Water damage from a flooded basement usually results in mold if not dried and cleaned immediately and properly. Water damage and mold are two very common issues most homeowners may face in their lifetime. Although neither may be prevented 100 percent of the moment, many tips can minimize the risk. Why can not water mold or damage be prevented completely? Simple. You can not control Mother Nature.
We all know that everything about us gets older and begins to decay. That’s the life process everything has to undergo. Trees grow, drop over eventually and start to decay. Temperature changes cause the ground to expand and contract and rain makes the dirt swell.
With all those things happening around us that you have to be observant of the changes taking place and take appropriate actions. To begin with, let’s concentrate on basement flooding and water damage. We know that when water enters the house, it ought to be cleaned up quickly or damage can occur. Wood flooring can also absorb this water and swell, buckle and warp. The trick is to never permit water to enter your home except in controlled situations such as 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 may melt and drain correctly without obstruction. Additionally, check your gutters in the spring so you are ready for the summer storms. Places such as your patio could have storm drains that need to be clear of obstructions.
- Assess your window seals on the inside and out. Older homes typically have caulking that could have dried out and hastened. Water could get inside and cause unseen damage involving your inner walls and the outside wall.
- Assess your taps do not drip. Water damage starts with just one drop of water which can grow into a flood. Additionally, should your exterior faucet drips until the winter freeze, the moist soil can enlarge and put enough strain on your home base to cause a crack. Then when the spring thaw comes, all that suspended soil can drain into your basement in the formed crack.
- Assess all your interior hoses and faucets. Ensure faucets do not drip or have rust on them and hoses are not cracked or leaking.
- Check the humidity in your home during winter. Your windows and exterior-facing walls may sweat whether it’s too humid. Most windows can take care of this condensation but if it’s excessive it can cause problems. Maintain your humidity steady throughout the entire year. It’s ideal to keep it around 30-35 percent.
Now let us discuss mold. This is something every town, state, and also country has. You can’t get rid of it but you can learn how to control it. As mentioned previously, maintaining your house humidity between 30-35 percent is the initial step to limiting the moisture level in your home. The next is ventilation. If your house is air-tight and you don’t have any air circulation, you’ve got a home perfect for mold. Ceiling fans, box fans, as well as opening your windows permit air to circulate which can help prevent mold growth. It seems counterintuitive in that opening windows would allow mold spores to go into your property. True, but spores aren’t a problem as long as you do not give them an environment to grow.
Cleaning your home so that you don’t have mold growth is a bit of a science but also a few fantastic old fashion remedies also. The first thing to remember when cleaning is never to leave water on the surface longer than necessary. What that means is to wash and dry completely. As an example, if you have a wood floor and use a mop, you expose the timber to moisture which causes it to consume and occasionally accumulate under the wood. Always use recommended wood cleaning solutions. The hints here would be to help prevent mold from growing and cleansing existing mold until it gets out of control. If it gets out of control, you’ll need professional assistance to remove it.
- Consistently utilize wood cleaning products on your wood floors. Never mop with a wet mop.
- Should you spill water on your carpet or wood flooring, wipe it up and wash it as soon as possible. Blot wet rugs with paper towels until no more water could be consumed after status on the paper towel using the heel of the foot.
- Maintain your refrigerator dry. Never place hot items into the refrigerator because they will cause steam. Vinyl bathtub surrounds should be sealed.
- If mold is found on a nonporous surface, bleach or ammonia can be used.
- If mold is found on a porous coating, 35 percent hydrogen peroxide can be used on the mold. The exact quantities to be combined depending on the quantity and kind of mold you’re cleaning. Note: 35 percent hydrogen peroxide can lead to bleaching and can cause burns.
There are companies which specialize in water damage restoration and mold removal that have some high-tech instruments and substances to combat mold. Typically, these companies are called when it is too late to attack the problem yourself or you aren’t able to do it yourself. Their job would be to wash the affected area so that mold spores aren’t spread to other locations.
Unfortunately, most people are not aware they have a problem until it has become serious. If you’ve got a situation, where it is beyond your abilities to repair or clean, it’s ideal to speak to professional smoke damage, water damage restoration, or mold remediation company. They typically work with your insurance company to ensure they cover repairs and cleaning. Learn more right here.
For more information about mold elimination and prevention, check out 5 myths about mold spores and how to tell whether you’ve got a mold problem in your home. For mold removal and water damage repair services, contact your local PuroClean office. Find them here for more information.
