What Happens If Water Damage Goes Untreated?

Untreated water damage can cause devastating consequences, including respiratory conditions, collapses due to reduced structural integrity, and entrenched mold infestation. As soon as you notice the slightest signs, you should take immediate action to limit the risk of untreated water damage.

Doing so also saves you from expensive future repairs and the risk of rejection when you file a personal property insurance claim.

Here, we explore the most common signs of water damage in your home to help you detect them before the damage is irreparable.

The Risk of Untreated Water Damage: 5 Lasting Consequences

1. Reduced Indoor Air Quality

Untreated water damage can result in reduced indoor air quality. Trapped moisture causes your rooms to smell musty and moldy, leading to lasting and hard-to-remove unpleasant odors.

Some odors come from the leftover moisture from the water damage, while others come about due to residual bacterial and fungal growth, which are proven health risks.

2. Permanent Ceiling and Wall Discoloration

Another risk of untreated water damage is brown or black staining in the ceiling and walls. These symptoms occur due to a buildup of leaking water or condensation coming into the walls and ceilings from the roof or gutters.

Check for burst hidden pipes, roof damage, and broken gutters to locate the leakage and limit the damage. After finding the source of the leakage, hire a professional painter from a qualified restoration service to skim and repaint the damaged areas.

3. Damaged Flooring

Another sign of untreated water damage is weak flooring, which is especially visible if you have vinyl or wood floors that soak in water more easily than tile, epoxy, or concrete floors.

Wood floors display this damage by buckling, warping, or loose planks. On the other hand, vinyl floors appear bulgy and discolored. Even tile flooring can show water damage by loosening up and lifting from the subsurface.

4. Damaged Drywall

Water damage can also cause a significant deterioration in the drywall. Damaged drywall cracks and becomes brittle, showing noticeable peeling, cracking, and crumbling due to the moisture present. In addition, mold damage could manifest and continue to damage the walls.

5. Electrical System Short Circuits

Another typical indication of untreated water damage is a damaged electrical system. Repairing this damage is urgent, as it can cause electrical shock injuries as well as fires if left untreated.

Involve a qualified electrician in the repair process as soon as possible to avoid injury to yourself or your family.

Call in the Professionals for Water Damage Restoration Today!

If left unchecked, the risk of water damage is dangerous; it can lead to cumulative structural damage that can eventually cause a collapse.

Natural materials weaken over time, creating a moist and damp environment ripe for mold and bacterial growth and rodent and other pest infestations.

If you’ve recently had flooding inside your home or notice water damage on your property from an undiscovered plumbing problem, get in touch with the water damage restoration experts at Excel Fire And Water Damage Restoration Services for expert water damage repair today.

We offer full water damage restoration as well as flood cleanup, mold removal, fire damage, and biohazard removal in McHenry, Crystal Lake, and the surrounding areas. Contact Excel Fire And Water Damage Restoration Services today to schedule a free assessment and get your written estimate.

William Krutsch

May 23, 2023

Great communications and prompt service! Cleanup was in a timely fashion. I highly recommend them!

Nancy Rieck

April 27, 2023

Gabriel, Joe, and Reed were an excellent team. They communicated well with each other and with me. They told me what, when, and how it was going to happen at every step of the process. Gabriel, Joe, and Reed are devoted to their work and their customer's well being. They took responsibility when appropriate and gave helpful advice when asked. Very impressive!

Tim Stein

April 21, 2023

Had two different crews out here Alex was in charge of one crew and Gilbert was in charge of the other and they were both respectful courteous and very helpful and professional

Kevin Kozlowski

April 13, 2023

When my basement flooded, the first thing I did was call excel restoration. Gabriel came out within a couple of hours and handled the situation. He was very knowledgeable, informative and thorough. I was very impressed by his work. He kept me notified every step of the way, and was very professional. I will definitely use them if something were to happen again.

Laura Hansen

April 12, 2023

From the moment I spoke to Rich to the time Branden and Gabriel were in my home/condo they made me feel calm, safe, and most of all back in control of a devastating situation. I handed my keys over to Gabriel and didn't look back. Gabriel stayed in contact with me from start to finish so there was never guessing as to what was happening in my home. I'm grateful for this entire team, their professionalism, and care not only for my home but for me as well. I didn't think the work and team could get any better, my home was finished by Alex who not only did an excellent job and was on time but also spent time correcting a previous job that wasn't his responsibility. Upon completion he left my keys on my hook the same way I would! If anyone is hesitating calling Excel, don't!

scott mc

April 11, 2023

A faulty faucet disrupted our Easter but Gabriel & Reid from Excel Restoration came to the rescue. Excellent work and respect for our property. I would definitely recommend them based on what they have done so far. Hopefully this continues to be the case as the work proceeds. So far so great though. I’ll keep you posted. Thank you Excel!!

Cindy Esparza

March 31, 2023

We contacted Excel Fire And Water Damage after having water damage seep into our downstairs and garage from our 2nd floor laundry room. Gabriel and his team of workers were quick to come out to our home that same day to assess the damage. Every single worker that has been working on our home has been very friendly professional, and hard working. We are very appreciative at the constant communication and updates we have been receiving from Gabriel!