Got Frozen Pipes and Ice Dams? Check For Mold Damage

4/12/2021 (Permalink)

Check your frozen pipes and ice dams for signs of water damage. Early detection is critical to minimize expenses and save you time.

With Spring Showers in Brooklyn can come mold infestations from stagnant water and improper drainage. Temperature extremes during the colder months can cause many different water-intrusion problems in the your New York home.

Mold issues can surprise residents as most water appears frozen solid at this time of the year. Neglecting the possibility of water leakage during the winter can lead to mold growth in some spaces in a home. Professional mold remediation is the answer for the damage.
 
Mold damage occurs when moisture activates the mold spores that are consistently present in the air or on surfaces. During the chillier times of the year, certain forces conspire to provide the perfect environment for fungal growth. A highly-qualified mold remediation company understands the dynamics that change exterior below-freezing temperatures and frozen precipitation into the liquid water feeding a burgeoning mold colony.
 
SERVPRO of Williamsburg, Greenpoint technicians responding to mold growth in an attic or top floor frequently find evidence of ice dams. Gutters and eaves are vulnerable to ice dams and the seepage and leaking into home interiors that follows. If drain spouts clog with leaves, sticks, and other debris, water catches in gutters and freezes. Most gutters are adjacent to the eaves and soffits edging a roof. As the frozen water expands, it pushes under loose flashings and shingles. Warm air rising along poorly or uninsulated walls and framing melts the ice causing it to soak building materials. Mold has then both now, water and an organic surface upon which to flourish.
 
Water supply and drain pipes on or near exterior walls, in foundations, or crawl spaces sometimes freeze, resulting in cracks or breaks in plumbing, sending moisture to saturate structural components and personal belongings. SERVPRO mold remediation crews make the connection when called to abate microbial growth and damage in these areas.
 
Mold remediation requires adherence to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protocols. Trained SERVPRO technicians contain the mold using physical barriers and often negative pressure air scrubbers to prevent the spread of the microbes. They remove and bag the moldy materials, disposing of the collected substances. HEPA filtered vacuums and antimicrobial treatment remove any debris and inhibit future mold damage.
 
For the abatement efforts of the SERVPRO team to work long term, the conditions causing water to leak inside a home during the winter must also be eliminated. Gutters and drains need repair and insulation, and interior ceilings need evaluation. Frozen plumbing requires replacement, and outdoor faucets should be winterized each autumn.
 
SERVPRO of Williamsburg, Greenpoint is here for any Mold Remediation issue you may come across this Spring. Call (917) 809-6562 for immediate assistance.