Assuming a small leak from an appliance such as a refrigerator, dishwasher, or ice maker poses no risk to you or your family is one of the most common and expensive mistakes that homeowners make. The water that creates the leak comes from a clean supply; you probably feel safe; however, this assumption does not always hold.
Although the water is clean when you first get it from its connected public water supply, like most liquids, it can become contaminated as soon as it starts to leak into your home, including walls, floors, and insulation. A small leak could turn into a much larger problem by creating extensive damage to your property due to structural damage, mold growth, and health risks if it is not repaired immediately. Homeowners in Brunswick need to understand the hidden dangers involving “clean” water leaks.
By utilizing professional Water Damage Restoration services in Brunswick, homeowners can solve their problems with water damage without worrying about any contamination spreading. If you have searched for Water Damage Restoration Near Me, chances are your home is already affected by a small leak.
What Is Clean Water in Water Damage Restoration?
There are three categories used to define water damage caused by flooding or some other event: Category 1 – Clean Water; Category 2 – Grey Water; and Category 3 – Black Water. Clean Water is simply water that comes from an uncontaminated or sanitary source and does not contain any contaminants.
Sources Of Water That Are Safe To Drink
Sources of water that are safe to drink include taps, broken pipes, overflowing sinks, or any appliance that uses safe/clean water to operate.
Although the water is deemed safe at first, the potential exists for extensive structural damage to occur. Even water that is deemed safe will quickly cause damage to flooring, walls, and cabinets when left sitting.
Water Damage Restoration Brunswick companies will come and remove your safe drinking water before it can become contaminated.
Why Clean Drinking Water Is Not Always Clean After Time Passes
One of the biggest myths about leaks caused by safe drinking water is that they are harmless after just sitting there for a short period of time. The truth is that safe drinking water can become unsafe to drink much faster than you might think.
Materials That Create A Healthy Environment Have Contamination From Water
When there is water touching materials like drywall, insulation, wood, or dirt, the water has the ability to gather bacteria and microorganisms.
Once there are microorganisms and bacteria in the water, the water is now classified as grey water and represents a moderate health hazard. This can happen within a 24- to 48-hour period.
This is why it is so important for Water Damage Restoration Brunswick technicians to come immediately to deal with water that has leaked from dishwashers, refrigerators, and/or other appliances or plumbing.
Refrigerator Leaks And Other Areas Of Concern
Refrigerator leaks are often overlooked as one of the top causes of water damage in a home.
How Do Refrigerator Leaks Occur?
Many refrigerators get water through a water supply line that runs to ice makers and water dispensers. Over time, these water supply lines to refrigerators can become loose, broken, or damaged.
Because many refrigerators weigh a lot and are difficult to move, it is likely that refrigerator leaks go unnoticed for a long period of time because of slow leaks.
Many times, Water Damage Restoration Brunswick technicians find extensive structural damage caused by slow-leaking refrigerators
Water Leaks: How They Lead to Mold & Damage
The Rapid Growth of Mold After Water
In addition to their potential to lead to electrical hazards, water leaks can create the ideal conditions for mold growth. Mold requires wet conditions to develop and can begin to form shortly after there is an influx of water.
Mold growth can begin in as little as 24 hours of moisture being present, and once the spores are dispersed, they will contaminate anything in their path, including air systems.
Water damage restoration professionals in Brunswick can mitigate the damage by drying out the affected area before mold has an opportunity to take hold.
Health Risks from Exposure to Mold
Mold can cause negative health effects by causing respiratory irritation, allergic reactions, headaches, and other adverse health effects.
Homeowners searching for water damage restoration services may find that there is already mold present because the problem was not remedied quickly enough.
Structural Damage from Appliance Leaks
Even small amounts of leaking water can cause significant damage to structural materials in your home.
Damage to the Flooring/Subfloor
If there is standing water beneath your flooring, it can lead to warping, buckling, and deterioration of the structure. Wood floors and laminate materials are extremely vulnerable to prolonged wetness.
If possible, water damage restoration experts in Brunswick will attempt to salvage flooring materials before they have a chance to deteriorate further.
Damage to Cabinets/Walls
Water leaking from a refrigerator may cause damage to cabinets and/or walls. Cabinets may become swollen, while drywall may become soft or collapse.
Water damage restoration in Brunswick helps to ensure that these types of issues do not become major renovations.
Electrical Hazards from Water Damage
Once moisture has reached electrical sources such as outlets, wiring, or appliances, it poses a significant risk for electrical hazards. Water and electricity do not mix. Even small leaks in or around your electrical outlets can create a dangerous situation with wiring potentially corroding, creating short circuits, or causing an electrical fire.
Water Damage Brunswick technicians will evaluate electrical risks before restoration begins.
Keeping Your Home Safe
Quickly addressing leaks not only protects your home’s structure but also protects the safety of everyone who lives in the home.
Restoring water damage in Brunswick as soon as possible will help to reduce the risk of moisture creating electrical hazards.
Why You Need to Use a Professional for Water Damage Restoration
There are many homeowners who try to resolve small leaks on their own using towels and fans. However, these methods may only help to remove visible water and will not help with hidden moisture.
Hidden Moisture Detection
There is a good possibility that there is still water trapped under your flooring, inside your walls, and/or behind your appliances long after you have removed any visible water from your home.
Professional Water Damage Restoration Brunswick technicians use moisture meters and infrared thermal imaging cameras to locate hidden moisture.
Using Industrial Drying Equipment
Commercial air movers and dehumidifiers remove moisture much more efficiently than household fans.
When homeowners are looking for Water Damage Restoration Near Me, it is typically because they need professional drying equipment and restoration solutions available.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the water that comes from a refrigerator when it leaks considered “clean”?
Although the water that comes from your refrigerator should be considered clean initially, the moment that it makes contact with any building materials, or if it sits for more than a short period of time, it will no longer be considered clean and, given time, will likely become contaminated. - How long will it take for mold to develop after there has been a water leak in your house?
Mold growth could begin in a location where there is residual moisture in as little as 24–48 hours after the water leak occurs. - Would a small appliance leak cause serious water damage?
Yes, a small appliance leak can lead to severe structural damage, mold growth, and flooring failure over time. - Is it OK to attempt to dry water damage from a small leak on your own?
Under most circumstances, a small amount of water from a small leak can be treated on your own; however, hidden moisture could require professional equipment to dry completely. - How quickly should I expect the restoration of my home to occur after experiencing water damage?
The restoration process should begin almost immediately after the water damage to limit the growth of mold and prevent further structural damage.
Do Not Ignore “Clean” Water Leaks
What may look like a minor leak in your home from an appliance could turn into a very high cost for restoration. Clean water will not remain clean for long; even small amounts of a leak can develop into mold issues, structural issues, and health issues.
Professional Water Damage Restoration Brunswick will remove the water, locate and remove the hidden residual moisture, and safely restore the home to the condition it was in prior to the water damage. Quick action will prevent contamination from spreading and protect the property value of your home for many years.
911 Restoration of Wilmington is a fully licensed and insured company that provides reliable Water Damage Brunswick services for homeowners and businesses throughout the Brunswick region. The expert technicians provide complete restoration of property damage using state-of-the-art equipment and methods to deliver quality service to their customers while minimizing long-term structural and public health risks due to water damage.