With spring on its way the chances of flooding and water damage to your home are increased. The snow has melted and the dangers of frozen pipes are no longer an issue. However, flash flooding and condensation from the thaw gives way to a new set of challenges like excessive moisture which can lead to mold growth.
Flash floods are generally short term events that affect areas far away from the original rainstorm. These floods can arrive quickly and without warning and destroy houses, roads, and nearly anything else in its path.
Slow moving thunderstorms which are common in the springtime are a major cause of flash floods. The severe water damage that it can cause to houses in its path is pretty incredible. Often times storm drains are not strong enough to handle the flood waters and get backed up and even overflow, this makes the impending damage even worse. The most at risk areas are the homes situated in low lying places, areas near water as well as being downstream from a dam.
Springtime and summer storms which often bring hurricanes in the Atlantic also bring high winds, heavy rainfall and big storms in the low lying coastal communities. This can cause severe flooding and major water damage from overflowing storm drains as well as rooftops even being blown off.
When spring comes the humidity rises and the potential for mold growth also increases. The faster you can dry out and clean up your home the better you will be. If you need to spend the extra money to enlist a water damage restoration emergency response team, Do it! This will save you a lot of money in the long run.
Other issues that you may face when the weather starts to warm up is generally plumbing related. This would be something like air conditioner condensation, your above ground pool collapses as well as overwatering the lawn.
Springtime is when you’ll want to tinker around your house and check for leaks while at the same time making sure everything is still well maintained. Keep an eye out for any areas in your home where condensation and water are collecting.
Some common places you’ll want to check are drip pans underneath your AC unit, refrigerator and water heater. Empty these drip pans periodically to make sure they do not overflow and cause water damage to your floors, walls and other structures. Keeping these areas dry will stop the growth of mold spores.
You can check for signs of excess moisture by looking for spots on the walls and fogged up windows. The areas of your home that are at the most risk of suffering from water damage due to condensation is the laundry room, bathroom and kitchen.
When you do laundry or you are cooking you are contributing to the indoor humidity in your home. A good investment to combat this condensation problem would be to invest in a humidity control system or an exhaust fan. You should also do a little work outside your home. Cleaning out your rain gutters is a good start as well as fixing any broken sprinkler heads.
