Is That White Residue Efflorescence or Mold?

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A key concern with homes that have suffered flood damage is dealing with resulting mold. There are various types of mold that can grow in your home after waters recede, all of which can be dangerous to your health. Efflorescence is not a dangerous type of mold; however, it does indicate other problems.

Learn to differentiate between efflorescence and white mold the way a professional flood damage restoration company does so you can take the appropriate steps in your home’s flood damage repair.

What Is Efflorescence?

Efflorescence is a powdery white substance sometimes seen in homes that have sustained flood damage after everything begins to dry. Many people believe it is white mold, which it is not. Efflorescence is actually salt in the water left behind as a white deposit on concrete, brick, stone, and similar surfaces once materials dry out.

It is commonly seen during flood damage repair in corners and on the floors as dry white streaks on walls or even frosty looking collections of white material sticking to surfaces.

Difference Between Efflorescence and White Mold

White mold is a living microorganism that grows on damp surfaces where it can survive, whereas efflorescence comes from water deposits left behind on dried-out surfaces. Even though vastly different, they both look quite similar to the untrained eye.

To tell them apart, a flood damage restoration company compares the surfaces on which these substances appear. Efflorescence only collects on masonry or stone surfaces, while mold typically grows on all surfaces but these. To be sure that you are seeing efflorescence on masonry, simply spray the white substance with a bit of water. If it dissolves, it is efflorescence; it is does not, it could be white mold.

What Should You Do About Efflorescence or White Mold?

Because efflorescence and white mold after flood damage are handled in two completely different ways, it is important to differentiate between them:

Efflorescence - Efflorescence appears after water drains away and masonry drys. Wipe up the substance or sweep it off to see what happens. In a flood situation that has concluded, initial removal should handle it. Efflorescence that returns indicates there is a still a water problem causing more salt deposits to dry and build up. You should call a flood damage repair specialist to inspect the wall or surface exhibiting the problem to determine the source of the water.
White Mold - White mold appears on surfaces that have been dampened by flood waters and are still wet. Even though they may feel dry to the touch, even a slight bit of moisture present can allow mold to grow. As any flood damage restoration company can tell you, the problem with mold is that wiping it away or cleaning the surface with bleach does not kill mold spores. They will simply regrow after cleaning unless the area is effectively treated with the right preparations and moisture problems are remedied to prevent regrowth.

The cleanup required after flood damage occurs can be substantial. If you see any white residue in your home while working on flood damage repair, it is important to identify what it is and why it is there. Whether dealing with efflorescence or white mold, discuss the situation with an experienced flood damage restoration company so proper home repair or mold treatment can be arranged!

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How Should I Best Clean My Flood-Damaged Home?

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Water that leaks from inside or that enters your home from the outside can be very destructive. If you have sustained any kind of flood damage, even from a broken pipe or appliance, you should begin cleaning efforts quickly to prepare for flood damage repair.

Follow the suggestions referenced below to clean and dry your home or call for help from an experienced flood damage restoration service. Reducing the amount of damage sustained depends on acting fast and knowing how to properly clean up the mess.

Step 1 - Disconnect the Power

Electricity and water together are very dangerous. Before attempting to clean and dry any amount of water, start by first unplugging all appliances and electric items in the room and then removing them. If there is a large amount of water present, or flood damage affects larger areas in the home, cut the power to the home completely for safety.

Step 2 - Remove Everything

After removing electric items and appliances, begin your flood damage repair efforts by quickly removing anything else that can be taken out of the affected area. Remove furniture and fixtures that are not built in, as well as all personal belongings so the area is empty and can be dried and cleaned. Throw out items that are damaged beyond repair and leave others out of the area for flood damage restoration, if necessary.

Step 3 - Remove the Water

Once the affected area has been cleared of all items, start getting the water out. Choose a method suitable for the amount of water present. You can use towels, rags, and mops for smaller floods, or even wet/dry vacuums to quickly siphon up water from floors and carpeting. A sump pump may help in situations when there is standing water in the home.

If these methods do not work sufficiently or fast enough, the best suggestion is to call a flood damage restoration service that can suction the water out with a high-powered floor and carpet machine.

