If your Nevada home or business has been affected by flooding, leakage or other forms of water damage, it is imperative that immediate action are taken. Otherwise, mold growth could develop, leading to serious long-term health concerns for you and your family.
Thank goodness there are ways you can prevent mold growth after water damage has occurred. Read on to gain more knowledge on Water Damage Mold.
What is Water Damage Mold?
Water damage mold is a type of fungus that thrives in environments with both moisture and oxygen; thus it’s incredibly common after flooding or leaks have taken place in homes.
Mold comes in various varieties, such as black mold, gray mold and green mold. Each variety possesses its own distinct structure and appearance but all belong to the kingdom Fungi.
Molds can be found growing naturally on dead organic matter such as leaves or decayed debris, while indoors they thrive on damp materials in dark corners or damp rooms.
Mold produces spores which can be spread via humans or pets and then land on food or other materials, where they may begin growing into colonies of mold.
It is therefore essential to identify and remove the source of mold growth if your home has experienced flooding or leakage, in order to lower chances of mold growth and make cleaning up easier. By eliminating its source, you can decrease chances of future growth as well as make clean-up easier.
While some types of mold may be harmless, others can pose health concerns to those suffering from allergies or respiratory conditions. This could result in symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, coughing coughing headaches and difficulty breathing.
Some symptoms resemble those from a cold or flu, while others can be more serious and require medical intervention. They are especially troublesome among small children, the elderly and those living with respiratory conditions like asthma or emphysema.
Once in the air, these spores can spread to new areas where they form colonies made of thread-like cells called hyphae that grow into various patterns and colors.
Mold spores can be found anywhere from carpeting, drywall, insulation material and wallpaper to porous materials like wallpaper. Mold can be difficult to eradicate from these surfaces and should be thoroughly cleaned up in order to eliminate it from your home. You can use a mold test kit like the one from My Mold Detective
Causes of Water Damage Mold
Water damage is an increasingly prevalent issue affecting many homes and buildings. It can result from leaky roofs, sewer backups, broken pipes, floods or any number of other sources; and can lead to serious structural damage of the building as well as health risks like mold growth which can be hard to treat.
Mold is an opportunistic organism that lives off moisture and oxygen. It thrives in damp, dark environments and spreads via airborne dust particles or adhering itself to clothing, shoes, furniture or anything else in its path. All it requires to start growing its colony are starch, sugar and moisture – but one thing can lead to another quickly.
As mold grows, it releases airborne spores which can be inhaled or absorbed through skin contact and spread throughout your property and region. Therefore, it is vital that your property be thoroughly dried out and any mold that has already taken hold is eradicated immediately.
Mold does not have to be an allergen for it to affect our health, yet exposure may still have adverse reactions on both respiratory and other systems of the body. Mold exposure may result in nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing and other symptoms; even worse it could lead to nosebleeds and lung bleeding.
Mold can be hazardous to health and home life; for this reason it is wise to seek professional assistance for any mold issues in your house. Professional mold remediators have the necessary tools and experience to remove mold that has formed within your property as well as assess damage levels and recommend solutions that could reduce future instances of growth.
Mold can often be identified by its telltale tells: black, brown or green spots on walls, ceilings or floors which show evidence of staining or growth – spots which appear as either black, brown, or green stains; sometimes these patches even sport an unsightly furry appearance.
Water spots in your home should be treated immediately as they could indicate water damage that needs to be addressed immediately, lest mold growth begin taking hold in this spot or elsewhere in your home. The sooner these issues are dealt with, the less likely mold growth is likely to start appearing there and in other parts of your home.
Signs of Mold Growth
Know the signs of mold growth Whether you are new to home ownership or have lived there for some time already, being aware of how to spot mold is vital in order to avoiding health risks and keeping your home safe. If any of the following symptoms appear in your home, seek professional assistance immediately so they can assess and remediate before the situation worsens.
Discolored or dark spots on your carpet could be a telltale sign of mold infestation, typically appearing after water damage has been sustained from leakage through pipes or roof leaks. As soon as these spots appear they should be dried out and treated to prevent future growth of mold spores.
Smelling your carpets can be the key to discovering whether or not they have mold infestation. If they emit musty, earthy or sour aromas it is likely they have been exposed to mold growth and should be examined by a water mitigation company for inspection.
