How Fast Can Mold Grow After Water Damage?

7/5/2022 (Permalink)

Generally, mold can grow significantly within 24 to 48 hours after water damage.

How Fast Does Mold Grow?

Generally, mold can grow significantly within 24 to 48 hours after water damage. Mold can take hold of your home and grow rapidly within 12 days if it has the ideal conditions it needs to thrive. How fast mold grows after damage depends on various different factors. We discuss those critical factors below.

We all are aware that unnecessary damp conditions in our home can lead to the problem of mold growth. What we don’t realize is how important it is to act fast and repair the water damage urgently. Otherwise, it will only be a matter of days till mold takes over your home and destroys every surface it grows on. Well, after getting to know how fast mold can grow after water damage, you will never again delay fixing the water damage in your home.

The Time the Water Has Been There

How fast mold grows after water damage in your home mainly depends on how long the dirty water has been gathered in a spot. If the water has been lying there for more than a couple of days, then there are higher chances of mold growth developing rapidly in that area.

On the other hand, if you keep your home clean and dry the speed at which mold grows will slow down. Moreover, if you urgently take proper action then you might be able to save your home from the danger of mold growth. This means you get the repairs done right after the water damage occurs.

The Temperature of Your Home

Another main factor that comes into play for mold growth is the temperature if your home. If your home is always warm, then there are higher chances of mold growth. Higher temperatures provide the ideal conditions for mold to regenerate quickly.

This is why we suggest you try to keep your home cool after it has been affected by water damage.  Cooling your home will significantly slow down the development of mold and give you a better chance to treat the problem at its initial stages.

The Ventilation in Your Home

Another factor that affects the speed at which mold grows after water damage is ventilation. If you keep your home airy and dry, then this will slow down the process and minimize the risk of mold growth in your home.

The Availability of Organic Surfaces

Organic surfaces are ideal for mold spores to feed on. Once they latch onto an organic surface like wall paint, they spread rapidly throughout the room. So, the availability of many organic surfaces in your home will speed up the spreading of mold. However, if you invest in inorganic wall paint, then the spreading will happen at a much slower pace.

Last Few Words

Overall, mold can take hold of your home and spread rapidly if it gets access to the ideal conditions it needs to thrive. Generally, mold can grow significantly within 24 to 48 hours after water damage. Therefore, as a responsible homeowner, you must make sure you get timely repairs to avoid putting your home at risk of mold growth.

Understanding Mold

7/21/2021 (Permalink)

When cleaning mold you need a trusted source, like SERVPRO of Kendall County.

What causes mold?
Mold spores are all around us all the time. Mold spores can lay dormant for long periods, just waiting for the conditions to be right before they can grow. So, what do they need?

• Something to grow on and to provide food for their growth. These are your family heirlooms, such as drawings, wedding dresses, christening gowns, leather, letters, tape cassettes or vinyl records, films, photographs, and many other items which are precious to you.
• Mold needs the air to be damp; to have a high moisture content. Conservators call this Relative Humidity or RH for short. An RH of over 70% is generally agreed to be the point at which mould will grow on your heirlooms. However, mold can grow at an RH of 60% or lower, especially if the item has been affected by mold in the past. There are many different causes of a high RH in the home, this could be from the bathroom, cooking, poor ventilation which allows pockets of damp air to build up, a disaster like a burst pipe or flood and even your own breath.

Mold growth is can also be encouraged by dark conditions and lack of air movements, such as behind wardrobes and cabinets, or even inside them! You can easily monitor the RH of your storage area using a thermohygrometer which will highlight peaks in humidity.

Mold is very damaging
Mold growth can lead to the complete destruction and loss of your treasured possessions and collections due to discoloration, staining and weakening, spoiling your treasured wedding dress, rare book, or vinyl record forevermore. It can cause photographs and papers to stick together. It can be very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to get such damaged objects apart.

Mold removal needed in Yorkville and Oswego, IL

7/23/2020 (Permalink)

Mold removal can be a hazardous and messy procedure

When finding mold on your property, it’s important to call SERVPRO of Kendall County as soon as possible. Our technicians will respond immediately, containing the mold growth to one area, and providing a full evaluation of the damage and remediation plan. After the remediation service, our trained professionals will remove all soiled building materials and work to prevent future mold growth.

