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Water Trouble Spots Every Home and Business Owner Should Know About
Water may be necessary for life to happen on our planet… But when it makes its way into your home, it can become one of the most damaging events in your life.
Often, when people think about water damage in their homes or businesses, they imagine a leak in the roof where water is dripping from the ceiling into a bucket or trash can. Or they look up and notice a brown spot on their white ceiling or see a small puddle or wet spot in the carpet near the baseboard.
If only water intrusion was always that obvious.
Unfortunately, when water gets into your house, it doesn’t always announce itself like that. More often than not, water leaks into places that are hidden from plain sight. Sure, sometimes a leaky roof will cause water to drip from the ceiling, but it can also travel along roof struts and floor joists and end up hidden behind the drywall.
A leaky roof is only one of several ways water can get to places it’s not supposed to. In the Gulf Coast states – including Florida and Alabama – hurricanes and tropical storms are a regular occurrence. Depending on the speed and direction of the wind, water can actually blow upward into the soffits under your roof. And because the soffits are designed to allow air to flow between the attic and the outside, water can also get into your house if it’s blowing in that direction.
In addition to rain, water can come from other sources, too, such as leaky plumbing and sewer line backups, as well as flooding against the outside of the building. The trouble spots every homeowner and building manager needs to be aware of include hidden areas in the kitchen, including under sinks and behind the refrigerator. Keep an eye on bathrooms near the tub, sink, and toilet, especially where the plumbing comes out of the wall. In laundry rooms and near the water heater are also potential problem areas.
When water accumulates and sits for a long period of time, this can cause two main problems. One is structural damage to the drywall that covers the walls and ceilings, as well as wood flooring and carpet. It could also present a fire hazard if it comes in contact with electrical wiring.
The far bigger problem, however, is mold.
Warm, dark, humid spaces are the ideal breeding ground for mold, and once it’s established, it’s very difficult to get rid of. If it sits there long enough, it can penetrate and ruin the drywall, which then has to be replaced. Even worse, mold spreads by releasing spores into the air, where you can inhale it. This can lead to chronic illness for anyone who lives in the infested house or works in an infested building.
It’s a good idea to know the warning signs that may indicate water intrusion, especially if there’s been a lot of rain or a major storm in your area. The most common one is the presence of a brown stain on your ceiling or at the base of a wall. This means water has gotten behind the drywall at that spot and soaked through to the other side. Be sure to move things that may be blocking your view of the wall, such as furniture, entertainment centers, and pictures, and look in hidden areas like the back corners of closets. Also, keep an eye open for ceiling panels that are starting to sag and seams that look discolored, especially in the garage.
At Hole In The Wall Drywall Repair and Restoration, we are Central Florida’s leader in finding and removing hidden water intrusion. Plus, we are highly qualified to remove any mold that may have started to grow in your home, protecting your family from mold-related illness and your home from further damage. In fact, we are certified by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), which means we abide by the strictest cleaning and restoration standards.
So, if you see any of the telltale signs of water damage in your home, call us and our team at Hole In The Wall Drywall Repair and Restoration will make sure your home is free of mold and complete all necessary drywall repairs. Just give us a call at 844.NO.HOLES to request an inspection and assessment.