Steps to Take When Dealing With Mold After a Basement Flood

Flooded basements are every homeowner’s worst nightmare. During the rainy season, heavy downpours and extreme flooding can occur. Water pours into the basement through the windows and walls. Because of this, water gathers in the basement, causing various issues.

Mold development is one of the most common issues following basement flooding. It makes the place look and smell dirty and causes a significant health hazard. To keep mold away, you must take action within 24 to 48 hours and use the methods outlined below.

What’s the best approach to prevent mold after flooding?

Mold can only be prevented from thriving by completely drying out the affected area as soon as possible. To do this, here are some tips you can take to help keep your basement mold-free after a flood:

Examine Each Room

The first step is to assess how bad the mold problem is on your property. Even if the flooding was contained in the basement alone, it is best to inspect each room for any indications of mold growth. Mold spreads fast. Therefore, you should check each space carefully to eliminate the threat as soon as possible.

Quickly Dry Wet Items

Mold thrives in damp environments. So, you should eliminate this setting as soon as possible to prevent further mold development. Dry all the wet things in the basement at once using dehumidifiers, air conditioners, or fans to speed up the procedure. If there is no electrical power, a generator can run the dehumidifier. Don’t let anything sit in the water, as that will only worsen the problem.

Remove Wet Carpets

Do you have a carpet installed in your basement? If so, the carpets must be completely soaked by the water, and you need to deal with the soggy carpet promptly. If you don’t pick them up, the mold will spread out under the rug and become difficult to remove. Therefore, you must remove wet carpets and have them dried immediately. If the carpets can be used again, they should be professionally cleaned and sanitized before being put back in place.

Clean Up All Affected Areas

It is critical to clean the affected areas to ensure that any contaminants and bacteria will be eliminated from the surrounding environment. That being said, removing the drywall and other parts of the home is sometimes required. If water gets inside the walls and under the structural framework, it needs to be cleaned and dried properly to prevent mold development.

Sanitize All Surfaces

After taking out all excess moisture, you must disinfect all sources. You can buy over-the-counter cleaning solutions to get rid of germs and the possibility of mold. If you follow these steps, mold development can be avoided. Unfortunately, preventive measures don’t always work, so if you detect any signs of mold growth despite doing something about it, you should contact an expert for full mold removal right away.

Get Professional Help

If you feel you can not do all these tasks alone, you can always get professional help from emergency restoration services. After a basement flood or any other water leak, you may hire them to help you clean up and restore your home quickly. The pros have dealt with flooded basements and mold growth for years and know how to solve these issues effectively.