What is Water Damage?
Water damage, put quite simply, is any damage that is incurred as the direct result of high water from flooding, broken pipes, or overflowed toilets and sinks. This means that anyone can experience water damage, even those homes that are not near large bodies of water. You should take caution when you do experience water damage for a wide range of reasons. The most notable is of course mold. When mold is allowed to grow in a home that has experienced water damage you can be certain that things like breathing trouble, allergies, and even eye irritation are sure to happen. How does Water Damage Contribute to Bacteria?
Water is a breeding ground for bacteria. Even clean drinking water that has been filtered for our consumption still contains some levels of bacteria. As such, water that causes water damage in the home has the potential to bring in bacteria, even if it is water that comes from your pipes. Water is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria as bacteria needs large amounts of water to thrive, that is why the do so well inside the human body too. When water comes into the home in the form of flood water, it brings all the bacteria that were present when it was in the lakes, rivers, or other bodies of water where it was home. Also, water that overflows from toilets and from other pipes can also deposit levels of bacteria into the home. On top of all that, bacteria is going to thrive in stagnant water and if you do not clean the water up sufficiently, you are likely to have trouble with mold and bacteria growth. How to Prevent Bacteria from Water Damage
The best way to prevent bacteria in the home as a result of water damage is to clean it up immediately. The longer water is allowed to stand and stagnate, the more likely it is to develop bacteria and other nasty contaminants that can result in health hazards for you and for your family. You can clean up most standing water on your own prior to contacting a professional company or taking any advanced steps or measures. In order to determine how you should go about cleaning up your water damage, you should first take the time to determine how serious the water damage is. A small burst pipe that just soaks the carpet is not going to be something that requires major professional clean up. If you have a home that has flooded as a result of high water or a storm, you will likely need professional help. If you do require professional help, they will take the time to clean up each area affected in detail. The process will begin with standing water being pumped out, with any water that is soaked into upholstery and carpets being suctioned out, and then with any damaged items or drywall being removed. The next step is deep cleaning. This is the step that takes the most time but that makes the most difference. In many cases, this involves drying out the entire home and making sure that any and all moisture is removed and any irreparably damaged items are also removed. This is going to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold and is going to keep your home livable and make sure you do not have to deal with things like allergies and breathing troubles.