3 Health Risks Of Living With Water Damage And Why You Need Restoration Services

Posted on: 13 July 2022

What comes to your mind when you hear about water damage? You probably envision a flooded basement or a leaky roof. However, water damage can occur any time there is excess moisture in the home. If left unaddressed, water damage can put you at risk of serious health conditions. Here are three health risks associated with living with water damage. 

1. Mold-Related Illnesses

Mold is a type of fungus that loves wet, damp places. Water damage presents mold with a perfect environment to grow. And they are bad news. Ingesting or inhaling mold spores can cause allergies, respiratory illness, and aggravate asthma. If you are allergic to mold, exposure can cause sneezing, watery eyes, and a runny nose. And if you have asthma you may experience difficulty breathing, wheezing, and coughing. In severe cases, mold exposure can even lead to bronchitis or pneumonia. All of these illnesses can land you in the hospital. That means more money is spent on medical bills. So if you have water damage in your home, you do not want to delay water damage restoration services.

2. Sewage-Related Diseases

Sewage water is a dangerous type of water damage since it can contain all sorts of toxins, viruses, and bacteria. If sewage water comes into contact with your skin, it can cause serious infections. This is especially true if you have cuts. Also, inhaling the hydrogen sulfide fumes from sewage water can lead to serious health issues. For example, you could develop dizziness, poor memory, headaches, or fatigue. Worse still, if the sewage water finds its way into your drinking water, you will be at higher risk of hepatitis A, salmonellosis, or typhoid fever. That is why it is best to call a professional water damage restoration team right away if you have any sewage backup in your home. They will dry out and dehumidify your home, as well as sanitize and disinfect any surfaces that may have been contaminated.

3. Pest-Related Diseases

Water damage exposes your home to all sorts of nasty critters, like mosquitoes and rodents. And these critters expose you to diseases. For example, standing water offers mosquitoes an environment for breeding, and mosquitoes are known for transmitting diseases like malaria and Zika virus. If you have rats or mice running around, they can spread diseases like salmonella and hantavirus. This makes it all the more vital to call a water damage restoration team immediately to get rid of standing water and help prevent an infestation of these dangerous pests.

When you think about it, water damage is a serious issue. The risks associated with this type of situation are not just limited to your home's structural integrity; there also exist potential health problems that could affect everyone in the house. To avoid these health risks, seek water damage restoration services right away.

Contact a local water damage restoration service to learn more. 

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