Many homeowners experience water damage from leaky pipes, flooding basements, or storms. Water damage affects your home’s structural integrity but can also be a major health concern: black mold. Black mold can rapidly grow and cause health problems. If you’ve experienced recent water damage, understanding the risks and how to work with a professional restoration company is important.
What Is Black Mold?
Black mold is a toxin-producing mold that thrives when damp, especially where water has caused damage. It usually appears as a blackish-green stain on surfaces such as ceilings, walls, and floors. When water damage is not addressed properly, mold can spread within 24 hours, leading to mold growth in basements, behind walls, and under floors.
Mold can be found in many places, including bathrooms, basements, and attics. Black mold is already possible if your home has recently suffered from water damage.
Black Mold: What To Do After Water Damage?
Black mold grows in damp, humid conditions. If water is not cleaned and dried properly, moisture is trapped in materials such as drywall insulation and carpet, creating ideal conditions for mold growth.
Unfortunately, black mold can form in difficult-to-see areas, such as behind walls or under floor coverings. By the time mold is visible, it’s often spread widely throughout the affected area.
You can find out what causes water damage and black mold by looking at the following:
- Leaky Pipes or Plumbing Issues
- Flooding resulting from heavy rainfall or storms
- Lack of ventilation in humid areas (such as bathrooms or kitchens)
- Roof leaks
- Overflowing appliances like washing machines, dishwashers
Black Mold After Water Damage: What To Do?
Dealing with water damage as soon as it occurs is the key to preventing mold growth. Below are some steps to reduce the risk of mold development in your home.
- Quickly Dry the Area Affected: When water damage occurs, it’s essential to dry the affected area. Open windows, and run fans, and dehumidifiers to reduce moisture and promote airflow.
- Fixing the Water Damage Source: It doesn’t matter whether the water damage is caused by a roof leak or a leaky hose; the source must be fixed to prevent any further moisture from entering your home.
- Remove Damaged Materials: Water-damaged materials like drywall, carpets, and insulation must be removed. If they can’t be dried, you should replace them. These materials can harbor spores of mold and cause further mold growth.
- Monitor Moisture Levels: Maintain your home’s moisture levels below 60%. This will discourage mold growth. You can use a hygrometer to measure humidity in areas prone to moisture, such as basements or bathrooms.
Why Do You Need To Work With A Water Damage Repair Company?
You may feel overwhelmed by water damage or the possibility of black mold, particularly if your cleaning methods are not up to par. A professional water damage restoration company will be of great help.
Here are the reasons you need to hire an expert water damage restoration firm:
- Thorough and Rapid Water Extraction: A water damage company has specialized tools for quickly removing water and drying the affected areas. They can detect hidden moisture within walls and floors, which would otherwise go undetected.
- The Prevention of Mold Growth: Restoration Professionals are well-versed in mold prevention methods and can evaluate your home to check for signs. If mold growth is detected, restoration professionals can safely remove the mold to avoid further contamination.
- Structure Repair: The structural integrity of your home can be compromised by water damage. A restoration service will assess the damage and do any necessary repairs to keep your home safe.
- Save Time and Money: Correctly addressing water damage issues and mold can take time and be costly. Water damage restoration services can help save you both money and time.
Conclusion
Black mold from water damage can harm health, particularly for people with respiratory issues or weak immune systems. Act as soon as possible to avoid black mold if water damage is suspected in your house. The best way to ensure your home is thoroughly cleaned and mold-free is to hire a professional water damage restoration company. They will be able to identify the source of your water damage and remove the mold.