Effects Of Water Damage

Water damage is one of the most devastating things that can happen to a home or place of business. No matter what the source of the damage, whether it stems from a broken water pipe, sewage backup or a flood from excess rain or snow getting in, this can be a devastating situation if it isn’t immediately tackled. There is a great deal to know about water mitigation after you have suffered such a problem.

What you don’t know about water damage might surprise you. There are certain facts that are essential to knowing why addressing the issue of water damage, which may be as simple as repair broken pipe that can help you during such a situation.

Generally, the more polluted the water in your situation, the worse the problem in your home or business. According to the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), water can be placed into three specific categories as per its S500 Standard. Those include the following:

• Category 1 is water that is generally sanitary
• Category 2 is water that is significantly contaminated
• Category 3 is the most serious, grossly contaminated water

Overall, the category of water in any specific water damage situation determines how it can be restored and how much of the property can be saved.

It’s also important to know that mold can easily grow and spread in a very short period of time when there is water damage. It can also have devastating effects on not only the structure of your home or place of business but to your health as well. Mold only needs five conditions to grow within as little as 48 to 72 hours. Those conditions include the following:

• Moisture
• Source of food
• Perfect temperature
• No air movement or very minimal air movement
• No light or minimal light

You must take fast action when dealing with a broken pipe or other emergency that results in water damage. It can also help you to have a successful claim with your insurance company. When experts arrive at your property, they will first assess the situation and create a plan for dealing with the water. This is known as a structural drying plan and might include pumping and extraction of water, as well as water mitigation and drying techniques that have been proven effective. The faster you act, the better your chances of successfully eliminating all traces of water and restoring your property to its previous condition.