What Long-Term Issues Are Likely To Develop In A Lenoir City House After A Flooding Incident?

9/27/2020 (Permalink)

Ideally, all the problems caused by the flooding incident should end once you clean up and perform other restoration processes.

SERVPRO Seeks to Resolve Any Issues That Might Linger after Flood Damage Incidents in Lenoir City Properties.

Flooding may seem like a one-off event that goes away once you extract the water pooling inside your house, perform cleanup, and complete other general restoration processes. In most cases, this happens. However, some long term issues can also develop, prolonging your suffering or financial losses. When SERVPRO helps Lenoir homeowners manage flooding incidents, part of our effort goes towards eliminating any long-term problems.

What problems linger after resolving flood damage issues in Lenoir?
    •    Discomfort and health issues
    •    Structural damages
    •    Hazards from damaged utilities

Your home may be the best escape from the rigors of daily life, so it should be as comfortable as possible. After resolving a flooding incident, you might realize your home is no longer comfortable as it used to be because of bad odors that do not respond to your routine freshening approaches. You might also develop mild or severe health problems.

Such problems can be traced back to improper drying, deodorization, and decontamination of the property if such processes are improperly handled. The contaminated floodwater can reach concealed areas such as subfloors or wall cavities, where regular cleanup approaches might not work effectively. When our SERVPRO technicians handle the restoration, we take specific steps to ensure we address any hidden moisture, contaminants, or other materials. We tear down sections of the property and remove porous materials such as:
    •    Carpet and pad
    •    Drywall
    •    OSB subfloor

Replacing such materials ensures that no traces of contamination remain in the structure. We also clean and dry other materials removing odorous residues while also preventing deterioration processes such as rotting, generating new odors within your house.

Do all flooding incidents result in structural issues?
Any flooding incident can cause structural damage to your home. However, the severity of such damage varies greatly depending on what happens during the incident. For most people, the focus is on structural damage affecting porous materials such as drywall or ceiling materials, which crumble when wet. However, flooding can affect the foundation, frames, and other structural supports. Such damage is caused by:
    •    Hydrodynamic loads from moving water
    •    Extended waterlogging
    •    Hydrostatic pressure as the soil surrounding the structure over-saturates

Unlike soiling or deterioration of wall coverings, which are readily discernible issues, some forms of structural damage might be harder to notice. For instance, you cannot tell whether water pushing against the structure causes damage unless it brings down part of the structure. However, minor misalignments can happen and later result in severe damage.

The situation is almost the same when hydrostatic pressure in heavily saturated soil works against the foundation of your structure. You are only likely to realize a problem exists if major cracks develop, or part of the foundation gives way. However, problems can still exist even in the absence of such major signs. Our SERVPRO technicians thoroughly inspect your home before starting restoration procedures, making it easier to notice any minor changes that might indicate an underlying problem. If you involve a building contractor at an early stage, it is easier to correct the problems conveniently.

Structural supports can withstand exposure to water. However, when a significant amount of water is involved, and the exposure extends over an extended period, they might be heavily damaged. Wooden frames might look strong even after absorbing significant percentages of moisture, but if no action is taken to dry them, rotting takes root. Our technicians ensure that any drying steps taken remove all the excess moisture absorbed rather than just checking whether the surfaces seem dry. We use penetrative moisture meters to monitor moisture removal, ensuring no traces remain deep within the material to spark rotting or mold development.

How can flooding affect utility lines in the long run?
You can experience some issues with your main utility lines, including:
    •    Water pipes
    •    Electricity cables
    •    Gas pipes
    •    Sewer lines

Issues can range from corrosion of parts, clogging, or minor cracks that might later lead to severe malfunction. Damaged utility lines may be ineffective or downright dangerous. Again a thorough inspection by our technicians can help reveal problems at an early stage, allowing you to involve the right specialist before any issues become too pronounced to endanger or limit the level of comfort you relish in your house.

Ideally, all the problems caused by the flooding incident should end once you clean up and perform other restoration processes. However, some issues tend to persist. Call SERVPRO of Loudon & Roane Counties to help run the restoration exercise conclusively. You can reach us at (865) 986-3015. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.