No property owner wants to face a water damage problem. Unfortunately, water damage is quite common, as it can be caused by many natural events. The damage that water can do may be observed in every part of the home, from the carpets to the appliances, and may costs thousands to fix. 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 a kind of fungus that helps things decompose, but it can also cause tremendous destruction to properties. Mold grows very quickly, appearing within one to two days after exposure to water. Mold grows anywhere, from your broom cabinet to the cushions on your couch. Mold will start to affect anything it comes into contact with, including the health of humans living in that property. Therefore, it is not a problem that can be left alone. Another potential effect of water damage, and a very dangerous one, is black water contamination. Black water is water that comes from unsanitary places, such as sewage water. When black water contamination happens, which can be because of lake or river water, there is a real danger to public health. While it is possible, with great difficulty, to recover from this type of contamination, it will often require full replacement of all structures and all furniture. After a black water contamination, both residents and cleaners have to get vaccinated against tetanus and other diseases. When basement water floods a property, it often contains black water. The next issue has to do with damaged gas and electric lines and appliances. Indeed, anything that could explode or runs on electricity must be turned off and have its wiring checked. Water damaged properties have to be completely switched off for some time after sustaining the damage. Even the smallest bit of basement water can cause this problem and it usually means having to replace electrical and gas appliances, costing thousands of dollars.
The final thing to consider is the effect of water damage on health. In fact, it is the health problem that make it so necessary to phone a restoration expert as soon as possible. When mold and other organisms start to grow, they affect breathing and can cause asthma attacks and make any allergies worse. 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, meanwhile, can lead to cholera, dysentery, and other serious and potentially lethal illnesses. Last but not least, it is important not to forget about the emotional effect of being affected by water damage. The human suffering of losing everything is huge.