Water damage is the stuff of nightmares for most property owners. If snow melts quickly, rivers burst their banks, or there is significant rainfall, the chance of water damage occurring is significant. The damage caused can cost thousands to restore, with every part of a flooded house, from its foundations to its furniture being affected. Let's take a look at the ways that water can damage a home.
One of the key effects of water damage is the presence of mold, which is why most restoration companies focus strongly on mold removal and mold remediation. Mold is a kind of fungus that helps things decompose, but it can also cause tremendous destruction to properties. It also grows very quickly and can appear within just 24 to 48 hours after water has entered the property. Mold can affect everything from your drywall to your curtains. It affects the structural integrity of a property and can even affect the health of people living there. Therefore, it is not a problem that can be left alone. Water damage can also lead to the very serious situation of black water contamination. Black water is water that comes from unsanitary places, such as sewage water. When black water contamination happens, which can be because of lake or river water, there is a real danger to public health. While it is possible, with great difficulty, to recover from this type of contamination, it will often require full replacement of all structures and all furniture. After a black water contamination, both residents and cleaners have to get vaccinated against tetanus and other diseases. Basement water is a common source of black water. When a home sustains water damage, its gas an electricity lines will also often be affected. All electric and gas lines and appliances must be turned off and the wiring and piping must be checked. Indeed, once a property is water damaged, it will not have electricity or gas for some time. Regrettably, it is common for even just a little bit of basement water to damage appliances, which will likely need to be replaced.
Last but not least, water damage affects health. In fact, it is the health problem that make it so necessary to phone a restoration expert as soon as possible. When mold and other organisms start to grow, they affect breathing and can cause asthma attacks and make any allergies worse. For children, the elderly, and people with a compromised immune system, this can be truly dangerous. Indeed, even people in good health are at risk. Black water contamination is, as stated, the most significant danger to health and should be avoided at all times. Lastly, there is the emotional stress and pain associated with experiencing water damage, which is something that should always be considered. The human suffering of losing everything is huge.