Residential Water Damage

April 02,2020

Water damage is one of the most destructive problems any homeowner can encounter. Water damage can either be gradual or sudden. Floods in your home cause :

  • Damage to your home’s structural Integrity damaging walls, floors, and ceiling.
  • Excess water can damage your furniture and other household items.
  • Wet/moist surface creates the perfect surface for mold to grow.

What are the causes of water damage?

Water damage can be caused by :

  1. Leaking roofs.
  2. Cracked walls and leaking spaces between the windows and the walls.
  3. Plumbing leaks.
  4. Cloaked toilets or drains.
  5. Bathtubs
  6. Foundation cracks.
  7. Lack of proper drainage around the home.

What is water damage restoration?

This refers to all efforts implemented after water damage to restore your home to its previous dry state. The restoration process mainly comprises 3 phases: clean up, drying, and repair or replacement.

The different techniques in each phase depend on the extent of the water damage. In this post, we are going to inform you of what to do and what not to do in the event of water damage.

What not to do :

  • Do not get walk into a flooded room until the electricity is turned off – avoid getting electrocuted.
  • Don’t disassemble electrical appliance to test whether they are wet, let a professional do it.
  • Don’t clean visible mold without wearing protective clothing.
  • Don’t use a vacuum cleaner to mop up the water.
  • Don’t lift tackle-down carpet, call in a professional.

What to do :

  • Turn off the power.
  • Turn off the water if the flood is from a burst pipe.
  • Remove as much water as soon as possible.
  • Remove carpets, rugs, and any other household items that are not permanently fixed to the floor.
  • Move furniture to a dry place and wet cushions too.
  • Open the cabinets and drawers for faster drying.
  • Call in a professional water damage restoration expert.
  • Inform your insurance company of the damage.

 

What is the secondary water damage?

Refer to damage caused by water damage at a different space of the house other than the one initially affected.

To be better understand why secondary water damage is most prevalent in residential spaces here is a simple example:

 a backed-up sink in the kitchen flood the kitchen the owner is able to turn off the tap and mop up most of the water the rest is left to dry out. This was evaporated into the air, then this moist air then circulated through the entire house. The moist air condense all over the home on cooler surfaces like the walls and ceil tiles.

This results in secondary water damage, which causes:

  • Wood warping – causing the wooden floor to bulge and feel uneven, wooden doors and windows fail to close well.
  • Peeling of paint and wallpaper.
  • The spread of mold growth in the house.

 

The most homeowner only regards burst pipes and flooding as the causes of water damage, however, research has proven that increased humidity levels indoors has the potential to cause as much damage as floods.

This is why we recommend you invest in an Alorair dehumidifier today! Protect your family from the dangers of increased moisture while making your home more comfortable.