What Happens if Water Damage is Left Untreated

You may have noticed a small water stain on your ceiling or even just a little drip under your sink, both can lead to bigger, more costly problems. Water damage has become one of the top causes of personal property insurance claims. What makes water damage especially problematic is that it can easily go unseen, and if left untreated it can cause more damage to your property. In this article, I will be telling you how to spot water damage and let you know what happens if left untreated.

The first, and quite obvious sign of water damage is water stains. Stains and some discoloration that shows up on the wall, ceiling, or floor without any apparent reason are most likely due to an undetected water leak in your roof or walls. Unexplained humidity or dampness on your property can be another sign of an undetected leak. Wood and paint are often the first to show signs of water damage on your property. Warped floorboards or peeling paint is usually a sign of water damage. 

Any moisture or water will begin to instantly weaken the structure of building materials that are not designed to be water-resistant. All-natural materials will begin to decompose and become a lot weaker over time. If the problem is left long enough, you may experience structural problems in your home rather than just fixing a leaking hose or pipe. Not only does fixing structural issues cost you more money, but your house could potentially lose value. If an inspector notices water damage it could lead to buyers offering less money or no longer wanting to buy the house anymore due to the water damage.

Other problems that may come up if water damage is ignored include electrical wiring issues, drywall problems, and bacterial buildup. Mold usually goes hand in hand with water damage especially if it is ignored for too long. Mold will grow in dark unsuspecting places causing you and your family to possibly get sick. besides the harmful health risks, mold will often give your home or business a musty smell. If the mold issue becomes bad enough, you will likely have to call a mold remediation company on top of already having to call the water damage restoration specialists. 

Fire burns quickly and destroys everything in its path very quickly However water is slower with its destruction, but sometimes just as bad. If left unchecked. Water damage will grow from a fixable issue to rendering a whole house inhabitable. Instead of just a small area being damaged, if ignored water damage can rust pipes, ruin concrete, ruin electrical systems, destroy your carpet, and rot any wood the water comes into contact with. Sometimes these issues are fixable, but those chances get slimmer and slimmer over time. 

If you notice any signs of water damage you need a water damage restoration professional on the scene as soon as possible. The quicker you call them the quicker they can assess the situation and begin the water removal and water damage cleanup process. Failure to notify water damage restoration companies right away could result in a higher bill due to more damage being done over time. You will also see consequences with your home insurance provider if you don’t notify them right away, they will either charge you more or possibly even deny the claim altogether. Your provider does not want to pay for more damage than they already have to. So do the right thing for the restoration company, your insurance provider, and yourself. Make sure to contact help immediately!