Water found leaking under pipes in the basement that has gone unnoticed for weeks can be a major problem. If you found puddles of water and you can see mold or mildew on the walls, this needs professional treatment.

Mold can develop in just a day wherever there is moisture, and can cause severe health problems throughout the home. This is especially true if the mold and mildew or stagnate water was around heating and cooling appliances like the furnace.

You'll want to talk with a restoration and cleaning company to see how quickly they can come to your house to clean up the water and to treat the fungi and bacteria growing around your home. Here are some things to consider.

Water Extraction

The water has to be extracted from all of the areas where there was water present. This would include materials like:

• Carpeting
• Wood floors
• Drywall
• Furniture
• Insulation

Anywhere that the water could have been absorbed, you have to make sure that it was extracted back out.

Sterilization

After all of the water is extracted the area has to be properly sterilized. The water damage restoration team will treat the materials that the water was extracted out of, along with spaces like:

• Inside the ductwork
• In all open air and spaces where the water was
• Inside the furnace

You want to have the air filter replaced on the furnace, and make sure that the internal components are sterilized so any living spores can't start to spread after you've sanitized the rest of the space.

Moisture Prevention

Immediately have the cause of the water leaks repaired so you don't have this problem in your home again. You may also want to use a dehumidifier in the basement, along with a fan for better ventilation if needed. The better you can prevent moisture in a basement or damp space, the less you have to worry about mold.

If you don't spend a lot of time in your basement and you discover water, and you can smell a musty odor, there is probably mold in the space. Let the restoration professionals come to your home to assess the damage and how far the mold has spread, and then clean everything up quickly and efficiently. They have the supplies, tools, and staff to get the job done quickly so your house can be safe and so you can save the materials that may have been affected by the leak.

For more information on water damage restoration, contact a company near you.