Hurricane season is winding down and over the past few months, we’ve focused on how to prepare for a storm and what to do immediately after you’ve been hit. In this article, we’d like to focus on one of the most common after-effects of a storm - water damage.
Water damage can be both external and internal, and the severity often depends on the amount of water brought in by the hurricane. Water can enter your home in a number of ways during a storm, from your roof, through windows/doors, and from flooding. Water can cause a lot of damage. It can ruin walls, carpeting, flooring, hard or soft furnishings and not to mention the havoc it can wreak on electrical devices. If your home was exposed to water/flooding, no matter how minimal, it is quite likely that you have mold growing - even if you can’t see or smell it. Mold can usually be detected by a musty odor. You may even begin to see small patches of grayish-blackish spots on your walls, ceilings, and other places.
Mold can lead to a variety of illnesses and make some pre-existing illnesses worse. Mold can be detrimental to your health and it is vitally important to deal with it swiftly. You need to take action within 72 hours to prevent creating conditions where mold spreads excessively. If the mold has spread to a large area, trying to deal with it yourself might not be the best idea. Avoid putting you and your family at risk and call the mold remediation specialists! At H2O Drying Solutions, our mold experts will take the time to inspect the areas of your home and advise you on the best possible action.
If the mold is limited to a small area (about less than 10 feet) you may be able to handle it yourself. The first step to dealing with mold growth from water damage is ensuring all water has been properly removed and all damaged materials removed. We highly suggest using a restoration company like H2O Drying Solutions that will utilize industry-standard equipment to dry and disinfect your space. If the mold is present on fabric or highly permeable surfaces like rugs, clothing, furniture, shoes, books, etc, it’s best to just throw them out. If they are of a personal significance to you, you should call in a professional mold remediation expert to ensure your items are properly remediated and not destroyed. For floors, walls, and ceilings, mold can be removed using cleaning products like bleach, hydrogen peroxide, distilled white vinegar, or baking soda and borax. Note well, ensure you are wearing proper protection when dealing with these solutions, i.e, gloves, masks, etc. Whichever solution you choose, the process is usually the same. Dilute the solution with water and apply it to the affected area. Allow it to sit for at least 15 minutes before scrubbing off. Rinse with water, wipe the area dry, and keep it well ventilated until it dries completely.
The period after a hurricane/storm can be an extremely stressful one. We want to ease some of this stress so we at H2O Drying Solutions will work with your insurance company to get you back up and running as quickly as possible. We offer quick service to help you deal with emergencies, and we serve both North Carolina and South Carolina. Call our 24/7 emergency response team at (877) 251-1751.
