It doesn’t matter if it’s from a broken pipe, a leaky roof, or flooding from severe weather; water damage causes significant problems for your home and property. Not only can it lead to expensive repairs, but it can also cause health and safety issues as well as harmful mold growth. Below, we’ll talk about some of the consequences of water damage, how to avoid them, and how to be prepared for them if they do happen.
Plumbing Problems
If you have ever been unlucky enough to have an overflowing toilet or backed-up sewage in your drains, then you know it can create a very unsanitary and smelly environment. It can contaminate sinks, showers, bathtubs, toilets, and any other location with a water drain. This type of flooding is usually referred to as “Dirty Water Flooding,” and it can cause serious and costly problems for you and your property. Not only that, but it can also lead to health concerns for you, your family, or anyone else exposed to it.
Dirty water flooding situations need to be dealt with immediately for the health and safety of everyone involved. When dealing with them, it’s important to wear personal protective equipment or PPE. This will consist of things like long pants and sleeves, rubber gloves, rubber boots, goggles, and even a respirator face mask. Not only will these items protect your skin, eyes, and respiratory system, but they will also help keep you clean as well. You’ll want to clean up the area and remove all waste and debris as soon as possible. If the backup happens to be further down the line from your property, then a professional will most likely need to be called to stop the flow. Professional plumbing specialists can also help with pipe lining or repiping if the flooding was caused by damaged pipes.
Some useful tools that will help get you on your way when dealing with flood damage include a heavy duty water pump, a wet vac, an industrial fan, a dehumidifier, and an air air purifier. These tools will help you remove excess water and dry out your space thoroughly and quickly. It’s also important to remember that after the area is dry, it needs to be cleaned and disinfected very thoroughly to destroy any lingering bacteria, viruses, and germs. We recommend using Vital Oxide Disinfectant Spray, Nas-12 Mold & Mildew Stain Remover & All-Purpose Cleaning Solution, and No More Mildew Protective Coating Spray. The Reliable Pronto 2-in-1 Steam Cleaning System is also a great tool for sanitizing and disinfecting without harsh chemicals.
Floodwater/Black Water
Maybe you haven’t heard of the term “Black Water” before, but it is used to refer to floodwater that could be contaminated with raw sewage, chemicals, and other infectious, hazardous, or dangerous materials. It’s known as the most dangerous type of flooding to have in your home or property because it poses a serious health risk to anyone exposed. If you think you may be dealing with contaminated black water, it’s best to stay away and let the professionals handle the situation. If you do happen to come into contact with potentially contaminated water, immediately wash yourself with soap and hot water.
In addition, it is important for the health and safety of the families or any people using the water system that appropriate control measures are in place to prevent legionella bacteria growth in the water systems. Ensuring that the plumbing systems are regularly checked for potentially risky areas and anything else that might be a health and safety issue is important. Getting a Legionella Compliance for Public Buildings
is necessary for the safety of the residents.
Mold & Mildew Growth & The Diseases They Can Cause
Almost everyone is aware that flooding can lead to mold and mildew growth. In fact, mold and mildew have been found to cause several cases of “Sick Building Syndrome.” This has even been the case when the areas in question had been cleared of all visible water. However, even when this is done, the floor, walls, and wall coverings can hold onto moisture long after the flooding is over. In these types of situations, mold can take hold and spread quickly, growing on ceiling tiles, wood, drywall, plaster, paint, wallpaper, insulation, carpets, upholstery, and even airborne particles.
Even just a small amount of time being exposed to mold spores can cause an allergic reaction, sinus congestion, eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, and more. If you are sensitive to mold, you might also experience these symptoms in addition to a more severe reaction, like a fever, shortness of breath, long-term coughing, and other respiratory issues. Moreover, mold and mildew have been known to cause neurological issues in specific long-term exposure situations. Overall, the damaging effects of mold and mildew on our health can be quite significant and vary from person to person.
Long-Term Effects of Mold On Our Health
When flooding is not dealt with immediately or properly, it can lead to serious and significant impacts on our health and well-being. Water-born bacteria and mold will continue to grow and multiply, resulting in potentially life-threatening health issues like asthma and infections. After the widespread flooding of Hurricane Katrina, occurrences known as the “Katrina cough” started happening due to the high levels of mold spores and contaminates present in the air. The Katrina cough spread rapidly throughout New Orleans at the time.
Toxic mold is another issue and cause for concern when it comes to flooding. Molds like Stachybotrys chartarum and Aspergillus Niger are known to produce “mycotoxins.” These toxins cause a wide range of health complications and long-term side effects that can include neurological issues like memory loss, insomnia, anxiety, depression, brain fog, lack of concentration, confusion, and more. Ultimately, these issues can end up severely impacting our day-to-day lives, which is why it’s vital to take care of flooding immediately and completely.
Being Prepared For Flooding
Coping with the hassle and stress of flood damage is easier when you’ve prepared properly. Always do your due diligence and find out ahead of time if your property is located in a flood zone. If your home or business is located in a flood zone, you may need to invest in basic water damage insurance and equipment like a dehumidifier, air purifier, or an industrial fan, and wet vac.
After flooding occurs, it will most likely be too late to rent the equipment you need to prevent irreversible water damage and alleviate dangerous/unhealthy living conditions. This is also especially true after a natural disaster like flooding from heavy rain or storm surge from hurricanes. So, take the time to prepare before the storm or event takes place and purchase the necessary equipment and insurance.
There will be hundreds of other people in your immediate area, all scrambling for the same equipment, tools, and resources as you. If you happen to live in a FEMA-designated flood zone or special flood hazard area, it’ll always be smart and safe to purchase some type of flood insurance, even if you no longer have a mortgage and aren’t legally required to have it.
It’s always best to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. When you prepare for a flooding event, you have a much better chance of quick remediation. Not only will this save you time, but it will also reduce the risks and costs associated with water damage and the health issues that can accompany it.