Why Water Damage Cleanup Is Time-Sensitive

Water damage in your home often involves an emergency situation such as a burst pipe or ice dam leak, and once you've taken care of the emergency, you may feel exhausted and want to put off the cleanup until tomorrow.

But even though the damage is already done, cleanup can be very time-sensitive for water damage situations. Here are some of the issues associated with water damage that make water damage restoration services a high priority.

1. Spreading water 

Water can soak down further into any materials it's infiltrated, such as flooring and sub-flooring. However, because water can also spread by wicking action, the spread isn't limited by gravity; water damage can spread further into your walls or even creep upwards through materials such as wood or upholstery. The quicker you can schedule your cleanup, the less damage you'll have to deal with, including issues such as warping, delamination, and structural damage caused by water infiltration.

2. Mold and mildew

Even if you don't have any standing water left in the area, you may still have an area that's extremely conducive to mold and mildew growth. Damp and wet furniture, clothing, building materials, and other items can raise the local humidity by giving off water vapor.

Mold and mildew love to grow in humid environments on damp materials. Even if you haven't previously had any mold problems in your home, mold can spring up from tiny spores that come into your house from outdoors. These spores are invisible to the unassisted eye but can get practically anywhere and can take root and form mold colonies within a couple of days whenever they find conducive situations.

3. Pathogen contamination

Mold and mildew aren't the only things that can take hold and multiply when you have water damage. Pathogens such as bacteria can also multiply in soaked areas and standing water. For example, E. coli may be found in water-damaged areas, especially if sewage contamination is present. These and other bacteria can create serious health risks.

4. Attracting pests 

Some types of pests also become more likely to move in if your home has lingering dampness. For example, termites may be attracted to buildings that have damp, water-damaged wood. And other types of pests such as cockroaches may also want to live in areas that have water damage. Getting any water damage cleaned up as quickly as possible minimizes the chances that these pests will find your home and infest it before you can take care of the damage and remove the dampness.

As you can see, having a professional company perform water damage restoration in your home as soon as possible is extremely important. Whether the damage is from a roof leak, a sewer backup, or a burst pipe, professional remediation can help you avoid these and other problems with your home after a water damage incident.

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