Cladosporium, penicillium, and aspergillus are scientific terms for some of the worst enemies to a human’s long-term health. Most people have not heard of these species but do know them under their common name, mold. For years, mold was not given the attention it needed in the science community, but after a while, it was discovered that many health hazards to humans are brought about by mold.
Mold loves moisture and cannot grow without it. Given just a small amount of water, however, it can thrive. This usually occurs after a disaster such as a natural flood or a water pipe burst in your home or business. Follow along as we discuss how to prevent mold with professional water cleanup.
Why Mold Is Bad for You
Of course, mold occurs naturally in nature, and some types even have health benefits when utilized in the correct way. The problem occurs when we build containers to work and live in and allow mold to live and grow beside us.
People with allergies, asthma, and immune deficiencies are affected by mold spores floating around within your property in the short term, more than others. Even people considered to have healthy immune systems and no allergies will develop health issues after constant mold exposure.
What You Can Do To Prevent Mold
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the best way to control mold from growing within your home or business is to keep the humidity level between 30% to 50% percent all day long. This is especially true when a flood occurs within your home or business. Mold will begin to grow after moisture is brought into your home within only a few days, depending on the area you live in.
Below are a few suggestions to prevent mold from growing after water damage:
- Open windows for ventilation in less humid temperatures.
- Remove as much water as possible from the property.
- Run your property’s heater to dry out moisture.
- Open up walls (the bottom) when they have been flooded to allow moisture to escape.
- Use electric fans to help dry out moisture.
Hire a Professional for Water Cleanup
All of the steps above are an excellent start in preventing the growth of mold. However, most homes that suffer from a flood or burst pipe will have extensive damage. In these cases, or whenever you are not sure if you have moisture standing in your home or business, the prudent thing to do is to hire a professional to help.
Professional water removal companies are trained and have the equipment necessary to remove moisture from your property. Even more importantly, they have tools that will check for moisture buildup where you cannot see it for yourself. Without finding moisture hiding in walls, crawl spaces, or under the baseboards can lead to deadly mold growing within your property.
If water damage has occurred to your home or business, start with the steps mentioned above, and then contact an emergency water cleanup company to give you an estimate and direction on how to proceed.