How to Avoid Secondary Water Damage

6/1/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage can result in black mold growth if not taken care of immediately.

SERVPRO of Burlington/Middlebury serves residents in the northern and central Vermont areas with residential and commercial water damage mitigation services twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week-even on holidays. Our SERVPRO of Burlington/Middlebury team wants everyone to be aware of the issues that could arise if flooding is not properly mediated.

It’s scary enough to find water rising in your home. However, the water on the ground is not the only concern for homeowners dealing with flooding. It is important to also take steps to avoid secondary damage like black mold. While the water itself is the primary problem, other potential issues include:

• Mold on the walls and floor
• Mold in porous belongings, like furniture
• Mildew in any part of the room
• An unpleasant, musty odor
  

Quick thinking and fast action can save you from having to deal with these problems after a flood. Here are a few tips for avoiding secondary damage, in this order:

1. Call a Restoration Crew Immediately

Our highly trained team here at SERVPRO Burlington/Middlebury are open 24/7 and always ready to help. As soon as you notice flooding in your home, make sure to give us a call. Every hour that passes until someone removes the water allows black mold to spread.

Why is it important to call immediately? As the water sits in the room, the humidity level drastically rises. Because the water has nowhere to go once it’s been evaporated, it can get into the walls and other porous areas. This moisture can cause mold in places that the original flood never touched.

2. Remove Porous Belongings

Once our team has removed the water and says that it is safe for you to enter the room, you should remove all clothing, upholstery, and any other soft items from the affected area. Allow these belongings to air dry either outside or near an open window. Our team also has a variety of different kinds of fans available that can help with the drying process- the sooner the better!

3. Clean Thoroughly
It is best to have our team at SERVPRO of Burlington/Middlebury clean the room where the flooding occurred- allow to grant you some peace of mind! However, you may need to ensure that mold and mildew are not on the items you removed. Once these belongings are dry, our team can help clean them with disinfectants. If you had any hard surfaces in the room, it would also be wise to have those cleaned as well. Flood waters are a problem, and the potential secondary damage can be a nightmare. Use these tips to help prevent black bold and allow our team to get you back to your preferred standard of living.