Was your house recently flooded?
Flooding is one of the worst natural disasters we can face. It wreaks catastrophic damage and loss of life and property. Your house will be lucky if it remains standing and unscathed in the aftermath of a flood. Flooding is problematic because you have to work to protect your house before, during, and after flooding. It takes a multi-tier approach to effectively control. A lapse in any stage can lead to flood-induced damage.
Failure to properly drain and dispose standing flood water will lead to water damage. The water damage will be heightened since floodwaters are a more dangerous mix than normal plumbing water. They are mixed with chemicals, raw sewage, and multiple organisms.
Here are some ways how improper flood drainage leads to water damage.
Mold Growth
Mold comes running right after flooding or water damage has occurred. Even the tiniest amount of standing floodwater can lead to mold growth right away. This is because mold spores are particularly concentrated in floodwater. Floodwater also has more matter for mold to feed and grow off on.
Floodwater induced mold can be even more dangerous. Floodwater might have the more dangerous varieties of mold spores like black mold. Black mold contains mycotoxins which can kill with prolonged exposure.
Wood Rot
Standing water is already bad for your wooden walls. Standing floodwater is even worse. Floodwater contains sewage and a lot of microorganisms. These microorganisms can accelerate the death and decay of your wood. Your floorboards will start to rot and break down if floodwater hasn’t been properly drained. The rot will make its way from the floorboards up to your walls so your entire house will be at risk.
Dampness and Moisture
Any remaining floodwater will also contribute to the humidity levels in your home. It is very important to attain proper moisture levels after a mold. Proper moisture is necessary to preventing mold and other problems. Standing floodwater impedes this particular restoration process and will create a damp atmosphere. This damp atmosphere may be further aggravated if there was the presence of sewage water. The noxious smell and odor of sewage heighten the revulsion of a damp environment.
Rising Groundwater Levels
It is common for the groundwater levels to rise after flooding. Floodwaters seep into the ground and cause the water table to rise. This leads to water seeping up into basements and crawlspaces from the ground. This isn’t good news because it weakens the structural foundations of your housing. It also contributes to an environment perfect for pests and mold.
Undrained floodwater on your property will contribute to this water table. It will prevent you from lowering the water table. You may be futilely trying to drain your basement only to find out the water returning every time.
Conclusion
All the above reasons are why you should contact professionals for flood drainage. Any undrained flood water will only spell bad news for you.
Contact Service Team of Professionals (STOP) for all your flood and water damage needs.
