The Dangers of Stagnant Water

6/19/2019 (Permalink)

The greatest danger of a water damage situation is electricity. Be sure to shut down power to affected areas before work begins.

Standing water in your home can affect your property in ways that can be financially prohibitive to address as well as creating severe health issues. Any time there is flooding of any kind, water extraction needs to happen as quickly as possible. Water simply getting into your home in any way creates a serious issue but the longer water is allowed to stagnate, the more serious of a problem it creates. Here are four dangers associated with stagnant water. 

1. Bacteria

Some of the most common health issues related to stagnant water are malaria, Legionnaires’ disease, and dengue. When water is clean, such as from a burst or leaky pipe, it doesn't start off containing bacteria but bacteria breed quickly, which means it can quickly become contaminated. Flooding that occurs as the result of storms or sewage overflows will generally already contain bacteria. The longer it sits, the more prevalent the bacteria become, creating a major health hazard. The longer water stands in your home, the more likely you are to contract a serious disease from it.

2. Mold and Mildew

Mold and mildew both have the potential to create a variety of health issues. Mildew generally has a strong odor, but mold will often be odorless so you may not even be aware of its presence. Mold spores are highly toxic, however, so if you have mold or mildew in your home, you will still feel the effects of it even if you can't see or smell it. One of the biggest dangers of stagnant water is that it allows mold and mildew to develop deep inside furniture or carpet padding or even inside your walls.

3. Risk of Injury

Waiting to have standing water extracted can pose a serious risk to those in the property. If circuit breakers are not turned off, there is the potential of being electrocuted. If the water is murky and can't be seen clearly through, there is also the risk of injuring yourself on unseen objects.

4. Structural Damage

Drywall works essentially the same way as a sponge does and is vulnerable to a process known as wicking. This is where the lower edges of the drywall will absorb water and transport it high up into the wall. Once it is there, it is generally hidden by the paint and even feels dry to the touch, so you may have no idea there is water in your walls. As the water dries, it will warp the drywall or even make its way into the wooden beams that form the support structure for your entire house. Once water works its way into the support beams of your home, it can wreak all kinds of havoc that can be very costly to fix.

5. Dry Rot

Dry rot is actually a fungus that produces spores which travel through the air. The fungus feeds off of the cellulose and hemicellulose in wood, which are the components which give the wood its strength. The mold spores need three things to grow into a fungus: heat (ideally between 70 and 77 degrees), moisture and a source of food (wood). When flooding occurs inside your home, it creates the ideal environment for the fungus that causes dry rot to develop. It is important to remember once again, that the entire support structure of your home is made of wood, which is largely hidden behind drywall. 

Any time you have a flood, it is imperative that water extraction takes place as quickly as possible. Once the majority of the water has been extracted, however, it can still leave furniture, floors and even walls overly damp. This is why it is important to work with a professional restoration company. The moisture you can't see is generally what will do the most damage. A professional restoration company will not only take care of the water you can see but also the moisture you can't.