Can Flood Damage or Water Cause Mold?

If your home has recently been struck by flood damage, or perhaps a burst pipe or other water damage, then you may be worried about mold.

Unfortunately, the build-up of mold and other harmful bacteria is a common consequence of flooding and water damage.

What’s worse, is that mold can grow very quickly once a property has sustained water damage. In fact, you may grow spores which can further affect your health.

So, what should you do if this is you? This blog post will explain flood damage and mold build-up in more detail, including what you should do following the event of a flood.

How does mold grow after flood damage?

After flooding, or other water damage, mold can grow quickly, but how quickly, you ask? In as little as 24 to 48-hours, you could have a serious mold infection on your hands.

When a surface is moist or damp, or if the humidity changes, then mold is likely to grow. Therefore, it’s essential to clean up after a flood and remove the water as soon as possible.

If the standing water is left too long, you’ll be dealing with a serious and very dangerous mold and spore problem.

How dangerous is mold?

Not only does mold not look great and smell terrible, but it is also dangerous to your body. For example, exposure to mold may result in a nasty rash, trouble breathing, a runny nose, or even an infection.

Worst case, a mold infection can impact the immune system, causing various problems that could have been avoided.

Can you deal with flood damage yourself?

While you can technically deal with flood damage and mold yourself, some jobs require professional assistance.

For example, if your basement is to flood, you may need a large pump and a team to remove the water promptly. Furthermore, you’ll want that mold gone ASAP, preventing a further spread or potential infection.

Your next steps

Depending on how severe the flood damage is to your home will determine your next steps.

If the damage is minor, such as a few puddles and wet matches, you can likely deal with this yourself. However, if you have full-on flood or if the water is still building up, then you should seek professional water damage and flooding restoration help.

For more information, or for flood damage restoration in Kentucky and the surrounding areas, contact the team at Jacob’s Ladder.