The Risks of Delaying Plumbing Repairs After Water Damage

If you were unfortunate enough to experience flooding or a sudden pipe burst, you should have technicians inspect your property right away and get it repaired immediately. This is critical to saving both your property and your wallet.

Water damage can bring ruin to your home’s structural integrity. It can also expose you to various health risks. These are just two of the many reasons you should contact water damage restoration professionals as soon as you can. Water Damage Assessment is the first thing that needs to be done.

Risks of Delaying Repairs After Water Damage

1. Mold and Mildew Growth

Mold and mildew can infest your walls quickly. Their growth will be seen if your drywall remains wet for more than 48 hours after water damage. These fungi can propagate swiftly in dark corners and in areas where moisture persists.

Although mold and mildew are relatively harmless, they can lead to skin inflammation and irritation as well as cause serious respiratory problems. Mold and mildew can also trigger asthma attacks in those suffering from the disorder and those with allergies.

2. Bacteria Odor

There’s a higher chance of bacterial odor developing if you delay water damage restoration. Molds and microbes can produce bacterial smell that could penetrate clothing, furniture, walls, and upholstery. Although this will take time to set in, once it does, the smell will be difficult to remove.

Bacteria can also multiply easily when the conditions are perfect – and water damage can make this possible. The surrounding moisture and the soaked materials lying around provide a good bacterial breeding ground. If your clothes were soaked and then dried without washing, the stinking smell that follows will serve as an indicator that bacteria are at work, with a little help from some molds. 

3. Water Contamination

Drinking water is under threat of being contaminated by sewage backup and flooding. Harmful pathogens like E. Coli, Staphylococcus, and Shigella can cause severe gastrointestinal diseases and skin infections.

During the first few days of water damage, you may notice that the water remains clear. However, despite this seemingly clean appearance, there is a huge possibility that the water is already contaminated. This will usually depend on how much damage your property received, with the sewage system likely the one that suffered the most.

4. Electrical Issues

Floodwater can get into your electrical outlets and if the flooding continues, it can also affect nearby power sources. Professional water damage restoration companies are equipped with the right gear and tools to resolve this issue and avoid possible casualties caused by electrocution.

5. Weakened Structures

If the water is left to sit for more than 48 hours in your home, it can cause structural damage. The weak areas can collapse if they are not inspected or checked immediately.

This is especially true if your property is made up entirely of wood or veneer since these materials tend to absorb water. Once water seepage takes place, it can attract pests and fungi that will eat through the walls and result in structural weakening.

6. Costly Repair

Delayed water damage restoration means costly and extensive repairs. Even if the damage is only worth a few hundred dollars initially, this can turn into thousands of dollars by next week if you don’t act quickly. Why? Because by this time, the damage has worsened, so instead of repairs, you will now need to remove your drywall, ceiling, or flooring and have them replaced.

Why Should You Call a Professional?

While people are often drawn to do-it-yourself restoration activities, it is highly recommended that you consult a professional when it comes to water damage. Restoring a ravaged property requires skill, precision, and efficiency and only restoration specialists possess these.  

Professional water damage restoration companies are also equipped with the right tools to uncover the source of the damage, easily make the needed fix, and clean – as well as sanitize – the whole property afterwards. This will not only ensure that the damage will not occur again, it will also keep the entire household safe from water-borne diseases.

Consulting a professional water damage restoration company can likewise help you save money. With the technical knowledge and skills that their people have in performing restoration work, bringing back your property to its pristine condition is possible.

DIY restorations may be cheaper but if handled by an amateur, they can only cause further damage. Avoid having more problems and stress and simply call your friendly restoration expert once water damage happens.

Key Takeaway

Water damage can be stressful and its effects are not easy to handle. Leaving your flooded home for a few days might be good if this will bring you peace of mind. Still, it’s recommended that you call a professional restoration company within 24 hours of the water damage onset. 

Upon making the call, water damage restoration Dallas professionals will do a complete assessment of the area, which should include finding the source of damage, identifying the casualties, if any, and making plans to restore your home to its previous condition. If water damage is not resolved as soon as possible, it may give way to more dangers such as electrocution, water contamination, and mold infestation. 

DIY restoration is not recommended as it can be risky for greenhorns and amateurs, especially when there is a lack of safety equipment.