MANAGING MOLD RISK BEFORE IT SPREADS
THE OBJECTIVE: LOCATE THE CULPRIT
The clock starts early
Time to Act After a Flood or Major Water Event
After a flood or major water event, timing matters. The CDC advises cleaning up and fully drying a home quickly—within 24 to 48 hours—after flooding to help prevent mold growth. Moisture doesn't necessarily mean mold but if it stays moist, you probably will have a mold problem.
The visible patch is not always the whole problem.
One of the difficulties with mold risk is that it can appear local while the moisture issue behind it is anything but.
Water can travel under subfloors, move along windowsills, collect beneath eaves, wick into drywall, settle inside insulation, or remain trapped behind surfaces that look dry from the outside. Mold can grow on paper, cardboard, ceiling tiles, wood, dust, paint, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery—essentially, a depressingly generous buffet of building materials.
Moisture is not visible on ceiling.
Water found on ceiling is shown originating from the attic.
Water behind wall is not visible.
Extent of water damage from leak around window infrared thermal
Mold on the corner of a ceiling
Mold growth after ceiling was not adequately dried
Expose hidden leaks
— thermal image shows how a leak in shower wall caused mold down the entire height of the building
The Advantage of Thermal Imaging and Moisture Meters
Thermal imaging can quickly and clearly show the extent of water damage, including moisture hidden behind walls, above ceilings, and under floors and baseboards.
A moisture meter can be used to confirm that the suspected “wet area” found with thermal imaging is truly wet - avoiding costly repair of areas that are NOT wet.
After the repair, the IR camera can be used again to verify that the affected area has been completely dried or replaced, with no hidden moisture remaining. In addition, a hygrometer can then be used to also verify that humidity levels are normal which also indicates that no hidden moisture was left behind.
The net result being that there will be no mold growth if all moisture was completely remediated.
