If you are a homeowner, you might end up having to deal with a lot of problems related to its maintenance. The electrical system might fail or suddenly you end up having to replace a lot of components, such as windows, floor tiles, and doors. However, we all can agree that some of the most common problems homeowners face are related to water. Let’s talk about these issues and the water damage restoration process.
Household Water Leaks
Problems with the roofing can cause water leaks, and faulty water pipe systems are capable of causing the same problem. Poor architectural decisions may also cause floods, and poorly installed windows and doors might also increase the chances of water entering the house. All of this, contrary to what many people believe, can cause an incredible amount of problems.
But how serious can these problems be? Well, it all depends on the gravity of the situation. But, more often than not, if you ignore it too long, the damages water can cause can be incredibly nasty.
The Definition of Water Damage
To understand how problematic water can be, we first need to talk about the definition of water damage. Simply put, any damage caused by H2O that is related to the house structure, components, and systems, is considered water damage. The issue can range from problems related to the electrical system to damage to furniture, walls, floor tiles, furniture, and appliances. It can even relate to the actual structure of the house.
Examples of water damage include floods and leaks. It can also concern the pipes and their many components, such as sinks, bathrooms, and bathtubs.
Humidity and Mold
Another big problem relating to these types of damages includes high levels of humidity and mold. High levels of moisture and lack of sunlight are often sources of mold. Thus, these two things are heavily connected. Even when they occur separately, though, they can bring problems.
For example, if you check this https://www.healthline.com/health/humidity-and-asthma#humidity-and-asthma, you’ll notice that high levels of humidity can actually aggravate the symptoms of asthma and other similar respiratory complications. Also well-known is that moisture in the air increases heat, which makes any house much hotter than it ought to be.
As mentioned earlier, moisture can increase the chances of mold growth. Mold is also known for threatening the health of those suffering from lung-related issues.
Mold is also capable of ruining furniture, just like moisture. It can also damage water tiles, walls, and paint, potentially staining them in the process.
Leaks, Floods, and Their Consequences
Leaks and floods are very likely to increase the levels of moisture in the air, thus increasing the chances of mold growing in a house. They can be a lot more dangerous than you initially think, especially for your home’s structure.
You see, water can be very dangerous to a wide range of materials, such as wood. If ignored for a prolonged period of time, leaks and floods can cause an incredible amount of damages to a lot of components in your house. Stains are a very common result of it.
What You Can Do: Water Damage Restoration
How to approach the situation will heavily depend on its severity. More often than not, you will end up hiring a professional service provider when it comes to floods since, as shown over here, they can be tough to handle if you don’t have the proper equipment, experience, and training to do so.
On the other hand, simple water leaks are much easier to manage yourself, as long as you have a general idea of how to repair them. This is, of course, completely situational; more complicated leaks, like ones with the water pipe system inside of the home’s structure, can be much more complicated to handle than a leaking bathroom sink.
If it is outside of your expertise or comfort level, a water damage restoration expert is likely the best resource. That’s important to remember when the issue is more than common home maintenance.
Next, let’s talk about how to handle problems related to high levels of humidity and mold. Also, find suggestions for how to potentially prevent these difficulties.
Reducing Humidity Levels
The best way to handle humidity is always trying to reduce it before it causes a problem, either to your house or family. There are a couple of things you can do to reduce humidity levels. Some of them are:
- Enhancing the airflow of your house. High humidity levels can be simply described as excessive amounts of water found in the air. By increasing the airflow of your house, either by using fans, opening your windows, or installing a ventilation system, you will improve the cycle of airflow of your house. That enables the air to move outside of the house and evaporate the water found in it.
- Allowing more sunlight. Believe it or not, allowing sunlight to enter your house is a great way to reduce humidity levels. Contrary to artificial light, sunlight is capable of generating a lot more heat. That reduces the levels of moisture in the home’s interior, greatly reducing humidity levels in the process. It is also a great way to reduce the risks of mold growing inside your residence.
Dealing with Mold Stains
Let’s say you are dealing with mold, for whatever reason. Maybe you had an unavoidable flood, or you just ignored a leak for too long. Regardless of the case, you have a mold stain in your hands, and you want to erase it completely.
You can definitely try removing mold stains by yourself. However, the project can be very time-consuming and tiring. It can even be dangerous if you’re not careful as it involves using chemicals.
Usually, the best approach to this problem is to hire a professional service provider specializing in mold removal. By doing so, you have the peace of mind that the problem is fixed without worries about your health or spending an incredible amount DIYing it.
At the end of the day, you won’t have to stress over results, at least not if you choose a professional who has the proper training, experience, and equipment to handle the situation. That will also get things back to normal around the homestead as efficiently as possible.