When water leaks or spills occur indoors - ACT QUICKLY.  If wet or damp materials or areas are dried 24-48 hours after a leak or spill happens, in most cases mold will not grow.

IF Water Damage Occurs:

1. Act Quickly. Speedy removal is important.

2. If you have a "wet/dry" vac- Start Immediately.

3. Call a professional removal company to extract excess water.

4. Dry/Dehumidify affected areas.

Repair roof gutter leaks as soon as they appear.

Downspouts and gutters of a building are designed to remove water from the roof. This water must be removed from the foundation area. Extensions ought to be added to the bottom of the downspout to get the water at least 10 feet away from the building. This will help reduce the amount of water that can migrate into the crawl space or basement. Bury the pipes so that they cannot be knocked loose from the downspout. Repair any leaks in the gutters and keep them cleaned out so they don’t overflow.

Drain leaks under the kitchen sink or bathroom vanities are a prime breeding ground for mold. This would prove to be a moist, dark, warm area --- all the right elements to allow mold growth. Don’t let water get on the wood in the cabinet. Keep it protected with paint, stain/sealer, a piece of vinyl or some sort of “contact paper”. If leaks occur, dry all items as quickly as possible. If you have mold on hard surfaces, scrub it off with detergent and water.

Regularly check laundry drains and hoses for leaks. Replace them before they rupture.

Negative Grade means that the slope of the ground causes water to flow back toward the home/foundation. Remove the negative grade to reduce the amount of excess moisture that gets to the crawl space or basement walls. It is suggested that you have a minimum of 1” grade per foot around the foundation….for a minimum of 4 feet.

Don't let foundations stay wet. Provide drainage and slope the ground away from the foundation.

Keep filters clean. Dirty filters attract moisture.
Keep condensation drains clean. You must keep drains clear so that moisture actually gets out of the environment. Increased ventilation or air movement reduces surface moisture and helps reduce molds ability to grow. Keep the drain lines unobstructed and flowing.

Perform regular building/HVAC inspections and maintenance as scheduled.

Cold water pipes need to be covered with insulation. Increase air flow and temperature near the area of condensation or wet spot. Repair/caulk needed areas to prevent cold air infiltration.

Increase surface temperature or reduce the moisture(humidity) level in the air. To increase surface temperature, insulate or increase air circulation. To reduce the moisture level in air, repair leaks, increase ventilation (if outside air is cold and dry), or dehumidify (if outdoor air is warm and humid).

Laundry Dryers
Vent laundry dryers to the outside. Just imagine all the moisture that could be going into your home. Regularly check vent hose to make sure it has not slipped loose or has a hole in it. If it feels moist in the laundry area --- get it fixed.

HEPA Filters
HEPA filters improve the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).
Regularly change the filters.

Food Sources
Remove any items that are creating a food source for mold. The quicker the source is removed, the fewer molds that will be available to get in the air. Musty oders are indications of mold. Find the source and remove it.

Treatment
If you are treating your environment, remember to boost the Enzymes each year. Enzymes are used up as they do their job.

Bathroom Tips
Absorbent materials such as ceiling tiles, and carpet are prime breeding areas for mold. It may be difficult to clean. Remove if necessary.
Don’t caulk or paint over mold. Clean it up, dry the area and then apply. Mold that is painted over is likely to peel. Do it right the first time.
Covering cold water pipes with insulation will reduce condensation.

Dead Mold
Please keep in mind that the EPA states that “dead mold may still cause allergic reactions in some people, so it is not enough to simply kill the mold, it must also be removed.”

Maintain below 60% relative humidity (RH), ideally 30-50% if possible.

Run a dehumidifier to reduce the moisture in your home.

All Crawl Spaces ought to have a vapor barrier covering the ground. This vapor barrier keeps moisture from coming up and infiltrating the home or the material in the crawl space. As a reference ---- a 2000 sq. ft. crawl space can produce 20 pints of moisture/day. This moisture must go somewhere. Keep your crawl space vented as much as possible.

Keep sinks and baths caulked so that water does not get under/behind them. The shower area is a prime location for mold to grow. Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent, water. A little water/bleach mixture will kill mold in small areas.

Don’t “oversize” the air conditioning! The HVAC system actually takes moisture out of the area. The condensing coil removes moisture as it operates. Short cycles don’t allow for sufficient moisture removal. In this case, bigger is not always better. Check with your HVAC contractor for correct sizing.

Please keep in mind that the EPA states that “dead mold may still cause allergic reactions in some people, so it is not enough to simply kill the mold, it must also be removed.”