Why You Should Not Ignore Water Damage on Your Property

Water damage is just one of the many “fun” issues that occur during the life of most homeowners across the United States, at one point or another. And when it does, it may be tempting to ignore the water damage, especially if it “doesn’t seem serious”. However, ignoring the problem proverbially only leads to an even larger, more complex problem.

So this is why you should never ignore water damage to your property.

Why does water damage occur?

Depending on the condition of your property, water damage can occur for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, it may be because there is a problem with your plumbing. Poorly executed plumbing work can result in leaks and other such water problems.

Other causes of water damage on your property may include an overflowing or unattended bath or flooding during bad weather (e.g. storms or hurricanes).

Why you shouldn’t ignore water damage

Ignoring water damage may be tempting, especially if you’ve got more pressing concerns to attend to (as you well might, in the case of seriously bad weather). But try to remember that ignoring it forever only leads to more trouble in the end. In fact, there are a number of reasons why you should never ignore even mild water damage. Here are some.

1.   It can lead to structural damage.

Water damage, when left untreated, can weaken the very structure of your home, over time. It can even cause cracks and breaks in the walls, or foundation of your home, and pose the risk of collapse.

2.   It could also get to the electrics.

Obviously, water and electricity should never be treated lightly. Yet that’s exactly what you’re doing if you are ignoring water damage to your home, even if it seems mild. Left untreated, the water damage can reach the electrical wires in your home, and potentially lead to a fire or explosion.

3.   It may attract wild animals.

Wild animals are typically looking for sources of food, shelter, and of course, water. This is yet another reason why you should never overlook water damage, as it may attract wild animals, and cause more serious concerns. If you are worried such a thing may have already happened, you should visit rat-control.com to learn early signs of rat invasion.

It’s important to educate yourself on the subject of wildlife infestations, in order to understand what you can do to deter them. If you suspect a wildlife infestation, we suggest that you reach out to a wildlife removal expert at Complete Wildlife Removal.

4.   It can affect your health.

When we don’t address water damage inside a home, we encourage mold and mildew to grow unhindered. Not only is this unpleasant and harmful to the structure of your home, but it can also pose an active threat to your health.

Prolonged exposure to mold can lead to serious health conditions, such as skin afflictions (e.g. eczema) and even respiratory problems (like asthma).

5.   You’ll only have to pay more in the end.

While it may seem like you’re saving up by not addressing water damage directly, the truth is you’ll only have to pay more, at the end of the day. As we’ve seen, water damage left unaddressed will lead to other types of damage inside the home, as well. So not only will you have to fix the water damage itself, but also address the structural and/or electrical problems that may arise, meanwhile.

6.   It will affect your insurance.

While you may be able to get your home insurance to cover some types of water damage, leaving it untreated will lead to further, more serious issues. This may also encourage the insurance company to deny any future claim you make, on the basis that you didn’t do anything to fix the issue (and so, are partly responsible for subsequent damages).

7.   It will increase your utility bills.

Of course, this depends on the type of water damage you’ve suffered. But in some cases, damaged water units can lead to more water being used up, and increased bills at the end of the month. So once again, rather than saving money on repairs, you’ll end up paying both the higher bills, and the repairs.

So get your water damage dealt with today!

Image by Yuri_B from Pixabay