Mold is unsafe fungi that grow in moist environments. It takes root in a home through airborne spores, which germinate as soon as they find suitable conditions of humidity and temperature.
Once it begins to grow, mold spreads quickly till it takes over the entire home. While it takes 24 to 48 hours for mold to begin to grow in a home, it usually takes a week or more for the growth to be visible.
Unfortunately, by the time mold has established a noticeable growth, it tends to have settled into damp and porous surfaces and spread too deeply. This makes it difficult to eliminate.
So how fast does mold grow after a water leak?
This depends mainly on how long the dirty water takes in your home before it is removed. If a water leak occurs and is quickly cleaned and dried, mold growth is either completely eliminated or massively slowed down.
This is the reason why urgent action is usually necessary after a plumbing accident as it saves the home from the danger of mold growth. Doing the repairs right after water damage also goes a long way in controlling indoor moisture level, which in turn prevents mold growth
On the contrary, if a leak occurs and the water remains lying in a spot for more than 8 hours to a couple of days, there is a higher likelihood of mold growing in that area and then rapidly spreading.
Typically, a significant mold growth begins within 24 to 48 hours after a water leak if the leakage creates an ideal condition for mold to thrive. The growth will then spread quickly and take hold of the home within 12 days.
At West Central Equipment and Restoration, we encourage homeowners to make sure there are no unnecessary damp conditions in their homes that can lead to mold growth. Plus, we always emphasize the need to act fast to remove the water and to repair the damage urgently.
For it usually takes just a few days for mold to take over a home, grow on every possible surface and cause untold damage. When inhaled, mold can cause all sorts of health issues in humans and animals, varying from mild to serious.
Factors that determine how fast mold grow in your home
- Temperature of your home
After a water leak, the temperature inside your home will determine whether mold grows or not. For a home that is always warm, mold spores will find it ideal for growth.
A good deterrent to mold is keeping your home cool to slow down regeneration of the spores and give you a better chance of tackling the problem before it gets worse.
- Ventilation in your home
Mold finds it difficult to grow in an airy and dry home. So make sure your home is properly ventilated and dry as this will help slow down the growth and spread of mold.
- Presence of organic surfaces
Mold spores feed on and grow quickly on organic surfaces, such as wall paint. You can invest in inorganic wall paint and cut on organic surfaces in your home to slow down the growth and spread of mold.
How can you prevent mold growth after a water leak?
You can expect visible mold growth in your home between 48-72 hours after a water leak. But it always does not follow that mold will grow only after obvious water damage.
As long as there are wet patches around your home, an unexpected drop in water pressure or a sharp increase in your bill, there could be a leakage somewhere that is likely to trigger mold growth. Hence, it is advisable to call in a water leak detection service to help as soon as you notice these changes.
Once you identify the leaking spot, you should dry all the affected areas thoroughly. Make sure not only to dry the obvious floor areas, but also to get into any fractures, nooks and crannies where the water might have leaked to.
Likewise, remove the drywall, rugs, and baseboards and thoroughly dry the underlying surfaces. Opening windows and doors also helps to provide airflow to affected areas.
After removing excess water and drying affected areas, use a vacuum or carpet cleaner to suck up water from hard-to-reach areas. Alternatively, you can push towels in between the fractures and crevices of walls and carpets.
Timely, efficient water damage remediation
As a responsible home owner, you should never allow water to stand for long after a leak inside your home. Make sure to remove the water quickly, dry the affected areas, get timely repairs, and eliminate all conditions that may allow mold to thrive.
In case of a flood that is too big for you to handle, call a professional water damage remediation service to correctly restore your home.
At West Central Equipment and Restoration, we provide prompt, reliable and efficient water damage and mold remediation. Our certified technicians are experienced in dealing with all manner of plumbing accidents, water damages, and mold growth.
So if you are located in Lecanto, Florida, make sure to call West Central whenever you have a sizeable water leak or need help with mold remediation. For more information on mold remediation and water damage restoration, visit the site “West Central Equipment and Restoration.”
