Water damage from flooding, leaks, or high humidity can’t just compromise the integrity of your house and its contents, but also cause mold growth. Mold can grow quickly after water damage, making the restoration process more difficult. A little bit of moisture, if not handled quickly and correctly, can turn into a large mold infestation.
Mold spores — tiny airborne particles that are not visible to the naked eye exist anywhere in nature, and they can develop into the visible mold after a water damage incident. If it starts invading your house, mold can endanger the health of its occupants. Mold exposure is particularly dangerous for people with breathing problems brought on by asthma or allergies.
But you can prevent mold growth in your home if you act fast. All it requires is eliminating the moisture before mold has had the opportunity to start growing. But how quickly does mold grow following a flooding or moisture issue?
How long after a flood does mold grow?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), mold normally takes 24 to 48 hours to grow after flooding if the ideal conditions are met. However, it is based upon the type of surfaces and materials, amount of moisture, and temperature. Inside, mold generally grows faster on softer surfaces in darker, warmer (70 degrees or more), and more humid environments.
The possibility of mold spores dispersing from 1 place to another also increases with time. These microorganisms can quickly fill the atmosphere and spread throughout your house, affecting more and more regions and endangering your health with each passing hour.
Mold spores that start to colonize on surfaces within 24 hours become observable in about 18 to 21 days of this flooding. But that occurs if nothing has been done to dry the water and restore the affected surfaces.
For all these reasons, it’s vital to manage moisture and water issues the moment you have a flooding event. The quicker the cleanup and drying happen, the smaller the odds of major mold growth.
DIY or call an expert?
If you’ve got a great deal of water at the home, selecting a water damage restoration company may be your best bet to get your house back in order as quickly and as cost-efficiently as possible. Restoration companies have the right equipment that is needed to wash out your place quickly.
A restoration specialist is much more critical for saving your house if it was flooded with more polluted water such as sewage. This kind of water is very hazardous and best handled by trained and certified water damage cleanup professionals.
Furthermore, if mold has started growing in your home following a flood, there is likely more mold hiding in hidden areas, such as walls. Mold removal experts have the required tools to discover hidden mold in locations where the eyes can’t see.
For professional mold removal services and water damage restoration, contact your regional PuroClean of Conroe office or check their web site for more information.