How To Prevent Mold After Water Damage?

Water damage can be devastating to the units and items in your house, but there is one consequence that is despised most, and that is mold. Maybe there is a leak or your sump pump failed, either way, you would want to act fast in order to prevent mold.

Mold forms when there is moisture, food source, oxygen, and suitable temperatures available. You need to clean the water, remove damaged items, dehumidify the area, and inspect the area for moisture and mold.

If you are dealing with water damage, stick around for the step-by-step guide.

When does mold grow?

Mold is a fungus that you typically can’t see unless it forms a colony. There are many different kinds of mold but all need moisture for growth. Usually, it takes 24-48 hours for mold to form.

Moisture is the main ingredient for mold growth, but not the only one. Mold can’t produce their own food source, instead, it feeds on any food source available. Even if you think that there isn’t any food source in your basement, the paper behind the drywall is a food source.

Mold requires a specific temperature. It cannot grow on freezing temperatures. The ideal temperature for mold growth is between 40 degrees Fahrenheit to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. This is really a wide range, so you don’t need to worry about controlling the temperature.

Even if mold can occur without you leaving food out, you still need to be careful. As we said the drywall contains a food source for the mold but leaving food out is only increasing the chances of mold growth. The most common food source for mold is sugar and starch.

Be sure to remember this for future situations.

How do you clean an area that sustained water damage?

First of all, you need to prepare. Mold can be a health hazard, especially if you are allergic. Even if you are not allergic, mold can cause respiratory problems. In order for the cleaning to work, you must act fast.

That is why you need to take a safety measure. I highly recommend using rubber gloves and a sanitary mask. This will not help you to clean but it will keep you safe from the mold.

If a pipe burst or your basement is flooded, water can be expected. Make sure the power is shut off in the section. If a pond is formed, take a bucket and thoroughly clean the water. You can’t start cleaning before you did this, cleaning with a cloth will not help if there is too much water.

Then, you can thoroughly clean the rest of the water. You can do this using a cloth or a mop. You will want to make sure that the floor and walls are dry. This may be an exhausting process but the effort is worth it. No one wants mold in their house.

Even if you have cleaned the water in your house, you still need to make sure there isn’t any wet ground near the foundation of the house. If there is water flowing in the direction of the foundation, reroute it to a safe spot. Mold can form outside than move inside of your house.

When you have properly dealt with the water, it’s time to remove any damaged items. If there is anything you want to dry and save, move it outside in the sun. It is best to remove items beyond repair. They can be the cause of further issues.

Lastly, make sure there isn’t any kind of food source for the mold. Basements are the place where floods happen and also the place where food is stored. The food will be ruined and you will have mold in your house.

Once you have done that, you are ready to dehumidify.

How to dehumidify?

You are not done when there isn’t any water left, moisture can be in the air too. You need to properly dry the whole area in order to prevent mold from forming.

The most efficient way to get rid of moisture is by using a dehumidifier. There are some reasonably cheap and efficient dehumidifiers that will save you a lot of trouble. Experts highly recommend having a dehumidifier even if you are not dealing with water damage.

If the area that sustained water damage has an AC available, you can use that too. AC’s are really good at controlling air. If this is an option available for you, leave the AC on as long as you need to. You will notice when the area is completely dry.

Some homes are designed that way that there is natural ventilation in the house. This would help you a lot if you have this as an option. However, if you don’t have this, you may want to consider installing one for the future.

Now, if none of the options above are available to you, you can use windows. Simply open your windows until the area is completely dry. However, this may not always work. If you don’t see any improvements, consider another option.

There are some more traditional ways to decrease moisture. People use crystal salts or charcoal. These are used for soaking the moisture. Also, baking soda is used for soaking too.

Before moving on, make sure that the whole area is dry. When you are finished with dehumidifying, there is only one step left.

Properly inspect the area for mold and moisture

First, you need to check for any water left around the house and the damaged area. If not, check if your house is humid.

See if there are any watermarks left on the wall. Check for condensation on the wall. You may want to do this regularly after dealing with water damage. You can’t be too safe; water can find ways that are not accessible to you.

If after all the cleaning and dehumidifying, your house is still humid, you still have a problem. Properly inspect the whole house for leaks or water forming in the basement.

Now, after you made sure your house is perfectly dry, you need to make sure that mold didn’t already form. As we said, there may be mold in your house and you will not be able to see it until it forms a colony.

If you notice strange smells, make sure you know where it is coming from. Mold can be recognized from that bad smell. Also, make sure there aren’t any colonies formed. If you already have seeable mold, you are in trouble.

There is a way you can deal with spots of mold. You can make your own homemade detergent. Use 1 cup of bleach for 1 gallon of water. Mix it together and start cleaning. Thoroughly scrub the area where mold formed.

Repeat the dehumidifying process, just as a safety measure. You will want to make sure this does not happen to you again. If you can’t solve this yourself, call a professional.

That is all about how to prevent mold from forming after water damage. Hope you found this helpful and good luck!

Related questions

How dangerous is a leaking ceiling?

Very! If the leaking didn’t cause any structural damage, it sure provided a good environment for mold to grow.

Does vinegar kill mold?

Yes, it does, because it is a mild acid. However, it won’t stop mold growth in the future if your home is humid.