Water damage in the flooded basement usually results in mold if not dried and cleaned immediately and properly. Water damage and mold are two quite common problems most homeowners will face in their lifetime. Although neither can be prevented 100 percent of the moment, some helpful tips could minimize the risk. Why can’t water damage or mold be prevented entirely? Straightforward. You can not control Mother Nature.
Most of us know that everything about us gets old and begins to decay. That is the life process everything has to go through. Trees grow, drop over eventually and start to decay. Temperature changes cause the ground to expand and contract and rain make the soil swell.
With all these things happening around us that you need to be observant of the changes occurring and take appropriate actions. First, let’s concentrate on basement flood and water damage. We know that when water enters the house, it needs to be cleaned up quickly or harm can happen. The trick is to never permit water to enter your house except in restricted situations like when you’re mopping the floor or cleaning. Check these things around the house to prevent water infiltration.
- This will ensure that winter snow may melt and drain properly without obstruction. Additionally, check your gutters in the spring so that you are ready for the summer storms. Places like your patio could have storm drains that need to be clear of obstructions. Check your window seals on the inside and outside. Older homes typically have caulking that could have dried out and hastened. Water can get inside and cause hidden damage between your interior walls and the exterior wall.
- Check your faucets don’t drip. Water damage starts with a single drop of water that can grow into a flood. In addition, should your outside faucet drips until the winter freeze, the wet soil can enlarge and put enough pressure on your house foundation to cause a fracture? Then when the spring thaw comes, all that suspended soil can drain to your cellar at the shaped crack.
- Assess all your interior faucets and hoses. Ensure faucets do not trickle or have rust on them and hoses are not cracked or chipped.
- Assess the humidity in your home during winter. Your windows and exterior-facing walls may sweat whether it is too humid. Most windows can handle this condensation but if it is excessive it can cause difficulties. Keep your humidity constant throughout the year. It’s best to keep it around 30-35 percent.
Now let us talk about mold. This is something every town, country, and nation has. You can’t get rid of it but you can learn to control it. Mold requires a cool, dark, and moist environment to flourish. As stated previously, maintaining your house humidity between 30-35 percent is the initial step to limiting the moisture level in your home. The second is venting. If your house is air-tight and you don’t have any airflow, you’ve got a house ideal for mold. Ceiling fans, box fans, and even opening your windows permit air to circulate which can help prevent mold growth. It sounds counterintuitive in that opening windows will allow mold spores to go into your home. Authentic, but spores aren’t an issue provided that you don’t provide them an environment to grow.
Cleaning your house so that you don’t have mold growth is a bit of a science but also some good old fashion remedies also. The first point to consider when cleaning would be to never leave the water to the surface more than necessary. What that means is to wash and dry completely. For instance, in case you’ve got wood flooring and use a mop, you expose the wood to moisture that causes it to absorb and occasionally accumulate under the timber. Always use recommended wood cleaning products. The hints here would be to help prevent mold from growing and cleaning present mold until it gets out of control. In case it gets out of control, you are going to need professional assistance to eliminate it.
- Consistently use wood cleaning products in your hardwood flooring. Never mop with a wet mop. Blot wet carpets with paper towels until no more water can be absorbed after status on the paper towel with the heel of your foot.
- Kitchen and bath sinks should be wiped dry after use. Water that collects in the seams of the wall or back-splash is breeding grounds for mold.
- Maintain your fridge dry. Never place hot things into the fridge because they will cause steam. Vinyl tub surrounds need to be sealed.
- If mold is found on a nonporous surface, ammonia or bleach can be utilized.
- If mold is found on a porous coating, 35 percent hydrogen peroxide can be used on the mold. Allow to penetrate the surface for a few minutes and then wash to remove the mold. The exact amounts to be mixed depending on the quantity and type of mold you’re cleaning. Note: 35 percent hydrogen peroxide may cause bleaching and can cause burns.
There are companies that specialize in water damage restoration and mold removal that have some high-tech instruments and chemicals to combat mold. Normally, these companies are called when it’s too late to attack the problem yourself or you are not able to do it on yourself. Their job is to clean out the affected area so that mold spores aren’t spread to other locations.
Unfortunately, most individuals aren’t aware they have a problem until it has become serious. If you have a circumstance, where it’s beyond your abilities to clean or fix, it’s best to contact a professional water damage restoration or mold restoration company in Nanuet. They typically use your insurance company to make certain they pay for cleaning and repairs. Click here to learn more.
For more information about mold removal and prevention, check out 5 myths about mold debunked and how to tell if you have a mold problem in your house. For mold removal and water damage repair solutions, contact your regional PuroClean of Nanuet office.
