Cleaning up water in your home after you experience storm damage or water damage from flooding can feel like a nightmare. While flooded floors pose the initial dangers that you could expect from water damage (e.g. slip and fall risks and damaged carpet) there may be much more beneath the surface that you cannot see. At Supreme Restoration, we are water damage restoration experts who have seen the worst that water damage can do to your property. Here are some of the underlying damages from flooding and storm damage.
Contaminated Water
The first (and most prevalent) danger is that you will encounter is the standing water. Standing water in your home, whether it’s from a flooded toilet, a leaking roof, a burst pipe, or a flooding body of water can be the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and viruses.
Coming in contact with contaminated water that has been standing can cause a wide array of infections and diseases, skin rashes, gastrointestinal illness, and tetanus. When you see standing water in your home or basement, you want to avoid it until professional water damage professionals can remove it from your property.
Structural Damage
Because modern building materials rely heavily on porous materials like wood and drywall, standing water can easily cause structural weaknesses. Water from storms and flooding may be absorbed into the roof, ceiling, load-bearing walls, and the flooring of your home causing the structural integrity of the building to suffer.
Apart from the materials that can weaken and rot from absorbing too much-standing water, iron and steel building materials can also become damaged. Too much exposure to water can cause rusting and weakening as well.
Electrical Damage
If you have enough warning of a storm that is coming your way that may cause severe electrical risks— you want to take precautions to turn off and unplug appliances and electrical sources. This can help you avoid accidental electrocution in the event that your home experiences electrical damage.
Even so, your property may still experience electrical damage that will require professional work to restore and repair. If you experience electrical risks in your home, you may need a complete restoration job.
Mold and Mildew
Last, but certainly not least, is the mold and mildew that can easily grow in a home following water damage. If you have ever experienced mold growth in your home, you know that it looks and smells unpleasant but more importantly, it can make your sick. Without proper mold remediation, mold and mildew spores can spread in your home and cause significant respiratory issues.
If you experience water damage in your home, contact a water damage restoration specialist immediately.