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Is it Safe to Live in a House With Water Damage?

Name: Exit Mold
Address: 1 Irwin Ct., Lynbrook, New York, 11563, United States
Telephone: (516) 512-7877

Water disasters are always an overwhelming experience. Whether your water leak stemmed from a plumbing problem or your home flooded during a serious storm, having water where it shouldn’t be can have lasting effects on your property.

Water damage is one of those circumstances that needs to be dealt with right away. The longer you leave the problem unaddressed, the worse it can be for you and your home. But what if the water leak was small or the problem stayed contained? Is it safe to live in a house with water damage and not address the issue?

Unfortunately, living in a home with unaddressed water damage can be dangerous to your family. Let’s explore more about the details surrounding water damage and why it is impactful below.

Understanding Water Damage

Water damage ranks as the second most common home insurance claim, shadowed only by storm damage such as wind or hail. It can happen in the blink of an eye, leaving you with a watery mess and no idea where to start.

Water damage can happen in a variety of ways, but it is always impactful regardless of the situation. Some of the most common causes of water damage include:

Roof leaks
Plumbing issues
Flooding
Poor drainage

Water is also really sneaky. Leaks can occur behind your walls or under your floors, and you may not notice the problem right away. Once it leaks to a hard-to-reach area, it can result in even bigger problems for your home and for your family as a whole.

Types of Water

If you come home to water all over your floors, you need to take extra precautions before walking through or coming into contact with the mess. Water is classified into three categories: white, grey, and black water. Each of these comes with different considerations and hazards that need to be addressed before cleaning up the mess.

White Water

White water is the type of water that flows out of your sinks and water dispensers in your fridge. It is typically considered safe to consume and handle. However, the longer white water sits on your floor from a spill or a plumbing leak, the higher the risk that bacteria have started to grow. Handle white water spills carefully and promptly to stay safe.

Grey Water

Grey water is what white water turns into once it is used! Water that runs down your drains is considered grey water. This water is contaminated with soap, laundry detergent, and old food particles. While it is considered generally OK to handle in small quantities, grey water should never be consumed as it can make you sick.

Black Water

Black water is the last and most dangerous water classification. This type of water is what flows out of your plumbing systems and is contaminated with waste and harmful bacteria, and viruses. This type of water should never be handled without the proper safety precautions, and it can even be deadly if ingested.

Dangers of Water Damage

While the health risks of water disasters can certainly be serious, water damage can also pose serious risks for your home itself.

Once water makes its way out of a pipe or through an open window, it will start to leak into every available crevice. The joints between floorboards, carpet pads, and porous drywall will all fall victim to the impending water. Unfortunately, the problem will continue to get worse until the leak is discovered. If that discovery takes a while, that can result in a lot of water where it shouldn’t be!

You might be able to clean up a lot of the visible water with towels and a mop, but a lot of the damage may have already been done. Water will warp wood, soak through carpets, and make drywall structurally unstable. Over time, this can lead to wood rot and the weakening of load-bearing walls and structures.

Water leaks can also cause serious electrical concerns. If water gets into your outlets or your electrical box, it can cause shorts and can also electrically charge the surrounding water. Touching the water or the affected area can result in electrical shocks or even electrocution.

Water Damage and Mold

Water damage can also lead to mold infestations, which can be another major problem on top of everything else! Mold can grow quickly in your home, especially behind walls or under floors. All it takes is a few mold spores and the right moist environment, and a mold colony can take off.

As a mold colony grows, it will consume anything organic in its path. That means your walls and your structural support beams will become food for your growing infestation. Over time, this can result in collapsed ceilings, sagging floors, and even complete structural instability. Mold can also negatively impact your home’s air quality, causing mold sickness symptoms.

Dealing With a Water-Damaged Home

When considering all of the health risks, structural damage, and air quality concerns, it is easy to state that, no, it is not safe to live in a home with water damage. Doing so increases your risk of bodily injury if parts of your home are unstable, and it can also make you sick over time. This is why it is so important to address the problem right away! Having a water damage restoration professional handle your recovery will ensure your home avoids those serious and lasting problems. A trained and licensed team will have the tools to identify hidden water and moisture. They will also have industry-leading drying equipment to ensure every drop is removed with precision.

If your home has suffered some sort of damage as a result of the initial water disaster, a water restoration team will also tackle those repairs. The goal of a professional restoration is to ensure the damage is reversed and that all the water is gone! Trust a team like Exit Mold to get it done. Suffered water damage in your home? Exit Mold has your back. Call us today at (516) 512-7877 to schedule your quick and reliable water damage restoration.

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