Secondary Water Damage and How To Combat it

6/18/2019 (Permalink)

Dryness is the key to preventing the growth of mold following a flood

If you experience a flood at your business in Telford, TN, it can be somewhat of a shock and you may not know where to start to get things back in order. The primary water damage can be overwhelming and quite a job to clean up, but secondary damage from black mold can be a real threat and needs proper attention.

What is Secondary Damage?

If the process of drying things out is not done completely and correctly by restoration professionals, secondary damage can occur. This is damage that can occur once the major problem has been remedied, and can include:

• Black mold growth and spores
  
• Bacterial growth
  
• Lingering foul odors
  

Mold can weaken wood surfaces including subfloors, or studs and joists. Sheetrock can become brittle and flaky, and fabrics and carpets can rot. Both mold and bacteria can be a cause of a nasty, lingering smell. Those odors are a sign that something is wrong and needs further attention.

How Does Black Mold Take Hold?

Any residual wetness or humidity remaining after flood cleanup is finished, can allow mold spores to take hold and grow, sometimes with astonishing speed. Black mold can grow on almost every type of surface and thrives in high humidity situations.

If studs are left wet or damp sheetrock is not thoroughly dried out, moisture can be trapped inside of walls where there is little to no air circulation, enabling mold spores to find a home and multiply quickly. It can also grow on interior surfaces.

What can Be Done?

Dryness is the key to preventing the growth of mold following a flood. Leaving things open for adequate times and using industrial fans can help as well as dehumidification machines.

Using a water damage restoration professionals to do it right the first time can help your business in Telford, TN avoid the unnecessary complications that black mold and other secondary damage.