4 Water Damage Issues After a Fire

11/21/2018 (Permalink)

Fire damage to building in Kutztown,PA

Dealing With the Aftermath of Fire Damage

Experiencing a fire in your business is bad enough, but you also have to deal with the aftermath. Embarking on a complete fire cleanup mission includes water cleanup. When the Kutztown,PA, firefighters work hard to stop the fire from causing more damage, they use a lot of water. This water saturates everything and can seep into hidden areas within the building. During cleanup, you want to look out for four main types of water damage.

1. Mold Growth

Mold loves wet conditions. Excess water sitting around and seeping into porous surfaces makes an ideal location for mold to begin to grow. You can have a problem in as little as two days.

2. Rust

Water also is not a friend to metal. If exposed for too long, metal eventually rusts. While this may take some time, there is often hidden water lurking in areas near pipes that may lead to future issues. Quick and thorough water cleanup can help mitigate the problem.

3. Warping and Rotting

Wood is especially susceptible to water. Not only will it absorb the water but also it reacts to it. Wood will change shape due to swelling. This may cause it to warp. If water remains in the wood for too long, it rots.

4. Short Circuits

Electronics may be the hardest hit by water. If electronics survived the fire, the water can take them out easily by getting into the inner components and causing them to short circuit.

A Few Tips

You probably will focus first on smoke cleanup since it is most obvious due to the smell. As you are ventilating and working on getting rid of the lingering smoke, you can also look out for water damage since it may be found in similar areas that experience smoke damage.

Water cleanup is not an easy task, and it can be tough to find every affected area. It is highly recommended that you seek the help of a professional emergency restoration service to help ensure all the water is actually gone from your building so you can return your business back to its former condition.