Why you need to Repair Water Damage Quickly It is an unfortunate reality that many people underestimate the potential damage water can cause with even limited exposure time. Chemistry teaches that water can be a base or perhaps an acid depending on environmental factors meaning that in high acid environments, water provides a base as well as in low pH environments, water is slightly acidic. The mutable nature of water affords water a chance to carve through solid rock to produce beautiful natural wonders but this same ability can also destroy drywall, plumbing materials, along with other common building materials. This point, however, is usually forgotten when people deal with water damage.
baltimore water damageWhen dealing with water damage, many people simply focus on the top layer water and neglect to do anything whatsoever for that layers water which have penetrated the subsurface or been absorbed in to the gypsum board (aka drywall and sheetrock) and sill plates usually due to the double whammy of they don't comprehend the risks plus they do not have the correct extraction equipment. Wikipedia reports that gypsum board is "easily damaged by contact with water" and "supports the development of mold." While gypsum board is treated to make it more water-resistant, if the gypsum board be punctured or should water, as in the situation water damage, collect around the unprotected area of the gypsum board, the porous gypsum board will then readily absorb and contain the water. The longer this absorbed water stays inside the gypsum board the more damage it causes.
Unlike fire damage that leaves an obvious and generally static path of damage, water damage can be subtle and can manifest its destruction over a period of time. In opposition to the immediate destruction caused by fire, water, similar in lots of ways to worry, can slowly chip away in the host until it requires extensive repair at a price that's MUCH higher and also over a place Bigger than initial exposure could have been required to treat. The subtle nature water is exactly what causes water damage and mold to be regularly underestimated and, therefore, undertreated in real world case scenarios.
baltimore water damageUnfortunately, despite the best intention and valiant effort of many honorable do-it-yourselfers, their efforts are for naught as they simply don't have the the equipment for remediation and such equipment is not commonly offered at the local rental shop. At best these people might have use of a commercial carpet cleaner which can effectively remove the top layer of water but does nothing to enter the subflooring or remove the absorbed water so they will stop when the area feels dry and can leave a fan on. This process is extremely similar to the method employed by remediation professionals within the infancy from the water restoration profession but it was soon delivered to pasture because it was quickly proved to be ineffective, at best, along with a catalyst for decomposition and mold growth, at worst.
The best way to combat water damage and mold, and to prevent the short and long term devastation brought on by water damage and mold, would be to call an expert water damage restoration company as soon as the damage is found. As the honorable do-it-yourselfer may have the unrelenting urge to interrupt out their equipment and assist the professional water damage company, the easiest way a do-it-yourselfer could profit the company is by disabling the origin from the water damage and mold (if possible), ensuring the region is free from electrical risks, and ensuring the affected area is free of charge of debris and physical hazards (if possible) so the professionals can extract the water as soon as possible to minimize the restoration time.