Water damage is one of the most problematic and costly issues for any homeowner. It creates an unpleasant, often dangerous, and difficult-to-clean-up mess and can also lead to the deterioration and destruction of valuable items and important structures in your home.
Whether the cause are plumbing issues, weather-related flooding, or other sources, understanding how to best tackle water damage as soon as possible is essential to minimize potential losses.
What Happens Immediately After Water Damage?
Immediately after water damage has occurred, it is essential to take the necessary steps to limit and prevent further damage. The most crucial action to take is to address the source of the water damage and stop more water from entering the affected area.
If the cause of water damage is a broken pipe or appliance, shut off the main water valve to your home or business. Shutting off the power and unplugging electronics may also be necessary.
After the source of water damage has been addressed, items with standing water in them should be removed. Professional water extraction equipment is often required for carpets, rugs, furniture, and other items where standing water is challenging to remove. Once standing water has been removed, these items can be dried.
What Happens Within the First 24 Hours After Water Damage?
The consequences can be severe if water damage is not addressed within the first 24 hours. Unchecked water damage can lead to additional and progressive destruction of building materials, like wood and drywall, furniture, appliances, and other personal belongings.
Mold and mildew will begin to grow and spread throughout the affected area, leading to health problems affecting both people living or working in the affected area and their surrounding environment.
As mold and mildew propagate, they can become increasingly difficult to eradicate. In addition, if the water source is not addressed during the cleanup, making it impossible to correct the underlying cause of the leak, the same water damage could reoccur after remediation.
What Happens if You Don’t Act After the First Week of Water Damage?
The consequences can be severe if you don’t take action in the first week of water damage. As time goes on, more moisture will be absorbed into floors, walls, and other affected areas, allowing mold and mildew to grow. This is a considerable health hazard, as mold spores can spread through the home, causing breathing difficulties and other illnesses.
Floors may become weak and start to bow or buckle, and walls can weaken by standing water, leading to collapse. In extreme cases, an entire building could be at risk if the underlying structure has been compromised by water damage.
Moreover, untreated water damage can lead to costly repairs down the line. By prolonging repairing leaking pipes or drying out carpets and upholstery, you’re allowing the damage to get worse and will likely have to pay more money down the road to fix it. It’s much better to act quickly after water damage occurs to avoid further destruction and preserve your financial resources.
Conclusion
It is vital to take immediate action when water damage is discovered. Water damage can cause irreversible damage; the longer it is delayed, the higher the repair costs. It is best to ensure that you take action as soon as possible. Doing so will save you more money and ensure your premises remain safe and secure.
If you are searching for the best water damage company in Naples, look no further than DryZone! We provide water removal, mold remediation, fire damage cleanup, and other restoration services. Our team specializes in structural drying, which involves restoring the structure to its pre-loss condition as quickly as possible. If you require immediate assistance, please contact us right away!