Any amount of water left in your home, from a leak to a full on basement flood, can cause damage to your home, property and even pose various health risks to you and your household. Homeowners with water damage to the home varies from an hour to 24 hours before visible damage can start to show. However, water left standing causes more damage the longer it is left. Even though you can rely on a Mold Removal Company, it is always better to prevent than to fix when the damage is already done. Here are the more common damages you can face.
Mold and Mildew
Mildew is a type of mold, considered to be an “early stage” mold, that forms when water is left sitting. It is typically white and grows only on the surface of objects rather than penetrating the way mold does. Mildew takes only 24-48 hours to form and is often found in bathrooms and laundry that has been left damp. This is more common in areas with moist air, making it more prevalent in basements and bathrooms in dryer climates. Because it only forms on the surface, it is fairly easy to clean and typically only causes lasting damage to cloth surfaces.
More damaging mold takes longer to form and is much harder to get rid of. It penetrates the material, just like other plants, sending in roots that branch deep past the surface. When this is formed, you’ll need water damage restoration services to come and evaluate just how extensive the damage is. Because mold blooms and shrinks without relinquishing roots, it can be hard to tell exactly where the mold has spread to, especially when it has had a long time to establish a presence. If you find leaks and puddling in areas that aren’t frequently cleaned, assume it has been there long enough to establish a damaging mold presence. Even if you can’t see it, the mold can still be there, be extensive, and be damaging to your health; so it is worth contacting an experienced Mold Removal Company.
Electrical Damage
When water gets near electrical circuits, the damage can be immediate. All it takes is for the water to touch any metal that has a current going through it. This can cause the circuit to short and spark, potentially causing a fire and permanently damaging the wiring. This makes it essential that you keep unused outlets covered in your bathroom and not leave appliances plugged in there. Especially during a shower, the moisture in the air settles on any cold surface and can then collect and trickle into your outlet if you have blow dryers or other appliances still plugged in. Electrical outlet covers are available and important to have installed to protect those outlets.
Wood Damage
Wood that is not protected by a waterproof finish will warp when water is allowed to rest on it. Solid cuts of wood are more resilient to this and can withstand water for a few minutes, whereas more porous wood such as composite wood used for desks and shelves absorbs water much faster and can warp in under a minute. This means you have to be very careful even when cleaning wood and soak up spills immediately. When cleaning, use a wet wipe to wipe down surfaces rather than spraying, and use a Swiffer instead of a mop on wooden floors. If water is left for longer, the warping and damage can become so extensive that the wood has to be replaced entirely.
Metal Corrosion
If you look at your bathroom sink right now, you may notice a ring of colors around the drain or black discharge around the base of the spout. This should be cleaned weekly to avoid the water and gunk working to corrode the metal. While the corrosion process typically will take a year or more to make noticeable headway, regular cleaning will extend the life of your faucets and drains.
Everything in your home is susceptible to a certain amount of water damage; it’s only a matter of time. No matter where you find water sitting, however, the best course of action is to clean it up immediately and prevent future exposure. This will help your home stay safe and healthy, and prevent long term damage.
