Water damage can take effect very quickly, and the damage will compound the longer you wait to take action and begin the water damage restoration process. The speed and severity of water damage depends on a variety of factors, including the amount of water, type of water (clean vs. contaminated), affected materials and environmental conditions. The following timeline provides a general overview of how quickly damage will occur to your property.
Within the first few hours:
- Water can begin to spread and be absorbed by porous materials such as drywall, wood and carpeting
- Furniture can start to swell and crack
- Electrical appliances in contact with water can malfunction
Within 24-48 hours:
- Mold can begin to grow
- Drywall may start to bulge and break
- Metal surfaces can begin to tarnish
- Air quality can drop, and unpleasant odors may develop due to mold growth
Within a week:
- Mold growth accelerates and spreads throughout the property
- Wood floors, doors and windows may warp and swell
- Metal components can start to corrode
- Structural damage increases
It’s critical to contact a water damage restoration company right away to minimize the damage and prevent many of these issues from developing.