Mold From Water Damage | ServiceMaster of the Upstate SC

Standing water or excess water in the home—whether because of flooding, a burst pipe, or a leaky roof—can jeopardize your home or property’s safety. In addition to the structural damage it causes, water damage can introduce another issue that needs serious attention: mold growth. Learn about mold and water damage from ServiceMaster of the Upstate.

Conditions for Mold Growth

A Food Source

Mold thrives in a carbon-based material that it can latch onto and consume for energy. Examples of these carbon-based materials are cotton, wood, drywall, and a whole variety of other commonly-found materials throughout your home.
Your flooring, your walls, your furniture, your window treatments, and even just plain paper found throughout your home could become a great source of food.
Some would be your food itself. If left in a moist place or container for too long, you will notice that green or black speck. Yes, that’s mold!

A Moisture Source

Although mold and its spores are everywhere, active mold growth requires moisture.
Water damage in your property can be a source of mold growth, so don’t wait until it gets worse.
When you notice any standing water or something leaking, professional water removal would be the best solution.

Dark Places

Mold hates sunlight. When hit by direct sunlight, the UV rays from the sun kill mold spores.
As a result, mold thrives in dark spaces in your home such as the basement, attic, and cupboards. Make sure you keep these places well-ventilated and dry.

How Fast Can Mold Spread?

As soon as water damage takes over, expect mold to sprout easily, given that mold spores exist everywhere in the environment.
Mold can start developing as soon as the right conditions — organic “food” and moisture— are present. With only a few inches of standing water, mold growth will be inevitable in just a matter of hours.

Health Risks of Mold Growth

Mold produces allergens and irritants. Allergens are substances that can cause allergic reactions. Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

Allergic responses include:

Hay fever-type symptoms (sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash)
Breathing Difficulties
Skin irritation
Other Allergic reactions
Aggravation of asthma symptoms

How to Stop Mold Growth and Reproduction

The use of dehumidifiers is an effective way to keep relative humidity levels in an acceptable range.
Most indoor environments have a relative humidity of 40 to 50 percent when the temperature is between 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
To prevent mold growth and reproduction, you need to resolve the source of any moisture intrusion.

How to Deal With Mold in Your Home

Water penetration can occur anywhere in your home. In addition to the bathroom and basement, to avoid extensive damages and mold growth, it’s important always to be looking at the following areas for the signs of water damage:

Ceilings and Walls: In the ceiling, water damage can either be the result of water leaking in through the roof or, if there’s a bathroom on the floor above, from a leaking pipe in the bathroom. Check the same sources of water damage on the walls, as well as the regions around doors and windows.
Floors: Water-damaged floors can be caused by a variety of factors, including overflowing sinks and tubs or leaking appliances.
Exterior Walls: Exterior wall damage is frequently caused by poor drainage or gutters that do not transport water away from your home.
Attic: Signs that your attic has been damaged include stains, mold, and bulging insulation.
Appliances: Check under or behind your refrigerator, washer and dryer, water heater, toilets, and sinks for signs of pooling or leaks.

Contact Us for Greenville, SC Mold Remediation Service

Do-it-yourself mold removal can be dangerous and lead to many costly mistakes, such as disturbing colonies or not removing all spores. Experienced mold remediation companies are better equipped to ensure a seamless removal of mold.

ServiceMaster of the Upstate is licensed, insured, and thorough to guarantee proper mold removal and remediation. We are on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, servicing residential and commercial properties in Greenville, Saluda, Spartanburg, Newberry, and Laurens, South Carolina, and surrounding areas.