Things A Water Damage Restoration Service Is Likely To Deal With

Water damage to properties is one of the worst types of damage you can experience to a home. It can happen due to a range of different things, including flash floods, tidal surges, extensive rains, broken pipes, leaks, overflowing bathtubs, broken washing machines and more. Regardless of why it has happened, it needs fixing because water can actually cause significant damage to the fabric of a home. But what are some of the most common types of damage that a water damage restoration service has to deal with?

Broken Pipes

Most of us don’t realize just how many pipes run through our homes. Many of these are within the walls of our property. Pipes are also attached to a great deal of our tools and machines, such as our toilets and washing machines. If something goes wrong, the consequences are generally very severe.

“The age and condition of a home’s plumbing system can greatly affect its efficiency. […] All of these make of your plumbing system and should be regularly checked for cracks, weak connections and holes. You can do this yourself or hire a professional to inspect these components for you.”

The little bit of time, and perhaps money, it will cost you to get this done is always going to be far less than the money you will have to spend if your home is damaged due to broken pipes.

Overflowing Toilets

Overflowing toilets are absolutely disgusting and they do a lot of damage, not in the least due to the hygiene issue. Worryingly enough, overflowing toilets are incredibly common. The cost of this type of damage is shockingly high.

“One of the most common problems results in the bathroom, namely at the toilet bowl. The average cost of toilet failures is often in excess of $5,500, not including the deductible.”

It is incredibly important to make sure you check regularly that your toilet is still flushing properly. It is generally quite an easy problem to fix, as it is usually a result from a blockage. Simply check your toilet once every four months or so, which will avoid problems later on.

Natural Floods

It is important to also remember that a lot of water damage is caused by natural disasters. We seem to be experiencing more and more freak weather as of late, including floods, extreme freezes (followed by thaw), rain and more. This has increased the risk of subsidence to our properties, but it has also caused the fabric of our properties to become cracked and compromised. Unfortunately, it is often very difficult to spot this until it is too late. Once rising damp is visible, mold starts to form or cracks appear in walls and ceiling, it is often too late to apply a quick fix.

Types of Damage

The actual damage caused by water can vary tremendously. If it gets into the walls, it can quite literally render an entire property unsafe. The damage can be something as insignificant as having to replace a few tea towels, to something as terrible as having to move out. One particular problem that we now know occurs following water damage, however, is fungal growth.

“Fungal growth in damp or water-damaged buildings worldwide is an increasing problem, which has adverse effects on both the occupants and the buildings. […] Penicillium chrysogenum and Aspergillus versicolor are the most common fungal species in water-damaged buildings.”

The health effects of these fungal species are far reaching. They can lead to significant respiratory problems, for instance. Worryingly, they can also lead to antibiotic resistance, which could prove to be lethal if the person develops some sort of infection later on in life.