The Relation between Water Damage & Mold

12/11/2017 (Permalink)

Water damage & mold are two of the worst aspects of a house fire or flood, as they are the most damaging to your home. Mold and mildew can begin growing within 24 hours of a fire or flood and can result in many health issues if left unchecked. There are many ways you can prevent mold and mildew in your home, and hiring a professional restoration company to handle the cleanup, repair, and restoration process for you is an excellent way to start. Such a company has special equipment, expertise, and extensive experience that enable them to handle water damage & mold of any severity. When determining what you can do to prevent water damage & mold growth in your home after a fire or flood, it can be helpful to know the ways in which water damage and mold are related.

Water Damage Causes Mold and Mildew

One of the key ways in which water damage & mold are related is that water damage results in mold growth. Mold requires a moist environment to grow and thrive, and a water-damaged home is the perfect breeding ground for this to occur. Water seeps into your home’s structure after a fire or flood and causes the wood to swell and warp. This also allows mold to grow in the core of your home’s structure, and getting rid of this mold once it is present is very difficult. Therefore, you should do everything possible to prevent mold from growing in your home in the first place. Some things you can do to dry excess water in your home are to open all the windows and place fans throughout your home. You can also place dehumidifiers in your home if you have access to them. If possible, you should leave the actual restoration process to a professional, however.

Water Damage & Mold Require Special Equipment

If you have had water damage in your home for more than 24 hours, chances are that mold has already begun to develop. Getting rid of mold once you have it can be extremely difficult, especially considering mold can re-grow even after you get rid of it if the conditions are right. You should contact a professional restoration company immediately after a fire or flood to prevent mold and mildew growth, as cleaning existing mold requires specialized equipment only a professional has. Industrial-grade ozone generators and dehumidifiers are usually best for getting rid of water damage & mold in your home, and these machines are best left to professionals to operate.

When dealing with water damage & mold, it is important to remember that the two are related and that you can therefore prevent one by dealing with the other as soon as possible. You should always hire a professional to deal with water damage & mold if possible, since doing so yourself can result in further damage to your home. For more information about water damage & mold and how the two are related, you should contact a professional restoration company.