How Bad Is Water Damage to A House?
Got a leaky roof or peeling paint on your hands? Your home likely has water damage.
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Water damage will not only interrupt your everyday life, but you will have some costly expenses on your hands. According to Home Advisor, homeowners that need to pay for water damage repairs will spend around $2,500 on average.
While the financial burden is apparent, you should also think of the effects it can have on your home, which will worsen over time if ignored. Read to learn what can happen to a house due to water damage.
Mold & Mildew Growth
As soon as water dampens an item, FEMA reports that mold and mildew growth begin in as little as 24 to 48 hours. These substances may not become noticeable until a week or two after they begin growing. By this time, they become well-settled in and difficult to remove.
Mold and mildew can grow on and damage many items in your home including:
- Drywall
- Carpet
- Wallpaper
- Ceiling tiles
- Couches
- Wooden tables, chairs, and other furniture
It can even make its way to personal items like stuffed animals and jewelry boxes. If you allow mold and mildew to Śgrow uncontrollably, they will leave potent smells and relentless stains behind.
While the negative effects that mold and mildew have on your property are apparent, the substances can also affect the health of your residents. Your home will become an unsafe dwelling place, as mold and mildew can make breathing difficult and produce other respiratory effects on certain individuals.
Staining on Walls & Floors
The source of a water stain is usually easy to spot. In a lot of cases, the source is a leak that comes from:
- The plumbing system
- The ceiling
- A heating appliance
If you allow this water source to run freely, it will leave unsightly stains behind. These stains are caused by mineral deposits left behind. They dry up and leave ugly patterns of discoloration. In a lot of cases, these stains produce a musty smell.
Stains on your walls and floors will decrease the value of your home. Unless you remediate the source of the leak, you will need to consistently repaint your walls and replace your flooring.
Structural Issues
Water damage can put your home’s structural integrity at risk. One of the most common ways this occurs is via overflowing gutters and inefficient landscaping.
Heavy rains can cause water to pool at the base of your home. This will cause its foundation to become unstable, which will make it unsafe for anyone to live in your home. If you have a basement, its walls may begin to flex inwards as they become structurally unsound.
A professional will need to address these issues. The repairs you’ll have to make can cost thousands of dollars and take several weeks to complete.
To minimize the need for extensive repairs, you can put preventative measures in place like cleaning your gutters routinely. You should also stick to a regular watering schedule for your yard. This will help you avoid over or under-watering the soil around your home.
Broken Appliances, Wiring, & Gas Lines
Standing puddles can wreak havoc on your home’s appliances, wiring, and gas lines. If your property is flooding and you neglect to turn off your gas and electrical services, a dangerous explosion caused by a gas leak or electric shock is imminent. You would need to perform some rewiring, have new gas lines installed, and address secondary damages.
Standing water can also break your appliances beyond repair. Even just a few inches can severely damage your washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, or furnace.
Faltering Roof
Water can damage your roof in various ways. For example, moisture may become trapped under your shingles and cause your roof to cave in. Water can also get underneath your shingles and cause the nails to rust out. This will loosen the shingles and make them more likely to blow off during heavy gusts of wind.
Conclusion
As you’ve read, water can have severe impacts on your home’s structure both outside and inside. To keep your home in good condition, you’ll need a professional team to come to the property and fix the damage quickly.
Contact All Dry USA at the first sign of water damage; we’ll make sure to restore your home to its previous condition without disrupting your schedule. Get in touch with us today!
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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.
