Flooding, leaky pipes, leaky roofs, damp basements, or even overflowing tubs are some of the main causes of water damage and as a result of moisture, you will have to deal with mold issues unless you act fast and correctly to prevent mold growth. Water is not easy to clean up since it is absorbed by porous material. Therefore if you don’t act immediately, it will be difficult to clean up and avoid the effects of moisture.
Mold Growth
As we have mentioned in previous articles, mold is a microscopic organism that grows in damp environments. It can grow on almost any surface in your home, from wood, tiles, drywall to fabric and insulation. Mold growth occurs after your home experiences water damage because the moisture absorbed by the different materials or surfaces in your home creates an ideal environment for it to grow in.
The humidity in your home also helps prevent the moisture in the walls and ceiling from evaporating completely, especially during the colder months when we keep our windows and doors closed. You may also be surprised to learn that mold spores can start to grow and feed on the organic compounds of the surfaces they land on within 24 to 48 hours after the water damage occurs. Consequently, you have a very short time to act in order to prevent mold infestations in your home.
Act Fast to Prevent Mold Growth
After water damage, you must act fast to remove or minimize the moisture, assess the damage to your home, and ensure that it doesn’t happen again. For many people, cleaning up their homes, fixing any damage to the structure of their homes, and replacing damaged objects are the main priorities. However, you should also include the prevention of mold infestation as part of those initial and immediate priorities. If you underestimate the possibility of mold growth after water damage, the long-term consequences could be costly and pose serious health risks.
You also need to determine whether the water damage is minor and contained in a small space or if it’s best to hire experienced professionals like Biotek Environmental, Inc. to deal with your water repair and restoration. Our water damage restoration teams have the right tools and equipment to deal with all your water damage issues quickly and efficiently. We can give you peace of mind, and also save you money on water damage and flood repair. We will work diligently to protect your home and family from the serious health risks of water damage.
Actions That Should Be Taken
- Obviously, you need to remove any traces of water immediately. This can be done with a mop and buck or in cases of excessive amounts of water, with specialized water vacuums. If the flooding is due to sewer back or involves any form of possibly contaminated water, it must be cleaned with special equipment to protect the health of those doing the clean-up and to prevent further contamination.
- Any rugs, carpets, or curtains that have been wet should be removed and processed probably with cleaning procedures like steam cleaning to eliminate all contaminants and germs. You need to dry them thoroughly before placing them in your home to avoid mold growth that could spread to areas of your home that did not experience any water damage.
- All surfaces (porous and non-porous such as floors, and walls) should be cleaned and dried to eliminate moisture as quickly as possible to minimize the possibility of mold growth. This could also mean removing damaged standard drywall or ceiling panels exposed to water damage since they could rot and become infested with mold.
- Your home’s interior humidity should be 50% to help prevent mold growth. To achieve this, you can use the dehumidifier to remove excess moisture, and when weather permits, you can open all windows to air your home. It’s important to maintain low humidity levels to prevent mold growth, especially after water damage.
- It also goes without saying that after the water and every drop of moisture has been removed, the water-damaged areas of your home should be cleaned and sanitized. For minor water damage, some people choose to use over-the-counter cleaning solutions to eliminate bacteria and the possibility of mold. However, this solution is not always effective, so the best choice for keeping your home mold-free is to contact certified professional mold removal and mold remediation companies like Biotek Environmental, Inc. Our crews are experts at dealing with water damage repair in accordance with proven industry standards and the cost of mitigation is minimized. In addition, the potential for mold growth is eliminated and your indoor air quality won’t be affected. You will also be provided with one of the best and longest guarantees in the industry.
Contact Biotek Environmental, Inc. for Your Water Damage Repairs and Restoration
Since 2007, Biotek Environmental, Inc. has been helping homeowners in Columbia, Greenville, and Spartanburg, SC, and everywhere in between with all their emergency water damage repair needs. Our water damage repair team is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Therefore, Biotek Environmental, Inc. will have someone on-site at your property to assess and begin restoration within 2 hours of your call to us.
Our water restoration team of professionals also uses specialized thermal imaging cameras in order to find hidden leaks and damage without tearing apart walls. Often water pipes that burst or leak in your house may not be noticed immediately, the scope of clean-up in water damage restoration procedures may be much more than what is visible.
We are able to remedy the damage sustained to your home or business from any type of water damage and prevent or stop the growth of mold and mildew in order to avoid biological contamination. Moreover, regardless of the extent of water damage, water contamination spreads quickly. We specialize in water extraction and expert cleaning and sanitization of all carpeting in your home or office building.
As a result of our excellent reputation, We have an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau in the water damage and restoration markets we serve! Call us toll-free for all your water damage and mold restoration needs at 866-630-7340 or contact us online.
