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6/13/2022 (Permalink)
Mold Damage: What To Do If You're In A Hurry
After a natural disaster in Camarillo, CA, flooding can leave you with more than just a few puddles to clean up and some soggy carpet to dry out. Immediately after a flood, black mold can begin to breed in your home – and can spread alarmingly fast, until your entire house or apartment is infested. Treat mold cleanup like an emergency procedure, and immediately start remediation efforts to eliminate the possibility of mold taking root.
Immediate Response
There are a few things you should do immediately before beginning mold cleanup, including:
- Shutting off the HVAC systems; airflow causes mold spores to spread, and once they get into the home HVAC they can spread throughout the house
- Removing waterlogged items that can easily breed mold, particularly soaked furniture; the older the furniture it is, the more likely it is to be a breeding ground
- Inspecting your flooring; older, waterlogged wood and soaked carpet can become havens for black mold
Taking these initial emergency steps can go a long way to prevent immediate mold infestation, but this is only the first step in proper, careful mold cleanup.
Address Your Moisture Problem
A dry house is your best bet for a mold-free house. Standing water or moisture soaked into the interior of your home is asking for mold to take root. Thoroughly dry out your house, even if you have to bring in professionals who can use industrial equipment to dry the home without relying on airflow from fans, which – once again – is a double-edged sword because of the tendency to spread mold spores through airflow.
Keep a Close Eye Out
Don’t leave a single nook or cranny unexplored. Check for damage that may lead to water leaks from roofs or pipes. Be ready to consider the possibility that even if the house looks dry on the surface, you may have standing water inside the walls or moisture soaked into the sheetrock and insulation, with black mold already growing. Rapid response is the best response, but make sure to be thorough in your inspections as well.