Reopening a Business After COVID19

8/27/2020 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Greeley/Windsor, 970-353-1388, your restoration specialists.

Forced closures due to the coronavirus pandemic have put buildings worldwide at risk for mold growth and other contaminants. Structures that were not properly prepared prior to being closed up will be at higher risk for having developed unsafe levels of contamination.

Below is a list of preventative steps that should have been taken:

• Cleaning: a thorough cleaning should have been done, including all horizontal surfaces. Care should have been taken to make sure every surface was wiped down as spores live in settled duct, skin cells, and other organic matter.
• Spoilage: Refrigerators should have cleaned out and the trash removed.
• Water: Any standing water or wet areas should have been attended to as adequate moisture fosters microbial growth.
• Ventilation: Someone should have been assigned on good weather days to go back in and open a few windows to allow fresh air inside. Natural sunlight and fresh air are great oxidizers of microbial contaminants like mold, bacteria, and viruses.
• HVAC: the HVAC system should have been left on. When a building is closed up with the HVAC shut off, the humidity can increase, creating an environment ripe for mold growth.
• A/C: The air conditioning system should have been left operating and thermostats should have been set at 80 degrees to cause them to run periodically throughout the close-down. This would help the indoor environment keep drier, which helps stave off mold growth as mold does not grow when it is dry.

If your business has reopened or is beginning to open and you notice mold growth or a musty smell call SERVPRO of Greeley/Windsor at 970-353-1388 for an inspection for water or mold damage. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration.