Water Damage: Why It’s Happening And What To Do Next

Having an indoor swimming pool in your basement seems pretty cool, right? What if the swimming pool isn’t really a swimming pool? What if it’s just your basement flooded with unwanted water, and the “floaties” are your belongings? Any homeowner in that position would ask the same two questions: Why did this happen and What do I do next. Here is your guide to water damage; both how to prevent it, and what to do when disaster strikes.

Of course, if disaster just so happens to pick your home to strike next, trained professionals such as the White Knight Carpet Rescue Emergency Response Team (ERT) should be called immediately. Still, water acts as a multiplication pool for bacteria, which leads to further problems like mold and destruction of your belongings. With the risk of further damage weighing heavily on the simple fact of how fast the mess is cleaned up, waiting would not be one of your smartest choices. Call for help as soon as possible. An inspector will be sent to your home to help assess the issue and help you decide what to do next.

Water damage is generally categorized into three groups depending on the cleanliness of the water that is flooding your home.

Category One: the source of water is clean or fresh. This water will not cause illness or contamination. (ex. Dishwasher or waterline)

Category Two: water that may have bacteria in it and may cause illness. Use caution when coming into contact with this water.

Category Three: water that has a lot of bacteria and should be dealt with by professionals. (ex. Sewage water, toilet overflow, etc.)

The severity of the damage depends a lot on the quality of the water that is has entered your home.

The other pressing matter is where all of the water coming from and how it got this bad? There are several possible answers to this question. Many coming from the general build of your home. Does your house have a flat roof or an angled roof? Sure, most flat roofs are slightly angled to allow water to run off, but some can get clogged which can cause your roof to leak or even cave in.

What condition are your gutters in? Do you have gutters? Are the gutters taking rainfall off your roof to the right location? All of these are good questions and all could solve your search for where the issue originated. Gutters should be clean to allow water to run far enough from your home to prevent damp soil and flooding.

Pipes are another thing to check on your search for the source of water. Water damage can come from leaking pipes, old connections, and sometimes even burst pipes. When it’s cold outside, the water in pipes tends to freeze which causes the metal pipes to burst, leaving you with a big mess to clean up. Stay aware of the conditions of your pipes to help prevent water damage to your home.

Whether your water damage crisis is as drastic as your very own indoor “swimming pool,” or something on a smaller scale such as leaky pipes and moldy carpet, consult professionals such as the White Knight Carpet Rescuers to avert the risk of further damage and save yourself a lot of stress.