Step 4 - Get the Area Dry

When as much water has been removed as possible, start drying out the area. The key to flood damage repair lies in getting things dried out as quickly as possible before mold and mildew can begin to grow. Open the windows and set up multiple fans in the area to keep air circulating and draw out moisture. Set up a dehumidifier to help the process.

Drying time will vary depending on how much water is still in the floors and rugs, as well as the outside air humidity. It can take anywhere from a couple of days to a number of weeks.

Step 5 - Disinfect and Deodorize

After affected areas have been dried out, go through and apply a disinfectant to kill off any bacteria, mold, or mildew that could begin to grow. Use products made for flood damage treatment. Then dry the area again. Apply deodorizers to carpeting and dry again. Odors, along with mold and mildew growth, can be arrested by using the right products; however, unless the area is thoroughly dried, these problems could return.

Depending on the extent of the flood damage, you may be able to clean and dry your home quite easily. Yet when the damage is significant due when a large amount of water is involved, you may find using professional flood damage restoration services is a better option. With industrial quality machines and effective disinfectant solutions, flood damage repair services can make your home good as new after suffering water damage!

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Indoor Flood Damage – What Are The Normal Causes?

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Flood damage comes in many forms. Although the worst situations involve forces of nature, this does not make the more common incidences of flooding in the home any less annoying or damaging. Most water damage that occurs in a home happens due to simple issues that are easily remedied. By understanding what the most common causes of flooding in a home, homeowners can take steps to prevent them before having to call for flood damage cleaning!

Defective Washer Hoses

Defective washer hoses are one of the most common causes of unintentional flooding in the home and fortunately the easiest one to prevent. Washer intake hoses dry out and crack after a while and fittings can wear out. This often results in either a slow leak that can cause serious damage to flooring or sudden leaks where a hose fails completely.

A homeowner could wind up with gallons of water from inside the washer spilling onto the floor or worse yet, water from the feed line leaking everywhere. This problem can be avoided by replacing rubber washer hoses with strong, braided ones and installing a washer shutoff valve.

Water Heater Leaks

The water heater is another source of flood damage, as many people forget about checking their heaters. Water heaters can rust or experience other kinds of failures, leaving slow leaks to cause costly damage to the floors and walls around it. Worst of all, because these appliances are connected to a continuous source of water, the leaking continues and worsens over time until it is finally detected. By then it may be time for flood damage cleaning.

Homeowners need to routinely check water heaters for leaks and pay close attention to the unit's age. Replacing an old unit that shows signs of rusting can prevent a disaster.

Clogged Drains

Clogged drains can be more than just a nuisance. When water drains slower and collects in sinks or tubs, this could be a flood waiting to happen. Chronically slow drains should be investigated to determine the problem and cleared out before a sudden backup of water causes a flood. Even small amounts of water pouring onto the floors in bathrooms and kitchens can cause flood damage since the water seeps and soaks into everything. A plumber should inspect slow drains so they can be cleaned before a flood can happen.

Drain Pipe and Septic Issues

Septic backups and clogged drainpipes are a serious concern that can precede very unpleasant and unsanitary flooding in the home. Septic backups are usually caused by an overfull septic tank or an issue with the drainfield, while clogged pipes can be caused by many different things. In either case, before an overflow that requires flood damage cleaning occurs, homeowners should have an experienced plumber or septic service out to take a look.

Clogged and Dirty Rain Gutters

Even though they are not actually inside the home, dirty rain gutters that become clogged are another common cause of home flood damage. When water cannot flow along the gutter to the downspout, it pools in the gutters and pours over the edges, falling to the ground around the home. When this water is not properly diverted, it can saturate the ground around the foundation, eventually working its way into the house through small cracks in the foundation that may generate over time. In extreme cases, water can flood into basements. Keeping the rain gutters clean is the easiest remedy.

As simple as some of these concerns may seem, they cause countless dollars in home flood damage every year. Thankfully, all of these issues are easy to prevent. Before a small problem becomes a bigger one that involves flood damage cleaning, homeowners should add these simple items to their home maintenance list and practice them regularly!

Category: Flood Damage Repair in Conroe Texas