Health Hazards Associated with Water Damage in Your Business

4/23/2019 (Permalink)

Health hazards caused by water damage to buildings in Bradley County can escalate quickly. Within just a few minutes, the water can seep into other areas increasing damages and costs for insurance claims. Items like drywall, wood, furnishings, carpet, and precious antiques will warp, swell and eventually split.

Quick Action is Essential

Hiring a water damage restoration company like SERVPRO of Bradley County as soon possible is essential to saving as many items in the building as possible. Once furnishings begins to swell and warp, it will be more difficult to save the items. Carpets absorb water like a sponge and require immediate attention. As the drywall begins to soak up water, more walls will need to be replaced. Once the drywall is wet, the building structure could become affected by mold, and a musty smell will be noticeable in the air. The longer the water sits, the more contaminants will be found in the water and the building.

Appearance of Mold and Fungi

If the water damaged building is not treated quickly, within days, fungi could begin to appear and develop a musty odor. When water is present, the relative humidity will also rise which creates additional moisture in the air. This excess moisture can damage desks, furniture, electronics, and even appliances. The conducive condition for mold proliferation increases as the moisture level rises. Also, people who have respiratory issues could become increasingly ill.

Black Water Contamination

Black water is raw sewage or converted gray water that has been standing within the building or pipes for days or up to a week.

Once water has been in an area for this length of time, mold spores have developed into fungi and mold. This growth will affect paper coverings, dry wall, books, paper and building materials. Quick action is required to stem the water damage to business data. Discoloration can also occur when water affects the chemicals in furnishings and other materials. The longer the water remains in the building, the more items will need to be discarded and replaced. Consider SERVPRO as the immediate response team to get your business back up and functioning. 

Commercial Building Restoration Services

We are available 24 hours a day to get your Bradley County business back up and running. Call (423) 614-5552 if you experience water damage in your business.