How To Prevent Mold After Water Damage

3/1/2021 (Permalink)

Air Blowers drying water damaged space

After experiencing water damage at your business in Coral Gables, FL, you should do everything you can to prevent mold growth. These tips will help you clean up standing water and prevent molding.

Steps

To prevent molding, you should perform the following steps as soon as possible:

• Remove standing water
• Dry the area
• Disinfect surfaces

Without quick mitigation, mold will grow within 24-48 hours of a flood, so you have to act quickly.

Removing Water
You must first remove water from the building. How this is done depends on the amount of water present. If there is only a small amount, you may be able to clean it up with towels, a mop, or a wet-dry vac. If there is an excessive amount of water, you will likely need pumps or industrial vacuums. You should also make sure the liquids are not in contact with any electrical wiring or contaminated with any harmful bacteria. If there are excessive amounts of water, an electrocution risk is present or that water is contaminated, you should call a water damage restoration service to assist you.

Drying the Area
Opening doors and windows will help dry the area more quickly. Once the bulk of the water and any wet items have been removed, you can set up fans to aid in the drying process. Fully drying the area will prevent mold growth and further damage.

Disinfecting Surfaces
After surfaces are dry, they must be disinfected to kill bacteria and prevent the growth of mold. Any surface that the water touched should be thoroughly disinfected, including flooring, furniture and belongings.
Flooding can cause mold growth in addition to other types of water damage. To mitigate the development of mold, you should remove standing water, dry the area completely and thoroughly disinfect surfaces. If there are excessive amounts of water or risks of electrocution or contamination, you should contact a professional to help clean up and repair the damage.