How To Address Odors After a Flood

5/25/2022 (Permalink)

How To Deal With Flood Odors. 

If your Oldsmar, FL, home has sustained water damage, it often means that you also have to deal with mold growth. Even if the affected area has been cleaned, lurking odors are a sign that more damage was sustained than thought. Properly addressing the situation is essential to eliminating a potentially ongoing problem.

Steps to Dealing with Flood Water Odors

At the first signs of a musty odor, the following steps should be taken:

• Find the Source: The musty smell means there is damage somewhere. If you had a sewage loss or broken pipe, it is likely in that vicinity. Sometimes mold growth is difficult to locate. Since it likes to grow in damp, warm and dark places, check bathrooms, the basement and the attic.
  
• Fix the Source: Once you know what is causing the issue, time is of the essence. Mold quickly grows and spreads, so it is imperative to quickly repair the source of the problem.
  
• Dry Everything Out: The quicker the affected items and areas dry the better. Along with ensuring excess water is extracted, opening windows and using fans may speed up the process.
  
• Eradicate the Mold: In most cases, this is best left to the professionals. If only a small area has been affected following recommended safety and cleaning protocols.
  
• Sanitize and Deodorize: Once the mold is gone, the entire area should be cleaned and deodorized to eliminate lingering odors. Keep windows open and use fans to enhance airflow.

Ensure Proper Mitigation

While those steps seem simple enough, there is a lot that goes into ensuring the mold issue and odors are properly eradicated. If the affected area is more than 10 square feet, it is best to contact a professional mold and water damage restoration company. A certified provider will have the all-around expertise to find and fix the issue, as well as ensure that no mold or odors linger.

Mold growth is common when there is water damage. Addressing the source of the problem and fixing it is essential to eradicating lingering odors and problems.