With water damage comes the possibility of mold, a dangerous infestation that can make the air quality of your home very unsafe. There are quite a lot of reasons why mold is harmful to not just our health, but also to the structure of your house. Here are five things that you may not have known about this fungus, and what you can do to prevent it from growing after your home is damaged by water.
1. Once you have indoor mold, it can never be totally eliminated. Once the fungus has been introduced to a material, like the wood frame of your house or the insulation, it is impossible to get every single spore out of the home. That’s why it’s so important that you move fast with water damage, to prevent the fungus from growing in the first place.
2. Mold particularly likes growing in the fibrous material in damp areas. That means if you have a carpeted bathroom, basement, or an area of your home where there are plumbing fixtures near carpeting, the chances of getting mold in these areas is much higher. The same goes for placing rugs in these areas.
3. Mold can cause a ton of health problems. In addition to allergies and asthma, which are well-known issues that people observe when they live near mold, it can also cause you to have symptoms similar to the flu; pneumonia, and many other respiratory problems. And you don’t have to be allergic to mold for it to affect you.
4. One of the best ways to stop mold from growing again if you do manage to control an existing mold problem is to control the humidity level in the house. Dehumidifiers, fresh air conditioner filters, more ventilation, and venting rooms like the kitchen, laundry, or bathroom, can all help control humidity.
5. You’d be surprised how fast mold can begin to grow in a water-damaged house. When we respond to a water damage call, we always ask if it’s been longer than two days since the damage – because 48 hours is all it takes for mold to start showing up. If it has been, we know that we’ll need to bring in equipment and supplies to fight mold as well as to clean up the damage.
Interested in learning more about professional water damage services that can help you prevent mold in the first place? Contact Alpha Omega Disaster Restoration Pros today to find out more. You can also follow them on Twitter for more updates.
