The effects of water damage can occur within minutes. However, in most cases, the damage from water in your home can take days or weeks to manifest. Some of these effects are clearly visible while others are hidden. Knowing about all the effects of water damage is vital as it exposes you o health, safety, and occupational hazards.
Mold And Health Issues
A few weeks after the water damage, mold growth will take root in your home. This is a serious issue because mold negatively impacts your health and this can be felt within days. If you have allergies, they will start to flare up when mold is present.
To grow, mold needs moisture and this is abundant if water damage has been left untreated. While the mold causes health issues, it will also affect the aesthetics of your home. The most common damage will be marks showing mold growth in the form of grass-like molds and fungi. This will appear on the surface of your walls.
When it comes to the health issues, the most common is respiratory problems such as asthma, allergies, and bronchitis. These health issues can take weeks or months to appear or become serious enough for you to notice. The smell of mold will also linger for a long time.
While most effects take time, there is one that will occur quickly. This is the quality of the air in your home which will drop once mold starts growing. Contaminated water is another risk that you can face relatively quickly. This contamination will lead to skin allergies when you come into contact with the water. You will also be exposed to fungi and bacteria which make everyone in the house more likely to become ill.
Furniture And Appliances
If there is a flood, your furniture will be hit and will suffer water damage. This can happen to your wooden bed frame or the TV. Within minutes of the flooding, your valuables will be damaged.
If the furniture is made of wood, the water will weaken the structure. The wood will also absorb the moisture making it a breeding ground for mold that can affect the wood further. Some of the furniture in your home may be sensitive to water and turn white when in contact. There are other pieces of furniture that swell due to water damage.
If your furniture has paint, it can start to chip and transfer to the floors and walls. Prolonged water exposure can also cause discoloration. The amount of discoloration will vary depending on the furniture, the type of pain, and the length of water exposure. Longer exposure is more likely to cause discoloration than limited exposure.
The damage to electrical appliances is clearer as the water causes the appliance to malfunction. The damage is more dangerous if the appliance is not waterproof. In some cases, the damage from the water can be repaired, but there will still be electrical hazards that makes handling these appliances dangerous.
The Structure Of The House
Within minutes of water entering your home, the structure can be damaged. If you have wooden flooring, the boards can start to swell. This will make it hard to walk in the house and the property will become too dangerous to live in.
If you have carpets, the materials can make it harder to clean and treat the water damage. The fabric of the carpet can become discolored and will be waterlogged. The main issue with carpets is mold growth beneath the fibers. The water in the carpets cannot be vacuumed out without causing further damage to the material.
While your floors suffer a lot of water damage, your walls will not escape. Water-soaked walls will become discolored in most cases. If there has been extensive water damage, you will see color changes in the walls long after the water is gone. Spots of yellow are the most common when there is water damage to a white wall and this is worsened by the length of time it takes to remove the water.
What You Should Do When There Is Water Damage
A lot of people wonder if they should leave their homes as soon as there are any signs of water damage. This is only necessary in certain cases and you have to determine the extent of the damage before taking this step. If the situation is severe, you need to leave the house as soon as possible to avoid any health complications. If your home was flooded, you will be exposed to electrical as well as health hazards.
However, if the water damage is not severe, you may be able to stay in your home. While this is possible, you need to call someone to help with the water damage regardless of the severity. The water damage may seem small, but the effects will continue to grow without you noticing. This will compound over time and leave you with a serious problem
Getting Professional Help
If you have any water damage in your home, you need to call a professional. This should be done regardless of the severity or size of the area affected. There are many benefits to hiring a professional to handle the water damage.
The first benefit is that professional companies will have the right equipment for the job. Many companies have the latest equipment to remove moisture from your home and stop any mold growing. As these companies only deal with water damage it pays for them to have the best equipment for the job.
The second benefit of hiring a professional company is the training and knowledge their employees have. When you hire a professional, you know your home is in good hands. Companies will train their staff to use the equipment and what to look out for in terms of mold and other damage. These trained professionals will also be able to talk to you about the issues that could come if the water damage is not treated correctly.
It is also important to note that your insurance company may not pay claims if you do not hire a professional restoration company. While you can save money trying to treat the water damage yourself, you could make the situation worse. You will not have the correct equipment or knowledge on how to use the equipment. Not drying the property correctly will leave enough moisture for mold to take root and this will cause serious issues. It is worth talking to your insurance company regarding their recommended water damage restoration companies before you hire anyone.
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