other areas.
If the spores have not been detected within 12 days, they have likely already started to colonize without being visible.
After 18 days, clear signs of mold can be seen.

Prevention Tips
Once mold growth starts to happen, the spores can easily be spread via clothes, air ducts and other means. If that happens, the mold removal process can be quite complex and will require a mold damage remediation and restoration expert to restore a home to normal. Anytime water enters the home, preventing mold growth should be a priority. Prevention tips include:

If outdoor humidity levels are low, open windows to generate airflow.
Remove saturated items to dry out.
Dispose of porous materials that can’t be cleaned.
Use a wet/dry vacuum to clean up standing water on hard floors and carpeting.
Run fans and dehumidifiers to circulate air and contain evaporation.
Clean and sanitize all surfaces that have come in contact with water.

Although mold growth may not immediately come to mind after unwanted water enters the home, it needs to move up the priority list. Taking measures to reduce a welcoming fungus environment can minimize further damage and help your home get back to normal faster.