Has your roof leaked recently? Basement flooded? If you’ve recently had water damage, mold could be growing in your house. Mold is a harmful fungus that thrives in warm, damp areas. It’s one of the most serious hidden threats that homeowners face after water damage.
In this blog, we’ll explain how quickly mold can grow after water damage and what you should do about it as a homeowner in Columbus. We’ll also explain the signs you have mold and why it’s important to take care of mold remediation as soon as you can.
The Mold Growth Timeline
Some people think mold is a small, slow-growing problem. Wrong! Here’s a timeline of how fast mold can become a problem:
24-48 Hours – Mold Growth Starts
Mold spores can start germinating within 24 hours of your water damage. You might not be able to see it after a day, but microscopic activity could be taking place in your carpets, insulation, and other damp surfaces.
3-5 Days –Mold Grows Into Colonies
If you don’t take care of excess moisture after water damage, small patches of mold colonies will start growing. They’ll look like black, white, or green spots. At this point, the colonies start releasing mold spores into the air.
1 Week And On – Your Mold Problem Continues Growing and Spreading
If mold has been allowed to grow for a week, you officially have a serious mold problem. It floats into your HVAC system, your walls, and other crevices of your home. Mold is harder and more expensive to remove the longer you allow it to grow and spread.
Signs Your Home Might Have a Mold Problem
Catching mold early can save you from having health problems and needing expensive mold removal services. Here are some of the most common signs you have mold:
Water Stains
Water stains on your ceilings, walls, or floors means you have excess moisture in these areas. These damp spots are the perfect breeding grounds for mold. Never ignore excess moisture or water stains in your home.
Musty Odors
Does your house smell musty or earthy? These smells can be a sign of hidden mold growth. Mold spores could be growing in your walls, under your flooring, and in other places you can’t see.
Discoloration or Fuzzy Patches
This is one of the more obvious signs of mold. If you see black, white, or green patches on various surfaces around your home, these are most likely mold colonies.
New, Unexplained Health Issues
Have you been coughing, sneezing, itching your eyes, or having asthma flare ups recently? Exposure to mold can cause all of these symptoms. If these symptoms go away when you spend time away from your house, you should have your property inspected for mold.
Peeling Paint and Drywall Problems
Excess moisture in your walls can cause paint to peel and drywall to bubble. Having excess moisture in your walls can lead to mold growth you can’t see.
Recent Flooding
Mold starts growing quickly after water damage, so it’s always wise to have a restoration company check for mold when they repair your flooded home.
The Health Risks of Living in a Home with Mold
Mold doesn’t just eat away at your house; it also eats away at your health. Mold spores and their mycotoxins affect people differently, but here are the general health and safety risks of mold exposure:
Respiratory Issues
Mold spores wreak havoc on your airways. Coughing, congestion, shortness of breath, and asthma flare ups are all symptoms of mold exposure.
Allergic Reactions
Mold can cause allergic reactions like sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, and rashes. If you have these symptoms while you’re home, but they go away when you leave, there’s a good chance you have mold.
Sinus Infections
Do you get sinus infections all the time? These could be due to chronic mold exposure. Mold irritates your nose and throat tissues, making you more prone to infections.
Skin and Eye Problems
Mold can make your eyes itch, burn, water, and blur your vision. Exposure can also cause skin issues like rashes and hives.
Neurological Issues
Mold mycotoxins can contribute to neurological problems like headaches and dizziness. Difficulty concentrating and chronic fatigue are also symptoms of chronic mold exposure.
Weakened Immune System and Long-Term Health Risks
One of the most pernicious effects of mold is that it gradually weakens your immune system, leaving you more vulnerable to any number of health problems. This is why testing your home for mold is so important.
How Do We Remove Mold and Make Your Home Safe Again?
We don’t recommend handling mold removal by yourself. We have the equipment and experience to remove your home’s mold safely. Call Campbell Restoration for professional mold remediation in Columbus today. These are the steps we take to make your home safe again:
Mold Testing
First, we’ll inspect your property for visible signs of mold and do several tests to find hidden mold. We use moisture meters and infrared cameras to measure how much excess moisture you have in your drywall and other mold-prone materials. We use air sampling to measure the concentration of mold spores in different areas of your home. We can also conduct surface tests with special swabs to identify the type of mold you have.
Mold Removal
Next, we seal off the affected areas so the mold can’t spread any further than it already has. Once we’ve sealed the area, we use industrial fans and dehumidifiers to dry all the excess moisture. Finally, we use HEPA-filtered vacuums and antimicrobial cleaning treatments to remove the mold. Our team will also remove and replace all the ruined insulation and drywall materials.
Post-Removal Testing and Prevention
Once we’ve removed the mold, we test your property a second time to make sure your house is dry and mold-free. We can also give you suggestions on how to prevent future water damage and mold growth. Preventing mold from growing in the first place is always better than having to remove it once it’s already taken hold.
Call Campbell Restoration for Mold Removal Services in Columbus, Ohio
Mold is much more than an ugly stain or a weird smell. It grows quickly and negatively impacts your family’s health. The key to handling mold is a fast response. You need a team that knows how to find and remove mold quickly.
Call Campbell Restoration today if you’ve recently had water damage in Columbus, Ohio. We can handle both your water damage repairs and mold remediation services. Don’t wait for mold to start growing after a leak or a flood. Call us today to schedule mold remediation services in Columbus.