The fear of water damage often hounds property owners. Unfortunately, water damage is quite common, as it can be caused by many natural events. When there is water damage, this affects everything, from the basement to the attic, and restoration costs frequently run into the thousands. But what are the effects of water damage on a property?
One of the key effects of water damage is the presence of mold, which is why most restoration companies focus strongly on mold removal and mold remediation. Mold is part of nature's way to help in the process of decomposition, but it is also highly destructive to property. Just 24 to 48 hours after sustaining water damage, mold will start to grow. Mold can affect everything from your drywall to your curtains. Mold literally eats away at the structure of your home and can also cause health problems for the residents of the home. It is not possible, therefore, to just allow mold to be there for long. Water damage can also lead to the very serious situation of black water contamination. Black water is highly contaminated water, often containing human and animal waste. Black water contamination is a real danger to health, and can be caused by flooding from lakes or rivers. Remediation is possible but incredibly difficult, with most people having to replace all the structural parts of their home and all their furniture. Anyone involved in the property or its cleanup will require vaccinations against tetanus and other diseases. Basement water is a common source of black water. The next issue has to do with damaged gas and electric lines and appliances. All electric and gas lines and appliances must be turned off and the wiring and piping must be checked. This means that most people in a water damaged property will not be able to make use of their utilities for some time. Sadly, damage to appliances is easily done, even with just a bit of basement water, and usually leads to them having to be replaced.
Last but not least, water damage affects health. Indeed, as soon as water damage is present, a restoration expert must be called in to prevent negative repercussions on health. Mold, for instance, can enter the airways leading to asthma attacks and more significant allergy problems. If some of the home residents are very young, very old, or ill, this could potentially cost them their life. Mold massively increases the chance of people developing a respiratory illness. Black water contamination is, as stated, the most significant danger to health and should be avoided at all times. Lastly, there is the emotional stress and pain associated with experiencing water damage, which is something that should always be considered. It is common for people to literally lose everything, after all.