How Long Does Water Damage Take to Ruin a Home in Lower Manhattan?

3/12/2020 (Permalink)

Water damage can become worse over a long period of time and is extremely annoying to a homeowner. The best way to deal with it is to act as fast as possible and rectify the problem immediately. Prolonging the problem might cause health risks and potentially destroy your precious belongings that are irreplaceable or even important documents. 

In the First Few Minutes of Water Damage

It is important to note that water can travel extremely fast and spread very quickly in your home. In the first few minutes, it can diffuse into everything that it comes into contact with-imagine your carpets and wallpaper becoming increasingly wet. In the initial stage, the first items that potentially can suffer from damage include your paper goods. This consists of your paper documents or books. They can become irreversibly damaged as the water changes the structure of the paper and dilutes the ink. Additionally, porous materials in your house such as your carpet padding and wiring will start absorbing water. 

In the First 24 Hours

Following an entire day of water damage, the aforementioned porous material will begin to break down and deform. Metal objects and surfaces might become rusty and tarnished. Items that are made from wood will start to swell up from absorbing the large amounts of water. In just 24 hours, dangerous molds can start to form with the forming of spores. You will also notice a strong musty odor that is prevalent in the affected areas. 

In the First 48 Hours

After two whole days of water damage, the mold starts to spread and grow more extensively with the increase in moisture. Their spores become airborne and might be absorbed into respiratory systems. At this point the studs in the wall and the wooden components of the structures in your house also begin to swell and warp. The metal structures also begin to corrode as the rusting process worsens. 

After 48 hours, your carpets might not be able to be salvaged from the absorption of water.

After One Week

After a week the damage becomes more severe as the structural integrity of your house becomes compromised. The mold can turn into a biohazard that can seriously harm your family. The items in your house that have been damaged by water are no longer safe to use by this point. Repair costs would be extremely high at this stage of water damage. Unfortunately, most insurance policies will not want to cover these damages because they have to act immediately to mitigate the problem. Your house also becomes uninhabitable because of the dangerous mold and possible contamination of drinking water. The airborne spores will also make the air quality fall. 

The Importance of Quick Action

Water damage can arise from many different sources. These include lousy plumbing, broken appliances, or heavy rains. The important thing is that you act on it as fast as possible. Here at SERVPRO, our experts understand that time is of the essence when dealing with water damage. Work with our team of professionals to formulate a plan to solve your water damage problems that are curated to your needs.