Mold and Water Guides for Westchester Homeowners

In Westchester this is the question that most often decides what kind of job it is. A house on the Hudson or the Sound can take tidal or surge water, a house in a stream valley takes river water, and a house on higher ground mostly takes groundwater or runoff. The county's own hazard plan puts only about one building in forty inside the mapped flood area, so most wet basements here are outside it.

Clean water from a supply pipe, rainwater through a wall, and water that rose out of a river, the Sound or a drain are graded differently by the water damage trade's own standard, and the grade decides whether soaked materials can be dried or have to be cut out. Guessing wrong in either direction costs money, so an honest not sure is better than a confident guess.

Federal guidance says material dried within 24 to 48 hours of a leak will in most cases not grow mold. Past that window the question moves from drying to finding out what has already grown, which is why this changes who we send first.

What has to be removed depends on the materials as much as on the water. Carpet, pad, drywall and insulation that soaked up contaminated water usually come out. Concrete, block and framing are usually cleaned and dried where they are.

This decides what order things happen in. A closing date or a health worry moves the assessment to the front of the queue.