What Causes Water Damage?​

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Simply said, without water, life is not conceivable. Water, however, can also be a profoundly destructive element of nature despite all of its life-giving advantages. Water damage would likely come in first place if you list all the probable calamities that might affect your home. Buildings are impacted by water damage on several levels. Your floor may distort if water seeps into sections of your property where it shouldn't be. Beautifully painted walls become discolored by water damage. All that wetness has the potential to cause a vermin infestation in addition to the growth of mold within the structure. Worst of all, if water damage isn't quickly dealt with by water damage restoration, the foundation of any structure may ultimately become more fragile.

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Water damage is also quite expensive. You might believe that a small quantity of water—say, an inch or two—invading your house or place of business won't break the bank, but there have been instances in which that tiny bit of water resulted in damage that required tens of thousands of dollars to fix. The worst aspect of water damage is that it is constantly a possibility. Let's look at some of the typical reasons why things get wet.

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1. Clogged Gutters

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The gutter system on your home is designed to direct rainwater away from the structure. But over time, leaves, branches, and other sorts of debris frequently clog gutters. If that occurs, rainwater won't be able to exit your property as it should and will instead overflow the gutter's sides, run down the side of the home, and damage the ceiling, walls, and floors with water.

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2. Extreme Weather

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Although thunderstorms, hurricanes, and other natural catastrophes don't occur frequently, when they do, there is always a chance that your home could sustain water damage. Strong winds and heavy rain might damage your roof, allowing some rainfall to fall directly into your home or place of business. Even worse, particularly if your property is located in a flood-prone location, severe weather can occasionally cause flash floods.

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3. Leaking/Bursted Pipes

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A kitchen sink's loose-fitting pipe might leak enough water to harm the cabinet just below it. A damaged pipe within a wall might complicate matters further. Such a leak would result in severe water damage to the entire wall, which would also encourage the growth of a large mold colony.

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4. AC Condensation

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Condensation is produced by your air conditioner, which drips from the unit's evaporator coil into a catch pan and then away from your home through a condensate drain line. This drainage system is effective up to a crack or obstruction in the condensate drain line or damage to the drain pan. Water will seep from your AC directly into your home since it can't escape. Your floor, walls, and even your insulation may become wet as a result of all the water your AC unit drips.

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5. Leaking Water Heater

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It's quite likely that an outdated water heater will ultimately leak if you have one. The same is true for water heaters that have been improperly installed or maintained. Sometimes excessive tank pressure results in the leak. Your basement, where the water heater is most likely placed, will likely immediately flood if it leaks.

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Although it may be difficult, it is not impossible to prevent water damage. If you take care of the aforementioned potential sources, you could at least have a chance of limiting water damage. When assessing insurance coverage, several different factors may be at play. Examine your policy with your agent; he or she may address any concerns you have about your coverages by contacting the agency.

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6. Washing Machine Leak

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Water supply lines that are always under pressure feed your washing machine. You don't need to be concerned if your lines are braided stainless steel. If your washing machine contains supply lines made of rubber or PVC, there will be an issue. If you don't quickly turn off the water supply, they can quickly wear down and break, flooding the whole laundry area in a matter of minutes.

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7. Drain Blockage

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Your kitchen sink, bathroom floor, and bathtub drains can get clogged for a variety of reasons. The drainpipe may get blocked by debris such as hair, grease accumulation, toiletries, dirt, toys, and other foreign items, which will inhibit regular drainage. Clogged drains may quickly back up, leading to floods and water damage inside your home if they are not immediately cleared.

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8. Sprinkler System Malfunction

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Once activated during a fire, a sprinkler system will no doubt save your property and even your life. The problem is, there have been incidents where older sprinkler systems have turned themselves on even when there isn’t the slightest indication of a fire. As you can guess, the water damage that a malfunctioning or accidentally set off the sprinkler system causes can be considerable, especially when there are computers and other electronic appliances all over your property.

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What Are The Water Damage Contamination Categories?

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Category 1 – Clean water originates from a hygienic source and doesn't offer a serious threat to your health.

