Water damage is something property owners worry about. Water damage can be caused by a variety of factors, many of which cannot be stopped. 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?
The presence of mold is the most common effect, requiring professional mold removal and mold remediation services. Mold is a kind of fungus that helps things decompose, but it can also cause tremendous destruction to properties. Furthermore, it is fast growing, often appearing within 24 to 48 ours after water exposure occurs. Mold can grow any surface and can be found anywhere, from under your floorboards to the inside of your kitchen cupboards. It will eat away at your property's structure and can also cause health problems. It is not possible, therefore, to just allow mold to be there for long. Another very dangerous problem that can emerge is black water contamination. Black water is the most dangerous category of water because it usually includes human and animal waste. When black water contamination happens, which can be because of lake or river water, there is a real danger to public health. The only way to recover from black water contamination, if possible at all, is to replace practially all the structural elements and all the contents of the home. Of utmost importance is that the residents of the property and the cleaning crew receive a tetanus shot and other vaccinations. Basement water is a common source of black water. Gas and electricity lines are also often damaged by water. Indeed, anything that could explode or runs on electricity must be turned off and have its wiring checked. Indeed, once a property is water damaged, it will not have electricity or gas for some time. Unfortunately, even having just a little bit of excess basement water can lead to serious problems with appliances, which will have to be replaced more often than not, to the cost of thousands.
The final thing to consider is the effect of water damage on health. Indeed, as soon as water damage is present, a restoration expert must be called in to prevent negative repercussions on health. Mold spores, for instance, enter the airways and cause people to suffer from asthma attacks and/or allergy attacks. This can be potentially fatal to the very young, the very old, and the otherwise ill or infirm. Mold massively increases the chance of people developing a respiratory illness. Meanwhile, black water contamination is nothing short of dangerous. 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.