4 Tips To Deal With Mold When Doing Restorations After Flood Damage To Your Home
Posted on: 6 May 2018
The damage that floods cause to homes is more than just the water and sludge that comes in. After the flood waters have subsided, there is another enemy that you are going to have to deal with; mold. To ensure that mold problems are cleaned and do not come back, there are some things that u will want to do during the cleaning and restoration process. Here are some tips to help deal with mold when doing water damage restorations.
1. Quick Action to Remove Standing Water Inside Your Home
Flood waters often come into your home quickly and subside at a much slower rate. After flooding has ended and the waters subside, there is likely going to be standing water that is still left in your home. As soon as you can, you want to start removing standing water to prevent the spread of contamination and problems like mold. Use whatever resources you have to start removing water, such as siphoning with garden hoses, using a wet vacuum or any type of water pump that you may have available.
2. Removing Sludge That Carries Mold Spores and Other Organisms
Your home could have been flooded due to different causes, such as natural disasters or due to sewer backflow. No matter what the cause of the flooding was, there is usually a layer of sludge and contaminants that are left behind after the water is gone. This sludge carries mold spores and other contamination with it and needs to be removed quickly to prevent mold and other organisms from spreading. When cleaning up sludge and sediments, make sure you wear the appropriate protective clothing and avoid contact with the material.
3. Demolition of Materials That Are the Most Vulnerable to Mold Infestation
When your homes have been flooded, water causes damage to materials that will need to be removed to prevent mold growth. Materials with organic components, such as drywall and wood are the most vulnerable. Other absorbent materials like carpeting are also going to need to be removed before you can continue with the cleanup process and restoration.
4. Cleaning and Treatments to Kill Mold Spores and Prevent Future Growth
After cleaning and demolition of the damaged materials, you will want to start working on mold removal and prevention. First, you will want to have your home inspected and tested for hazardous mold growth. If there is any mold, it will need to be cleaned and treated. In addition, talk with the restoration contractor or mold remediation service about antifungal treatments to prevent future mold growth.
These are some tips to help deal with mold when doing restorations after your home has been damaged due to flooding. If you need help with cleaning up and restorations, contact a hazardous waste management service for help with removal of contaminated materials from flood damage restoration.
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