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Category 2 – Gray water is highly polluted and provides a major risk of illness if ingested or simply touched. This frequently includes water from washing machines, dishwashers, overflowing toilet bowls, and more.

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Category 3 –  Black water is a particularly deadly sort of polluted water that contains a wide variety of infections and biohazards. Examples include water from rivers and streams, toilet backflows, and seawater intrusion. Infection and serious sickness can result from drinking dirty water.

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What Is The Full Water Restoration Process?

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Step 1. The Inspection

Professionals in water damage restoration will visit your property to perform a thorough evaluation. They'll assess the extent of the water damage repair work required using cutting-edge tools like hygrometers and moisture detectors. These professionals will identify the damage's exact location before classifying it.​

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The damage location is thoroughly assessed for damage by restoration companies. A water restoration expert will do evaluations during this examination in order to identify and categorize the damage. To gauge how much water absorption has taken place, water restoration specialists will examine how porous the materials in the affected region are. Hygrometers and moisture scourers are two moisture detectors that may be used to evaluate the degree of damage and determine how much repair has to be done. They will grade the damage from Class 1 to 4 in light of the conclusions.

 

The water restoration firm will provide you with payment alternatives and an estimate of the time and money needed to restore your house after an examination. To make sure the water has stopped and determine the degree of pollution in the water, water damage inspectors will also find the water source. The inspector will also examine the extent of the water contamination in your home's water supply and determine if the water incursion has ended. Even while most properties need services for water mitigation, removal, and restoration, that isn't always the case. For instance, if a minor, transient water leak is repaired within 24 to 48 hours, extensive water restoration services may not be necessary because mold is unlikely to develop during that period.

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Step 2. The Removal of Water

The next stage of repair is to use water extraction to get rid of any standing water. Standing water must be removed as soon as possible since it can continue to harm your house and cause further degradation. When dealing with a flooded basement, water extraction is crucial since the presence of standing water promotes the formation of serious mildew and mold.

Step 2 involves drying out the house and its contents.

 

Water extraction and removal may take place concurrently with or after mitigation and restoration procedures. During the extraction procedure, extractors are used by water restoration businesses to remove water. All of the surface water on your property may be swiftly absorbed by these strong pumps and vacuums. Following the removal of the standing water, additional checks may be made to gauge the amount of moisture still present and decide whether it's necessary to remove the carpeting or hardwood flooring.

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Step 3. The Dehumidifying

Following the actual removal of the water from the house, restoration professionals start dehumidifying and drying. Materials that still contain water or were too difficult to reach during extraction are dried with the use of dehumidifiers and air movers of industrial caliber.

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Your home may appear dry at this point, but certain things may still feel moist to the touch. If left unattended, these materials may sustain more harm, such as warping, cracking, or developing mold. Contractors who specialize in water restoration avoid this by properly drying and dehumidifying the affected area.

During this phase, water remediation experts keep an eye on the moisture content of the damaged regions' walls and floors to gauge when your home is dry enough to start a thorough cleaning.

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Step 4. The Cleaning

All house restoration operations must start with a comprehensive, professional water damage and repair cleaning. Restoration businesses also make an effort to save as much of your personal belongings as they can.

 

Cleaning should only ever be done by professionals skilled in the sanitization and safety needs of water-damaged properties. To ensure every item is cleaned as thoroughly as possible, restoration specialists may additionally utilize immersion, foam, or abrasive cleaning methods. Mold removal may also be a part of this process, if necessary.

 

For cleaning potentially hazardous objects, experts have specific personal protection equipment (PPE), such as N-96 respirators, protective gloves, and waterproof gear.

Restoration experts also dispose of any damaged items that were removed during the cleaning procedure at this time.

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Step 5. The Final Step

The actual restoration is the last stage of the water damage restoration procedure. Specialists restore your house to its pre-damage condition during the restoration process. All materials that have been removed or permanently damaged will now be repaired or replaced. Depending on the severity of the lasting damage, restoration efforts might range from straightforward to involved.

 

Sometimes restoration calls for very straightforward fixes, such drywall repair or carpet cleaning. In certain cases, restoration work is significant and necessitates whole home renovation in certain areas.