Why Time is of the Essence in Water Damage

Many home and business owners don’t realize the time factor when dealing with water damage. After the initial damage, water invades and creeps into the home structure as time progresses. With each minute that passes, the water may affect carpet padding, the walls, hardwood floors, and even grout lines in tiles. Unattended water damage in the ceiling is even more damaging because this can lead to the collapse of the ceiling.

Water Damage in the Summer

Summertime is almost here in Southern California, and we all know what that means: sunny days, ice cream and very hot weather. Of all the times for water damage, you would expect summer to be the rarest time of the year as the soaring temperatures make flooding seem an unlikely prospect. But don't get caught off-guard by the weather! Water damage may not happen from natural disasters as it does in other parts of the country, but that doesn't mean your home is not suspect to flooding when you least expect it.

Basic Water Damage Remediation Steps

Water damage incidents take a variety of forms and can vary significantly in their severity. While some minor ones can be handled by property owners, most major incidents require the attention of a specialist. Assessing the damage and knowing whether to call a water damage remediation specialist for help can be a challenge.

Are Molds Really Dangerous?

Whenever water damage is involved, mold is almost always a part of the equation, particularly if the leak is not immediately shut off and the water extracted. Since mold spores are everywhere, mold can easily form within 48 hours provided that conditions are right for it to grow; all it needs is moisture, warmth and a porous material. On most water damage situations where the leak has been going for a while, mold infestations are pretty clear-cut: damaged drywall or carpet will be lined with dark splotches easily visible to the naked eye. For leaks where the water can be shut off in time, mold usually doesn't have time to develop, since the water is often extracted before it has time to settle.

The Hidden Threat of Hard Water

Hard water is pretty much a given in the vast majority of the United States. If you live in a typical neighborhood, the water flowing through your pipes will be hard; the only question is how much. Since it's such a common occurrence  many homeowners have come to accept the existence of hard water and are used to its various detrimental effects, such as causing blockage in pipes and wearing down equipment faster than it normally would have. Most of the time, the average homeowner will simply brush these factors aside and just come to accept it as part of home ownership.

But there's a possibility that hard water can cause problems that go beyond the minor inconveniences listed above. With the frequency that the pipes are used on a daily basis in a home, it's easy to forget that hard water causes mineral build-up on the interior. Once the build-up is thick enough, the pipes begin having problems with letting water flow through, and given enough time this can cause leaks and pipe bursts which of course lead to water damage in your home.