Odor Control: How To Rid Your Home of Flood Smells

10/3/2018 (Permalink)

Air movers on a storm damage on a Clayton, MO office

Storm season can cause a lot of damage to your home. You may experience broken windows, a torn up roof and flooding. One thing that you may not consider is the smell that flood water can cause. Mold growth, sewer backup and bacteria-infested water are just a few of the reasons that your home in Clayton, MO, may take on an unpleasant odor after a storm. Here are some ways you can get rid of that odor.

Sewage

Flooding can cause the sewer to back up, and a sewage loss has a distinct, stinky aroma. Most sewer-related damage will require professional remediation, but there are some things you can do to curb the stench a little:

• Remove excess water (after your put on protective gear, of course)
• Bag and discard unsalvageable items
• Open windows to increase air flow and air out the house

A thorough professional cleaning is what is really going to stop the smell. Remediation experts disinfect all surfaces, clean out air ducts and unclog plumbing fixtures to force sewage back to where it belongs.

Mold

Mold growth gives off a musty, stale odor that is hard to miss. Mold is common with flood damage because it thrives on excess moisture. Unless you remove water within the first 24-48 hours, you are likely to experience some type of mold problem. Professionals must mitigate the damage to remove the problem before the smell will go away.

Bacteria

The microorganisms living in flood water can make it malodorous. Disinfecting surfaces may get rid of most of the smell. For stale odors that linger in the air once everything is dry, though, an air purifier or an industrial ozone machine may be more effective for making the air in your home smell fresh again.

Mold growth, bacteria and sewage loss are all possible side effects of flood damage, and they all smell bad. Taking out the cause of the problem, disinfecting everything and clearing the air can get rid of those terrible odors.