Other places where mold growth may occur include walls, floors, ceilings and furniture. Keep an eye out for telltale characteristics like light green or black spots, fuzzy odors and discoloration as telltale indicators of mold growth.
Signs that mold growth exists behind walls include stain or paint bubbling up from surfaces such as walls and floors on an ongoing basis, often occurring as spots or streaks on them surface. If this phenomenon continues, it could be an indicator that there’s mold growing behind these surfaces.
Mold may appear in your carpets or surfaces that have been exposed to water. This symptom is especially prevalent after there has been a recent leakage of water into your home.
If your plumbing has experienced leakage or flooding, acting promptly is critical in order to preventing further deterioration and mold growth from spreading and causing further damage to walls, ceilings and floors. Acting swiftly will stop further problems from developing into mold growth issues that require even greater action from you to fix.
First step to stopping water leaks: pinpoint its source. It could be something as straightforward as turning off the main water valve; however, oftentimes the problem lies hidden within pipes or other parts of your house that are difficult to access.
Is Mold from Water Damage Harmful?
Yes, mold from water damage can be harmful. Mold is a type of fungus that can grow in moist, damp environments. It can release spores into the air, which can be inhaled by people and animals. Mold spores can cause a variety of health problems, including respiratory infections, allergies, and asthma. In some cases, mold exposure can even lead to cancer.
If you have water damage in your home, it is important to clean it up as soon as possible to prevent mold growth. You can clean up the water damage yourself or hire a professional. If you clean up the water damage yourself, be sure to wear gloves and a mask to protect yourself from mold spores.
If you have any concerns about mold exposure, please consult with a doctor or healthcare professional.
How do treat mold from water damage?
Here are some steps on how to treat mold from water damage:
- Find the source of the water leak and fix it. This is the most important step in preventing mold growth. If you don’t fix the leak, the mold will just keep coming back.
- Remove any standing water. Use a wet/dry vacuum or mop up any standing water.
- Clean the affected area with a mold-killing cleaner. There are a variety of mold-killing cleaners available at most hardware stores. Be sure to follow the directions on the cleaner carefully.
- Ventilate the area. Open windows and doors to let fresh air in. You can also use a fan to help circulate the air.
- Monitor the area for signs of mold growth. If you see any mold growth, repeat the cleaning process.
If the mold is extensive or if you have asthma or allergies, you may want to hire a professional mold remediation company to clean up the mold for you.
How to Remove Mold
If your home has been affected by flooding or other forms of water damage, it’s essential that steps be taken immediately to eliminate mold from affected areas and eliminate it before it grows back and becomes an even greater hazard to both home and health. By delaying, mold may grow back stronger over time – further jeopardizing both and you should have mold clean up done right away.
As part of your efforts to eliminate mold from your home, the first step should be removing excess moisture and drying off affected areas. Mold thrives on any form of moisture in the air for 24 hours or more and must have access to that moisture source in order to form.
Utilize a wet/dry vac or vacuum with special attachments to quickly clear away any standing water. Scrubbing hard surfaces with 10% bleach solution using either a brush or sponge is also beneficial, while protecting yourself by wearing protective gloves and goggles.
An alternative approach would be to apply an undiluted white vinegar solution directly onto the infected area, as its acidic nature is effective against mold growth. But be wary when applying vinegar directly on stone or metal surfaces as this could further deteriorate them.
Once your surface is completely dry, use a mild detergent to scrub away mold with a scrubber or sponge. If any residual mold remains, repeat this step several times until all visible evidence of mold has vanished.
Tea tree oil and water, used as a natural fungicide, should also be applied directly onto any areas affected by mold growth, leaving it for about an hour before wiping it off and wiping the area down with soapy water.
For stubborn mold, commercial products designed for this task may be necessary – these can be found at home improvement stores.
Baking soda can also help remove light stains and prevent mold re-growth by applying it liberally over moldy areas overnight to absorb any remaining moisture or odors.
Your first step should be addressing the source of the water damage that led to mold’s initial outbreak, whether that was from leakage or moisture intrusion. Once repaired, cleaning and restoring your home should begin in such a way as to minimize future mold growth.
