Got Water Damage? You Might Have Mold, Too

Got Water Damage? You Might Have Mold, Too

If you see signs of water damage in your home or business, beware! When there’s water damage, there’s very likely mold, too. Mold loves a warm, damp habitat, and it can start growing very quickly. If water damage goes unnoticed or unrepaired, it could trigger a mold infestation.

How Quickly Can Mold Grow from Water Damage?

Mold can start to spawn in as little as 24 hours, spreading its spores through the air and all over the rest of the building. Does a water leak always mean mold? No, but the longer it’s been since the leak started, the higher the risk of mold growth and the higher the risk of mold-related illnesses.

If your home has any water damage from a leaky pipe, a storm, or a flood, make repairs right away, and then schedule a mold inspection. Keep in mind that mold often grows hidden inside walls, behind cabinets, and underneath carpeting or floorboards. Even if you can’t see any mold, it’s still a good idea to get an inspection, so that your health and home don’t start to suffer from hidden mold.

Mold from Leaks: Four Common Places to Find It

1. Attics

All it takes is a little moisture for mold to get started—it can even feed on the dust that accumulates on attic insulation. Roof leaks can cause some of the worst mold infestations, because they often go undetected until there’s visible damage. If water from a roof leak seeps down into your walls and ceilings and causes stains, the discoloration is most likely from mold, not dirt.

2. Basements

If your basement has a funky, dirty-sock smell, it’s probably the odor of mold. Basements and crawl spaces often fall victim to mold because they’re dark, damp, and stuffy. And it’s not only flooding that causes basement mold—problems like cracks in the foundation, condensation, and poor ventilation can all cause mold growth in basements.

3. Bathrooms

Leaky pipes, clogged drains, and constant steam from hot showers make bathrooms one of the most likely places for mold growth. Plus, bathrooms never seem to have enough ventilation to dry out after they get steamy. If your bathroom doesn’t have a window or a fan, there might be a bigger problem than a little mildew between your shower tiles.

4. Kitchens

Just like bathrooms, kitchens get wet and steamy, too. If you find mold on food in your refrigerator or inside the seal on your dishwasher door, there’s a good chance it is growing in other places, too. Under the sink is one of the most common places to find mold in kitchens, because of leaky gaskets or dripping pipes. Fortunately, though, kitchen mold is also some of the easiest to find.

Structural Damage from Mold

If you’re dealing with mold from water damage, you need to act quickly. If you don’t get rid of it soon enough, mold can continue to spread and ruin your insulation, drywall, ceilings, and subfloors. This leads not only to costly structural damage but also to weeks of demolition and repair work.

However, unlike other mold removal companies, My Pure Environment offers demolition-free mold removal. Our powerful dry fog agents can penetrate any porous surface—even drywall—to kill mold spores on contact. Instead of weeks, the process can be completed in just a few hours, and every treatment comes with our one-year mold-free guarantee.

Demolition-Free Mold Remediation in San Francisco

Don’t let mold from water damage ruin your day. If your residential, industrial, or commercial property has water damage from a leak or flood, don’t forget to schedule a mold inspection. When you go with My Pure Environment, your initial inspection is 100% free of charge! Give us a call today at 415-687-5374 or request an inspection online.

Photo by Alex Dukhanov on Unsplash used with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 11/30/2022.