photo by HypnoArt- https://pixabay.com/en/users/HypnoArt-202249/
When it comes to water damages, it is clear that there are a lot of problems associated. The leaks can cause huge problems for the house, from affecting its stability, all the way to needing the investment of large amounts of money for repairs. However, when time, money, and resources are at risk, we tend to overlook other things, like potential health risks.
These health risks don’t just affect the homeowner, but your families and loved ones as well. However, these health risks are not unavoidable. With awareness and understanding, you can learn to prevent these from ever affecting the health of your loved ones.
Molds:
Mold can be one of the biggest problems to come out of a water leak. The mold can grow particularly well when there is a lot of dampness and humidity in the environment, conditions that are often provided by standing water from a water leak. Molds can reproduce using spores, which can spread throughout the house and further spread the mold in conditions that are damp and moist.
Health risks associated with molds:
At low levels of mold exposure, people in the home may feel growing headaches and allergic reactions. This affects those people most that are already allergic to pollen grains, and they are more like to experience, coughs, sneezes, or watering eyes. However, at higher levels, these seemingly non-dangerous symptoms may become signs of a bigger problem. They can cause severe long term problems such as pain when breathing in or when swallowing something. People who are already at risk, such as the elderly and young children, may face this more.
How to deal with mold infestations:
Molds can not only harm your property, but also your family. You will need to clean up and remove all the standing water effectively and then clean out the area using antifungal disinfectants. In case the problem is bigger than you thought, you should call in the professionals and get a restoration services company to assess the extent of your risk and to work on it.
Insects:
Water damages can also help promote the growth of insects inside your home. These can be innocent insects, but there can be some dangerous organisms such as the mosquito. Water is very important for them as it becomes a breeding ground for their eggs. Mosquito bites are also dangerous as they not only are a nuisance, but they also can become a way for diseases to be transmitted, and some people can be allergic to them. Where there are a lot of insects, spiders also grow. This can be harmful as spider bites can also be dangerous.
Reducing risks:
In most cases, the best thing to do is to start cleaning up your home regularly and taking precautions if someone starts to experience any symptoms. However, if the problem seems to be getting out of hand, contact a professional restoration service at once if needed.