There are different sides of water damage. These damages can completely wipe out a home and have nothing left and ruin all the things inside. It can leave things wet but repairable. It can get everything moistened and become the breeding ground for mold which would possibly result to excessive damage. What happens to your home is depends upon the cause of the problem.
“While it is true that extensive flooding in your home is easy to spot, there are many cases of water damage that may not be so noticeable at first. Oftentimes, people will be living with water damage for an extended period time and be completely unaware of the danger within their homes. It is important to look for water stains around windows and doors, which would indicate that water is able to penetrate these areas. Being aware of your drywall and whether some areas seem soft and swollen. This is an indicator that water has found its way into the walls. Buckling hardwood floors are also a sign of water damage. If your home has just endured a natural weather calamity but seems to be unscathed, it is imperative that you investigate these three areas diligently to make sure there is nothing that you have missed. The sooner you are able to locate potential water problems, the more effective your restoration process can be.
Other areas in your home to remain aware of are in the kitchen, around the sink, refrigerator and dishwasher, and in the bathroom, around the bathtub, shower and toilet. These areas can be vulnerable to pipe leaks and standing water, which can accumulate into water damage.”
Originally seen in on this website.
To view The Long Term Effects of Not Dealing with a Water Damage Properly
Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKffbHphCco to watch the original video
No matter how we take care of our homes, disaster can attack at any time and ruin everything in your home. From natural disasters similar to floods, tornadoes, earthquakes and hurricanes to plumbing problems and faulty pipes, water can seep into the entire property and result to a lot of damage.
“Water damage is a problem that most property owners dread. When it rains heavily or snow melts quickly, the risk of this type of damage increases. Water can cause thousands of dollars’ worth of damage by damaging wood furniture, upholstery, electronics, household appliances, and plumbing equipment. Water damage also increases the risk of mold growth, which is a very expensive problem to remediate. Hiring a water damage restoration company can make the cleanup process easier to handle, as these companies employ experienced workers who know the best ways to repair or replace damaged items and help with water damage cleanup”
The original release can be found by visiting http://www.thewaterpage.com/water-damage-effects.htm
When it comes to protecting against water issues, maintenance and prevention can go only so far. Strong electrical storms, hurricanes and earthquakes can cause water damage through leaving your home filled with excessive water. Whenever your home has been affected by these severe weather conditions, you should know what to do.
It is important to consider first your own safety as well as your family members safety. You should be able to determine if your home is safe t live in or not. In this circumstance, you need be cautious and look for living arrangements until the problem is fixed. Once you have vacated the place and found a safe place to stay, you may call on your insurance provider . The moment you reached your insurance provider, you may now call a company which specializes in water damage restoration.
The Effects of Water Damage On Building Materials and Its Health Hazards…
Within Minutes…
- Water damage spreads to other areas originally damaged by the effects of water, causing secondary damage thereby rapidly increasing the scope of insurance claims while increasing claim costs.
- Transfer stains occur due to wood and metal furniture, especially antique, staining carpeting.
- Discoloration of furniture.
- Paper goods start to swell, warp, and split.
Within Hours…
- Furniture delaminates or starts to swell and/or warp, legs begin to split.
- Wet Drywall begins to soak up the water
- Finish Building Materials begin to swell, warp and split.
- Musty Odor becomes apparent from the standing water.
- Tarnishing of uncoated metal surfaces.
- Normal household odors becomes more apparent.
- A Clean Water intrusions starts to become a Grey Water situation
Within Days…
- Water damage becomes a Grey Water intrusion
- Fungi appear, along with a stronger musty odor.
- Internal components in pianos and organs swell and warp due to the effects of water or elevated Relative Humidity (RH) (>60% RH).
- Wet Drywall (Sheetrock, gypcrete) and other porous building materials begin to swell and disintegrate.
- Uncoated metal surfaces begin to rust.
- Door and window casings swell and warp or split.
- Wood decking, joists, studs begin to swell, warp and split.
- Electronic components may malfunction.
- Health Hazards associated with Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) becomes an issue
- Occupants with health issues or compromised immune systems begin to experience distress.
Within Weeks
- A Grey Water instrusion turns into a Black Water situation
- Mold spores associated with the building materials prolonged exposure to water damage starts to erode natural fibers, paper coverings on wet drywall, paneling, and other building materials
- Building materials comprised of wood components warp and split, while chemicals within wood dissolve, discolor or destroy finishes.
- Claim costs on Water Damage Insurance Claims escalate dramatically; demolishing and replacing contaminated building materials becomes necessary.
- Serious occupant health hazards abound; liability increases on insurance claims
- The Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) turns into a serious health hazard and proper Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) is required to enter the area effected by water damage
- Serious consideration should be made to contacting an Industrial Hygienist (IH) to perform mold testing and formulate a mold remediation protocol
Whatever the extent of damage caused, you should call an expert in this area immediately. The quicker you can get in touch with this companies, the lesser the extent of damage can be caused. You may lose many things if there is a major problem, but it is possible that a lot of things can be saved. Mold can be a continuation problem, when things are not properly taken care. And when there is mold problem, you need to call a mold remediation expert that will help you. So it is important to call expert professionals right away whenever you experience water seepage to prevent the effects of water damage.