Water Damage Mold in Crawlspaces and Basements

Don't forget about the attic and crawlspaces, and basement mildew -

these areas also need to be ventilated. The attic should be

insulated, and if the crawl space has an earth floor you should cover

it with thick plastic.


If your carpets, clothes and upholstered furniture have water damage

mold you need to seriously consider disposing of them. However, if the

damage is only very minor you could try cleaning and drying these items

but you need to protect your face with a mask to prevent you from

breathing in any harmful spores and thoroughly vacuum and clean your

house afterwards to remove any remaining mold spores. Mold contaminated

materials should be handled in a manner to prevent cross contamination

of clean areas and to minimize exposure to people in the home.

How to Stop Water Damage Mold

Any water leaks from pipes, taps, and roofs need to be blocked off

because building materials can become mold colonized as a result of

chronic exposure to moisture.


You need to increase the indoor air quality in your home by opening

windows and doors to improve the airflow, and using a fan in areas

where there are no windows to open. In kitchens, bathrooms and

washrooms where there is generally a high water usage (and so higher

humidity levels) it is advisable to install extractor fans.


Large solid pieces of furniture should not be placed flat against the

interior of an exterior wall - you should leave a gap of a couple of

inches so that the air can flow freely between the wall and the

furniture.

Water Damage Mold Growth Can Be Fast

Water damage mold growth is generally quite fast, so you need to remove

mould as soon as it is discovered. If your home suffers water damage,

mold growth can start even if you manage to clean and dry the wet items

within 48 hours.


To eliminate water damage mold from your home there are a number of

procedures you need to follow. These tips apply to water damage mold

from clean water - if you have water damage mold from water which may

have been contaminated with sewage, or chemical or biological

pollutants, you must get help from experienced professionals.

Water Damage Mold Can Be Harmful to Your Health

It is vital to get rid of water damage mold from your home. Some molds

are not harmful to people, but there are other types of this house

fungus that can develop mycotoxins which can be very harmful. At the

minimum they can trigger mildew allergies, but for people who have

asthma, or other vulnerable people such as small children or the

elderly, the mycotoxins can cause serious lung and breathing problems,

eye irritation, nausea, headaches and fatigue. Mold and mildew removal

needs to be actioned straight away.

Water Damage Mold Can Be Found In Many Different Places

Water damage mold is often found where water has seeped in to

construction materials, furniture, carpets and other belongings.

Sometimes this is caused by flooding, but it can also be caused

wherever there is a high moisture content in the air such as in

bathrooms, kitchens, basements and wash rooms. Mold often emits a

musty odor, although not all moulds smell.


Water damage mold can also be found wherever warm moist air can distill

on cool wall surfaces - you may find it behind big pieces of furniture,

bedheads, mould on walls and even inside cupboards.