Dangers of Water Damage

The effects of water damage can jeopardize your health as well as your home’s health, and the longer water damage goes untreated, the worse its results are likely to be. This article will touch on some of the common types of water damage and what can happen as a result of untreated water damage.

Water Damage from Flooding

Damage from floods can be considered the most drastic and hazardous to health. Floodwater can carry any number of contaminants into your home, including infectious microbes, chemical waste, and sewage.

Neglected water damage from a flood can lead to various forms of mold, which can aggravate asthma, allergies and other respiratory conditions and cause throat, nose, and eye irritation. Some mold spore varieties can also result in fungal infections that cause spores to multiply inside a person’s body. The worst type of mold to avoid is toxic mold (also called black mold), which at its worst can even cause death.

In order to thoroughly extract the dampness and disinfect the area, professionals with the proper equipment and protective gear are going to be the best solution. You’ll want to call them as soon as possible to avoid any of the dangerous aforementioned problems with mold spores.

Water Damage from Plumbing Problems

Your home can experience plumbing-related water damage from things like overflowing toilets, burst pipes, or malfunctioning sump pumps. Unfortunately, this water can be quite dirty and terrible-smelling.

When cleaning up water from a plumbing problem, it’s important to protect yourself by wearing goggles, a respirator mask, gloves, and other clothing that will keep your skin from coming in direct contact with the dirty water. It’s also vitally important to disinfect the area once it’s dry in order to get rid of any contaminants the water left behind.

Water Damage from Appliance Leaks

This type of water damage comes from appliances like your washing machine, refrigerator, dishwasher, water heater, etc., so the damage can typically be found in places like the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room. The good news is that this water is “clean”, as opposed to dirty water that comes from a plumbing leak. The important thing is to act quickly because mold will start growing within one to two days:

1. Shut off the source of the water.
2. Wash the soaked area.
3. Dry the soaked area to the best of your ability to keep mold from growing.

In some cases, an extractor may need to be used to get the water completely out of the carpet so that the carpet pad won’t need to be replaced.

Water Damage from Humidity

Some water damage doesn’t even come from a leak--it can result from high indoor humidity levels, often found in areas like crawlspaces, basements, and bathrooms. The problems arise when that humid air condenses, especially where you can’t see it, such as above the ceiling or behind walls. This can result in structural damage to your home, as well as mold growth.

Your first clue that this kind of water damage is taking place might be a foul, musty odor, or you might literally see mold growth or water stains on walls, tile, underneath your sink, or on the back of your toilet. An appropriately sized dehumidifier can help prevent and combat problems with high humidity, but if you're already seeing or smelling the signs of water damage, it’s best to call a professional to keep the problem from persisting or worsening.

If you know or even suspect that you have water damage in your home or building, it’s a good idea to call a professional to make sure that no damage or health hazards are accumulating. Contact GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration for a non-destructive visual survey and indoor evaluation.