It can be devastating when homeowners experience a flooded house. The damage that is caused is catastrophic. When your house is flooded, it can seem overwhelming as you try to figure out what to do next. One issue that needs to be considered right away is mold growth. It doesn’t take long for mold to start to be a problem when a flood happens. Disaster Services is here to talk about mold growth after a flood, and why you need to be concerned about it from the start.

Factors That Determine How Fast Mold Grows After a Flood

In many instances, mold can start to grow as soon as 24-48 hours after a flood happens. However, there are several considerations that you need to think about that can play a role in how quickly it happens. Here are some of the things that can affect the growth of mold after a flood:
– Mold Spores: If there are already mold spores present in the environment, it won’t take long at all for them to settle into a surface and start to grow.
– Moisture: The presence of moisture is required for mold to be an issue. This is why mold is such a problem when a flood happens. If there is a great deal of moisture that is in the area for a long period of time, it creates the perfect conditions for mold growth. The longer the moisture is around, the more likely it will be that mold will become an issue.
– Time: If moisture is cleaned up and dried out right away, mold won’t have the time it needs to start to grow. After a flood occurs, the longer it takes to dry things out, the more likely it will be that mold starts to grow. The biggest problem is that mold doesn’t stay contained in one spot when it starts to grow. It will start to move throughout the house.
– Temperatures: Mold thrives in areas that are both moist, dark and cool spaces. When the space is around 70 degrees and dark, mold is going to flourish.
– Surfaces: Different surfaces are going to be more prone to mold growth than others. Organic materials like wood, drywall, carpet and other building materials are required or mold to feed off of them. If these surfaces are soaked in flood waters, mold is going to be able to grow easily.
– Ventilation: The more airflow that there is in a space, the less likely mold will be to grow. Poor ventilation creates the perfect environment for mold growth.

Flood & Water Damage Restoration in Baytown, Pasadena, Humble, Deer Park, Crosby, Channelview, League City, Pearland, Missouri City, Sugar Land, Cypress, The Woodlands, Spring & Greater Houston, Texas

If you have experienced a flood, you can turn to Disaster Services to get things cleaned up and restored before mold can start to be an issue. If mold has started to grow, we will be able to get rid of it effectively. Call us today!