It depends. Some water damage is quickly reversible with the proper cleaning and preventative steps, which can take 12-72 hours. However, other types of water damage, mainly if they occur in the area of your home that is exposed to either sea or river water, can have a higher chance of causing long-term (longer than weeks) damage to your home’s structure.
That’s why Portland’s best water damage recovery service reduces long-term water damage risk. They take all the guesswork out of water damage prevention, giving you an easy way to avoid water damage symptoms typically seen in homes. Learn more about how long it takes for water damage to go away and how to protect your home from molds.
What Is the Process of Taking Water Damage Away?
Water damage can be caused by various factors, including leaks, floods, and burst pipes. Regardless of its occurrence, the result is the same: water damage to your home or business.
The process of taking water damage away is:
Identify where the water source came from. You need to contact a plumber or appliance repairman if it was due to a leaky pipe or appliance. Suppose it was due to rain or flooding outside your home or business. In that case, you will need to contact a carpet cleaning company for assistance with drying out the carpets and other items affected by water damage from outside sources, such as rainwater coming in through the roof or windowsills.
Dry out your home or business. Turn off all electrical power sources in the area where water has penetrated walls and floors from leaking pipes or appliances until an electrician arrives at your location for repairs because there may be live wires exposed which could cause serious injury if touched without proper protection on hand first before turning back on electrical systems again.
Use fans or a dehumidifier. It is because dehumidifiers can absorb moisture from the air and make your home drier. If you don’t have access to a dehumidifier, you can try drying out your home with fans or by opening windows and doors. However, these methods won’t be as effective as a dehumidifier since they don’t remove moisture from the air as much as a dehumidifier.
How Much Time Does It Take for Mold to Grow?
Mold can start growing within 24 hours of water damage. Getting your home dried out as soon as possible is essential because the longer you wait, the more likely mold will grow. You need to act fast because mold causes respiratory issues.
How Do You Prevent Molds from Growing?
Mold is a fungus that flourishes on moisture and organic matter. It can grow on wood, carpet, and insulation in your home, but it can also grow in other places like your bathroom or basement.
Mold needs three things to grow: water, food (organic matter), and a surface to attach itself to. The more of these three things you have in your home, the more likely mold will grow.
Water damage can be a huge problem and worsen if you don’t act fast. Fortunately, you can take steps to prevent mold from growing in your home:
- Dry your home as quickly as possible after a flood or leak. If you see water damage on your walls or floors, call in professionals who have experience with water damage cleanup and restoration.
- Clean up any standing water that may remain in your home. You don’t want any mold spores developing in this environment! Make sure all windows are open so that air can flow through freely. If you have fans available, use them to circulate air throughout the house.
- If dampness is still present after several days of drying out, consider using fans or dehumidifiers to help speed up the process; this will also help prevent mold growth later on down the road!
- Open windows and doors for ventilation and air circulation, and turn on fans if possible. It will help dry out the air faster and prevent mold growth.
- If you have carpets in your home, remove them and throw them away as soon as possible. Carpet is one of the most common places for mold growth because it holds moisture against its fibers for long periods.
- Once the carpet is removed, you should also clean any wood floors or furniture with soap and water to remove any remaining moisture that could cause future damage from mold growth (if left behind).
Any wet areas are recommended to be dried out as soon as possible. It will reduce the growth of fungi and bacteria and prevent further damage if you have to wait more than 24 hours to get the repair work done by a professional.
