How Flood Damage Can Affect Your Home

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2023

Flood damage takes more than just the form of a soppy carpet or a water-soaked mattress. It's an insidious foe, quietly gnawing away at the fabric of your home until everything you worked for simply crumbles before your eyes. What happens below the surface (or behind walls) could mean everything.

Did you know that according to FEMA, just 1 inch of water in a home can cause upwards of $25,000 in damage? When you look at all disaster-related property loss in the US, you'll find that approximately 85% of it is linked to flooding, making floods one of the nation's most widespread and expensive disasters.

Once Mother Nature has had her way with your home, oh boy, can you tell. Flooded homes typically exhibit symptoms such as staining on walls or ceilings, sagging or warping of floors, and sometimes even a new indoor pool (minus the fun and the floaties, of course). All joking aside, the immediate aftermath can be a gut-wrenching sight.

Structural Impact of Flood Damage

Influence on the Building's Foundation

The foundation of your home is under attack in a flood, helpless like a damsel in distress. Water weakens these structures, causing cracks, shifts, and even collapse. While you may wish to move from or into a home, you don't expect your house to start "moving".

Damage to Walls and Surfaces

The soggy aftermath of flooding isn't just ugly - let's face it, "Water stains" isn't the latest fad in wall decor - it's harmful, too. Water wrecks interior walls and surfaces, causing paint to peel and drywall to deteriorate. Remember, your walls do much more than just support your cat's climbing endeavors or display grandma's ambitious art.

Impact on Roofs, Doors, and Windows

Floodwaters may not always reach your roof, but the winds, falling branches, and torrential rains can. Stormy conditions often leave loose shingles, leaks, and other structural damage in their aftermath. Doors and windows don't fare much better.

Effects of Flood Damage on Home Interiors

Detrimental Impact on Furniture and Personal Belongings

Have you ever played "The Floor is Lava" with your precious belongings? While entertaining when dry, it's less fun when the 'lava' is real (flood) water, and it's seeping into Grandma's heirloom chest or your latest tech investment. Floodwater shows no discrimination as it soaks into your possessions, both monetarily valuable and emotionally priceless.

Damage to Appliances and Essential Equipment

Electrical appliances don't mix well with water. Flood damage can turn your comfort corner into a room full of large paperweights. Electrical appliances and HVAC equipment can suffer severe water damage and pose a risk of electrocution or even fire hazards.

Impact on Indoor Air Quality Due to Increased Mold Growth

Until we find a way to structure our homes entirely out of scented candles and fresh air, we face a constant battle for good indoor air quality (IAQ). Unfortunately, dampness from flooding causes mold growth. This not only deteriorates the IAQ but can also cause serious respiratory problems and allergies.

Floods may be an act of nature, but you don't have to resign yourself to living with water damage afterward.

What to Do First After a Flood to Prevent Mold

After flooding, it's crucial to act promptly to prevent mold growth. Any incidence of flooding provides an ideal environment for mold due to the associated moisture; hence, drying out the area should be your primary concern. The lingering moisture boosts the chances of indoor contamination over time.

Here Are the Advisable Steps:

• First, confirm that all electricity is switched off before stepping into any standing water. Additionally, remember to wear appropriate safety gear before accessing the area.
• Employ a submersible pump to extract as much water as possible. Ensure that the water expulsion route is facing away from the house, ideally towards the curb or downhill from your home.
• Utilize a wet-dry vacuum to eliminate the remaining water. Familiarize yourself with the device's operating instructions to confirm it's designed to intake the amount of water. Always monitor the tank level to prevent overload, which could cause machine malfunction.
• Expedite the removal of all retrievable items from the flooded area, then proceed to mop and wipe floors, walls, and any additional surfaces using a botanical cleaning product.
• Call professionals to be sure everything will be cleaned and water damage removed.

Have You Suffered From Water Damage?

When Flood Damage Pro takes on a job, we give it more than what you'd expect. It's not just a professional and complete water damage restoration, fire damage restoration, or mold remediation.

We also restore your peace of mind. We handle every part of the restoration, from start to finish, with just one phone call. It couldn't be easier. Contact us: 866-869-4167.

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