3 Ways To Slow the Spread of Mold After a Flood at Your Business

11/27/2018 (Permalink)

Fleet in Trenton,OH ready for mold

Actions to Take Before Service Technicians Arrive

When a flood affects your Trenton, OH, business, there is much to consider when it comes to cleanup efforts. Draining standing water and salvaging important equipment is probably a priority for you; however, once flood waters are removed, you could be facing a major black mold problem as soon as 24 hours later. Calling in service technicians who know how to handle the cleanup is vital, but there are a few actions you can take before they arrive.

1. Turn Off the Air Conditioner

Switching off your building’s air conditioning system can stop the spread of mold spores in two ways. First, a lack of air flow will likely slow the speed at which they move through the air ducts. Secondly, it will be more difficult for the spores to find and travel to moist areas where they can settle and multiply.

2. Open Windows

While it is difficult to stop the spread of black mold when you already have a moisture problem due to a flood or a pipe break, airing out affected rooms and allowing trapped humid air to escape can lower the moisture levels in these areas. Open as many windows as possible and direct electric fans toward the center of the room to push humid air out.

3. Turn Off the Water

It is a good idea to turn off the building’s water until your mold cleanup service arrives and the technicians can survey the damage. This can be especially important if the flood was caused by a burst pipe or water line. The fewer puddles of standing water there are in your building, the lower the risk for mold to form. Be sure you know where the main water shutoff valve is before a water emergency so you can act quickly.

Flooding at your Trenton, OH, business can cause considerable damage. However, when you know how to slow the spread of black mold and other types of fungi in the aftermath, you could help your business recover faster.