Flood damage can persist long after the water is gone thanks to mold growth that takes hold during and after the flood. Mold can flourish in hidden places, where it can then affect your health and damage the structure of your home. 

1. Deep Inside the Flooring

In most floods, it is the flooring that suffers the most moisture exposure. Damp can get into and under carpeting, leading to a moldy mess that requires full replacement. Moisture can also seep under tiles and vinyl flooring and get into the floorboards underneath where it takes a long time to dry. Your restoration service can dry out the flooring, including the subfloor, and treat for mold. 

2. Behind the Walls

Both plaster and drywall absorb moisture during a flood. Although it is easy to dry and mold treat the outer side of the walls, moisture and mold can remain behind the walls. Typically all flood-exposed wall boards are removed so the interior of the walls can be thoroughly cleaned and dried before new wall boards are installed. 

3. Inside and Behind Cabinetry

Wood cabinets will often absorb moisture from flooding, so even as little as a couple of inches of water can be soaked up by the cabinets in contact with the flood waters. This moisture gets trapped inside, behind, and under the cabinets where mold can grow unchecked. A restoration service can remove the cabinets and perform a cleanup to ensure the space is dry and mold-free. 

4. Within the HVAC Ducts

Water doesn't have to get into the ducts to lead to mold. The ductwork circulates the air throughout the home, including the high moisture air that's present during and after a flood. This moisture combined with dust in the system creates the perfect breeding ground for mold. Worse, the HVAC system will circulate mold spores throughout the home if a restoration service doesn't take steps to mitigate mold growth.

5. Underneath Your Home

If your home has a crawl space instead of a basement or slab foundation, then there is a high chance that water damage and mold are a problem following a flood. Crawlspaces aren't designed to be wet, so flood waters can dry slowly if the space is inundated. Since few people inspect their crawlspaces, mold can grow throughout the space and enter the home through the floorboards unless it is addressed. 

Contact a water damage restoration service if you suspect mold is still present after drying out from a flood.