Flood season is here, which means mold growth after flooding is right around the corner. After all, April showers bring May flowers, but they also bring messy problems for your home or office building, even though it’s June. When a flood happens, it’s likely mold growth is right behind it. Wherever there’s moisture, mold has the chance to grow. If a flood happens in your home, take these steps to prevent mold growth with Ram Restoration.
Why Flooding Leads to Mold Growth
Anywhere in your home that has excess moisture is subject to mold growth. This includes basements, bathrooms, and kitchens. When a flood happens in your home or office, everywhere the water dispersed can grow mold. Because there’s so much extra water, mold can grow. Unfortunately, mold growth starts within 24 to 48 hours. If you don’t catch the flood when it happens, like if the flood happens on a weekend and no one is at the office, mold growth likely takes place.
Health Hazards of Mold Growth
In general, mold affects people’s health. For certain portions of the population, mold exposure leads to increased health problems. For instance, people with breathing problems are adversely affected by mold presence. Mold already impacts people’s breathing, and it compounds in people with breathing difficulties. Additionally, people with autoimmune disorders and with suppressed immune systems are at risk of health complications from mold. People in these groups must avoid mold exposure and should not take part in clean up.
How to Prevent Mold Growth
Every moment after discovering a flood is critical in preventing mold growth. Once the water is removed, the clean up process can start. To help the professionals who come in to take care of mold, remove any extra porous items from the affected area. This includes wood, carpet, dry wall, and paper products, though there are many more. Removing these products cuts down on future mold growth.
Can I Treat Mold Growth Myself?
There are some instances you can treat mold on your own. However, many governmental agencies, including the EPA, have recommendations on when you should treat mold growth on your own and when you should turn to the professionals. If the mold growth is less than 10 square feet, you can treat growth on your own. If that’s the case, treat with plenty of water and a small amount of bleach. Do not mix the bleach with other household cleaners, as that can lead to more severe health problems. However, if the mold patch is larger than 10 square feet, you’ll need to contact professionals to treat the mold.
Flooding in your home or office is a burden you don’t want to deal with. But remember, excess moisture means mold growth is inevitable. Stay ahead of the curve and start prepping for mold growth after a flood. At Ram Restoration, we are Dayton, Ohio’s go-to mold remediation company. In addition to serving the areas around Dayton, we have years of experience treating mold in homes and offices. If you’ve recently had a flood, contact the professionals at Ram Restoration now.
