Water damage is something that many homeowners think can never happen to them. It is important to keep in mind that this type of damage can occur due to various different kinds of events. Some of them may be related to weather or indoor-plumbing issues. It is also possible for hidden water damage to occur behind walls or in basements. It is important to seek cleanup services as soon as a water damage issue is noticed. The following points identify why timing is critical.
Prompt Drying
Water damage subtly gets worse the longer the water is allowed to sit. Getting water damage cleanup services as soon as possible allows for techniques such as water extraction and professional drying to start immediately. These processes can help to save on the cost of the cleanup because the home will be getting protected against water penetrating into other areas such as behind walls and underneath carpeting. If the water has reached these areas, drying will aid the contractor in understanding what type of mitigation efforts need to be made.
Electrical Dangers
Water damage can affect electronics and the electrical systems in homes. If the drying process does not start soon after the water exposure, it is possible for safety hazards to be created that can lead to a house fire. This is because the water may seep into critical parts of the electrical system such as outlets and lead to electrical sparks. A consequence of water getting into the electrical system is that it might damage it to the point that electrical repairs have to be performed with the mitigation efforts.
Mold Growth
This toxic substance can start to grow a short time after water has lingered. A homeowner should never use their own opinion as a guideline of whether mold is present. The substance starts with microscopic mold spores, which cannot be seen. Mitigation efforts for water usually include mold testing and cleaning.
Damage to Building Materials
This is significant damage that can occur after prolonged exposure. Building materials may get saturated from the water. They may have telltale brown or black stains indicating that they were damaged by the water. Brown stains are indicative of dried water, and black stains are indicative of mold. It is possible to dry out building materials if the water damage mitigation is started in time. Otherwise, they have to get extracted and replaced.
A water damage remediation contractor is a good resource to use to learn more about why homeowners need to take water damage seriously. Even if the damage does not affect an entire house, there is a risk of issues such as toxic mold spread.
Share25 April 2022
When something you own and love is damaged, it is easy to shrug and decide that item will never be the same again. Sometimes, you might be correct in this assumption. But if you really like the item and would like to keep using it, there is usually the option to repair it. Damage repair contractors can do incredible work, often with items and materials that the average person might assume were beyond being able to be repaired. We won't claim to be damage contractors, but we do wish to raise awareness of their work on this blog. When something you love is damaged, we want you to know you have options.