How to Fight Mold in a Flooded House

Flooded homes are a breeding ground for mold and can, not only cause costly damage to your home but can also cause serious health problems for its residents. If your home has been flooded, taking action right away is a key component to restoring your home properly.

First, hire a professional to assess the damage. A surface in your home may feel dry to the touch but still have dampness underneath that could lead to mold. Professionals, specifically flood and mold restoration specialists, use moisture meters to detect this. But, before you reach for Google, be sure to hire a certified restoration professional who is certified by the IICRC like Taylored Restoration.

Next, remove all water-contaminated items. This includes drywall, insulation, carpeting, wood flooring, cabinetry - and anything else that has to be removed. Although certain furniture items may look decent, it isn’t recommended to try and salvage them. If it’s gotten wet, it’s been contaminated with floodwater, so who knows what else it’s brought in with it. So, depending on the source of the flood, you’ll have a better idea of how clean the water actually is. Taylored can also help you restore your damaged goods and will asses all your belongings during our flood assessment.

Then, dry, dry, dry. We can’t stress enough how important it is to dry out your home and the building materials in it. After contaminated objects and structural materials have been removed by a professional, it’s time to turn on high-powered drying equipment like fans and dehumidifiers. If you’re working with an insurance company for a claim, be sure your hired help uses HEPA filters for mold remediation.

Lastly, get rid of all mold. Say “good riddance” to pesky and hazardous mold spots throughout your house. Mold is the biggest concern with waterlogged homes, as it can grow quickly - within 48hrs of water contact to be exact. With something as serious as mold, it’s important to bring in the pros.

No matter how small the damage is, seek professionals with the training and experience to identify moisture sources, evaluate mold growth, contain damage, remove contamination, and dry materials to ensure that mold will not return! Taylored can come to help you from the first sign of flooding on through completion and will be there for you every step of the way!