Can you get sick from water damage?

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People who have experienced water damage commonly ask “can you get sick from water damage?”. The particular water itself shouldn’t cause a whole lot of serious illnesses, but there is plenty that may go together with the water damage that can actually sometimes cause some serious health issues. It also depends on where the water comes from. If water came from a flood in your area or from a burst pipe, it usually contains dirt and toxins that can easily encourage the development of harmful bacteria. Bugs may also seek out damp areas in your home or business to lay their eggs, this might not make you any sicker, but it certainly isn’t going to make you healthier.

Water damage experts agree that the first 24-48 hours are very critical for the prevention of permanent damage and the growth of dangerous toxins. An experiment was done where some drywall that had been exposed to water damage started to show mold growth after just 48 hours. Time is of the essence! So The first thing to think about is that the water that damages your property is usually contaminated with biological agents such as bacteria and other dangerous microbes. It is a major health risk to anyone that has been exposed to those. Mold is another health risk, it is among the top most common consequences associated with water damage.

Besides mold being unattractive to look at, it can cause a lot of different issues with your property. It can lead to damage to the surfaces of your home or business, and even more hidden damage like in the carpet, walls, ceiling, and insulation. It can also linger on your personal belongings. If you, your employees, or your family are exposed to mold you have a risk of getting sick. Physical contact with the mold or even just inhaling the mold spores can possibly cause allergic reactions such as skin rashes, sneezing, irritated eyes, and a runny nose. Its a super serious issue to those that have mold allergy.

Mold is a health concern especially for anyone with asthma, chronic lung disease, or those that have a weak immune system. The amount of time that it will take for you, your employees, or your family to become sick depends on how long your exposure was to the mold. The amount of time you spend around the mold can cause serious health problem not only for you but your love ones too. In mild mold exposure cases it can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours before any symptoms begin to show. People who are sensitive to mold will often begin to show symptoms of exposure as soon as they come into contact with it.

All of these factors are to help emphasize the importance of immediately bringing in the services of water damage restoration and mold remediation professionals after water damage has occurred. The quicker you get a professional to fix the issue, the quicker you can prevent any further damage or sicknesses from occurring.

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