Water damage can come from many sources, ranging from catastrophic to substantially more mundane. While you probably wouldn't wait to address water damage from a flood or burst water main, you may find yourself less inclined to deal with problems from pipes or other plumbing issues. Unfortunately, waiting to deal with water damage can often be costly.
If you think that dripping sink or slow pipe leak aren't critical issues, it's time to think again. Check out these three reasons why waiting to address water damage is rarely a good idea, no matter how minor it may seem.
1. Long-Term Moisture Issues
Did you know that fully drying an area affected by water damage can often be a slow and challenging process? While it's easy enough to wipe up water on non-porous surfaces, the parts of your home most vulnerable to water damage rarely fit this definition. Instead, water leaks often lead to moisture on highly porous surfaces such as drywall, wood flooring, and wood structural elements.
Failing to dry these areas thoroughly can allow moisture to penetrate deep into the surface, where it can cause much more severe damage. For example, hardwood floors that remain damp can warp, discolor, and rot, ultimately forcing you to replace these parts of your home. Hiring a professional to deal with the problem expertly gives you the best chance of avoiding these problems.
2. Insurance Coverage
Your homeowner's insurance policy may cover certain types of water damage, including damage from any unexpected appliance and plumbing failures. Unfortunately, many policies limit protection from ongoing and unaddressed issues. As a result, your insurance probably won't cover damage caused by ignoring a leaking radiator or slow drip under your sink.
Hiring a water damage restoration company to help you with minor water damage will increase your odds of having these repairs covered by your insurance. By dealing with the problem quickly, you'll avoid the possibility that your insurer will deny your claim due to ongoing and unaddressed maintenance problems.
3. Mold Prevention
There's no way around it: mold prevention is much cheaper than mold remediation. The reality is that most homes contain plenty of inactive mold spores, and it only takes the appropriate environment for them to take root. In most cases, mold has everything it needs to grow aside from one key ingredient: moisture.
Even minor leaks can provide sufficient moisture for mold growth, especially as water can quickly travel away from the initial leak location. A professional restoration company will know how to thoroughly evaluate the affected area, ensuring that no moisture remains for mold to take hold and cause problems in the future.
Reach out to a company like Great Lakes Abatement Co., Inc to learn more.
