Prevent Mold After Water Damage

1/6/2021 (Permalink)

Water damage is important to leave to professionals as any moisture left over can cause mold. Mold growth can start as soon as 24-48 hours after a water damage. That's why it's important to act quick and in most cases, call a professional to prevent secondary water damage and future concerns over mold.

There are several steps to take during a water damage situation: 1. Remove all water 2. Remove any wet material 3. Dry remaining wet surfaces 4. Sanitize all impacted surfaces. 

If the water damage is not caught in time or the clean up was not sufficient and there are concerns over mold growth there are important steps to take to mitigate additional mold growth. 

Mold is a common home invader that favors moist, dark conditions. Finding it growing in your home or apartment is nothing to be ashamed of, but you need to act as soon as possible. 

1. Asses the issue. What you think is mold could just be mildew. While they are both fungi caused by mold spores, the treatment methods are different. Mold is typically black or green in color and might have a fuzzy or slimy texture. Mildew on the other hand is usually white, gray, or yellow. Additionally, you must assess the breadth of the issue.
2. If you're living in an apartment call your landlord. Depending on the nature of the issue, mold clean up might be an issue for your landlord or property manager to resolve. Either way, it is in your best interest to inform them of the issue as soon as you can. Include pictures of the mold in your text or email.
3. Once your landlord arrives, you should work with them to figure out what is causing the mold. If the mold is a result of a leaky pipe or other internal water issue, then your landlord should take responsibility for resolving the issue.
4. Enlist in Professional Help. If the mold contamination is, in fact, your responsibility then it is a good idea to enlist professional assistance. This is especially true for larger mold issues. Mold tends to dig deep roots and can be exceedingly difficult to purge completely without the help of mold remediation professionals.

Do not allow mold to grow in your apartment and become a bigger issue than it needs to be. Resolve the issue quickly and efficiently by contacting your local mold remediation specialists here at SERVPRO of Des Moines NW. Located in Grimes, we proudly serve Polk and Dallas county cities. Enlist in the help of trained professionals who will make it “Like it never even happened.” Put SERVPRO® of Des Moines NW on your emergency contact list today at 515-986-3711.