Anyone who’s had water damage in his home or business probably knows there may be more to the story than just letting it dry naturally. If water damage isn’t dried out and treated properly, mold and mildew (a definitive guide to Black Mold) can become a big problem. If it’s your first time facing water damage from a flood, a burst pipe, or another reason, you might be at a little bit of a loss when it comes to what steps to take, how soon, and in what order.
Do-It-Yourself
Depending on the extent of the water damage, you may be able to take care of it yourself. Small water problems call for basic do-it-yourself tips, (3 must know tips for do-it-yourself mold removal) like drying out the area and using products that are specifically designed to destroy mildew. Fans directed at the wet area can help it dry quickly and efficiently. So can running the heater in the house, because it dries out the air. You can also try using a hair dryer on the area if it’s a small space, so you can dry out the carpet, baseboard, or drywall.
There are products designed for protecting an area from mold and mildew, as well, including sprays and paints. Even if you dry out the area thoroughly, you’ll still want to consider using one of those products to make sure you don’t let mold start to develop.
Repainting the area with a mold-stopping paint can be a good plan, depending on the size of the area. You can always do that, allow it to dry, and repaint over that with a color that matches the room. For very small areas, or for treating carpeting and soft furniture, there are anti-mold sprays that can be purchased and used to stop mildew growth.
Hire a Professional
If these things aren’t enough, they don’t seem to do the job, or the area is very large – such as your house getting flooded – it may be in your best interest to hire a professional restorer. A mold remediation specialist (How to Choose a Mold Remediator) can make sure that any problems are resolved before they get started, or can treat them once they develop. It’s better to catch mold problems early, but a professional can treat advanced issues, as well.
What to look for and where you should go when locating a mold remediation specialist is similar to finding any kind of worker for your home. Make sure you find someone who’s insured, and who’s properly licensed. If they make a mistake, you’ll be compensated. All reputable companies will meet these requirements.
You should also get some estimates. Just because two or three companies perform the same service doesn’t mean they all charge the same price. You don’t want to end up paying too much when you could’ve gotten the same quality for hundreds or thousands less. Ask questions of the people who you’re considering working with.
Make sure you understand the process they’ll be going through, what it means for you and your family, and whether you’ll have to stay somewhere else while the work is being done. The mold damage might’ve been a surprise, but the remediation process doesn’t have to be.
21 comments
Do you know anything about SMTS treatment? I got an estimate for mold remediation from a company using this product and am hard-pressed to find out more information on the Internet!
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How can black mold be determined? Is there a test for it? When a tenant says they have black mold and they want to move, how can we determine it is black mold? Is there a test to determine it is black mold?
How is black mold determined? Is there a test for it that a layperson could do? If a tenant wants to move because they say they have black mold, how do they know it?
I just signed a lease and payed a deposit to move into a home next month. We went by to take a look at the space again and when we walked in there was a bad smell of mildew. We walked around and finally discovered a big puddle in front of the washing machine in the kitchen. The house is old and I was already concerned because i have a 2 year old. But now I am very worried. The puddle made its way into the hallway and living room carpeting. I called the property manager (who has been a total flake and very hard to get ahold of) and let him know that the situation seemed urgent. He said he would have somedbody take a look at it. I know he isnt at all worried about it and will handle it the easiest way rather than the most health concious way. Are we in danger? This house was a really good deal and we hate to pass it up when its the best thing we can afford- but if it comes down to being a danger than I will move my family into another cramped apartment if it means keeping us well.
[…] If you’ve ever had water damage – or leaks from heavy rains, check around for some indications of extra mustiness or water damage. […]
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You share the removal of water damage tips in this blog. It is very helpful for which face the problem of water damage.
Great post! Been reading a lot about recovering from carpet damage. Thanks for the info here!
When you perform mold removal yourself, make sure to use a good anti-microbial like Microban or equivalant. Mold usually requires certain enzymes to break it down and even prevent it. If you can’t find Microban, Simple Green is also acceptable.
Does bleach kill mold? http://www.canadarestorationservices.com/articles-does-bleach-kill-mold
Water Damage occurs when materials are destroyed due to an intrusion of water. This could cause anything from the rusting of steel, to rotting wood, as well as breaking down and destroying countless other materials. Water damage can be a major factor in property loss. Whether it’s a minor occurrence like water spots forming on your wall, or large amounts of flooding in the blink of an eye, Beach and Beyond Carpet Care’s water damage Virginia Beach division will be there to calm your worries and fix the problem.
This affects you not only by costing you money and through property damage, but there are also serious health risks if water damage is left untreated. The biggest reason for that is mold. Molds are fungi that can grow on anything that has moisture associated to it. They adhere to the moisture and can cause any material to breakdown and be destroyed. Due to the number of species of molds, they can be found growing on carpet, wood, paper, and insulation, and can be found anywhere on your property.
http://www.beachandbeyondcarpetcare.com Or email us at [email protected] .
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We lived in a house with some structural problems, and we got flooding every spring. We found that pulling the carpet up and running fans worked, but that isn’t always possible. Your tip about hair dryers works as well. They worked really well in corners and hard to reach places.
http://www.sparkleanrestoration.ca/flood_and_fire_restoration.html
the dredded black mold !!! has claimed more lives than our own civil war, more than Ices more than all the indians we killed ! beware the black mold….
Great post, thank you so much for the tips. The apartment above me flooded and I’m worried about the after effects, especially in the walls. I think I’m going to go the professional route.
I really appreciate for sharing such a great post. I think in this case we need professional to look after our home or property which is badly damaged because of water and mold. The professional have a lot of experience as they already working in this field so many years and i think they know how to handle these situations.
WE MOVED INTO OUR MOBILE JUNE 5 2015,OUIR MOBILE IS INSERIOURESS DISREPAIER.ITS HAD A LEAK IN THE ROOF FOR AT LEAST 6 YEARS.ITS HAS A HIDDEN LEAK THAT LEAKS IN BETWEEN THE PANNILING AND THE SIGHTING. WE HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO BLACK MOLD FOR 11 MONTHS HOW DANGEROUSE IS OUR SITUATION
Hi Buddy,
Thanx for sharing such an awesome post. I really loved it, it’s so scary – every time you turn around it’s something new – toxins, poisons, dangerous toys, recalls, deadly cribs… it can be very overwhelming.
I found black mould in my bathroom today and I’ve been doing a ton of research. Then I come to know that it’s good to hire the professionals and we have hired the services of andersenenviro and they have have cleared everything in our home. A guide like this is really helpful. Thanks again for sharing!
Thanks for sharing such an amazing tips for removing mold after water damage. Water damage enters without any warning so you must be prepare for any situation like water damage and these tips for removing mold will help us out from it asap.
Mold is a very big problem when it comes to log homes. I have used many many products but none of them works. Thanks for sharing the ways to protect home from molds.