Water Damage Causes, Effects And Restoration

By Author: Jim Strange
Total Articles: 21
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There are very few things worse than water or fire damage and the aftermath of disruption to your property can cause permanent psychological effects. It has been estimated that the total cost of the flood/water damage caused by the 2007 floods was £3 billion and the total number of claims exceeded 60,000.

Other than floods Water damage can originate by different sources such as: broken dishwasher hose, washing machine overflow, dishwasher leakage, broken pipes, clogged toilet, leaking roof, moisture behind walls, foundation cracks, plumbing leaks, and bad weather (snow, rain).

Water damage describes a large number of possible losses caused by water intruding where it will enable attack of a material or system by destructive processes such as rotting of wood, growth, rusting of steel, de-laminating of materials such as plywood , and many, many others.

Water damage can also cause health hazards if ignored. Like Slight discolorations on the walls and ceiling may go unnoticed for a long time as they gradually spread and get more severe. Moulds spread throughout the living space leading to serious health consequences. ...
... Symptoms caused by mould allergy are watery, itchy eyes, a chronic cough, headaches or migraines, difficulty breathing, rashes, tiredness, sinus problems, nasal blockage and frequent sneezing.

Water damage restoration can be performed by property management teams, building maintenance personnel, or by the homeowners themselves; however, contacting a certified professional water damage restoration specialist is often regarded as the safest way to restore water damaged property due to their training and extensive experience. Most are usually listed under "Fire and Water Restoration" and they can help speed repairs, whether for individual homeowners or for the largest of institutions Fire and Water Restoration companies are regulated by the appropriate state's Department of Consumer Affairs - usually the state contractor's license board.

What you should do immediately the water damage or flood occurs?
Call Water Damage Restoration Specialists immediately and notify your insurance company to make a claim. Start the drying process immediately. If the property is affected by sewage or foul water there is a risk of contamination and the following should be carried out immediately.
Remove all damp furniture, items and floor coverings for disposal or drying.
Install industrial dehumidifiers to commence immediate drying
Sanitise all of the affected areas to prevent contamination.

Preventing infection is vital and although we understand how difficult it is to maintain normal standards of personal and household hygiene you should always wash your hands thoroughly after being in contact with anything which has been contaminated with flood water, before preparing food, after caring for pets.

If your refrigerator and freezers have been affected
do not use the food
make a list of all of the affected food for insurance purposes
bag it securely so as not to attract vermin
SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY PERSONAL HEALTH CONCERNS IMMEDIATELY CONTACT YOUR GP FOR ADVICE.

For Water damage restoration, you can call TapcoHomeDry.co.uk, established since 1971 and are the Home Counties and London water damage, fire and flood restoration and damp proofing company.

TapcohomeDry.com : Water Damage Restoration and Fire Damage Restoration Specialists London