How Do You Stop Mold From Growing?
Identifying mold growth in your property is a legitimate cause for concern. There are several primary reasons for this. Mold poses health risks to anyone who is exposed to it and it can also do real damage to structures around your property.
The health risks associated with mold exposure include skin rash, sneezing, wheezing, coughing, eye irritation, and sore throat. For anyone who suffers from asthma or is highly sensitive to mold due to allergies, these health risks are an even bigger concern.
Mold can also cause serious damage to your property. It can lead to issues that include dry rot. Given these concerns, mold is a problem that should be dealt with immediately once it has been identified.
The appearance of mold in your property is due to the presence of favorable conditions. Mold will quickly start to grow anywhere that there is enough warmth and moisture present. It is because of this fact that mold so often becomes a problem after a property has suffered from water damage. It is also common for mold to grow in areas of the home such as the basement, bathroom, laundry room, and kitchen.
Major water damage is an issue that is synonymous with mold problems. It creates the ideal environment for mold to grow and thrive. For this reason, mold remediation is one of the common services provided by water damage restoration professionals.
It is always advisable to bring in professional help when you are dealing with a large-scale mold problem caused by water damage. You always want to limit your mold exposure and you want all repair and remediation work to be done by trained experts who will get the job done the right way.
These facts raise a simple question that you would like to have answered. How do you stop mold from growing after water damage?
Table of Contents
What Kills Mold and Keeps It Away?
Getting rid of mold completely can be a difficult proposition. Taking steps to control moisture and humidity levels in your home can make a big impact on keeping mold under control. A big problem with mold is the fact that it does not completely die when its ideal conditions are taken away. It instead will lay dormant and wait to grow again if the right conditions arise.
Because of the difficulty of killing mold and keeping it away, the most effective way to address it is by bringing in the services of trained professionals. Our mold remediation experts here at ServiceMaster Fire & Water Damage Restoration have years of experience serving the property owners of the Lexington, KY region.
Our team uses proven methods to get the mold issue under control in your property. We recommend that homeowners keep the humidity in their property between 30 and 60 percent after mold remediation has been conducted. Keeping humidity levels within this range helps to remove the ideal environment mold needs to thrive.
What Slows Down Mold Growth?
As previously noted, keeping moisture and humidity under control is an effective way to slow mold growth down and can cause spores to go dormant. This can be done with a moisture meter that you can purchase at most hardware stores. Other methods that are effective at slowing down mold growth include:
- Ensure that there are no ongoing water damage issues such as leaking pipes, appliances, or leaks in the roof that could be contributing to the growth of mold
- Increase airflow throughout your property by moving furniture away from walls, and keeping interior doors open
- Ensure that any household plants you keep are mold-free
- Keep your home’s gutters in good working order
- Dry wet areas immediately
- If you are building new or renovating a home, choose mold-resistant sheetrock and drywall
- When major water damage has occurred, bring in experienced restoration professionals who can address all aspects of the problem (including the inevitable mold issues)
Does Mold Ever Stop Growing?
How do you stop mold from growing? This is the key question being addressed here. A better question might be the following. Does mold ever stop growing?
The answer to this question is yes, mold will stop growing if the ideal conditions are removed. This can keep mold from further expanding and will lead to the spores going dormant. This does not mean that the mold is dead. It will not completely die and can return to an active state of spreading if the right conditions are reintroduced. This is why constant diligence is necessary for controlling mold effectively.
How Can I Prevent Mold Growth?
There are a few other tips that are recommended for property owners looking to effectively prevent mold growth from getting out of control. Some of the additional steps that are effective at preventing mold growth include using household exhaust fans. The use of these fans can keep steam from condensing onto the walls and ceiling of your property.
Another step that can help to prevent mold from growing is to keep a close eye on your outdoor drainage. It can be worth your time to get a professional opinion about the current state of the drainage around your home. If it is not ideal and you are experiencing issues with pooling water, there are steps that can be taken to correct the issue.
The most important thing to remember about mold is that it cannot always be prevented. This is particularly true when the mold is the result of major water damage that has happened to your property from flooding and plumbing issues.
It is important to remember that mold exposure can be harmful to your health. It can also cause legitimate property damage. For these reasons, it is a good move to bring in our experienced mold remediation professionals here at ServiceMaster Fire & Water Damage Restoration whenever you are faced with a major mold problem at your property. Contact us today to find out more about the professional fire, water, and mold damage services that we offer here in the Lexington, KY region.