Our mold removal services include each of the following:

• A detailed assessment of the mold growth
• Your insurance company is notified of the evaluation and project scope
• Isolation chambers are set up to prevent the mold from spreading
• Development of a mold remediation plan according to our assessment
• Mold removal and complete restoration of all affected areas

As soon as you notice mold growth on your property, it’s extremely important to take action right away to prevent it from spreading. Doing so will also prevent any health effects. Our professionals ensure to handle all parts of the remediation process as well as address older infestations of all sizes, fully removing it from your property.

Mold Prevention

5/18/2018 (Permalink)

What Can I Do to Prevent Mold From Growing in My Home?

Since mold needs a food source and moisture to grow, the best thing you can do is to prevent moisture problems that allow mold to grow.

• Maintain lower levels of humidity in your home (preferably between 30-50%) by: venting bathrooms and dryers to the outside; using air conditioners and de-humidifiers; increasing ventilation by adding crawlspace and attic vents; using exhaust fans when cooking, dishwashing, and cleaning, etc.
• Add insulation to reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces such as windows, pipes, exterior walls, roofs, or floors.
• Inspect your home regularly for indications and sources of indoor moisture such as leaking pipes, appliance hoses, showers, tubs, sinks and toilets. Replace plastic hoses with steel-reinforced hoses. Check windows, doors, attics and ceilings for leaks or evidence of water stains or odors, particularly after rains. Fix plumbing, flashing, and roof leaks right away.
• Don't carpet bathrooms, basements, kitchens or other areas prone to moisture. Clean bathrooms often and keep surfaces dry.
• Cover dirt in crawlspaces with a moisture barrier plastic sheeting.
• Prevent water from entering basements and crawlspaces by repairing holes and cracks in walls and foundation. Use landscaping to direct water away from your foundation.
• Clean and maintain your gutters and make sure drainpipes carry water several feet away from your home.
• Watch your utility bills. An abnormally high water bill could signal a water leak.
• Before you travel, turn off the water at the main valve. Have a trusted friend or neighbor check the inside and outside of your home periodically while you're away.

     If you think you may have a mold issue or signs of mold growth in your home call SERVPRO of Kendall County at 630-554-2280

Before Your Mold Remediation Appointment

5/18/2018 (Permalink)

We are available 24 hours per day. Before your appointment, be sure to:

• Inventory damaged and missing goods for your insurance claim.
• Throw away all sealed and unsealed food and beverage contacted by storm flood waters. 
• Open windows and doors.
• Refrain from using electrical devices until it is safe.
• Remove standing water when possible.
• Use dehumidifiers and fans to ventilate your home; SERVPRO of Kendall County can perform this task upon arrival.

Our mold remediation technicians will also determine if any contents in your home are salvageable.  Porous items that are wet for over 48 hours and cannot be completely dried and cleaned must be disposed of.

This list includes

Carpet, carpet padding, ceiling tiles, clothing, drywall, floor tiles, insulation, leather goods, paper, upholstery, wallpaper and wood items. When our mold remediation expert arrives, he will:

• Apply biocides.
• Decide whether or not you can stay in your house during the mold remediation process.
• Determine if additional ventilation and containment is needed.
• Look for mold in the HVAC system and biological hazards in the home.
• Test for any additional mold after the mold remediation process.
• Use quick structural drying techniques.

Mold vs. Homeowner

5/11/2018 (Permalink)

It is not uncommon to discover mold in homes in the Kendall County area.  Mold tends to grow in damp or humid spots with poor air circulation such as bathrooms, laundry rooms, or attics and basements.  

