Water Damage Causes in Martinsburg WV

4/20/2017 (Permalink)

Water Damage in West Virginia

Common Causes of Water Damage in Martinsburg West Virginia

Water damage is a problem in Martinsburg, WV, and something that every homeowner should be aware of. These cases can cause thousands of dollars of damage, and even force the residents out of the house temporarily, or even permanently.

So what are some of the most common causes of water damage in a residence? We’ve done the research, and list them out for you below, so read on to find out.

There are several reasons that water damage can occur. The most common ones that we have found in the Panhandle region in West Virginia are broken, busted, or leaking pipes. Unfortunately, many times it is not easy to even tell that a pipe is leaking or malfunctioning in any way because it is usually out of site.

But what causes these pipes to deteriorate? In some cases the pipe will simply rust over time, and in that case your prevention method is to make sure you do a yearly inspection of your pipes, and if you have any that are rusting have them replaced.

In other cases they freeze, which causes stress on the pipe. In fact, any drastic change in temperature can cause stress on the pipe, and lead to minor damage of the structure.

The most common way to prevent freezing of your pipe is to simply allow the water to trickle out of the tap, even at a drip. The movement of the water discourages freezing, keeping your pipe safe from the possibility of busting.

Another cause of water damage is accidents. Parents of children probably can imagine what we mean by this: action figures dropped in the toilet, kids overflowing the bathtub, anything like that. Prevention of this cause of water damage is simple. Just being aware of what your child brings into the bathroom with them, and keeping an eye on their baths should help you avoid water damage in these cases.

The last cause of water damage that we find to be most common in West Virginia is humidity in the basement, attic, or crawl space. These areas are dark, damp, and often times humid – especially in the Panhandle region. This humid environment allows moisture to drip through the foundation or roof. If this environment is left unchanged it can lead to damage to the walls ceilings, and floors of these spaces. It’s hard to spot this type of water damage because it happens over such a long period of time, but if you walk into the place one day and smell something like mold, you know you've got a problem on your hands. Simply using a dehumidifier once in a while in these areas should prevent any significant water damage to them.

There are many other causes of water damage, but these are just some of the most common. As always, if you have a case of water damage in the Northern Virginia area you can contact us at SERVPRO of Panhandle for the fastest service in town!