The Risks Linked To Basement Water Damage

Finding out that you have a problem with water lying around on the floor of your basement should concern you above the fact that it will result in a degree of water damage to the walls, floor and any belongings being stored down there. Basement water damage will inevitably affect the rest of the household because it will create a damp atmosphere that will forever be permeating upwards into the house.

The toughest part of your basement water problems may be that you don't even realise you have a problem with water damage in the basement. This is certainly a possibility if the basement is not in constant use. It may be a storage room, or it may be locked up and only ever visited once or twice a year. If what you are unwittingly dealing with is basement water seeping onto the floor from an unidentified source, then it may be months before it is discovered.

In the meantime, you may have experienced some annoying little disturbances in the household and could never pinpoint their origin. Mold growing on walls, ceilings or even in corners on the floor may have started to give you cause for concern. But damage to the surfaces of your home may not be the most upsetting aspect of this. Left unchecked the growth of mold can trigger health problems, particularly if the member of the family suffers from a mold allergy. When there is undetected water lying in the basement, no matter how diligently you remove mold it will either come back somewhere else or it will be growing unseen in dark nooks or crannies around the house.

A Simple Task That Will Minimize Basement Water Damage

It may not be possible to predict when or if you are going to fall victim to a leak in the basement but it is possible to minimise the damage that it can cause to your home and to your family's health. The first step you should take is to at least go down into the basement on a semi-regular basis. If the greatest risk to the non-detection of water in the basement is because you never go down there, then by simply walking down a flight of stairs you may be avoiding a huge water damage bill.

So, your simple task is to look for the water damage in your basement.

Problems Caused by Basement Water Damage

There are a lot of negative outcomes that are experienced with basement flooding apart from the fact that it is an inconvenience that is expensive to repair. Research has revealed the following impacts:

Property value may depreciate when it is found that the basement may be prone to frequent flooding.

Respiratory problems are linked to houses that prove to be chronically damp.

The building foundations and structure is weakened due to frequently being damp.

Repeated claims due to a flooded basement can lead to increased insurance premiums.

So you've got at least a four-fold list of detrimental effects from basement water damage, hitting your health, your home and your wallet. If only one of these factors were in the negative you should be prompted to take action and take it swiftly. With all four being affected, the moment you detect water in your basement you should immediately seek some kind of water damage restoration assistance.

More information about basement water damage can be found in the article:

Water Damage In the Basement