How to Prevent Mold Growth After Water Damage

Water damage is something that threatens all properties no matter their age, condition, or location. As long as you find the source of the leak quickly, water damage can be fixed rather easily. However mould is something that you need to be wary of even after the leak has been fixed. If mould is left unchecked, it can quickly cause damage to things like drywall, furniture, and even the structural integrity of your home itself. Mould can also be harmful if breathed in or ingested by anyone on your property , so it is important to address mould issues quickly whenever they pop up. 

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How Mould Grows

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Mould loves damp, dark environments with plenty of food such as building materials, insulation and wood products. Unfortunately, this means that if too much moisture makes it into your home, it could create the perfect environment for mould spores to flourish. It is important to consider any water leak as the start of a mould problem, so that no matter what happens you will be prepared to tackle any mould before it gets out of hand and becomes dangerous. 

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4 Steps to Ensure Your Property Remain Mould Free

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Fix the Leak

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The first thing you need to do if you have not already done so is find and address the source of the water damage. The longer the source of the problem goes without being fixed, the bigger the issue for you becomes. Water damage can get out of hand fast which means it is very important to fix the source of the problem as fast as you can before it causes any structural problems. Whether you have a little leak in the roof or your whole basement is flooded, it is important to remember that when it comes to water damage the speed in which you fix the problem has a huge impact on the size and more importantly the cost of the damage. 

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Segregate & Dry Items on Your Property

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If any items on your property have been affected by the water leak, it is important to get them away from the source of the problem and also from the items in your home that were unaffected. This is because you don't want the affected items to get any worse, and you also don't want the water to spread to other items that were previously unaffected. It is important to keep in mind that this only really applies to things made from porous materials like fabric, leather, paper etc. Non porous materials like glass and metal can be given less attention as they are impacted much less by water and are unlikely to be damaged. As a general rule, any porous material that has been exposed to water for less than 48 hours can be disinfected, dried out, and saved for future use. In order to save these items, first wash them using warm water and a non-ammonia detergents. Next, use a mixture of bleach and water (10% bleach) on all surfaces and leave out too dry.

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Once you have the source of the leak addressed and any affected items have been removed, you can begin the process of drying your home. The first thing you can do is open up any doors or windows on your property. Assuming the humidity level outside is higher than inside this will do a great job at drying your property and circulating air throughout your property to make things feel less damp and humid in there. Next you should get some dehumidifiers set up in the areas most affected by the water damage. These will begin to remove excess moisture from the air and will also help to begin evaporating the water that is embedded in things like carpet, furniture or drywall. You can also bring any cleaned items that you cleared out earlier, the dehumidifiers and circulating air will help to speed up their drying process as well. 

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Consult the Professionals  

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Depending on the severity of your water damage, consulting professionals may be the first thing on your list. However, even if you feel like you have the situation under control, it is never a bad idea to get an expert's opinion on the situation. You may find you missed something or are not doing something properly, which a professional would be able to see, correct, and put you back on track. This is where VendorPM can help, since we allow you to pick from thousands of peer reviewed vendors to ensure you have the expert support you need to get the job done right the first time. 

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MDR Restoration Services Calgary

Calgary, AB

MDR Restoration Services offers a full scope of disaster restoration and rebuild construction. We specialize in water mitigation, sewer backups, fire & smoke damage, odour control, mold remediation, asbestos abatement, trauma & biohazard cleans, content moving & storage using the latest in equipment and technology while maintaining the highest in certified standards. Our commitment to Calgary and area for 29 years is matched only by our dedication to services. We go above and beyond your average Restoration Company and would be happy to be of service to you. We provide free rebuild estimates on all losses, free estimates on all exterior work, free estimates on all remediation or abatement work. . We look forward to serving you!

Access Restoration Services Ltd.

North York, ON

Access Restoration Services (ARS) is a proud leader in disaster mitigation and property restoration. With a commitment to quality and over 60 years of experience in the property insurance industry, we are dedicated to meeting the needs of insurers, agents, brokers, and most importantly, the policy holder. We serve property owners of all types with restoration services resulting from WATER, FIRE, STORM, and other event driven disasters. ARS is a single-source solution for all your property restoration needs from emergency response through to complete reconstruction. As a leading provider of disaster restoration services for residential, business and industrial clients, our technology, proprietary processes and equipment enable us to respond quickly and effectively. The success of our organization relies on our ability to deliver high quality work with exceptional customer service. To enable our team to deliver this on a consistent basis, we invest heavily in related training, certification, and continuing education. We pride ourselves on the quality, honesty, and integrity of our work. No matter the situation, we are here for you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to return damaged property to its pre-loss condition quickly and efficiently. And it all starts with just one call. With a 1-hour response time, our highly trained and certified technicians will respond immediately using the industry’s most advanced techniques, equipment and products to reduce the severity of your damages and minimize the time your home or business is disrupted. At ARS, our entire team is focused and committed to restoring your tomorrow.

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PAC Building Group Corp

Vaughn, ON

PAC Building Group is a full service general contracting firm servicing all of Southern Ontario and Quebec. We deliver comprehensive building solutions for multi-residential, condominium, commercial, industrial and hospitality projects. We partner with our clients to understand their goals and interpret their vision, building spaces that are distinctly suited for each environment. With an integrated approach and seamless process, we outpace traditional expectations. Every project begins with a conversation. We thoroughly understand all phases of construction to offer full range of services to fit all lifestyles and budgets. With the support of a diverse team of individuals, we ensure all critical project milestones are met and no less than the best quality delivered.

Belfast Restoration Inc

Mississauga, ON

We are a reliable, relatable general contractor specializing in water/fire emergencies, mold remediation with professional quick response times. We also do hallways, lobby refurbishment, caulking repairs or replacement, concrete repairs and waterproofing.

Restoration Mate

Scarborough, ON

Our team of restoration professionals have been serving Ontario for over 15 years. We take great pride in our excellent customer service, quality work, and our adherence to professional standards all of our team members are fully committed to.

Response Restoration Inc

Mississauga, ON

Response Restorations Inc. is a 24/7 Emergency Service & Restoration Company Serving Condominiums in the GTA for over 20 Years. Services include: Water Damage Restoration, Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration, General Contracting, Emergency Board up, Wind Damage Restoration, Mold Removal, Asbestos Removal, Content Pack out & Cleaning, Debris Removal, Project Management. 416 716 9261

Imperial Construction and Restoration Inc.

Scarborough, ON

Imperial takes an approach that is focused on you, the customer, and how you want your property to be restored or improved. You tell us the problem, and we will describe the solution and ensure you understand it. We have provided high-quality services for thousands of property owners on both commercial and residential properties. We provide a 24/7 emergency service, so we are always there for you whenever you may need us.

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Nationwide Restorations

Calgary, AB

NATIONWIDE RESTORATIONS is a 24-hour emergency response company delivering superior recovery and loss mitigation for water damage, fire damage, mold, asbestos, and other restoration needs. We specialize in residential, multifamily, and commercial properties of any size, with branches in Calgary, Regina, and Edmonton to serve our client and national expansion planned over the next year.

Kingsgate Restoration

Etobicoke, ON

Our many years of experience with restoration projects as a restoration company has been extensive with building restoration of heritage buildings. We take care with our restoration projects and are happy to work with property managers or insurance companies on various jobs, such as, burst pipes, water damage restoration, stone repair, repairing cracks, envelope restoration, concrete cracks, and more. Please contact our customer service to book an appointment or to learn more about our full service, quality restoration services.

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