Water and mold damage are two things that you definitely do not want to happen to your home. From causing structural damage to creating health problems for you and your family, these kinds of damage can be hazardous.
Today, we’re going to take a look at some tips you can use to help prevent these and what you can do if they do occur.
Why Is It Important to Treat Water and Mold Damage?
You might be wondering why it’s so important to even treat these issues. Is it really so bad that we need to give it immediate attention? The answer is yes, as this can be very serious. Water damage on its own not only ruins whatever it might touch but over time it can cause serious structural damage, causing a real issue for your home. On top of that, it also can create mold. Not only can mold cause its own form of structural damage to your home, but spores can spread through your home and become a health hazard to you and your loved ones.
What Kind of Tips Do You Have for Prevention?
There are a few things you can do to help prevent water and mold damage from occurring in your home. First, perform regular maintenance on your appliances. While they might be running okay, they can be prone to leaking over time, especially something like a dishwasher or washer. Check it for leaks and if you find anything, try to tighten up wherever the leak might be. If it is some sort of actual damage causing the leak, then seek a professional to fix the issue immediately.
It’s also important that any leaks you find in your home should be addressed as soon as possible. No leak in your home should be left for another day. If you can find ways to stop the leak yourself, great. However, if it’s beyond your capabilities to stop, then you need to have a professional address the issue.
Two things you can do to look for leaks if you can’t find anything obvious is to check your water pressure and monitor your water bill. In doing these two things, you can look out for any weird spikes in activity or anything that might just seem off. You can also utilize water detection devices to monitor for leaks so you know exactly when it occurs and you can take the steps to stop it.
What Happens If I Spring a Leak Anyway?
Well, depending on the severity of the leak, you might be able to address it yourself if it’s nothing too major. However, if your water damage starts to get more severe, you should have a professional come out and address the situation.
How Will a Professional Address My Water and Mold Damage?
There’s a process that a professional will use to not only fix your water damage but also address any potential mold damage that will arise due to your leak. The process goes as follows:
Turn Off the Water
First, turning off the water from your water main will prevent any more damage from occurring.
Drain Water from the Area
Any excess water that may be in the area will need to be removed. This is usually done by utilizing a pump or shop vac to suck up the water.
Remove Any Water Damaged Items from the Area
Any water-damaged items that are in the area will need to be removed. This includes any furniture, boxes, and even carpet from the area. This not only makes it easier to clean the area but helps prevent the spread of mold spores that may form on these items.
Clean Area Thoroughly
At this point, in order to remove any mold from the area, they will use an industry-standard cleaner to kill off any mold spores in the area and to help prevent them from growing back.
Remove Remaining Moisture from the Area
The next step would be to remove any remaining moisture using a dehumidifier. This not only helps dry the area out but also ensures that any remaining mold spores don’t grow and spread. This is because mold thrives on moisture.
Repair and Replace Any Water-Damaged Areas
After all of that, anything that is water-damaged will need to be repaired or replaced. This includes things like carpet and drywall to ensure structural integrity.
Looking for Someone to Handle Your Water and Mold Damage Remediation Needs? PNW Restoration Has You Covered!
If you’re dealing with a leak and need a professional to step in and deal with water damage and mold, look no further than our team here at PNW Restoration. Contact us at (971) 247-3381 to schedule an appointment today. Dealing with an emergency? You can call us 24/7, and we can have a team member out to you as soon as possible to fix your problem.
