Some homeowners live with their properties suffering from damp, condensation, or leaking pipes for years. Most of the structures in your home are not designed to handle serious water damage. Too much unfettered moisture is never a good thing in a home. If you don’t take appropriate actions to prevent water damage when the signs are there, it is just a hazard waiting to happen.
Homeowners can be faced with a number of potential water damage problems. Flooding is perhaps, the most serious type of water damage. Mother Nature or a burst pipe can cause serious flood damage particularly if it isn’t able to drain efficiently. Even excessive moisture in the air can wreak havoc on the structures of a home.
Mould Damage
Mould is one of the most underestimated water related problems that can occur in a home. The dangers to health from mould include:
- Irritation of allergies
- Worsening asthma symptoms
- Eye, nose, throat and skin irritation
If you have a mould problem in your home, it means that there are spores in the air. These spores float around, before landing in standing water or other sources of moisture such as damp walls. As a homeowner, it is important to address any issues you have with excess moisture and standing water to eliminate and prevent mould from setting up in your home.
Compromised Structural Integrity
If the structural integrity of your home is compromised you are looking at serious costs for repairs. Excessive moisture and water damage can undermine the structures integrity by rusting and weakening foundational metal structures. It can also warp the wood which may mean that the wood used in the walls and roof are no longer straight and out of alignment, creating support problems for the structure of your home.
Visual Water Damage
Water damage can cause significant visual damage to both the interior and exterior of your home. Timbers can begin to buckle or rot due to excess moisture damage, causing floors to sag. Peeling or bubbling paintwork can be another sign of excess moisture, along with water rings on the ceiling or walls. You may also begin to notice discoloration to the exteriors as a result of damp or inefficient drainage.
Preventing Damage from Excess Moisture
Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to dealing with water damage. If you make sure that there is adequate draining and ventilation to your property, water damage problems won’t occur in the first place. Maintaining gutters, downpipes and drains is a good habit to get into. If you identify plumbing problems, do not delay in seeking repairs from a qualified plumber. It is also essential to have the soil checked on your property to ensure proper grading.
Actively ensure that humidity levels in your home are resting within acceptable levels. Between thirty and fifty percent is ideal for internal humidity. High levels of humidity will result in the build-up of condensation. This usually occurs around windows, where the inside temperature and temperature coming through the windows clashes. You may also notice damage forming on walls and ceilings when humidity levels are too high. Mould and mildew love high humidity and can cause damage to structures in the home.
Addressing potential water damage when you first see the signs is best practice. Contact a relevant professional, such as a plumber in the case of leaking pipes, to carry out any necessary repairs. Not all water damage issues are obvious. Scheduling regular building inspections is a good way to identify any underlying problems that are resulting in water damage.
You can pick up further advice by visiting the Houspect home Maintenance Tips page.
