How to Deal with Water Damage in Pembroke Pines

The last thing you want to deal with at home is damage to your property caused by water. This can happen due to various reasons like a burst pipe, roof leaks, spills, or even lightning striking your home. It poses a real threat to any property, and may appear without warning; no matter the cause, a homeowner must immediately take care of it. The longer you wait to address it, the more extensive and expensive restoration will be. In this article, we’ll discuss the various causes and effects of water damage, its first signs, and what you should do if it starts ruining your Pembroke Pines home.

Causes and Effects of Water Damage

Water from leaky roofs, faulty plumbing, natural disasters like hurricanes or floods, and even from broken sprinkler systems, can come into contact with certain parts of your home or building. Once the damage starts, it can quickly degrade the structure of your property. This can be very perilous because it can also promote mold growth, which can pose many health and safety hazards for you and your loved ones.

Damage caused by water is often neglected, thus enabling the quick spread of the damage that can lead to significant deterioration of one’s property. With extensive damage comes the burden of spending a ridiculous amount of money to restore your home.

First Signs of Water Damage

Homeowners are keen to prevent water damage from happening in their homes, but in the eventuality that it still occurs, it is almost always difficult to spot where the damage is. One must be knowledgeable about the tell-tale signs of damage, such as ring-like stains on your ceiling, and damp insulation in a portion of your attic. This type of damage is not limited to roofs and ceilings; it can also spread through walls, indicated by blistered paint, loose or warped baseboards, or a stain or crack on your basement walls. You can also look for signs under your sinks, where there could be watermarks and mold growth. There could be a persistent musty smell in your home, and that could indicate hidden damage around the house. You must also be wary of cracked tile or wood floors and soft or warped spots on your floor because it suggests exposure to moisture for an extended period. Lastly, you must always look out for clogged gutters because they can spill rainwater down to your home’s exterior walls, windows, and door frames.

What to Do if You Discover Water Damage

The first thing you have to do is to identify and locate the source of the damage and mitigate the risk by preventing it from spreading throughout your house. If you have a leaky pipe or a broken sprinkler system, you have to shut off the primary water source to avoid further damage to your property. If possible, fix the faulty plumbing there and then.

If there is a leak from your ceiling, assess the extent of the damage on your roof and start with the repairs immediately. Dry out all the spilled water around the house with the use of a mop or towels, fans, and humidifiers to help remove moisture in the affected area.

If the damage has spread to a large portion of your property, the first thing you have to do before entering your home is to turn off all the power sources. If doing so will require you to go to the affected area of your home, it is best to leave it alone and phone an electrician for help. Once it is safe to re-enter your home, wear rubber boots and gloves to protect you from any injuries or harmful pathogens.

Necessary precautions include getting rid of standing water and disinfection if the incident is caused by flooding. Once the flood has receded and it is safe to go inside the affected area, you may use a pump to remove any remnants of the flood and clean up any left-behind debris or mud. Assess which porous materials can be cleaned or discarded. If you feel any symptoms of mold exposure, stop what you are doing and consult a professional cleaning service instead. And if the damage is extensive, you may want to hire a restoration company for water damage in Pembroke Pines to help you with the repairs.

Most importantly, you must assess and document the extent of the damage so that you have complete details about the incident when you contact your insurance company and your trusted contractor for the restoration.

Bottom Line

Water damage is a real risk in every home. Understanding the causes, recognizing the danger, and knowing how to handle it if it does occur will help you limit its consequences and reduce risks. Don’t delay taking action when you suspect potential damage in your home. Find the source, and dry out the affected area immediately. And if the damage is extensive, you may want to hire a restoration company for in Pembroke Pines to help you with the repairs.