Released July 25, 2008
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – People whose homes flooded from the heavy rains of Hurricane Dolly face many daunting tasks, but one that should have top priority is preventing mold, says a Texas AgriLife Extension Service expert.
“Unfortunately, mold can do its damage quickly and quite thoroughly – it can ruin your home, your possessions and threaten your health,” said Janie Harris, an AgriLife Extension housing and environmental specialist. “All the more reason to act quickly to minimize its effects.”
After a summer flood in Texas, conditions for an explosive growth of mold are ideal – moisture, heat, high humidity, and a ready food source in the contaminants that the flood waters bring in, she explained.
After it’s safe to return home, when there’s no danger of electrical outages or gas leaks, Harris said, take a little time to do a room-by-room inventory, with photos, to document the extent of damage for insurance purposes.
First order of business is to get the air circulating, she said, and try to dry as much as possible as quickly as you can.
“Throw open the windows, rent some fans, get that ventilation going,” she said. New mold colonies can form in as little as three days, so consider running a dehumidifier inside to help remove moisture from the air.
Then, she said, “you’ve got to get rid of that carpeting and pad. Forget about trying to save it, because the flood waters have brought numerous contaminants into the carpet and pad. That really goes for anything porous that the flood waters have soaked.”
If you have a tile floor, that’s a plus, because you can usually clean and disinfect it easily, Harris said. But look out for loose tiles or weak grouting because those also are ideal spots for mold growth.
Wet insulation can be a major mold factory, Harris said, so get it out of the walls by cutting out sections of sheetrock at least 12 – 18 inches above the water line. Make sure those interior spaces are completely dry before replacing insulation and wallboard.
You can make sure by using a moisture meter, she said. Wood subject to flooding inside walls is sufficiently dry when it has no more that 14 percent moisture by weight.
Phosphate detergents leave residues that feed mold growth, so avoid using them, she said. Disinfectants are good for killing the molds, but understand that they won’t prevent regrowth.
Harris offered these suggestions for minimizing health hazards cause by mold when cleaning up:
- Reduce your exposure to mold spores by wearing long pants, long sleeves, sturdy shoes, gloves and a mask or respirator. If you are highly sensitive to mold, wear splash goggles to protect your eyes from airborne mold spores.
- Seal off contaminated areas from the rest of the house. Use a fan to blow moldy air out a window.
- Put mold-breeding materials such as wet carpets and insulation into plastic bags for disposal.
- Clean all surfaces to remove surface mold spores, which even when dead can cause health problems. Additional information on dealing with mold and other flood hazards can be found at no cost at http://agrilifebookstore.org/ and http://texashelp.tamu.edu/.
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http://agnews.tamu.edu/showstory.php?id=607
Contact: Janie Harris, 979-845-3850, jl-harris@tamu.edu
