Dealing with water damage caused by leaks in your Scripps Ranch house can be extremely challenging. The damage can be extensive, especially if you don’t react on time and minimize it. Picking up on some common signs, such as stained ceiling and mold growth, will allow you to get help and resolve the issue before it causes too much harm.
But as you’re about to find out, water doesn’t always cause damage immediately after a leak develops. For instance, it takes up to 10 days for wood to start rotting due to water exposure. The timing is different for other forms of damage, which is what we’ll cover in this article. Keep reading!
Does water damage happen immediately?
Once it enters your home, water can cause damage in several ways. For example, water can warp walls, lead to mold growth, or ruin your furniture.
The effects of water damage can sometimes be apparent within minutes. In other cases, it takes a few days or weeks for water damage to show. Coming up is a more detailed discussion of a typical water damage timeline:
Mold growth
With a sufficient amount of moisture, mold can develop in your house within 24 to 48 hours. The adverse health effects can be felt within a few days in the form of allergies. If left unchecked, mold will thrive in water and grow faster and more easily.
More severe health issues can be felt within several weeks or months. For example, people may start experiencing respiratory issues, such as bronchitis or asthma, which is why dealing with water damage is paramount.
However, there’s also one consequence of mold growth that can take place within minutes. Namely, the air quality can drop significantly due to mold presence and it can smell pretty awful.
Furniture and appliances
Furniture is one of the first items that can get affected by water damage. Whether it’s a TV set or wooden bed, water can damage your belongings within just minutes. As a result, the structure gets weakened, forcing you to repair or replace the piece of furniture.
As for your electrical appliances, water damage can be evident immediately and lead to malfunctioning. If the appliance isn’t waterproof, the damage gets even more dangerous. Trying to fix such appliances is ill-advised and calls for professional help due to the potential for electrocution.
Structural damage
Structural damage to the house can also occur within minutes. For example, wooden floors can swell relatively quickly. Consequently, you may have trouble moving around the house and face dangerous situations due to compromised flooring.
How long does water damage take to show?
As discussed previously, some forms of water damage can show almost instantly. Within just a single hour, drywall can bulge and break. Furthermore, metal surfaces may begin to tarnish, and your furniture may swell and crack after one day of water exposure.
By the end of the first week, the damage compounds. The mold will have already grown and started spreading. Moreover, windows, wood floors, and doors may warp and swell. Also, metal components can begin to rust to corrode. If the damage persists for more than a week, structural damage increases and leads to more expensive repairs.
Leaks are no match for the leading water damage experts in Scripps Ranch
Whether it is caused by a slab leak, burst pipe, or other culprit, water damage shouldn’t be taken lightly. Once it sets in, addressing it should be your first priority. Action-packed visits to the Giant Dipper and other thrilling places can wait.
Some signs may take a bit longer to show up, but you should always be on the lookout. If the damage is obvious or if you’re just suspecting it, contact KIC Restoration right away. Our plumbers have repaired water leaks in countless households and we’ll do the same, efficient job in your home.
Book our top-class services and we’ll put water leaks to bed!