Mold remediation: causes

Water damage can result from anything from slow leaks in poorly maintained pipes, severe weather, or even a faulty appliance. Unfortunately, once the problem has been identified and remedied, that’s not always the end of the story. A big part of water damage cleanup entails taking care of mold and mildew problems.

Mold and mildew are types of fungi that thrive in moist environments. They can show up as soon as twenty four to forty eight hours after a leak or flood has occurred, and thrive on breaking down organic matter like wood, paper, certain adhesives, and even some types of insulation. Fungi reproduce by emitting spores, which can result in extremely large colonies and thousands of dollars in property damage. Not only are these colonies capable of damaging homes, they can also cause or aggravate respiratory disorders like asthma.

Under ideal conditions, most buildings are too dry to allow mold and mildew to grow outside of a few easily-cleaned spots in a kitchen or bathroom. Water damage allows large amounts of mold and mildew spores to grow by creating moist environments in hidden areas of buildings. Houses are usually already warm enough to foster fungal growth, and many are chock-full of the kind of materials that fungi thrive on. When a leak or flood occurs, it’s often very difficult to get to all of the places that have been exposed to water. As a result, hard-to-reach places behind furniture, in basements, or inside walls can remain damp long enough for a colony of mold or mildew to become established.

People living or working in rooms affected by mold or mildew can end up inhaling the spores these fungi send out, which can make them very ill. Fungal colonies can also regrow if any moisture or moldy spots are left behind after cleanup. For this reason, these situations are best handled by a professional water restoration service.