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5 Tips to Prevent Mold When Water Damage Occurs

The Chicagoland area and suburbs get a lot of rain this time of year and it’s important to make sure that any water or flood damage is properly cleaned up. Even if your home did not flood, if you are in an area that saw flooding, your home could still be exposed to excess moisture that may lead to mold. Even just an inch of water in your basement could lead to mold buildup. Mold can lead to health problems for you, your family and even your pets.

Here are 5 tips to prevent mold after water damage. The effectiveness of these tips will be determined, in part, by how long the water was in your home.

1. This may seem obvious, but it doesn’t always happen. After water damage to your home, you want to immediately disconnect electronics in the affected area and move them to dry ground. Also, any pieces of furniture that can be moved out of the area should be moved immediately to a clean, dry place.
2. Remove all carpeting including the padding. There is a possibility that your carpet can be saved with a good cleaning and heavy disinfecting, but that is not a definite.
3. Now that heavy items and carpeting are gone, remove all of the water, down to the last drop.   If you have power, a heavy-duty shop vac is a great way to soak up floodwater. If you don’t have power or are worried about using electrical items, buckets, towels and mops will have to suffice. If the flooding is overwhelming, consider renting a sump pump from a local hardware store.
4. Dry out the affected area thoroughly. This is so important. You don’t want to leave an ounce of moisture anywhere, if possible. Use fans (commercial fans are great) and a dehumidifier to speed the process.
5. Disinfect, disinfect, disinfect! After the area has completely dried out (including wood beams, insulation, etc.), use a heavy disinfectant in all areas. You also want to disinfect the furniture that was removed.

If you are able to successfully clean up your home after flood damage, you should schedule a mold inspection or mold test within 30 days. Mold can start to grow after just a day or two so it’s important to act as quickly as possible and determine its presence.  A certified mold removal specialist can always help to remediate the problem in your home.