Mold after Hurricane-How to Control and Protect
Storms and hurricanes leave several temporary and long-term damages to homeowners both to health and infrastructure. If you are living in Florida, you are likely aware of the damages caused by hurricanes in 2022. Hurricanes transport mold spores along with other microscopic particles. Loss of power typically lasts for days after hurricanes and moisture trapped in the air conditioning duct system results in the mold infestation.
But the thing to note here is that mold infestation is not limited to the AC duct system but spreads to other areas of the home. Certain things can help you prevent and control mold growth after a hurricane. Explore the essential steps and the professional guidance in the articles. So, continue reading.
How to Control Mold Growth after Hurricane
The best practice is to call a licensed and trained professional for mold removal after a hurricane. It might be difficult to immediately call the experts. First, you will have to do a cleanup and then go with the mold control process. Follow these steps to control mold growth and make headway for a licensed mold removal expert.
Mold Cleanup Gear
Mold exposure causes allergic symptoms. To protect yourself from mold, you must take these items with you.
- Wear a mask, preferably N-95 or better
- Put on splash goggles and gloves
- Wear long sleeves, pants, and properly fitted shoes
All these accessories minimize your direct contact with mold.
Isolation and Ventilation
Humidity above 60% causes increases in the mold infestation. So, the first thing to do is to isolate the moldy area from the rest of the house. And then ventilate the house with a fan or by opening the windows if the humidity is below 60%.
Discard Moldy Materials
Spores spread to other areas of the house during cleaning. Cover the moldy materials with plastic and discard them. Remove any of the following things with mold or sewage water contamination.
- Gypsum wallboard
- Insulation
- Processed wood
- Upholstery
- Plaster
- Carpets
- Paper
And anything else that you suspect might be impacted by mold.
Cleaning and Disinfection
As mentioned above, the porous materials cannot be cleaned from mold. But you can clean non-porous materials like concrete, hard plastic, glass, and solids. Clean them up to 100% satisfaction to remove a single spore from the surface. Otherwise, the dead spores can also cause health hazards for you.
Now, disinfect the cleaned materials for maximum mold removal. You can prepare the CDC-recommended solution and disinfectant for mold removal as follows.
- 1 cup bleach
- 1-gallon water
Mix them and disinfect the solid surfaces. You can use a stiff brush to remove mold and sewage materials from hard surfaces. Rinse the disinfected surfaces with water and then dry. Be careful and don’t use the solutions in the air for cleaning. Or you can also use other disinfectants like alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.
Speed-Dry the Disinfected Material
Now, dry the cleaned materials as soon as possible. Run the air conditioning, heaters, fans, or dehumidifier for drying. In case of no power, open all the windows and let the air circulate in your home. Pay special attention to drying the slabs and subfloors before replacing the wallboards and insulations. Remove all the chances of mold regrowth before renovation and replacement.
If you cannot do the job right, hire a water damage restoration expert. They will speed-dry your home after the water damage of the hurricane. Also, be careful to check the mold in your AC system before running them. Hidden moisture and water in the ducts system breed mold. Running the moldy AC definitely spreads mold spores to your home, creating more headache and hazards. Call the trained and licensed mold removal and remediation expert for efficient mold removal after a hurricane.
Be on Mold Alert
Slight moisture and damp conditions can cause mold regrowth after cleanup in 2 to 3 days. Continue checking the signs for mold regrowth after cleaning. You might smell musty, see visible mold, and spots on drains, pipes, and vent covers. The regrowth of mold reflects poor cleaning, inadequate drying, and the usage of moldy materials.
Before refurbishing and rebuilding your home after hurricane damages, you can follow these measures.
- All affected and cleaned materials are properly dried
- Wooden materials should not have 14-15% moisture by weight
- If possible, use flood-resistant materials for maximum protection
- Try not to use vinyl wallpapers and oil-based paints
Worried about a Moldy AC System after Hurricane? Call FMC for Duct Treatment
Don’t worry about the mold and the poor air quality of your home after a hurricane. Hiring the right experts and professionals relieves frustration and saves you money. Know that the person you are hiring is experienced and efficient to perform the duty well. Because mold after a hurricane in HVAC appliances needs more professional treatment and handling. Inexperienced persons can damage your AC or improper handling can spread mold infestation.
At Florida Mold Corporation we are licensed and trained in offering mold assessment and remediation after a hurricane in Florida. First, we will inspect the mold’s presence using video technology. Determine how much mold has invaded the duct and vent system of your AC. Then, we will offer duct treatment to clean the mold. Hire us and get fresh air quality for a happy summer, even after the hurricane.
