Long-Term Effects of Water Damage

Water damage is one of the most common and destructive disasters that can happen in your home. While its immediate effects can be incredibly destructive, water damage also has long-term consequences that can still take a toll on you and your home weeks, months, and even years after the initial damage occurred. There are many reasons as to why this is, and we have a few of them listed below. However, the most important thing to understand about the long-term effects of water damage is that it is very preventable. That is getting the job done right the first time. Amateur or low-quality professional efforts to provide water damage restoration services often leave behind unnoticed pools of water or moisture. This unwanted moisture can have serious consequences down the road. Thus, you should hire a professional cleaning and restoration company to handle your water damage restoration needs. In the Pittsburgh area, GS Jones Restoration is one such company here for you.

Mold

Mold is easily the most common and most potent long-term consequence of water damage. Mold can begin to grow as quickly as 24-48 hours after a flood, but it can remain much longer. This is especially true when moisture seeps into your walls or ceiling. Soon, this moisture will spawn mold growth. Once the mold has begun to develop INSIDE your walls and ceiling, you have a serious problem. The mold will quickly spread and is very difficult to remove. For some people, the mold of this sort remains there for YEARS without anyone ever noticing.

Unwanted Pests

Alongside mold, this is a pretty gross problem brought on by water damage over time. Three of these common pests are silverfish, earwigs, and termites. Silverfish contain contaminants that can get in your food and make you sick. Earwigs love to feed on mold and other insects. They are often found in restrooms. Finally, termites are attracted to moist wood and other damp materials. Termites are by far the most destructive of these insects as they can cause major damage to the foundation of your home over time.

Structural Weakening

A flood, at the moment, can cause major structural damage to your home immediately. On the other hand, moisture pockets left unattended can gradually eat away at critical structural components of your home over time eventually making it unsafe to be in. Termites eating away at the wood in your home are another great example of this. Again, this can be avoided if you take care to completely remove all the water and remaining moisture from your home after a flood. Don’t needlessly allow your home to be taken over by mold, moisture-loving pests, gradual structural weakening, and so on.