If you leave unattended water in your Central Houston home, are you prepared for the long-term damages?

Living near the water comes with several benefits, but one disadvantage that can cause a long-term problem is an increased chance of water damage. Water damage doesn’t just come from flooding pipes. You also need to be concerned about flooding from close-by lakes, rivers, streams or oceans. What is the long-term impact of water damage on a home or business.

Visible Problems

Some water damage problems will be easy to spot when a structure has been exposed to water for a long period of time. Many materials, such as wood, products made from wood and other porous materials, will warp when exposed to water. Water will also cause furniture and walls to become discolored. If you are noticing any part of the building warping or becoming discolored, you may want to get a specialist in to make sure there isn’t any water damaging the material.

Another visible problem that’s usually noticeable is the erosion of the structure. Water is a very highly destructive substance that can eat away almost any surface. If left untreated for too long, this kind of erosion can become extremely dangerous. Over time, structures can lose their support and your safety will be compromised. You should be able to see if the building becomes weaker and weaker over time even if you can’t see any foundation being eroded away.

Hidden Problems too

You can’t always see the long-term impacts that water damage creates. Hidden problems do not mean that they’re less dangerous. Hidden problems can be even more hazardous than visible ones, especially to your health. If you notice a strong or foul odor, it may not harm you in any way, but it’s an indicator that the hidden problems have progressed and you need to have some water removal done followed by some type of restoration process.

Mold is a common water damage problem that you may not notice right away. Mold growth can happen and very rapidly if water hasn’t been removed properly from the structure. Several different kinds of mold can grow anywhere, especially in the nooks and crannies of a structure where it’s harder to get dry and can go unnoticed for quite a while. Mold is a very bad problem because it causes many different health problems. Those with weakened immune systems or lung issues such as COPD or asthma will see health problems before healthy people do. Healthy people can also develop lung problems from mold and left untreated will have trouble breathing in an area that’s filled with mold. Mold can also make you feel faint or sick to your stomach. If you start experiencing unexplained sickness or any difficulty breathing, go see a doctor for treatment and then have experts check out your building for any mold or water damage that you may not have noticed.

Any amount of water damage will cause serious problems to structures and people, especially when it goes unattended for longer periods of time. Never leave water damage unattended. If you suffer any amount or kind of water damage, contact Restoration 1 Central Houston for a damage assessment and fair estimate for water damage restoration.