Mold Prevention Checklist

If you have recently experienced a flood or “water event” there are some important things you must do right away to avoid a mold problem.

Mold can cause property damage and a variety of health issues, so it is important to clean the visible mold and remove all sources of moisture as soon as possible.

The main thing to remember is this: mold needs moisture to grow. So to get rid of mold, or to prevent  it  from  growing,  you  must  first  eliminate  all  sources  of  moisture.

Here  is  a  basic  mold  checklist  that  we  provide  to  our  clients to help them stop mold from spreading. If  you  have any questions, give us a call, we are here to help!

Preventing Mold from Spreading

• Within 24 to 48 hours of any water event, you should remove all wet items, including sheetrock, carpet, furniture, etc.
• Discard anything that cannot be cleaned and thoroughly dried. 
• If you see mold growing on an item or surface that can be cleaned, use water and detergent to clean the visible mold, and then dry it completely.
• Moldy absorbent materials (such as ceiling tiles or carpeting) should be replaced.
• Do not bring anything back into the space until it is clean and completely dry.
• Rent, buy or borrow a sump pump, shop vacuum, buckets or siphon hoses, whatever you can find to remove standing water from the space.
• Use industrial blowers, dehumidifiers, fans, open windows and vents, etc. to remove the remaining moisture.
• If you don’t have one, purchase a hygrometer at your local hardware store (usually cost less than $30). After you have done all of the above steps, close all windows and measure your indoor humidity. Ideally it should be about 30% to 60%. If it is higher than 60%, mold is likely to grow.
• Continue working to remove the moisture from the area and keep measuring until you can get the humidity below 60%.

 
A few things to keep in mind for mold prevention in areas prone to mold, water intrusion, and mositure problems:

• use dehumidifiers to control the humidity
• avoid carpeting or materials made from wood
• eliminate condensation by installing plenty of insulation
• find and eliminate the source of moisture

Remember, there is no way to eliminate all mold from the indoor environment. The best way to control mold is to control the moisture and follow the mold prevention tips listed on this page.

Good luck, and if you have any questions along the way, or are still having problems and want to schedule a mold investitgation, give us a call.