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Health & Fitness

'Arthur' Update: DC Area Could See Over Two Inches of Tropical Rain, Flooding

Although this week’s beach vacation may be a washout, the good news is that the Washington metro area is expected to dodge heavy winds as Tropical Storm Arthur churns up the East Coast.  Forecasters, however, say that we can expect one to two inches of rain and localized flooding leading up to the July Fourth weekend.

And it’s the flooding that will have homeowners scrambling, says Robert Weitz, principal and senior project manager at Washington’s RTK Environmental Group which specializes in indoor mold testing.

“Many homeowners were caught off guard during May’s heavy rains and didn’t expect wet basements and leaky roofs,” says Weitz, who reports that several area homes—especially in suburban Maryland and Virginia— are now plagued by indoor mold infestation, brought on by owners not properly or speedily addressing their water damage.

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“It doesn’t take long for a mold colony to develop after an indoor water intrusion,” Weitz says.  Mold spores begin growing within 24 to 48 hours after a flood. Mold just needs a moisture source (flood waters, humid basements, wet walls) and a food source (wall board, carpeting, wood, leather, and cloth furniture, or piles of papers, boxes, and books) to grow.

Wet Basement or Leaky Roof?

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If you think you’ve got mold, don’t call a remediation company just yet.  “It’s important to test for mold before dealing with its removal, because it can inform the type of cleanup needed, identify if the mold is toxic or not, and also pinpoint the mold’s moisture source,” notes Weitz. “Some mold can be removed by the homeowner with a little bleach, while other types of mold—including toxic mold and some types of black mold—need professional attention.”

Weitz also warns that homeowners should never use the same company to perform the mold inspection and to remediate their problem. It’s a conflict of interest. “Disreputable companies offer free or low-cost mold inspections to bait consumers into using their remediation services.  Unsuspecting homeowners think they’re getting a great deal, when in fact, the company will often magnify minor mold problems, then charge consumers thousands more when they make the unnecessary repairs. It’s the definition of a rip-off.”

Finding the right contractor to remove indoor mold damage is also critical in preventing indoor mold growth from returning. 

“We refer homeowners with whom we work only to experienced, reputable mold remediation companies who know what they’re doing.  All too often, a general contractor or handyman will ‘rip out and repair’ without addressing the source of moisture or setting up the proper work area containment, which can lead to spores becoming airborne and infesting other parts of the house with mold,” Weitz adds. 

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