The Long-Term Effects of Water Damage

4/26/2022 (Permalink)

A SERVPRO® Technician removes damaged flooring, revealing the subfloor and saturated subfloor.

The Usual Suspects of Water Damage

Water damage has several opportunities to occur within your home. The most common causes of water damage are from broken fixtures and appliances. Leaks from dishwashers and washing machines are often the source to major water damage, and it could be sometime before a homeowner may recognize that there is an ongoing leak. Unfortunately, there is always a danger of damage to a home as long as there are pipes and appliances that use water.

What Water Damage Can do to Your Home

When a flood does occur, it can harm the home’s fixtures and cause long-term damage. Pooled water can seep into the carpets and flooring, ruin your furniture, soak into drywall and insulation, and even cause mold to grow, especially if it is stagnant. Even if the water is believed to have been cleaned up, there is still a chance that the materials are damp. That is why it is important to have the areas affected removed and properly mitigated. Not removing affected or waterlogged items could lead to microbial growth. Additionally, if left to fester, odor can develop and permeate throughout the entire home.

How SERVPRO® Can Solve Your Problems

SERVPRO® of Columbia County is prepared to access the damage, perform water extraction, make necessary demolition as well as removal of affected materials, and place professional drying equipment. Our Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning Technician (UFT) utilize the best stain removal strategies, including spot cleaning when the affected items such as carpets, rugs, drapes, and upholstery furniture are still wet. However, the longer these items are left to absorb the water, the more difficult it becomes to restore.

Another issue with extenuating water damage is the development of pungent odors. The odor can develop with a clean water loss or otherwise, if the water is left to stagnate for long. In addition to extraction, our trained SERVPRO® technicians can use dehumidification to remove any traces of excess moisture that is causing these bad odors. A technician may also use air scrubbers to extract the contaminated air. If the odor persists, we can apply a chemical process for its elimination.

Have you experienced what you believe to be long-term effects of water damage? SERVPRO® of Columbia County is, “Here to help®” no matter the crisis. Contact us at 706-868-5441 for more information and advice on how to move forward.