Water damage needs prompt attention. Fixing the source and addressing wet materials can reduce the opportunity for mold growth. The appropriate next step depends on where the water came from, how far it spread and whether mold is already present.
Start with safety
Keep out of standing water near electrical equipment, and do not touch wet electrical equipment. Floodwater may contain contamination or hidden hazards. Follow emergency officials’ instructions about entering a damaged building. Ready.gov flood guidance explains these precautions.
Stop the moisture source and address wet materials
Arrange repair of the leak or other water source. EPA recommends drying wet areas and materials within 24–48 hours to help prevent mold growth. This is a prompt-action guideline, not a guarantee that mold will or will not develop at a particular hour. See EPA’s guide to mold and moisture.
Know when cleanup needs professional help
EPA recommends experienced professional help for damage involving sewage or other contaminated water. Extensive water damage, larger mold areas and suspected HVAC contamination also need additional assessment. Do not run an HVAC system suspected of mold contamination. Some moldy porous materials cannot be adequately cleaned and may need removal. See EPA’s mold cleanup guidance.
Cleaning is more than applying a chemical
Moisture control and removal of mold contamination matter. Spraying a disinfectant does not replace those steps. EPA does not recommend bleach or other biocides as a routine mold-cleanup practice, and killing mold does not remove it. No treatment can eliminate every mold spore from an indoor environment. EPA mold and moisture guidance.
Water damage and mold help in Newton and Grinnell
Integrity Cleaning & Restoration provides water damage restoration, mold remediation and mold inspections and indoor air quality assessments.
Call (641) 791-2302 or contact Integrity with your property location, the water source if known and what you have observed. We can discuss the service that fits your concern and confirm availability for your address.
