1. Water damage only affects wet areas.
False. Water soaked areas create a high ambient humidity, which can negatively impact undamaged areas and their contents. In fact, high levels of moisture content can do as much damage as direct water contact. If left unprotected, materials that naturally absorb moisture from the air, quickly become damaged. Cabinets and flooring begins to swell and buckle, books and documents will grow mold on their covers, electrical systems and electronic equipment begin to decay, and this is just to name a few. Immediate response and mitigation is crucial.

2. The climate in Arizona is dry and hot, this means that if you experience a water damage situation, your house will dry out on it’s own.
False. Indoor environmental conditions can drastically differ from outdoor environmental conditions. We can see this difference in environments when the weather is cool outside and we walk into a bathroom that is extremely humid after a hot shower. Even the dry heat in Arizona will not be able to properly dry your home after a water loss has occurred, nor will the climate be able to lower the humidity level of your home. After a water loss occurs, it is crucial that the environmental conditions in affected areas be brought under control as soon as possible. In order to accomplish this, professional drying equipment and dehumidification are necessary.

3. I cleaned up all of the visible water in my home. Therefore, I don’t need to do anything else.
False. Although the visible water is gone from the surface of the flooring in your home, this does not mean that the problem is solved. In the time it took you to remove the water from the surface using a wet-vac, towels, etc., the water may have traveled into the carpeting, underneath the flooring and seeped into the walls, insulation and cabinets. If it is not treated properly and promptly, it will continue to reside causing rot and deterioration to your home’s structure. It is also creating the perfect environment for microbial growth, which can be a potential health hazard to you and your family.

4. Mold doesn’t grow in Arizona.
False. Mold thrives in a variety of environments and growth can begin within 24-48 hours from time of water loss. Mold spores are so small that they float in the air that you breathe. Proven the right conditions-water, food (any organic material) and a stagnant environment. Mold will grow. Just to give you an idea, mold grows on wood, carpet, bathroom ceilings, behind bathroom mirrors, on leather furniture, drywall, even on caulking!

5. Mold only grows in older, flood-damaged buildings. My new custom home couldn’t possibly have any mold growing in it.
False. In a new home, the source of mold may not be a leaky pipe, or a crack in the foundation, problems that are commonly found in an older home. Instead, the source could be mold-infested building materials, such as wood, or drywall that were delivered to the construction site, or from building materials that got saturated, when left uncovered in the rain. If these materials are not properly dried and sealed after they have been exposed to rain, mold will surely grow. In addition, homes today are built more energy efficient than their predecessors. Builders strive to build new homes “air tight”, this means that water trapped in a building after rain cannot escape and is more likely to cause mold growth.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding mold or water damage, please call: 602-862-9307. or visit AM/PM Restoration’s website by clicking the Emergency Restoration link.

These important facts are brought to you by Water Damage Phoenix resource founded by AM/PM Restoration Services, LLC.

Author: carqfn5udr

This author has published 1 articles so far. More info about the author is coming soon.