The number of potential risks that come with water damage are insurmountable, but the health risks are some of the most serious, and can have a severe, long-lasting impact. The first step to understanding risks that come with water damage, is to understand the three different types of water damage.
- Clear water: Clear water damage is the least invasive type of water damage, but can still pose serious risks for your home and your health. This is called clear water because this is damage that occurs from clean water. If left unaddressed, clear water can turn into grey water, and begin emitting toxins into your home. Clear water can also cause mold to begin growing, which can go unnoticed and cause respiratory issues
- Grey water: Grey water is the second type of water damage, and can leave your home looking much worse than before. Grey water gets its name from the color, as it is dirty and unclean, but not dark enough to carry dangerous bacteria. If left alone, grey water can turn into black water and cause much more damage.
- Black water: the final and most harmful type of water damage. It is named black water damage because the water is very dirty, often carrying bacteria and other harmful substances that can lead to respiratory issues, illnesses, and possibly death. When dealing with black water damage, it is imperative to call a professional to fully remove the water and any damage it has left behind.
What Illnesses can Water Damage Cause?
One of the biggest issues that is caused by water damage is the mold that results from it. Water easily fosters the growth of mold, and in the right environment (like your basement), it can thrive causing serious damage to the health of you and those around you. Short exposure time to mold is not deathly, but prolonged exposure can cause serious health issues. Some of the symptoms that can occur from mold exposure include, but aren’t limited to:
- Stuffy nose
- Red or itchy eyes
- Chronic coughing
- Development of Asthma
- Fever
- Headaches
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
While none of these are truly life-threatening ailments, they can harm your immune system, and cause you to be more susceptible to catching other illnesses, and damaging your body even more than it already was from mold exposure.
Removing Water Damage
If you have water damage in your home that is more than you feel that you can handle, your best bet is to call a professional and get a quote for water removal. If there is a small amount of clear water, it is usually a good bet to try to remove it on your own, then contact someone to check for residual mold or water damage that was left behind. If you have health issues, it is best to not try to remove it, and contact help to ensure your health is prioritized.
If you are unsure of who to call for water removal, the experts at Americon Restoration are more than happy to rid your home of water damage. We specialize in flooding, water damage, and severe weather damage. We know you may have concerns about COVID-19 and we want to assure you that we are doing everything in our power to keep our employees and our customers healthy and safe. Americon Restoration is taking all necessary precautions before entering our customers’ homes and closely following CDC guidelines. We want you and your family to feel safe and stay healthy! Please contact us through our website or by phone at (216) 221-5200.
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