Blizzard Clean Up & Water Damage: Keeping Mold from Growing in Your Home
January 22, 2018Blizzard Grayson smacked New England and its coast Thursday January 4th, 2018. At 12:40pm, Boston’s high tide gauge hit 15.1 feet, tying the all-time record from the Blizzard of 1978. No amount of preparation could have deterred this damage, and no amount of milk and bread could’ve held that tide. This storm was one for the books back then. The most difficult part about damage coming from a storm or blizzard, is that they are sometimes unforeseen, and we can’t always prepare in time.
Everything spanning from the towering high-rises of Boston’s Seaport district to the seaside cottages of the South Shore, the coastal communities of Portland, Maine and main routes of Seabrook, NH all found themselves water logged and without an out.
The only thing left to do was wait for the tide to recede and begin clean-up. If you were one of the hundreds of thousands of residents caught off guard by this Bomb Cyclone, you were most likely left wondering: What do I do now?
Steps To Take After A Blizzard
If you’re one of the homeowners, landlords, or property managers effected by the tidal surge, you might be caught in a clean-up situation of epic proportions. Thankfully, Pro-Care Inc. is always geared up and ready to roll on all of your storm clean-up, burst pipes, and water damage claims.
There are many reasons why calling in the professionals is your best bet, but your number one reason? Moisture. After clean up, some property owners may not know that the real threat isn’t one you can see; it’s the seemingly invisible damp left under the surface. While drywall is known to be pretty sturdy, when exposed to water and not dried for a prolonged period of time it becomes a growing place for mold. Drying the wet material quickly is critical to avoiding mold growth.
Water Damage Requires Professional Remediation
Wet walls and insulation will hold moisture for a long time. With this being said, mold clusters can form inside of the wall. If your drywall has started to show signs of mold you should contact us for inspection. If left untreated, mold can cause allergies, asthma and other conditions detrimental to your families’ health. Indoor air quality is imperative to a safe and healthy environment for yourself and your family and taking preventative measures after a water damage will keep things in check moving forward.
First and foremost, you’ll want to call in the professionals to check your drywall for moisture. A moisture meter is most commonly used, however if you find yourself in a pinch keep in mind that a simple screwdriver test will do the trick. First, remove the baseboard. Use the screwdriver to poke holes. If the drywall is soft and easily penetrated, it is wet.
Your Professional Will Assess Everything
Next, either you or your Disaster Restoration Professional will check the interior of the walls using the same method on the studs. It helps to have a professional because you may not know some areas to check, and you may not be familiar with the signs of water damage. If insulation is present, it’s imperative to check this as well. If moisture is present, walls will need to be cut and all wet materials removed. Where the storm hit heavy and some homeowners may be on a waitlist, some walls have been wet for several days and the moisture has most definitely manifested.
If you are experiencing damage following a blizzard and have questions regarding your restoration process, Pro-Care is on call and ready to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With office locations in Hopedale and Woburn, MA and Hudson, NH we are ready to help you put your home or business back together. Call us on our emergency line any time of day at 781-933-7400.
Sources: //www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home
Tags: Mold Remediation, professional restoration, Water Damage
Categorized in: Mold Remediation