You must have heard of water damage,
especially if you come from Middle West, Wisconsin. Water damage is a very
common occurrence in this county. Many homeowners however do not comprehend
fully all the basics of water damage and what it entails. They just wake up one
morning to find their homes flooded and get into panic mode.
This article will highlight the meaning
of water damage, the various classes, the remedies, the prevention measures and
the need for water damage restoration Wisconsin
experts.
What Is Water Damage?
Water damage refers to a situation
whereby losses are incurred as a result of water intruding in areas it was
never meant to. For water damage to occur, all needed is drips of water on the
wrong area. While a running tap for a couple of hours may cause water damage,
so are drips that gradually drop on your wooden floor. In simple terms, water
may cease being a blessing when it fails to land on the right places. You might
want to be a little bit careful the next time you use your washing machine.
What Are The Categories Of Water Damage?
All water damage is not the same as
many would believe. The IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration
Certification) classifies water damage into three categories depending on the
kind of water involved. Some categories are more complicated than others, but
at the end of the day, restoration cannot be escaped. Water damage
restoration solon springs WI does cover for all kind of water
damage.
The three classes are Category 1,
Category 2 and Category 3 which shall be highlighted in details below.
Category 1
Water from this category is listed as
the least dangerous. It is usually from clean sources of water. Such sources
include rain water, melting snow, broken water supplies, burst water heater,
sink overflows and toilet overflows( with no contaminators). While water damage
from this category is classified as not toxic, water damage restoration Milwaukee needs to be done
as soon as possible. Should this water take long before restoration exercise
takes place, the damage may transfer to category 2.
Category 2
Water from this category is slightly
harmful to human beings as it contains significant contamination. The sources
include water from dishwashers and washing machines; toilet overflows with
urine, damaged or broken water beds, overflows from washing machines and broken
aquariums. When water from this source gets into contact with the inhabitants
of a home, health damages as well as loss of belongings is a high possibility.
Water damage needs immediate attention, and this is no different. Passage of
time may easily get it to category 3.
Category 3
Water from this source is very
contaminated and can lead to fatal illnesses if it comes into contact with the
occupants of a home. Sources include flooding from water bodies, sewage leaks,
toilet leaks (with feces) and weather driven rains such as the hurricanes.
Water from this category usually contains contaminants such as silt, living
organisms, feces, pesticides and a whole lot of other toxic materials.
For effective Water Damage Restoration, the level of contamination is really
important as this determines the extent of restoration exercise.
Water damage can be quite depressing to
homeowners. There are a number of losses that are likely to be experienced
leaving homeowners with huge repair bills.
Below are some causes of water damage and the possible losses they are
likely to bring across.
1. Leaking Pipes
Damage from leaking pipes is one of the
most common causes of water damage in Wisconsin homes. Pipes may leak due to a
number of reasons which include:
Rust: This is likely to affect pipes
that have aged or exposed to moisture over a period of time.
Poor workmanship: Piping in a home is a
very delicate task that should only be done by qualified experts. Poor
workmanship is one of the reasons why water pipes suddenly burst or start
leaking.
Temperature change: This is mostly
experienced during the winter when pipes freeze. This can cause the pipe to
burst.
Clogs: Clogs are quite popular in most
homes. There are quite a number of particles and materials that are responsible
for this ranging from hair pieces to children toys.
Unregulated water pressure: Water
pressure will mostly become a problem when the piping is poorly done.
Leaking pipes usually cause damage
associated with category 1. As earlier on stated, this type of water is not
contaminated and therefore does not cause health issues. It is however wise for
homeowners to take it seriously and have restoration done as soon as possible
to avoid the water getting contaminated.
While homeowners have the advantage of seeking
help from water damage
brookfield experts when misfortune strikes, it is always
best preventing the occurrence of such disasters in the first place. There are
a number of possible effects that are likely to be caused by leaking pipes
which include:
- Water may be of poor quality and
contaminate drinking water. This is due to issues such as rust.
- Leaking pipes can lead to increase in
water bills due to water wastage that drips from the leaking areas
- Accidents such as fire and slipping for
small children are likely.
- Leaking pipes when left for long
periods can lead to the growth of molds and mildews which also comes with their
own share of problems.
To avoid and/or minimize the above
problems, homeowners should take the following steps:
- During winter, frozen pipes should be
unfrozen by use of hot water. This eliminates the risk of pipes bursting.
- Any leaks on pipes should be fixed as
soon as they are realized.
- When a leak is noticed, it is best if
homeowners blocked by turning off from the supply before experts can come to
the rescue. This will reduce the risk of damage.
- All piping should be checked by a
reputable plumber. This would include checking on the water pressure and how
well the pipes can handle it.
- Homeowners should avoid clogging the
boreholes by not using the sink as a trash bin or toy box. Any grease and oil
should also be disposed elsewhere and not on the sink.
Where possible, homeowners should
invest in PVC pipes as they are rust free unlike the copper ones. While this
may be difficult for homes already installed with the copper pipes, where
renovation for replacement is possible, homeowners should not hesitate.
2.
Roof
Leaks
Roof leaks can be an embarrassing and
irritating situation. Imagine all the hustles your family would have to go
through especially during the rainy seasons. Roof leaks are another common cause
of water damage in many homes that Water
Removal Specialists deal with. There are a number of causes that lead to
roof leaks such as:
- Roof shingles that is broken or
missing.
- Ice dam build up.
- Clogged gutters.
- Too much stepping on the roof.
- Cracked chimneys.
