Water damage in the home is never something to ignore. If it is not taken care of promptly, such damage can cause a range of expensive, stressful problems. Learn what this damage can do to your home if it is left unchecked and call your local water restoration company in Orange County immediately in the event of a serious leak or flood. 

Mold Growth

It takes most mold strains 48 to 72 hours to flourish in the right conditions, such as a dark, damp environment. When a leak or any flooding is not mitigated as soon as possible, musty odors become noticeable. Mold plays an important role in nature by breaking down decaying organic matter efficiently, but it has no place in the home. The detrimental fungi triggers allergic reactions, such as coughing, sneezing, wheezing, eye watering, throat irritation, and skin rashes. If it is allowed to spread, it can cause a variety of other health issues, including headaches, respiratory infections, and nosebleeds. 

Mold is also a structural issue, since it breaks down wood, among other organic materials. It can subsequently compromise your home’s structural stability and even contribute to a partial roof collapse, depending on the location of the infestation. 

Wood Rot

Wood rot in your home occurs when the structural material is exposed to water. Along with mold, wood rot compromises your home’s stability. This type of rot turns wood into a spongy, soft, unreliable structural material. If water damage is not taken care of quickly, the resulting wood rot can result in serious repairs. For example, if your roof experiences leaks because of loose and missing shingles, wood rot can take over the system’s decking and call for a partial or complete replacement. 

Keeping your gutters clean and having the roof inspected periodically helps prevent leaks, wood rot, and mold growth. 

Ruined Belongings 

Water damage does more than contribute to health and structural stability issues. It also has the power to ruin your belongings. For example, if your basement floods because of a serious storm or malfunctioning washing machine, the liquid can damage everything it touches if the issue is not mitigated immediately. Boxes of books and documents, clothes, assorted metal items, and anything else that is not waterproof can result in permanent damage. Depending on the extent of the damage, the items in question might need to be thrown out. By dealing with this damage immediately, you can salvage most or all of your affected belongings.
For water restoration services in Orange County, please contact Mold Masters today.