A flood is the kind of extensive water damage that most people are afraid of. The reality, however, is that most water damage that will affect a property is unlikely to be on that scale unless a catastrophic weather event occurs.
Unfortunately, many people make the mistake of thinking as long as a home isn’t flooded, the water damage isn’t serious and may even be ignored.
Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. Even if a home wasn’t flooded so badly it forced people to retreat to the roof, it could still cause damage so severe that people may have to move out for their own safety.
This is not because the water damaged the home so much that it compromised the structural integrity. Instead, the real threat comes from the visitor that arrives with moisture, mold.
The Water To Mold Cycle
Water itself can damage a home by bubbling up paint, discoloring walls and ceilings, and rendering papers, fabrics, and other materials soaked and useless.
The real threat, however, comes from the moisture that becomes trapped in the environment. Just because you can’t see the water on the surface of a sponge, for example, doesn’t mean that the sponge isn’t full of water on the inside.
Many elements of a property can act similar to a sponge, containing moisture and creating a damp environment even when visible pools of water have been removed.
Unfortunately, that damp environment is all that’s needed for mold to get a foothold and start building out a colony that can spread throughout an area.
How Does Mold Start?
Surprisingly, mold spores are something that is always there in the air! Unless you’ve got a NASA class airlock and filtration system that screens and scrubs out every particle of air, you admit spores into a property every time a door or window is opened, even with a screen in place. All that mold spore needs are the right environment, but this varies from one spore type to the next.
For example, some spores require starch, which is why bread changes color when it’s left out too long. That’s bread mold finding the appropriate environment, and starting a colony.
Other types of mold need damp, dark environments. They can settle on harsher surfaces, like wood, or drywall, or even insulation.
Some of these mold types are allergenic, meaning most people won’t be affected by them. Still, more sensitive types with allergies may notice their presence and sneeze or experience watery eyes.
Other mold types are pathogenic, meaning that people with immunity or health issues may be affected. Those with respiratory/immunocompromised conditions such as asthma, for example, would be vulnerable.
Finally, there are mycotoxins, which means that the mold spores will negatively impact everyone, regardless of health. These can be very serious, leading to degenerative neural disorders, brain damage, and even heart or lung conditions.
Contact a Mold Remediation Expert
If you’re worried about moisture and want an assessment of water damage in your home, contact us. We can see just how widespread the water and moisture are and ensure that all of it is removed so that mold doesn’t have a chance to spread.