Having a flood in your home is an awful situation and requires a lot of time to properly clean up. It is worth the time, however, to research and make the best choices for you and your family so that your house remains healthy and safe for years to come.

 
The Pacific Northwest has gotten more rain in the last two weeks than they normally see for the entire month of November.
The recent atmospheric river of rain conditions have poured over the Pacific Northwest over the past several days and brought record amounts of rainfall and devastating flooding across Western Washington. 

Many homes in the area have been impacted by the flood waters and now find themselves with water soaked flooring, carpets, and basements.

As flooding recedes, many people will return to their homes and begin the restoration process. If you are moving back into a home that was flooded, it is extremely important to become knowledgeable on moisture management and take the necessary steps to keep your house safe and healthy for you and your family. Just because the water is gone and your house looks back to normal, does not mean there is no damage. Wet materials create an environment where dangerous mold can grow behind the walls, floors, and ceilings.

Many families suffered the effects of mold on the east coast after flooding caused by Hurricane Floyd in 1999. Some hard lessons were learned about the importance of addressing humidity and damp materials. It is best to address possible issues now to potentially reduce a risk of respiratory illness later. Below are important items to consider as you repair your home after a flood.

Choose your Contractor Wisely

Reputable general contractors and HVAC contractors will be a huge help in making repairs to flooded homes. However, many have not received specific training on moisture issues and mold prevention. Extra steps must be taken to ensure flooded homes can be safer to live in now and in the future. For high performing healthy homes, contractors use HERS Raters or BPI Analysts to ensure they don’t miss any important details. It would be beneficial to utilize these experts when developing a rehabilitation plan for a flooded home. You can also find weatherization and HVAC contractors with certification from the Building Performance Institute to make repairs that will help prevent future mold growth.

Install a Dehumidifier

Unfortunately, many people will move back into homes that will not be safe to live in, even if they appear to be move-in ready once repairs are underway or finished. If you have a home that was flooded, especially where the walls and foundation were submerged, please consider having a dehumidification system installed. A dehumidifier will actively reduce moisture levels to help prevent mold from growing inside the home or crawl space. It can be a stand-alone unit or incorporated into your existing HVAC system (a licensed HVAC contractor will be able to install this type).

For those with allergies and asthma, it may also be beneficial to install a medical grade air purification system that removes mold spores, chemicals, and even viruses from the air. It is our recommendation to avoid any indoor air quality products with UV or bipolar ionization as there is a lack of third-party research to show their effectiveness. In some cases, UV or bipolar ionization has caused respiratory issues. A good filtration system should suffice without these additional components. 

Close your Crawl Space

Crawlspaces are notorious for moisture issues. When you add framing and foundations that have been completely submerged, these parts of the home will not completely dry out, especially if the restoration work is rushed due to tight schedules. This applies even more to homes built on crawl spaces. If the crawl space flooded, encapsulate/close and dehumidify it. If you do not, then mold may occur and may creep into your home. If the crawl space is not dried out, there may also be a structural danger and risk of rotting floor joists.

Take Mold Seriously

Along with causing allergy induced asthma, long term exposure to mold can also negatively affect how you sleep and how you think. Unfortunately, the environments in which we live often get overlooked when we are diagnosed with a respiratory ailment by a medical provider. Experts are working to bridge this gap by presenting evidence of how our homes affect our health. A previously flooded home may amplify this issue.

Evidence of moisture damage typically cannot be seen from the main living space, so the “out of sight, out of mind” effect kicks in. This being said, people end up paying more for this problem with higher healthcare costs and discomfort than they would by addressing it in the first place.

Put Health and Safety First

Throughout the restoration process, it is important to prioritize health and safety over the time it takes to make repairs. Reputable contractors and your electric utility will also stress this. If water reaches the electric meter during flooding, then your electric service cannot be restored until inspections are done and approvals are granted. Energizing houses that have not been correctly restored can result in house fires as well as serious personal injury.