Have you
ever noticed a damp area in the home and figured, “I’ll get to that later”? It
could be a damp spot under a window, the floorboards near the bathtub, a
secluded area in the basement, or any other wet area. It’s tempting to postpone
dealing with these minor issues because they are just that: minor. Or are they?
The
problem with leaving an area wet, even an area where you don’t spend much time
such as the basement, is that while you may be ignoring the problem, the
problem isn’t going away. In fact, it’s growing. While nature has a natural
process, evaporation, for drying standing water, in the home this isn’t enough.
Plus, these incidents are usually fed by continuous leaks, condensation, and
seepage. Even if you dry the affected area one day, if the water source is not
repaired, then the water will return shortly after.
Not only
is the problem area continuously wet, the water is slowly doing damage to
surrounding surfaces. You may need to replace carpets, rugs, baseboards,
floorboards, wallpaper, drapes, and other materials due to water damage. That’s
regret number one. Had you not left it wet, you’d have no regret. But now, you
have a construction bill that you would not have had before.
This
wouldn’t be so bad if the water damage was limited to replacing a few
floorboards. However, there’s a second regret that is likely to affect you.
Standing water in the home is a breeding ground for an unwelcome guest: mold.
And it’s an attractive place for mold to settle with its water source and
plentiful nutrients. Unfortunately, if mold is allowed to grow unchecked in
your home, it can become a serious health concern.
Plus,
mold, like water, is extremely damaging to the materials it comes in contact
with. Remember those “plentiful nutrients” just mentioned? Mold essentially
eats the surface it resides on! If you have moldy carpets, mold is consuming
the carpet’s fibers. If notice mold on the drywall or ceiling tiles, mold is
eating those building materials.
Left
unchecked, those damp areas of your home can soon become severely damaged
areas. Instead of a minor repair bill, you could be faced with a huge one.
Building materials may need to be removed and replaced, your house may need
mold remediation, and you could be wondering why you have a runny nose all the
time.
Do your
home, and your health, a favor by regularly inspecting your house for wetness.
Pay special attention to areas where water is likely to appear such as around
windows and doors, around appliances, and around plumbing. Use four of your
five senses including sight (looking for signs of water and condensation),
sound (listening for drips), smell (sniffing for mold and mildew odors), and
touch (feeling for dampness).
Once
you’ve discovered a leak, puddle, or damp area, evaluate it. How did it get
wet? Dry the area and immediately address the source of the problem. You may
need to re-caulk a window or replace a plumbing fitting. The problem may be
more serious, requiring the services of an expert. Whatever the cause, don’t
ignore it. You’ll regret it if you do.
By: Mr.
Mark Decherd
For more information and other articles by Mark Decherd go to:
Dryout® Inc.
239-437-7100
Dryout Inc
Emergency water damage restoration, drying,
deodorization, decontamination, disinfection, mold removal, water damage
repair, restoration and reconstruction of commercial and residential properties
damaged by fire, water and other disasters by a network of trained specialists,
technicians and restoration professionals across the USA and Canada.
100% correct - most of our mold jobs come from homeowners who neglect those small water jobs or even if they act timely they dry it out ineffeciently.
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