If flood waters have entered your home, it is important that you take care of them as soon as possible. Failure to do so could lead to significant damage to your entire home. What are some of the problems that you may encounter if you let water from a flood linger in your home?
Pests Could Infiltrate Your Property
Pests are one of the biggest problems that you may encounter if you don’t take care of water right away. In most cases, they will gravitate toward water in the walls, in dark corners of the basement or in the attic. Mosquitoes may also make their way into your home during the summer months, which could result in a multitude of health problems for yourself and your family.
Unclean Water May Create Health Problems
If the water is contaminated by human waste or other garbage, it could get you or others in your home sick. Symptoms could range from an upset stomach to coma or death. If there are syringes or other sharp objects in the water that gets into your house, you could step on a needle or otherwise create a cut that may become infected.
Wooden Surfaces Can Become Rotted Beyond Repair
Wood tends to rot or become especially weak when it is inundated by water. If the wood is not dried within 24 hours, it could be permanently damaged. This means that your wood paneled walls, wooden beams used to hold up your roof or the frames around windows and doors could be lost forever. The cost to repair the damage could range from a few hundred dollars to several thousands of dollars. Furthermore, a portion of those costs may not be covered by your homeowners insurance policy.
Mold and Mildew Could Grow and Spread
Mold likes to make a home wherever there is water and an absence of any sort of light. It also likes to spread quickly through the air. If mold gets too close to your HVAC unit, there is a chance that it takes over the entire house. In addition to the potential health hazards, it smells terrible, and will make it harder to rent or sell even if potential buyers or tenants can’t see the mold.
If your home is invaded by flood waters or even a few drops from a leaking pipe, you should have it taken care of immediately. A plumber or a professional water remediation company will be able to stop the damage from getting worse and work on restoring the home to its previous condition.
Leave a Reply