Water damage can occur in a variety of ways, from pipe leaks to failing sump pumps to heavy rains. When these events occur, the water spreads fast, absorbing into porous materials and furnishings, such as drywall, carpeting and furniture. Once saturated, these materials can get soggy, warp, and rot, and then begin to show signs of mold growth.
But whenever moisture enters your home and sits there unchecked, it can pose a health and safety threat to occupants because it can encourage the growth of mold over time. In addition to that, it can compromise the structural integrity of your home. To avoid these problems, it’s important to enlist the help of professionals for water damage restoration services as soon as possible after the flood or leak.
In this guide, we’ll go over the top reasons why water damage restoration is important as well as the top signs of water damage that you should be on the lookout for.
3 Reasons Why Water Damage Restoration is Important
Here are the top reasons why professional water damage restoration is so important.
1. Safety
The water that has saturated your flooring and furniture may pose a health and safety risk on its own. If it’s black or gray in color, it could be contaminated. Black water in particular is bad because it can hold toxins and pathogens that pose a risk to occupants. Water damage restoration pros arrive with protective gear to guard against contaminated water.
2. Commercial-Strength Equipment
You may be able to mop up small areas of moisture on your own, as long as they are a one-time occurrence. But if you’re talking a heavy water presence over a large area, whether during a freak rain storm or recurring problem due to the grading of your yard, you need professional attention.
Experts trained in water damage restoration can extract large volumes of water quickly, then address the resulting damage, including mold growth. The average homeowner doesn’t have the skill, patience or equipment to not only remove the water, but dry out the area and remove the offending materials. In fact, where mold is concerned, you shouldn’t handle this substance at all, as it can pose serious health threats.
Professionals are trained in the latest techniques to mitigate the damage, bringing with them commercial strength water extraction equipment, industrial fans, vacuums, and pumps.
3. Mold Remediation
Whenever you see excessive moisture or water, mold is likely right there, proliferating as you speak. As it grows, mold spores are released into the air, which you then breathe in. The result can be throat, skin and eye irritation, as well as nasal stuffiness, coughing, and wheezing. A professional knows how to handle and remove mold safely thanks in large part to the use of protective gear, state of the art equipment, and the proper supplies.
Have you experienced water damage recently in your home or business? Time is not on your side, so call a trained professional right away. They can promptly inspect the area, assess the damage, and devise a restoration plan to get all that excess water out, fully dry the area, clean the area and sanitize it.
It’s only after all this has been done that you can even think to replace, repair or restore the materials.
6 Signs of Water Damage You Need to Look Out For
Now, let’s move on to the signs you should be looking for. After all, no homeowner wants to discover they have suffered water damage in their basement or other area of the house. Water damage spreads, often leading to mold, which will grow on any surface it comes into contact with. Spores can even travel through the air, and after landing on damp walls or flooring, can grow into a colony within 24 to 48 hours.
Prompt removal is essential to prevent foul odors from developing and further saturation of your carpeting and furniture, as well as the growth of mold and toxic mold.
The worst part about water damage is that it rarely stays in one spot. It spreads, invading other areas of your floor, eventually reaching walls and ceilings if it is not stopped.
Aside from the obvious pooling water or puddles, other signs of water damage can include anything from musty smells to dark or wet spots. Unfortunately, water damage isn’t always apparent or obvious right away. Sure, sometimes, it’s clear when you have suffered damage, such as after a burst pipe sprays water everywhere, or a big rain storm floods your basement. But in many cases, water damage is subtle and gradual.
Be on the lookout for these common signs, and call your trusted water damage restoration company in Michigan immediately.
1. Pooling Water or Puddles
See an unusual puddle? Clean it up, then keep an eye on it to see if it returns. If so, you have a leak or some seepage.
2. Sound
Sometimes you will hear water damage before you see it. You may detect a dripping sound, a rushing sound, or maybe you will hear a sound similar to creaking floor boards. Of course, these sounds could also be signs of a perfectly functioning and normal plumbing system, so to be more specific, be alert to any signs that those sounds have changed.
3. Smell
Dampness has a distinct odor that is often accompanied by a musky smell, of which mold is often the culprit.
4. Discoloration
Be on the lookout for streaks of water running down the sides of your home. This could be due to an overflowing gutter, which causes distinctive watermarks.
5. Coldness
If your home is getting difficult to heat and maintain comfort, dampness could be affecting your walls. Water and moisture tend to draw heat out of walls to evaporate, which leaves your home colder as a result.
6. Mold
Just like there is no smoke without fire, there’s no mold without water damage. Mold is a sign of too much moisture. Not only must the mold be cleaned up and removed, the source that has fueled it must be addressed as well, or else the mold will just come back. Mold comes with many adverse health reactions, such as runny noses, scratchy eyes and throats, headaches, and nausea. Toxic mold is even worse, with chronic exposure leading to anything from asthma and lung infections to seizures and even death. You can’t see it, but it’s there, lurking behind your walls and under carpets.
Contact 1st Class Carpet Cleaning and Restoration Services
Calling us at the first sign of damage is key before the situation worsens. This will help you lower the costs of the total repair, as well as ensure we can treat the problem in time. Our team will arrive with powerful pumps that can quickly and efficiently extract the water from floors, rugs, carpets or drywall thanks to a commercial-strength, truck-mounted water removal system.
To book water damage restoration in New Hudson MI or surrounding areas, contact us at (248) 491-3088.
