Youngstown receives 37.3 inches of average rainfall per year, with summer being the wettest season, causing a high risk of flash flooding and water damage for residents. With disaster restoration services Warren and surroundings easily available, you shouldn’t wait during a flood situation and act promptly to minimize further damage.
Why You Shouldn’t Delay Flood Cleanup?
Delayed flood cleanup in Youngstown, OH can cause serious health risks, property damage, and result in expensive structural repairs. In fact, according to EPA guidelines, floodwater can seep through porous building materials and cause them to swell, warp, or discolor within minutes. And if it’s left for more than 24 hours, mold growth can occur, further worsening the situation.
However, you can avoid all of this if you hire professionals from Americon Restoration services. Our technicians are IICRC-certified, and we offer 24/7 emergency response services to deal with situations like flood cleanup Youngstown, OH. Not only that, you can also reach us for mold remediation services Youngstown, or if you need help with fire damage cleanup.
8 Dangers of Delaying Water Damage Cleanup in Your House?
- Mold Growth and Respiratory Issues
- Allergies and Irritation
- Structural Damage and Collapses
- Electrical Hazards
- Pest Infestations
- Toxic Chemical Exposure
- Compromised Indoor Air Quality
- Expensive Structural Repairs
If you don’t act quickly to clean up water damage on your property, there’s a list of things that can occur and turn the inconvenience into a catastrophic situation. Let’s learn here what you might have to face if you delay water damage cleanup in your house.
1. Mold Growth and Respiratory Issues
Water is the ideal habitat for mold spores. So if a property is not dried and cleaned up within 24 hours of a significant rainfall or flash flood, mold development can occur. This can pose a genuine health risk for the residents and compromise the structural integrity of your property as well.
According to the American Lung Association, exposure to mold for longer periods of time can lead to various allergies, heightened asthma, and other respiratory issues. You need water damage restoration Youngstown services to swiftly deal with the flooding situation at your property, if you want to avoid these serious health issues.
Some companies like AK RestoWorks offer water cleanup services in Warren. However, no matter who you call, just ensure they clean and dry your property within 24 hours of the water exposure.
2. Allergies and Irritation
Mold alone is not the reason behind various health problems from water damage. In fact, several bacteria and dust mites also thrive in the flood water and can make you sick. According to UCLA Health, bacteria developing in the stagnant water, including that from rain, can lead to allergies and irritation.
For example, you might encounter skin rashes, itchy nostrils, eye discomfort, infections, and aggravated asthma. Also, debris in the floodwater can lead to small cuts and injuries, increasing your risk of tetanus infection.
But don’t worry; emergency water cleanup services in Youngstown, Ohio like Americon Restoration can help avoid this situation by promptly cleaning the water damage (within 24 hours), making your house liveable again.
3. Structural Damage and Collapses
A delayed flood cleanup can cause structural damage to your property and a collapse in severe cases. Also, you might lose your personal belongings (documents, furniture, electronic items, and family heirlooms) and be denied insurance coverage if water damage is not addressed earlier.
According to a study from BuildingScience, porous materials like wood crack and lose their ability to withstand their designed load when exposed to moisture for a long time. In addition, when your hardwood floor and furnishings are exposed to water, harmful fungal growth can occur.
Also, high humidity can cause gypsum drywall to sag and eventually collapse. In fact, frequent flooding can also weaken your building’s foundation through hydrostatic pressure and erosion, if not dealt with immediately.
4. Electrical Hazards
In the U.S., approximately 1000 individuals lose their lives annually due to electrical injuries, with electrocution being the primary cause of death. So you should be careful about water entering your property and damaging your electrical system, as this puts you at high risk of electrical shocks, short circuits, and electrical fires.
And if an electrical fire happens, you will also need fire damage cleanup Warren services, increasing your water damage cleanup budget. Also, there will be more injuries, respiratory issues, and burns.
5. Pest Infestations
If the storm damage repair Warren team doesn’t clean up the water immediately, your property can also attract pests, introducing you and your family to a number of health problems. For example, pooling water in the basement can become a hub for mosquito growth, leading to Malaria and Dengue fever.
Businesses such as Americon Restoration offer emergency water cleanup assistance in Warren, helping in the prevention of severe health problems and reducing damage to your property. Our technicians serve both residential and commercial damage restoration needs and we have dedicated experts for different services.
So now, whether it’s emergency flood cleanup or smoke odor removal, Warren services help is just a call away.
6. Toxic Chemical Exposure
Water damage can also lead to toxic chemical exposure. For example, when asbestos-based building material is damaged through flooding or rain, it releases asbestos fibers into the air and water, which can cause a number of deadly respiratory diseases in humans when inhaled.
Moreover, when lead paint is exposed to water damage, it results in the release of toxic lead particles in the air, eventually causing lead poisoning. There are a ton of companies like AK RestoWorks that can help avoid these situations. But it’s a smart decision to evaluate all local providers before you commit to one.
7. Compromised Indoor Air Quality
Bacteria, allergens, toxic chemicals, and other mycotoxins can begin to flourish in your house, if cleanup after flood or water damage is not done immediately; compromising the indoor air quality in your house. This is especially problematic for allergy sufferers in Youngstown and Warren.
They will constantly experience headaches, fatigue, and other respiratory problems. But all of this can be avoided if you hire disaster restoration services Warren for emergency water-damage cleanup. These experts will not only dry and clean up your home, but they will also assist you with insurance claims.
Our experts at Americon Restoration are well-equipped to deal with your insurance adjuster and they will negotiate full insurance coverage for you. And don’t worry, you’re only supposed to pay after your insurer releases the money.
8. Expensive Structural Repairs
According to HomeGuide, water damage repair can cost anywhere between $150-$100,000, depending on the volume of the water and the severity of the damage. So for instance, if there’s a burst pipe situation and you immediately call on a water-damage repair team to deal with the situation, it’ll cost you around $150-$250 per linear foot.
But if some time has passed and now there’s mold growth along with the water damage that you have to deal with, then mold remediation alone will cost you around $1,500-$15,000+.
How Fast Does Water Damage Spread in Your Home?
We all know water makes its own way and when a property is flooded, it spreads throughout the home. In just a few minutes, water can penetrate drywall, flooring, and furniture (all of which are porous materials), immediately starting to damage them with swelling and discoloration.
In just 24 hours, mold spores start growing on damp materials like drywall, wood, and carpet. And if nothing is done to control this spread, structural weakening will start including metal corrosion and wood warping.
After 3-7 days, expect severe mold infestation, the dry wall will start to crumble and air quality will significantly decline, resulting in respiratory risks. After a week of standing water, it becomes contaminated with mold, sewage mixture, and bacteria growth, which sometimes requires full structural restoration and affected material replacement. Always call the restoration companies within the first few hours of a flood to ensure restoration starts the same day.
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