Often times a small area of surface mold is a problem the homeowner can safely handle themselves with a diluted bleach solution of no more than 1 part bleach to 10 parts water.  The Center for Disease Control has outlined a fairly comprehensive strategy for in-home mold remediation.  However, their article recommends that homeowners should not attempt a mold remediation of more than 10 square feet by themselves.  Anything over that limit requires professional attention by IICRC Certified mold remediation technicians, like SERVPRO of Kendall County. If you want to know what you’re looking at, you can collect samples yourselves and send them to mold laboratories that can test air samples or pieces of material and tell you whether you have mold or not. 

Our highly trained technicians consider what the source of the moisture is - making sure to dry the affected area completely to prevent further mold growth in the future.  We take appropriate measures, such as plastic containment, negative air pressure, and High-Efficiency Particulate Air filtering to prevent further contamination of the home by mold spores that may become airborne during the remediation.

Mold Facts

5/10/2018 (Permalink)

Mold Fact #1: Mold is everywhere, no matter what you do.

Bits of mold are part of the air you breathe everywhere you go. Molds grow on plants and in soil, float off into the air, and float in through your doors and windows. You’ve been dealing with it all your life and there is usually no way (except in very special circumstances) to create a space with no mold in the air.

Mold Fact #2: Large areas of mold should really be dealt with by a professional.

When mold areas get larger than about 10 square feet (about a square meter) or you don’t know the extent of the problem (for instance: mold can grow behind the walls) it is important to bring in a professional, like SERVPRO of Kendall County, who is familiar with how to deal with mold properly. This sized area usually requires extra precautions when removing mold. Much larger areas of mold can require very complicated procedures and precautions.

Mold Fact #3: Stains and mysterious spots are not always mold.

Sometimes a black, brown, grey, or white spot isn’t actually mold. Efflorescence, for instance, is a whitish deposit, especially on concrete or rocks. That happens when water permeates the material and leaves behind a deposit of salts. Note, however, that in this case there is water permeation, which may mean there is mold growing where you don’t see it. Other spots can be caused by soot or soil deposits, giving a darker color. If you want to know what you’re looking at, you can collect samples yourselves and send them to mold laboratories that can test air samples or pieces of material and tell you whether you have mold or not.

Hidden Mold

5/8/2018 (Permalink)

Mold found inside of a wall

At times, mold is hard to detect.  What usually happens is that mold grows in a place that never dried out.  A combination of moisture, a warm temperature and an organic food source create the perfect environment for mold to grow quickly, so Oswego area is a perfect spot for mold growth with the high humidity and warm spring and summer days.  Mold spores are everywhere and can easily get into homes and businesses.  Here are some tips to avoid mold growth in your home:

-Do not allow standing water in or around your home

-Leave the AC Unit running when you are not at home

-Use exhaust fans in your home, especially in the bathroom

-If you notice any strange smells, investigate immediately 

-Don't forget to call your local remediation, SERVPRO of Kendall County, at 630-554-2280 if you think mold may be an issue you are facing in your home

Mold in your Oswego or Montgomery home

4/17/2018 (Permalink)

Mold has been around forever because mold is a naturally occurring microscopic fungi that can be found almost anywhere.  However, you don't want it in your home or business. SERVPRO of Kendall County is your local certified Mold Remediation company.

Here are a few key years regarding the history of mold awareness.

• 2001  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Guidelines for Schools and Commercial Buildings (www.epa.gov)
• 2003  OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletin
• 2003  IICRC Standard and Reference Guide for         Professional Mold Remediation (S520)              (www.IICRC.org/s520info.shtml )
• 2006  National Indoor Mold Society is formed            (http://afamerica.com/nims/)
• 2008  IICRC Standard and Reference Guide (S520) 2^nd Edition is released
• 2009  EPA Designates September as National Indoor Toxic Mold Awareness Month

Litigation Prior to 1993 Was Limited:

• Initial cases were:
  • Landlord-tenant
  • Faulty construction
• Lawsuits are in state and federal court
• Regulatory Organizations such as State Health Agencies, State Attorney Generals and the outcome of litigation are defining the future of how we conduct mold mitigation and remediation and how mold liability is handled.

SERVPRO of Kendall requires that our technicians become certified through the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).  The IICRC S520 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation. 

Call SERVPRO of Kendall County today for any and all mold questions or concerns. 630-554-2280