Water damage inside and outside your home can be due to a few reasons. It can occur due to plumbing malfunctions, flooding, storms, clogged drains, etc. It is vital to pay attention to the tell-tale signs of water damage early on, whatever the case may be. Being negligent and ignoring these signs can result in more comprehensive health and structural problems, reducing your home’s integrity and overall health due to bacteria growth.
Water damage is a common issue in most homes. It typically leads to structural damage from the water that seeps into your house’s wooden beams from the outside. For instance, if you haven’t waterproofed your basement, flooding can occur inside your basement, leading to water damage. So, if you’re someone who has seen signs of water damage inside or outside their home, stop whatever you’re doing, pick up the phone, and call professionals services to rid your house of water damage. Let us take a detailed look at why you need to fix water damage ASAP.
1. Water Damage Can Lead To A Significant Health Threat
Your home should be a safe and secure place for your family. If you leave water damage unattended, it will turn into mold over time, and your family will suffer its detrimental effects. After all, mold and excessive moisture levels can irritate the inside of your throat. Moreover, individuals with a sensitive respiratory tract or respiratory conditions will be more prone to reactions such as runny noses, shortness of breath, sneezing, red eyes, or asthma.
Furthermore, mold growth can also trigger mold rashes and dermatitis, characterized by dry, scaly skin, and edema in worse cases. So, do yourself and your family a favor and fix your water-damaged house by hiring water damage services ASAP.
2. Water Damage Can Cause Structural Damage
If you don’t fix water damage as soon as possible, it will eventually worsen over time and result in structural damage to your home. In fact, this kind of damage might already be there without you even noticing it. Moreover, if your house is already old, leaving water damaged unfixed is inviting trouble onto you.
Sure, it might not be such a big problem on the surface, but do you really want your home to cave in? Probably not! So, consider identifying and repairing water damage yourself if you have the tools or knowledge. Otherwise, hiring a professional to take care of it for you will be the best decision.
3. Water Damage Can Lead To Bad Smells
You might’ve noticed a musty odor coming from your attic or basement. Danger alert, this is a tell-tale sign of water damage. So, if you’re experiencing such a smell, it is an alarming situation that needs attention. While you might consider a less costly fix such as making the smell with air fresheners or perfume, using an air freshener or fragrance is not a permanent fix, fixing the water-damaged area is! So, contact your local handyman to help you repair your water-damaged home!
4. Water Damage Can Cause Permanent Stains
One of the easiest ways to identify water damage is through visual inspection. So, if you notice dark-colored damp spots on your home’s walls or floor, chances are it is because water has seeped into the cracks and caused water damage. However, if you procrastinate and don’t take care of this soon, these stains will leave permanent marks and lead to more work and costs in the future.
5. Water Damage Could Affect Your Home Insurance
Your home insurance is a fallback plan when it comes to paying for home repairs. However, if you intentionally ignore water damage, which leads to something more significant, you will struggle to get a claim. After all, your insurance company won’t be happy to hear that you didn’t repair water damage while knowing about it already. They will do their best to deny you your insurance claim, and you will have to pay for repairs out of your own pocket. And we know how much home repairs can cost, right?! Nobody wants to go through such a thing.
6. Water Damage Decreases Your Home’s Aesthetic Appeal
One of the most common issues related to water damage is that it is an eyesore. So, if you think that your water-damaged home looks bad, wait a few months, and you will be surprised at how much worse it can become over time. Therefore, if you want your home to look excellent and clean for the foreseeable future, give water damage the attention it deserves. Whether you contact your local water damage repair company or do it yourself, please don’t wait for anything and do it today!
7. Water Damage Can Lead To Foundational Issues
Water damage left to rot and spread can end up damaging your home’s foundation. After all, you wouldn’t want to see cracks in your home’s foundation or walls because these can result in significant repairs to your home, leading to substantial maintenance costs. You wouldn’t want to prevent the issue from getting this bad. Therefore, it is crucial to be mindful of your surroundings every day. With this in mind, keep a lookout for any sign of water damage and fix it right away to stop it from turning into something more significant and costly.
8. Water Damage Issues Can Be An Underlying Cause Of High Energy Bills
When you notice higher than average water bills, it is a clear sign that there is an issue somewhere, more so if you haven’t changed your water usage habits. It clearly shows that you’re wasting water somewhere. In such a case, searching for water damage will allow you to identify sources of leaks. Who knows, there might be a water pipe in the basement leaking away water. So, when you determine these leaking pipes, fix them yourself or contact a professional plumber to do it for you.
Water damage can be a massive contributor to your house’s devastation. It will typically start small and lead to mold and mildew growth or leaking water if you ignore it in its early stages. That said, the things mentioned above will open your eyes and encourage you to take your home’s and your family’s safety more seriously!
