Water damage is one of the most neglected issues in residential and business premises, as people often forget about the destructive tendencies of water. Water damage may lead to a number of severe consequences such as mould and mildew infestation, creation of fungal and bacterial colonies that may further cause critical water-borne diseases such as typhoid fever or cholera, failure of the plumbing and electrical system, and so on. Water damage is accompanied by high restoration expenses and a tedious and time-consuming cleaning process that can disturb the peace of your home or work environment.
Ohio receives a state-wide average annual precipitation ranging from a lower limit of 26.79 inches experience in the year 1963 to a higher limited of 55.95 inches in the year 2011. If the city receives this high precipitation it may experience water damages due to roof leakage, water accumulation, flood, overflowing of local water bodies and so on. If the average annual precipitation is this high you must be more vigilant and take some precautionary measures such as arranging for regular roof inspections and plumbing system checks, looking for cracks and punctures in bathtubs, washbasins or drywalls, and most importantly having a water damage insurance scheme.
You must dry really hard to prevent water damage instances as far as possible, but if any accident takes place you must immediately call a water damage restoration company for reliable and prompt assistance. Do not try to wrap up severe damages yourself, you might end up exaggerating the mess and turn the damages irreversible. Erie Restoration not only provides the best water damage restoration services but also helps homeowners and businessmen in settling insurance claims by collecting evidences of the damage and maintaining a proper record of the restoration expenses.
Effects of Water Damage
Mould and mildew formation
The exponential growth of mould and mildew is the worst consequence of water damage. If water starts accumulating on the floor, signs of mould formation can be noticed in just a few hours. Mould has a very destructive nature; it can severely destroy the structural integrity of dry walls, walls, hardwoods, floorings, furniture and so on. Apart from being destructive mould is also toxic in nature and cause critical respiratory disorder or infections. Mildew leads to the formation of infectious and disease-causing fungal colonies.
Water Quality
Water can be categorised into three categories based on the purification factor. The first one being clean water, it is not harmful to your health, but prolonged exposure may cause cold and fever and if the furniture is exposed then mould formation may begin. The second category, namely grey water, is referred to the contaminated water that comes from malfunctioning appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers or overflowing tanks or basins. It has the potential to cause allergies and water-borne diseases. The third and the most dangerous category is Black water popularly known as sewage, it can cause critical sickness, even tetanus. For managing black water, you will require professional help.
Interrupted gas lines and damaged appliances
The leaked or flood water interferes with electrical appliances, gas connections and wiring of your home and causes malfunctions. In case the electrical appliances come in contact with water for a very long time spam, it may cause short-circuiting or house fires. This may cause irrecoverable damages which will be very expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, do not turn on any electrical appliances until the water damage is cleared up thoroughly.
Irresistible Odours
Water damage or floods are accompanied by unpleasant odours that are very difficult to get eradicated. As soon as you walk into your flooded post a natural disaster, you might witness a strong or subtle musty odour. Merely using an air freshener or lighting a candle is not enough to get rid of the smell, rather you must get your home properly sanitised and disinfected professionally to completely mask the odour.
Dos during water damage
- Do call professionals for instant assistance and to inhibit severe mould damages.
- Do eradicate the excess water with the help of mop, wiper, bucket, towel and do on.
- Do switch on the fans, exhaust fans and air conditioners and open the windows, to accelerate drying.
- Do get dehumidifiers installed to increase the drying speed.
- Do turn off the main power supply.
- Do remove the wet rugs from wall-to-wall carpeting.
- Do open the wardrobes, drawers and cabinets to facilitate drying.
- Do move all the dry particles to a separate room carefully.
- Do dry wet contents systematically by keeping them in the sunlight.
- Do place plastic or aluminium foil between furniture legs and wet carpeting.
- Do arrange for a complete electrical system testing before turning on the main switch.
- Do take pictures for evidence to settle insurance claims.
- Do collect the restoration report from your restoration provider.
Don’ts during water damage
- Don’t leave your important papers, books, magazines or any relevant document lying on wet rugs or floor.
- Don’t enter the room if there is flood water accumulated there.
- Don’t ever use the usual household vacuum cleaner for removing water.
- Don’t turn on the electrical appliances if they have come in contact with water.
- Don’t enter bathrooms or flooded areas with raw sewage.
- Don’t switch on the TVs or other electrical appliances while standing on wet carpet or floors.
- Don’t try to lift tacked-down carpet without professional assistance; it may lead to shrinkage or backing deterioration.
- Don’t turn on ceiling fans in case of ceiling damages, it may lead to short-circuiting.
We have prepared the perfect water damage restoration guide for you. Remember, never put your hands on water damage repair as you are not aware of the proper techniques and you don’t even have the proper equipment, so rather than wasting time and letting the damage turn severe, contact professional restoration company for availing the most prompt water damage restoration services in Ohio.