Roof leaks can be caused by category 1
water in form of rainwater. It can also be in category 2 when the gutters are
full of all sorts of debris which may contaminate the water.
Roof leaks are a common cause of the
growth of molds and mildews as evidenced on affected ceilings. You can imagine
how heart breaking the sight of a stained ceiling on your beautiful home.
There are several losses and damages to
a home that roof leaks are likely to cause which include:
Roof leaks are likely to damage the beauty of a ceiling. This is simply because
the ceiling is nearer to the roof and any leaks on the roof are likely to first
get to the ceiling. Ceiling affected by roof leaks can be noticed by patches of
wet or stained areas. The ceiling paint may also be darker and bubbles may be
seen.
The growth of molds and mildews is also
very common in roof leaks issues. This is due to the fact that roof leaks are
mostly realized when it is already too late when the roof has already absorbed
too much moisture. Molds and mildews should be avoided by all means by any wise
homeowner. They are likely to cause much more damage which includes various
illnesses. For a homeowner with children and hates the ER, molds should not be
seen anywhere near the home.
Home accidents are also likely to
happen, especially in a home with very active and playful children. This is
likely to happen when the leaks from the roof are too much such that they drip
to the floor. This is surely a disaster in waiting.
There is a likelihood of fire damage
especially if electrical wirings are on the ceiling. Fire is something no
homeowner would wish to be caught in.
- A leak roof destroys the structural
beauty of a home. An example is damaged fascia boards.
- Roof leaks usually lead to other
damages which may make the homeowner dig deep into his pockets. Having the roof
in order is always key. To prevent the
possibility of roof leaks, the following tips should be followed:
- Homeowners should ensure that missing shingles are replaced as soon as they are
noticed. Broken shingles as well should be replaced.
- Gutters should be cleared of all
debris. This prevents them from clogging which is a common cause of roof leaks.
- Homeowners should ensure that their
roofs are checked by roofing experts every once in a while just to ensure there
are no risks of damage. This should be done especially before the winter and
during snow melts.
- Homes should be structured such that
the upper roof gutters do not fall on the lower roofs gutters. This eliminates
the possibility of lower roofs leaking.
- While the above measures may be able to
save homeowners from possible damage, they should not be taken as sure ways of
preventing such leaks.
3.
Snow
Melts
We all love and enjoy the period after
winter. Winter brings with it a lot of restrictions in terms of how you dress,
where you can visit and activities you can do. It usually feels as a great
relief when this period is over. There may be reasons however to cut such
celebration short. Snow melts unfortunately can be a sad reality, especially to
Wisconsin residents who live near water bodies.
Snow melts can happen in the following
ways:
- Snow on the driveway may also get its
way to the basement as is slowly melts.
- Any ice near homes may seep into the
house through various openings.
- Snow on the roof may clog the gutters
as the melting process is never a quick one as homeowners may expect. This is
likely to cause damage including the growth of molds and mildews.
- Melting snow requires some hard work
from the home occupants to ensure damage is minimized or avoided. Some of the
measures that homeowners can take include the following:
- Homeowners should shovel as much ice as
possible in areas around the home. This prevents the ice from melting slowly
into the house.
- Professionals should be hired to check
on the roof and gutters to remove snow on the roof and gutters.
- Homeowners should invest in good pumps
and the same should be tested to ensure the basement is safe from any water
likely to get its way there.
All drainage in the home should be
cleared of all snow to eliminate and/or minimize the risk of water damage to
various areas in the home and to avoid clogging as well.
Water Cleanup Company usually has
their plates full during snow melts; homeowners who take the above tips however
reduce the likelihood of their presence in their homes. These tips would also
help homeowners take time to enjoy the snow melts season in better ways.
4.
Basements
Build Up
Wisconsin is one area where people
greatly value their basements. As fun as they are, they also come with their
own share of problems. For instance, basements are the most risky places in any
home when it comes to water damage. This is due to the fact that it is the
lowest place in the home, and water never needs a door to gain access. Water
can penetrate even through the tiniest of cracks.
Basements in Wisconsin homes can have
leaks due to a number of causes which include:
- Heavy rainfall.
- Burst pipes.
- Snow melts.
- Foundations that are damaged.
- Clogged or broken gutters.
Ever wondered what homeowners should do
once they notice basement leaking? Other than stay depressed and wallow in self
pity, the following tips would be helpful:
- Homeowners should invest in quality
sump pumps to help pump water during flooding situations.
- The sump pumps should be regularly
serviced and tested to ensure functionality.
- Sump pumps may fail in case of power
surges therefore rendering their presence useless. For this reason, it is
advisable for homeowners to invest in generators as well to ensure sump pumps
are functioning even during power surges.
- Any cracks noticed on the foundation
should be sealed. Professionals should be used to do this and as well check for
any other problems with the foundation.
- Homeowners should ensure that all
gutters and downspouts direct water away from the home.
- All debris on the gutters should be
cleared to prevent clogging.
- Homeowners are encouraged to use water
proofing materials for basement walls.
Most homeowners store valuables in
their basements which is ideally not a very good idea. Homeowners should store
such in other safer areas in the home.
In case of flooding danger in the
basement, homeowners should move all electrical items from the basement to
avoid the risk of fire damage.
No homeowner wishes for misfortunes
such as water damage to their basement. It is however not always a guarantee
that it may never happen, some conditions such as flooding are completely
beyond the control of anyone. When this happens, having a water damage restoration Milwaukee company
handle the mess would be a perfect mess to ensure a home is restored back to
normalcy.
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