The health risks associated with a flooded basement

A home that has a flooded basement can pose a significant risk to your health and the health of your family. In no time at all, you can expect a flooded basement to be a breeding ground for mold and mildew, which will necessitate the removal of the fungi as quickly as possible.

The health implications of mold growth have the potential to be extremely serious, especially if you or members of your family have pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma or bronchitis.

Once you have discovered mold and mildew in your home then it is not advisable to eradicate it yourself, it can be dangerous to tackle mold without the proper safety equipment as spores can become airborne and they may spread to other parts of your property, as well as being inhaled by anyone in your home.

Therefore, it is a good idea to call in a team of professionals who have the equipment and the experience to tackle this kind of infestation properly. It is imperative that you call in a specialist mold cleaning company as soon as you spot mold growth to limit the damage to your home and its possessions.

A basement that has become the victim of flooding has the potential to cause you and your family a significant number of problems with your everyday life, but these problems can be prevented by yourself by carrying out regular routine inspections of your basement every so often. Inspecting your basement on a regular basis will help you to detect the early signs of water leakage or water seepage which could lead to a serious case of basement flooding in the future. So remember that old adage that prevention is a lot better than the cure and that making sure that you do not become a victim of basement flooding and its adjoining health problems is the way to go.

Dangers Lurking In Wet Carpets

When your property experiences flooding, one of the worst consequences is a wet carpet. It takes only 24 to 48 hours for water damage to destroy your floor coverings, leaving them smelly and infested with mold. Time is a priority when dealing with carpet drying. A flood does not necessarily mean that the carpet is irreparable, if you get on the case immediately then there is every possibility of it being rescued. The carpet itself is not so much a danger, it is the padding beneath it which acts as a huge sponge, absorbing moisture and creating the perfect breeding ground for mildew and other bacteria. That is why even if your carpet appears dry on the surface, you cannot risk leaving it alone because the underlying padding could still be wet and be breeding all manner of nasty things which will soon become airborne and affect your health.

Timing is everything. In an ideal situation, the water should be drained and your carpet dried within 24 hours of exposure to moisture, even up to 48 hours afterwards can still allow for reasonable rescue although it may only be possible to salvage the carpet and not the padding. However, when you hit 72 hours after exposure, it is best to assume your wet carpet cannot be saved. The longer your carpet is soaked the worse the problem is going to get so you should call in professional assistance immediately to extract the water, dry the surface and the underneath of the carpet and steam clean it to kill lingering microbial growth and eliminate odors.

Failure to dry a wet carpet after a flood will put to your health at risk. Inside of a week the carpet will be showing visible signs of mold growth. Mold spreads unbelievably quickly and once airborne can have a negative impact on your health. Health concerns include respiratory difficulties, irritation of the skin, eyes, nose and throat and exacerbation of existing health conditions. The elderly, young children and expectant mothers are especially at risk.

The Effects of Mold On Your Health and Home

New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina: Mold infestations in bedroom of home in Carrollton neighborhood. House did not flood and had minor exterior damage, but small leaks during the storm plus being vacant for weeks resulted in homeowners returning to this scene. Photo by Infrogmation (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Molds are everywhere! We can find them both indoors and outdoors and they are naturally occurring in order to break down materials.. When mold attaches to organic matter including construction materials like wood and drywall it will gradually eat away at the host. When molds are present in large amounts they can also present health issues such as allergic reactions and respiratory difficulties.

In the most severe cases of mold contamination, spores become air borne and can be inhaled by the residents of the property leading to a range of problems including respiratory failure, asthma, infections and a number of other health concerns. Just as mold can break down structural components, so too can it break down the human body.

Spores are usually found in damp areas of a property, and is usually a result of water damage. We are in fact exposed to mold on a daily basis without any real harm. However, in people with existing health concerns even a small amount of mold can be a problem. A good rule of thumb is that if you see or smell mold, then have it taken care of as soon as you can. Some molds can produce toxins called mycotoxins, exposure to which can present a substantial risk to health. These toxins are present in both living and non-living mold spores.

If you call in a mold remediation expert, they will begin by carrying out mold testing. This will include taking air samples and surface samples to determine the types of molds which are present in your home. It is very important to know the type and the toxicity level of molds in your home so that the professional technician can decide which approach he should take to remediation. Removing the surface growth is not enough, the underlying cause of the mold growth must also be addressed otherwise there will be ongoing regrowth problems in your property.

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