Water damage not only causes structural damage but it also affects human beings and animals in a lot of ways. It can lower the quality of indoor air, provide conditions for the growth of molds, act as a breeding ground for insects and can contaminate drinking water. The most common effect is the growth of molds.
Molds Molds are microscopic fungi that thrive on damp places. When some part of the house is damp or has water seepage, one can find molds in such places. They are characterized by a slight discoloration on the walls and a strong musty odor. This is a common problem in American houses. More than 1000 types of molds thrive inside houses in America.
Kinds of Molds There are many different kinds of molds. Here they are based on their impact on human beings: * Allergenic Molds * Pathogenic Molds * Toxigenic Molds
Allergenic Molds cause allergies or mild-irritations to allergy-prone and asthmatic people. They are not life-threating in any way. They may cause some respiratory problems, mild irritations to eye and throat and in some rare cases mild rashes.
Pathogenic Molds can cause some type of infection especially in people whose immune system is compromised. It normally affects children, pregnant women, people who are ill and elderly people. Healthy individuals normally have resistance against pathogenic molds. However, high exposure to pathogenic molds can cause respiratory problems.
Toxigenic Molds, as the name implies, is toxic and can have a serious impact on the health of human beings and animals. The effect of these molds range from temporary irritation to cancer. They are commonly called as "Black Mold" because they are black and slimy. They produce toxins that can be very harmful.
Reasons For The Growth Of Molds Molds just require some amount of moisture to thrive. So, they thrive not only in hot and humid climate but also in cold climate, provided they have the minimum amount of moisture.
Water damage can occur due to a variety of reasons. This can provide the right kind of moisture needed for the growth of molds. Molds can also grow in moisture that condenses out of air. Warm air usually has more moisture than cold air. However, when this cold air comes in contact with warm insulation from inside the house, the moisture content is increased, resulting in the growth of molds. It is best to ensure that the source of water damage is identified and rectified immediately.
Mold Removal The primary step is to identify the area where molds thrive. Molds are characterized by a musty odor. The next step is to clean the mold and plug the source of water damage. If they are found in basement, then HEPA filters can be used to remove the moisture and improve air circulation. Sometimes, they can be found on wet carpets. Then the solution is to hire a professional carpet cleaner who can clean out all the molds. They can also be found on damp woods or other places that have been exposed to considerable moisture. There are various organic products available in the market to remove molds. But it is better to hire professional help. The trained people can remove molds and fix the cause of water damage.
If you live in an older home, the probability that mold exists somewhere in your bathroom is pretty high, especially if the floor or walls are damaged in any way. Most people do not realize how hazardous mold can be to their health and do not go looking for mold in their homes when they really should.
It can exist in several different areas, but the bathroom tends to be one of the best places to find it in large quantities since this room is naturally moist and large amounts of water travel in and out of it every single day.
There are a number of things that you can do to help prevent mold growth in your bathroom and most of them do not require much effort or money to be effective. One of the first things that you need to do is make sure that the entire floor of your bathroom is waterproofed. Whether you have tile, linoleum, marble, or anything else on the floor, it should be completely water tight to stop water from getting to the floor joists underneath.
Water damage affects many bathroom floors across the country and the last time you want to happen while you are in the bathroom is the floor collapsing out from under you. The areas directly around the bathtub and toilet are particularly at risk, since both of these items can and commonly do overflow.
Something else you should worry about is the condition of the drywall on the ceiling. The steam created by hot water in the tub or shower is absorbed by this drywall on a regular basis if it remains trapped in the bathroom and is not allowed to escape to the outside of the house. Not only can this cause mold growth on the upper walls and ceiling, but it can also cause the drywall to buckle and collapse on you.
The best way to let it out is either through a window or by installing an exhaust vent, which most building codes require be in the bathroom. You should have at least one of these two things in the bathroom, if not both. Leaving the window open for steam to escape may not always be practical due to bad weather outside.
The last thing that you need to do is keep a check on the plumbing around the toilet and under the sink. The toilet should not clog up and overflow often; if it does, you should have the lines checked by a professional.
Both Isolde Werry & Jim Corkern are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Isolde Werry has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home, Carpet Cleaning and Upholstery and Pets. Isolde Werry writes about about home issues for and. Isolde Werry's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.
Jim Corkern has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home, Health and Guide Guitar. Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality companies and. Jim Corkern's top article generates over 823000 views. to your Favourites.