Important Things About Taking Care Of Water Damage In Your Home
When you have suffered some type of water damage in your home, you know it can be a big mess. Whether the damage is from flooding, burst pipes or an internal plumbing problem, getting the mess cleaned up can be a big and immediate concern. While homeowners may think just getting the water out is their only concern for their home, this would be a false assumption
Types Of Water Damage
For many people the original concern is to just get the water off the flooring areas and the furniture. While this is important, standing water in a home whether it is in the basement or on the primary floor area can cause extensive structural damage and health concerns.
Wall Damage
Standing water can start to erode the sheetrock or plaster from the walls. This generally will cause staining on the exterior of the sheetrock or plaster. However, internally it can compromise the materials and cause them to begin to disintegrate. This will also cause a bowing out of or warping of the sheetrock or plaster materials. This can also cause extensive damage to wall coverings like paneling, wallpaper and brick facades if the materials start to buckle as the wall material underneath becomes warped or damaged.
In addition, beyond the baseline of the sheetrock and plaster, the 2 x 4’s can start to bow as well. This can cause a structural concern for the home. When 2 x 4’s start to warp, they can cause wall cracking and ceiling cracking because the wall is now buckling in parts.
Electrical Damage
Standing water in a home also causes problems for electrical wiring and can cause shorts within the system. Electricity should be turned off to any area that has outlets submerged under water. Water is a conductor of electricity and electricity flowing through water is deadly. Water should be removed quickly from any area where electrical outlets are submerged to prevent safety hazards from becoming deadly. Then the water should be removed as soon as possible to allow for a drying out of all electrical equipment. Electrical outlets and devices should not be used until dry.
Mold And Mildew
Mold and Mildew can be the most problematic reason to get the water damage taken care of quickly. Standing water for any length of time can cause Mold and Mildew to form. Because these are live organisms they can spread quickly throughout interior walls and become a health hazard as well as a compromise to the structural area infected with the Mold or Mildew. If the water is removed quickly and the area is dried out properly Mold and Mildew usually does not have time to grow and cause any health concerns.
Types Of Water Damage
For many people the original concern is to just get the water off the flooring areas and the furniture. While this is important, standing water in a home whether it is in the basement or on the primary floor area can cause extensive structural damage and health concerns.
Wall Damage
Standing water can start to erode the sheetrock or plaster from the walls. This generally will cause staining on the exterior of the sheetrock or plaster. However, internally it can compromise the materials and cause them to begin to disintegrate. This will also cause a bowing out of or warping of the sheetrock or plaster materials. This can also cause extensive damage to wall coverings like paneling, wallpaper and brick facades if the materials start to buckle as the wall material underneath becomes warped or damaged.
In addition, beyond the baseline of the sheetrock and plaster, the 2 x 4’s can start to bow as well. This can cause a structural concern for the home. When 2 x 4’s start to warp, they can cause wall cracking and ceiling cracking because the wall is now buckling in parts.
Electrical Damage
Standing water in a home also causes problems for electrical wiring and can cause shorts within the system. Electricity should be turned off to any area that has outlets submerged under water. Water is a conductor of electricity and electricity flowing through water is deadly. Water should be removed quickly from any area where electrical outlets are submerged to prevent safety hazards from becoming deadly. Then the water should be removed as soon as possible to allow for a drying out of all electrical equipment. Electrical outlets and devices should not be used until dry.
Mold And Mildew
Mold and Mildew can be the most problematic reason to get the water damage taken care of quickly. Standing water for any length of time can cause Mold and Mildew to form. Because these are live organisms they can spread quickly throughout interior walls and become a health hazard as well as a compromise to the structural area infected with the Mold or Mildew. If the water is removed quickly and the area is dried out properly Mold and Mildew usually does not have time to grow and cause any health concerns.
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