Although many people think mold means how dirty an area is, it’s actually caused by a water problem. In nature, mold is there to decompose organic matter. However, if your home stays wet after a leak or flood, mold will eventually grow. Unfortunately, it’s hard to predict how fast mold grows after water damage but it can appear in just a few days in some cases. Even a slow water leak can lead to mold if it’s not dealt with quickly. We look at what causes mold to grow after a water problem, plus what you can do to stop it.
How Fast Does Mold Grow?
Mold will grow in as fast as 12 to 72 hours depending on the conditions. Although it can grow in many conditions, mold will grow fastest with:
- Temperatures between 70° F and 90° F
- Humidity levels between 60% and 80%
- Lower levels of light, like dark basements or inside cabinets
There are two other factors to consider. The first is the source of the water. Mold can take days or even weeks to grow after a burst water pipe or sink overflow. However, mold will grow much faster after a flood or sewage backup.
Second, mold can grow faster depending on what gets wet. It will grow faster on old, musty cardboard boxes than on clean plastic bins. It’s also more likely to grow on walls, cabinets and carpeting than it is on metal or glass.
How Long Does It Take for Mold To Grow?
Although the exact time can vary, here are some estimates on how fast mold grows if the water is not cleaned up.
- Water supply line leak: 2 to 4 weeks
- Drain pipe leak: 1 to 2 weeks
- Burst water pipe or supply line: 3 to 7 days
- Overflowing bathtub or sink: 2 to 5 days
- Overflowing toilet: 1 to 3 days
- Groundwater flood: 24 to 72 hours
- Sewage backup: 12 to 24 hours
- Storm surge flood: 6 to 12 hours
How Fast Does Black Mold Grow?
While it’s normal to be worried, black mold doesn’t grow any faster than any other kind of mold. In fact, not only are most molds black in color but you can’t tell them apart just by looking at them. You should worry about any kind of mold you have. You can prevent black mold, the same as all other molds, by following the steps below.
How To Prevent Mold After a Water Leak or Flood?
The best way to prevent mold after water damage is to clean it up fast. The longer your home is wet, the greater the chance of mold.
- Remove the water as soon as possible using a pump, shop vac or mop and bucket.
- Dry your home with fans and dehumidifiers.
- Throw away damaged materials and anything that you can’t dry in less than a day.
- Clean the area with soap and warm water to remove dirt and debris.
- Disinfect your home using a cup of bleach in a gallon of water.
The key to preventing mold is to dry your home as fast as possible. When removing the water, we recommend using a pump. Most pumps will remove several inches of water or sewage in less than an hour.
When it comes to drying, use high-volume fans and structural drying dehumidifiers. While house fans will work, they will take anywhere from two to four times as long to dry out your home. This gives mold much more time to grow.
Also, remember that it’s the water that causes the mold. You might think you can just clean with bleach to kill the mold, it is guaranteed to come back unless you remove the water first.
Instead of worrying how fast mold grows, get quick and reliable water damage restoration services from Restoration Local. Our restoration specialists will remove the water and repair the damage fast to prevent mold. Call 1-888-443-3110 now for a risk-free estimate on water cleanup and mold prevention.
