5 Dangers of Standing Water Inside Your Home
Water damage can impact a home anytime, but standing water makes matters even worse. While many might assume it’s a passive threat, it contains numerous dangers for your home and health.
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Read on to learn more about the dangers of standing water in your home and arm yourself with knowledge. And if the damage has already struck, don’t waste a second—contact All Dry USA today to clean up the standing water and mitigate the dangers.
What Are the Dangers of Standing Water?
Standing water poses numerous dangers to your health and home. Here are the top five hazards to look out for if your home has fallen victim:
1. Bacteria & Viruses
Standing water in the home can come from numerous sources, but the most common are backed-up sewage or flooding.
Water caused by flooding already contains contaminants because of the sewage and pollutants that get swept up in the floods. The same water may also possess dangerous bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella. It doesn’t take long for these bacteria to become a perfect soup of symptoms such as diarrhea, fevers, and more. Both bacteria may be life-threatening if left untreated, so you’ll want to seek immediate medical attention if you suspect symptoms.
Stagnant water also acts as a virus-breeding playground, from rotaviruses to the Norwalk virus. Whether the issue results from a weather event, pipes breaking, sewer lines backing up, or property leaks, it’s unsanitary when it sits stagnant on your property for too long.
It’s also possible to contract the West Nile and Zika viruses if the water has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The risk is especially high in warmer climates or during summer when mosquitoes thrive. Zika virus may have devastating consequences during pregnancy and childbirth—made worse by its capacity as a silent disease with no symptoms.
2. Mold
Standing water creates the perfect conditions for mold to thrive. The most likely areas of the home for mold growth are the basement, under sinks, and other areas that are dark and damp.
While mold may not appear as problematic as life-threatening bacteria and viruses, its health implications can be long-reaching after only 24 hours. The worst contender? Black mold.
Black mold and other toxic molds increase drastically after water damage, potentially causing:
- Coughing
- Eye and skin irritation
- Post-nasal drip
- Dry skin
- Nasal congestion
Significantly, these toxic molds may worsen allergy symptoms and overall health conditions. Although removing mold from a home is possible, the remediation process may be lengthy and expensive.
The best proactive action you can take is mold prevention. By removing stagnant water, you’ll have a better chance at a healthy home and a healthy life.
In situations where mold has already started to grow, you need to call in mold remediation experts immediately. Usually, bleach or household cleaning solutions aren’t enough to remove black mold and target invisible spores.
3. Parasites
Parasites thrive in standing water, the most common being Entamoeba, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium. Like bacteria and viruses, parasites may cause serious illness and uncomfortable symptoms, from Amebiasis to diarrhea.
These parasites often develop in large bodies of stagnant water near ponds, lakes, or streams. However, they also can breed in manufactured landscapes, like park fountains, spas, and swimming pools.
You don’t want to mess with parasites, as these microorganisms prefer feeding off their bedridden hosts. It’s another great reason to pay attention to standing water.
4. Structural Damage
Beyond the more obvious health concerns, stagnant water may cause further home damage, including:
- Rotting drywall, wood, or other interior or exterior materials
- Weakening the house’s foundation
- Swelling wood
The risks are higher if the issue results from a leak that happens out of sight. Potential culprits are a leaking pipe behind the bathroom wall or an overflowing tub that pools up in the flooring underneath.
Costly and inconvenient renovations can be avoided by calling ADU to remove standing water at no cost to your peace of mind.
5. Pests
Have you ever heard stories of rodents living their happiest lives in a home’s smallest nooks and crannies? You can probably guess what lured them to their new well-hydrated home in the first place: standing water. Although not initially apparent, standing water may filter down into basements, garages, and walls, creating welcoming conditions for rodents.
Vermin and rodents may carry harmful diseases like rabies. The CDC outlines 11 diseases easily transferred directly from rodents to humans. While direct contamination via air, mouth, or eyes is unpleasant, indirect contamination also poses a serious risk.
Indirect contamination from rodents occurs due to pests that rodents often carry, such as mites, fleas, ticks, and mosquitos. The likelihood of contracting 1 of the 18 outlined diseases also increases.
Suffering From Standing Water? ADU Can Help!
None of this is good news, but thankfully, All Dry USA has the tools to remove stagnant water as soon as possible. Call today to speak to an expert who can provide you and your home with cost-effective solutions, including water damage repair, mold remediation, and more.
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With Ben’s knowledge, and visionary leadership, All Dry USA has expanded into a national, full-service property damage restoration company with multiple locations across the United States. Ben holds numerous specialty licenses and certifications in restoration and construction.
