Storms can cause a lot of damage when they strike, but not as much as the damage that can be brought on by an unchecked mold infestation. Mold requires surprisingly little to fester into a big problem that could potentially affect not just the structural integrity of your home, but also yours and your family’s health. Do you know how to prevent mold after water damage? Preventing mold growth will help prevent any home repairs, as well as any health issues related to mold.
What Does Mold Need to Grow?
Moisture is only one of the requirements for mold growth, but it is an essential one nonetheless. For mold to thrive, it needs oxygen, moist conditions, a food source, and suitable temperatures. Moisture damage to your home or place of business can provide mold with an ideal space to grow. Mold thrives on starch and sugar, so this means the paper backing behind most drywall could serve as a sufficient source of food.
As for oxygen and the ideal temperature, there is plenty of oxygen in the small, dark spaces where mold thrives, and these spaces could have temperatures of between 41 degrees and 104 degrees, which is conducive for the growth of mold.
How to Prevent Mold After Water Damage
Preventing mold growth is only achievable once you understand two things. First, you need to know the conditions that mold thrives in, and second, you need to identify the potential mold hot spots in your water damaged building. Behind the drywall is a location that fits the bill, and after a building sustains water damage, this is likely the place that will trap water and create a good environment for mold. Quick action is quite essential to prevent mold growth. The steps you should take are:
- Drying the Affected Areas
Areas that are severely water damaged should be dried out within the first 48 hours to avoid creating permanent damp spots. Clean and dry these areas as best you can.
- Inspect the Building and its Surroundings for Moist Areas and Pooling Water
Check the building as well as its surroundings for damp spots as well as pools of water. A pool of water that forms right next to your foundation should not be ignored because the mold that forms there can easily find a way into the building. Drain any pools of water that are too close to the building.
- Get Rid of the Water Damaged Materials Immediately
Remove all the materials that cannot be dried immediately and find mold resistant replacements. A wet drywall can be temporarily or permanently replaced by something like fiberglass, which cannot provide the food sources for mold to thrive. Remember, even water carries food that mold can live off of, so remember to replace the building’s insulation if it’s wet.
- Find the Source of any Musty Odors you Detect After Cleanup
After inspecting the building with your eyes, use your nose to track down any musty smells and find their sources.
Bottom Line
Knowing how to prevent mold after water damage entails keeping everything dry, but in the event of extensive water damage, that may not be an option. In such cases, it is important to act quickly to remove all moist objects from the building to deny mold a chance to grow. Whether the mold is from a minor leak, or severe water damage, at Titan Restoration of AZ we provide mold removal services in order to avoid further property damage, or health issues.
