How to Get Rid of Dampness and Developing Mold Caused by a Water Leak
Easy DIY Instructions for the Homeowner
When it comes to home repairs, one of the most frustrating do-it-yourself repairs is finding the source of a water leak. Because water flows to the lowest point in your home, it can be impossible to diagnosis the source of a leak without tearing into the walls.
A few weeks ago, the shower in one of our rentals started leaking into the cellar. After ripping out the shower floor and two of the walls, the leak was traced back to the water supply line which was repaired with about 5 cents of plumbers tape and some putty. More expensive to repair was dealing with the developing mildew and rebuilding the custom tiled shower.
If your home has developed a sudden leak, it's important to find the leak and repair it before it can cause significant damage. These instructions will also help by putting a stop to the dampness and developing mildew.
1. Mop up what is wet. After the leak has been fixed, mop up everything you can with towels. Damp rugs should be thrown over the fence to dry.
2. Remove wet items that can't be salvaged. Building materials such as lumber, hardwood, tile, and carpet can usually be salvaged after brief exposure to water. Drywall that has been heavily saturated can't be salvaged and must be tossed.
3. Dry the remaining material quickly and thoroughly. The building materials left in the area should be dried within 48 hours to stop mildew. We rented a commercial blower from our local rental shop which was trained on the framing and outer room drywall for three full days.
4. Treat the damaged areas with a mold inhibitor. Once the area has been dried, apply a mold inhibiting product such as Concrobium Mold Control. Concrobium both cleans off developing mold and prevents new mold from forming. (Be sure to follow the safety guidelines on the bottle for proper ventilation and wear a respirator.) Mold inhibiting products can be found at your local hardware store.
5. Use a moisture meter to test for moisture. After the treated area has dried, test with a moisture meter before installing new material. (Your contractor may have one that you can borrow.) A moisture meter will determine if the existing drywall and framework has dried to acceptable levels or needs a few more days.
Related content:
How to fix a bathroom towel bar.
How to mix up leftover paint for DIY projects.
How to remove carpet squares and glue from concrete floors.
Additional resources:
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/maho/yohoyohe/momo/momo_007.cfm
A few weeks ago, the shower in one of our rentals started leaking into the cellar. After ripping out the shower floor and two of the walls, the leak was traced back to the water supply line which was repaired with about 5 cents of plumbers tape and some putty. More expensive to repair was dealing with the developing mildew and rebuilding the custom tiled shower.
If your home has developed a sudden leak, it's important to find the leak and repair it before it can cause significant damage. These instructions will also help by putting a stop to the dampness and developing mildew.
1. Mop up what is wet. After the leak has been fixed, mop up everything you can with towels. Damp rugs should be thrown over the fence to dry.
2. Remove wet items that can't be salvaged. Building materials such as lumber, hardwood, tile, and carpet can usually be salvaged after brief exposure to water. Drywall that has been heavily saturated can't be salvaged and must be tossed.
3. Dry the remaining material quickly and thoroughly. The building materials left in the area should be dried within 48 hours to stop mildew. We rented a commercial blower from our local rental shop which was trained on the framing and outer room drywall for three full days.
4. Treat the damaged areas with a mold inhibitor. Once the area has been dried, apply a mold inhibiting product such as Concrobium Mold Control. Concrobium both cleans off developing mold and prevents new mold from forming. (Be sure to follow the safety guidelines on the bottle for proper ventilation and wear a respirator.) Mold inhibiting products can be found at your local hardware store.
5. Use a moisture meter to test for moisture. After the treated area has dried, test with a moisture meter before installing new material. (Your contractor may have one that you can borrow.) A moisture meter will determine if the existing drywall and framework has dried to acceptable levels or needs a few more days.
Related content:
How to fix a bathroom towel bar.
How to mix up leftover paint for DIY projects.
How to remove carpet squares and glue from concrete floors.
Additional resources:
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/maho/yohoyohe/momo/momo_007.cfm
Published by C. Jeanne Heida - Featured Contributor in Business & Finance and Lifestyle
Jeanne is a small business owner with 25 years experience in the real estate industry. A consistent Y!CN Top 100 writer, her articles can be found at Y!Finance, Shine, Your Wisdom, DEX, and the Scripps Net... View profile
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8 Comments
Post a CommentAfter Hurrican Irene our kitchen flooded. What a mess. I've cleaned and cleaned the floor but I still think there is water caught under the tiles. I swear I smell mold. It's awful!
Good reminder that fixing the leak isn't the only thing to fix:)
Very timely article, Jeanne. Our community was devastated after Hurricane Irene - some homes are still cleaning up and drying out. cheers
You hit the nail on the head with this one.
Excellent advice. I had a leak caused by my husband trying to be a plumber and installing new faucets in the kitchen. I often wonder why 'males' feel they can do everything. I guess it's the alpha male syndrome. Anyhoo, I remember an episode of 'The Cosby Show' and 'Home Improvement" where both wives discouraged these males from trying to repair home issues. But no, they thought they were the 'Jacks of all Trades' and made the problems worse.
Good advice!
Thank you for the advice! We have a leak in our master bedroom shower!
Excellent advice. We're dealing with this right now. We have a leaky dining room ceiling.