Tips for Preventing Mold Damage After a Flood
12/23/2019 (Permalink)
Tips for Preventing Mold Damage After a Flood
When a flood impacts your commercial property in Woodland Hills, OK, it’s crucial to do what you can to mitigate as much damage as possible. Whether the flooding resulted from a storm or burst pipe, taking immediate action is essential to helping your business recover from the incident. Failing to take proper care of the issue can result in bacteria and mold growth. Be sure to take the following steps while you wait for help to arrive in order to keep your business protected.
Dry the Area
The most effective way to prevent mold from growing on your property is to air out the affected area completely. This involves doing the following:
- Opening up your building during the day
- Turning on fans to facilitate evaporation and air circulation
- Running dehumidifiers to dry contents more quickly
- Disposing of debris and saturated items
Taking these steps can help to remove as much moisture as possible from your building and deter mold growth.
Remove Damaged Materials
Once you’ve sufficiently dried out the flooded area, you can begin to remove damaged materials from your property. If any furniture or carpeting has been severely damaged by floodwater, be sure to dispose of it right away. This also applies to any insulation, ceiling tiles or drywall that can no longer be recovered. If it isn’t possible for you to remove damaged carpeting, you can attempt to dry it using a dehumidifier or a wet/dry vacuum. Any materials that are submerged in standing water can become severely damaged, so be sure to remove them as soon as you can.
While these guidelines can help to minimize the amount of flood damage your business experiences, calling emergency restoration services immediately is the safest way to allow your commercial property to make a full recovery. A professional can take the appropriate action to deter mold growth and keep your business safe.