Water Damage Answers

If You Leave it Wet – You Might Regret

 

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.
1415 Colonial Blvd.
Fort Myers, Fl. 33907

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.

 

 

 

When to Stop Mopping and Start Calling

 

When it comes to water damage, there comes a point where you realize it’s time to stop mopping and start calling. Sure, some minor plumbing leaks and even a few major water issues can be effectively mopped up by the average homeowner. However, water is extremely damaging and the resulting damage is often best left to the pros. So, when do you know when it’s time to hang up the mop and reach for the phone?

 

Clue #1: Your first clue is when the home is unsafe to enter. This could be because of raging waters, electrocution hazards, damage to the structure, fallen trees, and other dangers. Don’t attempt to mop up in unsafe conditions. Instead, call a pro.

 

Clue #2: Your next clue is the sheer volume of the water flowing. It’s simple: the more water, the more water damage. Just about all water damage professionals understand the urgency of these situations and have built their companies on a model that prioritizes emergencies. These pros have their phones on 24/7 and are dedicated to providing waterlogged customers with a prompt response. They don’t arrive with mops; they arrive with industrial strength water extraction and drying equipment. Where you’d be bailing buckets of water out of your home for days on end, water damage pros quickly extract the water and set up industrial blowers. End result: Your home will be drier faster with dramatically less damage.

 

Clue #3: Your next clue involves the nature of the water incident. If a toilet overflows in the downstairs bathroom, the mop up job is far easier to handle than if the upstairs bathtub overflows and soaks through the ceiling and walls to the floors below. Likewise, a burst pipe almost always requires a call to the pros. Not only must the water be mopped up and the home dried out, repairs to the plumbing, walls, and floors must also be made. You’ll be calling a pro anyway, so the sooner you make that call, the better.

 

Clue #4: The water is contaminated. Contamination ranges from rust and debris to chemicals and raw sewage. Whenever the water source is questionable, stop mopping and call a professional. Water damage professionals are equipped to handle the hazards from the initial mop up and drying to the final cleaning and application of commercial disinfectants.  

 

Clue #5: You see (or smell) signs of mold. As you’re mopping, you’re not likely to notice mold at this point. Rather this clue arrives a day or two after you’ve mopped up the home. Mold is a serious aftereffect of water damage, bringing with it potential health problems and structural damage. Nip mold in the bud by calling a water damage / mold remediation professional at first whiff.

 

Clue #6: The water damage is caused by a covered homeowner’s insurance incident. When you know that a water event is covered by your insurance, call the professionals and rest easy knowing that your home is in good hands. Of course, water damage claims can be tricky as some water damage is covered by insurance and some isn’t.

 

Your safety, the potential for additional damage, the sheer volume of the task at hand, the nature of the plumbing incident, and potential health risks associated with water damage are all compelling reasons to stop mopping and start calling. Another good reason: if you want the job done correctly, call a pro. 

 

By: Mr. Mark Decherd

 

For more information and other articles by Mark Decherd go to:

 

Dryout® Inc.
1415 Colonial Blvd.
Fort Myers, Fl. 33907
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.