Act Fast Post-Flood To Prevent Excessive Mold Damage

2/7/2022 (Permalink)

If your building was recently involved in a flood, it is imperative that you implement cleanup measures with 24 to 48 hours after the incident; otherwise, you risk mold growth and bacteria buildup. The storm damage restoration team in Alamo Ranch, TX, has tips to help you make the flood cleanup process as easy and as effective as possible. Those tips are as follows:

• Inspect the building’s contents
• Extract standing water
• Remove the building’s contents
• Clean up
• Dry out the building

Inspection Is Key

First and foremost, inspect your building and its contents for signs of moisture. Anywhere there is moisture, there is a risk for mold. Take inventory of all contents that are damaged, a task that will assist with the cleanup process and help with your insurance claim later on.

Extract Water

Once you’ve inspected your building, begin to extract any sitting water. This may require the help of a professional water restoration company. The professionals use commercial pumps and dehumidifiers to rid your building of standing water and any moisture that remains in the air or the walls. This step is especially important to preventing mold growth.

Remove Contents

Once your building no longer has any water in it, go in (upon receiving the go-ahead from a professional) and begin to clear out the contents. Unfortunately, you may have to toss unsalvageable items such as carpet, wood furniture, couches and chairs, but many of your contents may be savable. You may have to remove drywall and insulation as well.

Clean Up

Once the contents are out, it’s time to clean up. If your carpet is savable, use a wet/dry vacuum to clean up debris and possible bacteria. Clean the walls, frames, salvable furniture and any visible signs of mold with sanitizers and heavy-duty cleaners.

Dry It Out

Once everything has been cleaned, dry out your building with dehumidifiers and fans to kill mold spores. This last step is important to preventing future mold damage.

Mold growth can happen quickly. To prevent mold damage from wreaking havoc on your building, take the above steps immediately after a flood.

Visit us at http://www.SERVPROalamoranch.com for more information.