Humidity, Water Damage Cleanup and Indoor Air Quality
Whether it came from a massive flood or a tiny leak in a pipe, water in unwanted places can cause a lot of damage—and maybe more damage than you might think. Of course it can destroy the materials and items in your home. According to industry estimates, 14,000 people in the US experience a water damage emergency daily, and 98% of basements in the US will suffer from some type of water damage during their lifetime.
This situation also can lead to mold growth and compromised air quality. The costs are staggering; water damage and mold cost the insurance industry $2.5 billion dollars per year, Getting humidity and moisture problems under control start with 1) identifying the source, 2) safely cleaning the mess and then 3) repairing for no repeats. Since the average cost of a home water damage insurance claim is $6,965, make some adjustments and repairs now to protect your wallet from costly water damage cleanup, and your health.
High Indoor Humidity
Water damage doesn’t always come from a deluge– consistent airborne vapor in sufficient quantities is enough to cause water damage and support mold growth. When you notice condensation on walls or windows, or if you smell a musty odor, then you know the indoor humidity is too high.
Kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms are particularly vulnerable. Often, the location of the source of damage is difficult to detect: enclosed spaces ( like basements and crawl spaces), behind walls or above ceiling tiles.
Easy Tools to Control Moisture (and therefore mold)
During periods of high humidity in the summer, both air conditioners and dehumidifiers can help to lower the humidity inside your home. The dehumidifier pulls in the surrounding air, strips moisture from it, then circulates it back into the room. Not only does it dry the air for comfort, but it can also help protect your home from water damage.
Proper ventilation is essential to avoiding moisture problems. You already have exhaust fans above the stove and in the bathroom, so use them. It is important to make sure that hot air can exit your home through natural air flow, while also keeping your home free of cracks or openings around doors, windows, or electrical outlets, where new humid air could enter. Besides reducing indoor moisture, ventilation also helps to keep indoor pollutants and odors under control. Breaking the cycle of humidity and mold growth is key to keeping a home’s air clean and healthy.
Indoor Air Pollution and Health
Health effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon after exposure or, possibly, years later. Understanding and controlling common pollutants indoors can help reduce your concerns.
Some health effects may show up shortly after a single exposure or repeated exposure to a pollutant. These include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Such immediate effects are usually short-term and treatable. After exposure to some indoor air pollutants, symptoms of some diseases such as asthma may show up, be aggravated or worsened.
Indoor mold can cause allergies, asthma, and other respiratory problems. Other health effects may show up years after exposure has occurred or only after long or repeated periods of exposure. These effects, which include some respiratory diseases, heart disease, and cancer, can be severely debilitating or fatal.
Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems. Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from indoor sources and by not carrying indoor air pollutants out of the area. Some effects may be made worse by an inadequate supply of outdoor air coming in, hot temperatures and high humidity levels. Invite our team of water damage cleanup experts to investigate the cause of your humidity problems.
When You Need Water Damage Cleanup In Savannah, GA
Harper Special Services is a fully licensed company that can provide all types of restorations: water, fire, mold, storm restoration. Whether you are looking for a restoration service by itself or a company that can provide you with the full package emergency services, debris removal, shoring, board ups to restoration, trust our water damage, cleanup experts.
The quality team of water damage cleanup experts will take care of every aspect of the water restoration project after such a traumatic experience.