Water Damage - Why it's important to act quickly |
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While each case is unique, water damage typically follows a similar pattern. It is important to act quickly with water leakage or flooding. If you have water damage, please contact a reputable water restoration company to immediately extract water and help to disinfect to prevent microbial growth. Be sure to get an estimate of the charges before you sign a contract. For claim purposes, if you can, please take pictures and document what you can.
The damage water can do :
In less than an hour:
- Moving water quickly spreads to other areas like up sheetrock and up insulation.
- Furniture may stain carpet permanently.
- Moisture-sensitive furniture may discolor.
- Paper goods or other porous materials may be ruined.
In one to 24 hours:
- Furniture delaminates or swells: legs can split.
- Pressed wood swells or disintegrates.
- Bacterial odor becomes apparent.
- Uncoated metal surfaces may tarnish.
- Normal household odors strengthen.
In 2 to 7 days:
- Microbial growth may appear, accompanied by a musty odor.
- Drywall swells and disintegrates.
- Door and window casings swell and distort or delaminate.
- Wood decking and studs begin to swell, warp, and split.
- Electronic components may malfunction.
In 7 days or longer:
- Microbial growth may appear, accompanied by a musty odor.
- Wood components warp and split.
- Chemicals within wood dissolve, discolor or destroy finishes.
- Serious occupant health hazards may occur.
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