If your house has experienced a flood, it is likely that you could get mold. However, there are still things that you can do to prevent mold damage or minimize its impact.
With all the rain we have had this summer, many homes have experienced flooding in Howard County. It’s a terrible feeling to realize that all that rain outside is seeping into your house somewhere. Then, once all the work of pumping out the water is done, you still have the potential for another serious problem: mold damage. If your house has experienced a flood, it is very likely that you could get mold. However, there are still things that you can do to prevent mold damage or minimize its impact.
Drying Out a Flooded Home
When your Howard County home floods, the first step is to remove as much of the water as you can as soon as possible. Buckets are one way, but they are very labor intensive.
A better option is a sump pump or a wet-dry vac if you have access to them. Be honest with yourself when the water is more than you can handle, and call in a professional. Once the water is pumped out, dry out the house with dehumidifiers, fans, or heaters, or by opening the windows, as soon as is possible and safe. The sooner you dry everything out, the less likely you are to get mold.
Remove Damaged Materials
If the waters from the flood got your carpet completely wet, it needs to be removed. The padding under the carpet takes a long time to dry out, and it provides the ideal conditions for mold growth.
If your carpet got saturated, the backing did too, and it all needs to go. Drywall is another material that is susceptible to mold. If the drywall got wet, mold could grow on it or behind it. You’ll need to remove the drywall at least 12 inches above the water line, as well as any drywall where you see mold growing. You can’t clean the mold off of drywall because of how porous it is.
Removing Or Cleaning Mold
Any porous materials that can’t be thoroughly dried within 24-48 hours, like the carpeting and drywall mentioned above, need to be thrown out because they will become a breeding ground for mold. Hard surfaces and non-porous materials can be cleaned with detergents and returned once everything is dried. Clothing, bedding, and textiles can be washed and dried and kept as well. When you begin removing mold, try to contain the moldy areas so that the spores don’t spread to other areas of your Howard County house. As with removing water, be reasonable and call in a professional when it is too much for you to handle.
QUESTIONS? TRUST NORTH ARUNDEL CONTRACTING
If you have even more questions about fire damage repair services or if you want the professionals to take care of it for you, you can trust North Arundel Contracting. Reach us by telephone at 410-766-2855 or by fax at 410-553-2367 and visit us online. Shoot us an email at [email protected] and for after-hours emergencies, page us at 410-541-0328. To find out what we are up to, or for more tips and tricks, follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.