Water damage in the flooded basement usually leads to mold if not cleaned and dried immediately and properly. Water damage and mold are two very common problems most homeowners will face in their lifetime. Though neither can be prevented 100% of the moment, many helpful tips can minimize the threat. Why can’t water mold or damage be prevented completely? Straightforward. You can’t control Mother Nature.
We all know that everything about us gets older and starts to rust. That’s the life process everything must go through. Trees grow, fall over eventually and start to decay. Temperature changes cause the earth to contract and expand and rain makes the soil swell.
With all these things happening around us that you need to be observant of the changes occurring and take proper actions. First, let us focus on basement floods and water damage. We all know that if water enters the house, it needs to be cleaned up immediately or damage can occur. The key is to never permit water to enter your house except in restricted situations like when you are mopping the floor or cleaning. Check these things around the home to prevent water infiltration.
- Check your gutters and clean them after the leaves have stopped falling. This will ensure that winter snow can melt and drain properly without obstruction. Additionally, check your gutters in the spring so you are prepared for the summer storms.
- Exterior drains. Places like your terrace could have storm drains that need to be clear of obstructions.
- Assess your window seals around the inside and out. Older houses normally have caulking that could have dried out and hastened. Water could get inside and cause unseen damage involving your interior walls and the exterior wall.
- Check your faucets don’t drip. Water damage starts with just one drop of water which may grow into a flood. Also, if your exterior faucet drips before the winter freeze, then the moist soil can expand and put enough strain on your home foundation to cause a fracture. Then as soon as the spring thaw comes, all that suspended soil can drain to your cellar in the shaped crack.
- Check all of your interior faucets and hoses. Ensure taps don’t drip or have rust and hoses aren’t cracked or leaking.
- Check the humidity inside your home during winter. Your windows and exterior-facing walls may sweat whether it is too cluttered. Most windows can take care of this condensation but when it’s excessive it can cause difficulties. Maintain your humidity steady throughout the year. It is ideal to keep it about 30-35 percent.
Now let us talk about mold. This is something every town, state, and nation has. You can’t get rid of it but you can learn how to control it. Mold needs a cool, dark, and moist environment to flourish. As mentioned previously, keeping your home humidity between 30-35 percent is the initial step to restricting the moisture level inside your house. The next is venting. If your house is air-tight and you have no airflow, you have a home ideal for mold. Ceiling fans, box fans, as well as opening your windows allow air to circulate that helps prevent mold growth. It sounds counterintuitive in that opening windows will allow mold spores to go into your property. True, but spores are not an issue provided that you don’t give them an environment to grow.
Cleaning your home so that you don’t have mold growth is somewhat of a science but also a few fantastic old fashion remedies too. The very first point to remember when cleaning would be to never leave water on the surface more than necessary. What that means is to wash and dry thoroughly. As an instance, if you’ve got wood flooring and use a mop, then you expose the timber to moisture which causes it to absorb and sometimes collect under the timber. Always utilize engineered wood cleaning products. The tips here would be to help prevent mold from growing and cleansing present mold before it gets out of control. In case it gets out of control, you are going to need expert assistance to eliminate it.
- Always use wood cleaning products on your wood floors. Never mop with a wet mop.
- If you spill water on your carpet or wood flooring, wipe it up and dry it as soon as possible. Blot wet rugs with paper towels until no more water can be consumed after standing on the paper towel using the heel of the foot.
- Kitchen and bath sinks should be wiped dry after use. Water that collects in the seams of the wall or back-splash is breeding grounds for mold.
- Keep your fridge dry. Never place hot items into the fridge since they will cause steam.
- Inspect your shower and bathtubs to ensure the tile grout and seals are in good condition. Vinyl bathtub surrounds should be sealed.
- If mold is located on a nonporous surface, ammonia or bleach may be used.
- If mold is found on a porous coating, 35 percent hydrogen peroxide can be used on the mold. Wipe the surface dry. The exact amounts to be mixed depending on the quantity and kind of mold you’re cleaning. Note: 35% hydrogen peroxide may lead to bleaching and can cause burns.
Some companies specialize in water damage restoration and mold removal which have some high-tech tools and substances to combat mold. Typically, these organizations are called when it’s too late to tackle the issue yourself or you aren’t able to do it yourself. Their job is to clean the affected area in order that mold spores are not spread to other areas.
Unfortunately, most individuals aren’t aware they have a problem until it is now serious. If you’ve got a circumstance, where it’s beyond your skills to clean or fix, it’s best to contact a professional water damage restoration, fire damage restoration, or mold remediation business. They typically work with your insurance provider to ensure they pay for cleaning and repairs.
For more information about mold elimination and prevention, check out 5 myths about mold spores and how to tell if you’ve got a mold problem in your house. For mold removal and water damage restoration services, contact your regional PuroClean office. Learn more from PuroClean customers right here.