How Can Water Damage Your Home Residential Water Damage Water damage to your home can occur quickly and lead to numerous problems. It’s important to know about the various ways in which water can damage your home in order to prevent against them. Here are some ways in which water damage can arise. Water Entering the Home Rainwater can enter the home through leaks, typically via the roof or basement walls. This may occur slowly and go unnoticed at first causing interior damage to walls and flooring. This type of damage can be particularly severe, as it damages the interior structure of your home. Roofs that have asphalt shingles can be prone to leakage. The shingles tend to curl up and tear as they get older allowing rainwater to enter the home. In addition, roof flashing that is bent or pulling away is often a cause of leaks. Rainwater can also seep into your basement at weak spots during a storm. This seepage may go unnoticed for a long time. You may initially discover that your basement is leaking because you smell mold and mildew. It is important to do periodic inspections to make sure you do not have any leaks. Appliances Not Working Appliances, especially the washing machine, water heater, and kitchen sink, may develop leaks during usage. These leaks may start out small, from an ill-fitting washer or gasket at a joint. Or they may be larger, from a compromised or weakened pipe that has a hole. When you’ve experienced this type of water damage, it’s important to service the appliance to make sure there are no wet electrical wires that could cause a short or shock to the user. Secondary Damage One of the biggest impacts of water damage is what happens after the fact. Secondary water damage occurs from residue water that has not been properly cleaned or high levels of humidity that are impacting drying. Drywall that has absorbed water will often grow mold or other fungus. Molds and mildews start to grow in only 24 – 48 hours and, when left unaddressed, can cause unhealthy respiratory distress. What To Do if You Have Water Damage When you’ve experienced water damage, it’s important to get the issue addressed as soon as possible. Over time, damage can lead to structural, health, and safety issues. DC Water Restoration serves clients in the greater Washington DC area and knows that you need help to arrive quickly. We will assess the damage and start removing water right away to minimize home damage. If you need water damage restoration, call us at 1-202-792-7445 or contact us on our website. Call (757) 434-6263 Report Loss Online Report Loss Form Fill out our online report loss form for a quick quote response! Just click button below to get started! No matter how serious the situation, we will provide you emergency service that offers true peace of mind. All you need to do is call Water Damage Restoration & Reconstruction Experts of DC or email us to get a call back in seconds!