When is Water Damage in Toronto Dangerous?
Posted in Flood & Water Damage, on July 12, 2024
Water damage can significantly destroy your property, and although it may seem superficial, water damage in your home can be quite dangerous. Water damage often begins as minor leaks, but when left untreated, it can escalate into further issues. These leaks are often caused by clogged gutters or pipes, pipe damage, intense rainfall, poor ventilation, or blocked drains, and without treating the root of the issue, water damage can become dangerous.
It is clear that water damage has become dangerous when a few different things occur. If you or someone in your home becomes chronically ill or begins to experience constant allergy or flu-like symptoms, this could indicate that you are living in a humid environment. Humid environments are known for harboring bacteria, viruses, and even mold. Each of these things can cause illness, and mold can even be toxic to health, especially when inhaled. When water damage causes the structural elements of your home to deteriorate, there is also a lot at risk. Wooden beams and metal pipes are what keep your home standing. If these begin to deteriorate, the integrity of your home may be in danger. Signs of water leaks inside your home are also an indicator of danger. There are a multitude of other indicators that suggest when water damage is dangerous. Electrical issues and hazards, damage to your personal property and prolonged dampness all demonstrate a dangerous level of water damage. It is absolutely crucial that you deal with water damage promptly in order to prevent danger to your home and family.
If you have experienced water damage in Toronto, contact Canada’s Restoration Services for water and flood damage restoration.
Mold Growth and Toxicity
One major sign that your water damage has become dangerous is when you or the members of your home begin to experience constant illness or allergy symptoms. These could be symptoms of mold toxicity or mold allergies, both of which pose a risk to health.
Mold often grows in consistently humid and damp environments and typically occurs when enclosed areas of a home suffer from water damage. When a pipe leaks, the first areas that get hit with water are insulation and internal structures. Since you cannot see these structures you will likely not realize if there is mold present. The moisture in your insulation and wooden elements makes for the perfect breeding ground for mold. Mold growth can begin within 24 hours, so it is important to be diligent when you experience water damage or leaks otherwise, the health risks can be severe.
Health Implications of Mold
Mold can have negative impacts on your health, which is why water damage is considered to be dangerous. When mold spores begin to grow, they can release toxins, called mycotoxins. If you have seasonal allergies or mold allergies, your symptoms will worsen significantly. If anyone in your home has allergies, they can get extremely sick when living in a home with mold as a result of water damage. This can be debilitating and ruin the quality of life of those with allergies. If you’ve had water damage in your home recently and have been experiencing constant illness, you may be suffering from mold exposure.
Mold toxicity is also a symptom of mold exposure. Mold toxicity is when you breathe in air that contains mold spores. When mold grows, it releases spores into the air and these spores can remain airborne for a long time, and this deteriorates the quality of your air. Over time, as you breathe in the mold, you will get sick. Some of the symptoms of mold toxicity include:
- Allergy like symptoms
- Skin Irritation
- Asthma Exacerbation
- Troubles Breathing
- Respiratory Illness
- Worsened Cognitive Function
- Digestive Issues
Structural Damage
Water damage also becomes extremely dangerous when the structure of your home begins to deteriorate. When water damage starts in the pipes, one of the first areas to make contact with the water is the wooden beams of your home. This can be extremely dangerous as the wooden beams are what keep your home standing. When water comes into contact with wood, it can begin to rot. As wood rots, it loses its structural integrity. This means that your home is more susceptible to extreme weather conditions or any other physical damage. If you were to ignore your water damage and allow your wooden elements to rot, your beams would be extremely soft and crumbly. The whole point of wooden beams is to bear the load of your ceilings. walls, and basically your whole home. If your wooden beams are no longer able to do so, you are in for some serious structural damage. Your ceilings can break, causing serious damage, and if there were ever a serious storm, your house could break down. This can seriously hurt you and your family. You can suffer from bad injuries, and your home will be left in shambles. This is why it is imperative that you seek professional help when you are experiencing water damage in your home. Doing so will help you mitigate dangers and ensure that your house remains safe to live in.
Electrical Hazards
When water damage becomes really bad, water can begin to leak into your home. When water begins leaking onto electrical elements and outlets in your home, it can become extremely dangerous to anyone who touches or goes near it. Water can conduct electricity rather quickly, so if there is an open current that comes in contact with water, you risk getting hurt. When water comes into contact with anything electrical, you can get shocked. Electrical shocks can be so strong that they can cause cardiac arrest. It can also burn your skin and organ tissues inside of your body. If you have children who aren’t aware of these dangers, they can get badly hurt. Water damage to electrical components of your home can also cause electrical fires. When water comes into contact with electrical elements like circuit breakers or outlets, they can short-circuit and produce sparks that can turn into fires. Electrical fires can spread extremely quickly, making them difficult to contain. So, if water begins to leak on electrical elements in your home, you can start a fire that can cause catastrophic damage to your home and those in it. You can suffer from smoke inhalation or burns, and your home will suffer from fire damage and could potentially collapse.
Leaking in the Home
When water leaks enter your home, they can cause your ceilings and walls to break down. Sometimes, water can build up in your ceiling, causing the integrity of your drywall to slowly deteriorate. Your ceiling can burst open, and water can drop all over the surface below. If somebody is standing under your ceiling when this happens, they can be hurt or get sick from being hit with dirty water. If you have valuable items under the ceiling that is leaking, you may also damage said items.
Prevent the Dangers of Water Damage in Toronto
It is evident that water damage poses a risk to homeowners and their property. Water damage can escalate very quickly, which can lead to further, irreconcilable damage in some cases. Water leaks can cause mold, which can be toxic to health and can cause illness, ruining the quality of life of those who live in your home. It can also damage the structure of your home. Wooden beams can begin to rot when exposed to water. When this happens over a long period of time, your home’s wooden beams can lose their load-bearing capacity, making your home susceptible to collapse. Water damage can also result in electrical hazards throughout your home, some of which can be deadly. Electrical fires and shock can severely hurt your loved ones and your home. This is why if you are suffering from water damage you should call in the experts at Canada’s Restoration Services. We offer water damage and flood damage restoration to ensure that your home remains safe after you discover a water leak. Contact us today for a free estimate!
