Crawlspaces can Harbor Microbes after Flood Damage has Affected Your Grafton Home

6/12/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Technicians Thoroughly Dry Your Property after Damage

Water from flooding can continue to cause problems if all areas of your home are not returned to a dry condition. Often overlooked, or considered unimportant, SERVPRO knows that the crawlspace area is a potential area that often is the source of mold growths, bacterial colonies, and other possible risks. 

Grafton homes that have existing or past flood damage should have any crawlspaces examined for signs of problems. These areas are often used to house water pipes, gas lines, and heating and cooling system vents.

Increased moisture can cause accelerated rusting of metal pipes and vents. If microbes such as mold are present in the crawlspace, air intake of your ventilation system can also bring them into your living space. Other pathogens such as viruses and bacteria can travel the same way. 

SERVPRO technicians certified by the IICRC in ASD, or Applied Structural Drying, can install the necessary dehumidifiers, air blowers, and heaters, even in smaller crawlspaces, to rapidly reduce the amount of humidity. We do this work in addition to the typical flood damage restoration carried out after flood damage exists. Without it, our job would not be complete. 

Because crawlspaces are the lowest part of your home, excluding any basement or cellar areas, and they are also located on the exterior part of your home, flood damage on the crawlspace's interior can be extensive. Smaller animals, sewage, fluids from vehicles, and garbage are often washed in by the flood and then left behind, trapped by the walls. We remove this debris when we find it, so your crawlspace is once again as it should be, dry, and also clean. 

To keep it dry and less likely to allow mold and bacteria to grow, we can install a dehumidifier, lay down plastic protective sheeting to keep humidity from seeping up from the ground, and paint a mold inhibitor on the crawlspace's interior. 

We at SERVPRO of Shrewsbury / Westborough are always ready to bring your home back to how it should be after a flood or any other disaster. We can be reached any day of the week, day or night, by calling (508) 757-7885.