Water Damage Causes

Published by: Paul Batchie
Published on: 2010-01-10 15:26:13

Water is one of our most precious natural resources, and nations have fallen for its lack, but we've all seen how much damage water can do when it doesn't stay in its proper place. Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 Tsunami horrified the world for the tragic loss of life and property.

But it doesn't require a tsunami to cause water damage that's devastating on a personal level. Seeing one's home inundated by water is highly traumatic, and even lesser water damage can be stressful and disruptive.  For water damage in Connecticut, finding a professional water damage restoration specialist might be in order.

There are many ways water can enter your home. Besides flooding, one classic method is through roof failure. This can be sudden and noticeable, causing damage to wallboard, flooring and furnishings, or it can be slow and undetected, causing hidden mold and wood rot. Either way, repair and replacement can be involved and expensive.

Water can also seep in through the foundation, sometimes due to faulty rain gutters or ground drainage. This is especially damaging when the basement has a built-up wood floor that hides the problem and makes remediation difficult.

Another very common cause of water damage is burst pipes. Pipes can burst due to excess pressure, acid water eating at pipes over time, or freeze-ups. It doesn’t take much to trigger a freeze-up. A spec of dirt caught in an oil burner jet, or a stroke of lightning tripping a circuit breaker will do the job. When a home is unattended for long periods each day, a small problem can have major consequences.

And of course, if you’ve been unfortunate enough to have had a house fire, but fortunate enough to have contained the fire damage, chances are you now have water damage to deal with. If you have water damage that is very minor, you might be able to deal with it yourself if you can get to the source of the problem and air out the affected areas right away. But be very careful not to be merely penny-wise here. Water damage is often worse than it appears on the surface and speed is of the essence; a thorough drying within 48 hours can save many thousands of dollars in mold remediation and carpet replacement. When in doubt, at least get a professional's opinion. They can size up the job for you and tell you which pitfalls to look out for.

Partly because recent years have seen an increase in awareness of the serious dangers of mold to human health, especially that of children and the elderly, there is a growing demand for insured specialists who can handle water damage remediation quickly, effectively and safely. In our litigious environment, especially those who rent may feel more secure using a certified professional. A professional has the right equipment and techniques to extract water, quick-dry carpets, detect moisture, and safely remediate mold. He might be able to recommend contractors of other needed trades, and perhaps he will even coordinate the entire job for you.

If water damage makes its unwanted appearance in your home, be sure to act on it without delay. And if the damage is of anything but trivial size, consulting an expert water damage restoration specialist could save you a lot of money and heartache in the long run.

To find a Connecticut or Westchester County water damage restoration specialist near you, contact us today!


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