It is devastating to learn that you have mold in your home due to water damage, but even scarier to know that it has been linked to a wide array of health issues. The best way to prevent these health conditions is by tending to the mold as soon as possible. Doing so can minimize the likelihood of health issues and the damage done to your property. Here are steps to take if you have mold in your home due to water damage.
- Locate the cause of the water damage.
While it may be clear as to where the water damage originated from, sometimes it’s not so obvious. It’s important to look into and locate the source of the water in order to do anything about it.
- Stop the leak or source of the water and clean up any excess.
Once you have figured out the cause of the water damage you will want to stop the leak or the source of it. For instance, if the water damage has been caused by a faulty pipe, it’s imperative that you fix or replace the pipe. It does no good to resolve the water damage if it could continue to occur. After the source has been fixed, you will want to clean up any excess water. This may require things such as drying out carpets with fans or shop vacs.
- Throw out moldy and water-damaged property.
While upsetting, it’s important that you throw out all of the property that has been found to be moldy. This often includes carpet, drywall, and furniture. Even if property is wet but not moldy, it’s still best to throw it out since it can easily develop mold. While handling the moldy property, you should be sure to wear an N-95 mask and place everything into trash bags.
- Use a mold-killing fungicide to clean moldy surfaces.
Although people tend to use bleach when cleaning up areas of mold, mold remediators recommends using specific products that are designed for the purpose of killing. Mold. Although bleach can kill the mold it generally results in other damage and can pose a health risk. Be sure that you wait until the surfaces are dried prior to replacing or fixing anything.
- Repair property with prevention and mitigation in mind.
While extremely unfortunate, suffering water damage can be a positive opportunity to make changes that can help to prevent future mold growth and subsequent damage. Things such as mold-resistant paint can make for good options.
Mold remediation professionals can always help you to clean up any mold. Since hiring a professional can sometimes be costly, it’s best to look at your homeowner’s insurance policy to determine if you have any coverage.
PALUMBO LAW Helps Those in Rhode Island with their Water Damage Claims
Filing a property insurance claim can be extremely confusing – and extremely frustrating. The last thing you want is to have your claim denied or delayed because of something that you did incorrectly. That’s why it’s so important to know how to file your claim from the beginning. An attorney can help to ensure that you properly file your property insurance claim.
At PALUMBO LAW, our experienced Rhode Island property insurance lawyers work strategically to help our clients to get what they deserve. We have deep experience working with insurance companies and understand how to deal with them. If you are planning on filing a flood damage claim, or if have already filed your claim and have been denied, we can help. To learn more or to schedule a free consultation, call us today!
