Water damage is a multifaceted event that affects your home in a variety of ways. Because very few parts of a typical house are waterproof, exposure to water is never a positive event. The wide range of potential negative consequences of water damage require rapid response and recovery techniques performed by qualified professionals to restore your home to a safe and healthy environment. Here are some of the major ways water can damage your home and disrupt your daily life:

Structural damage. Many parts of a home’s construction are vulnerable to the effects of water.

• Two of the most common structural elements—drywall and wood—are compromised when exposed to it.
• Drywall that forms walls and ceilings rapidly absorbs water and may be dried in place if there is no obvious change in shape and seams are intact.  However, drywall affected by ‘dirty’ water will need to be replaced. 
• Wood structure in the attic, crawl space, and inside walls can warp, rot and decompose due to long term or repeated exposure to water.
• Bricks and other masonry are at risk as submersion in standing water can erode mortar that holds individual pieces together.

Electrical damage. No components of your home’s electrical system are made to resist water exposure. Electrical wiring, outlets, junction boxes, and circuit breaker panels are all very vulnerable to water exposure. If these components become wet, dangers relating to the initial moisture—as well as the corrosion that follows—typically mean that affected components must be inspected and possibly replaced.  

Insulation issues. Both fiberglass and cellulose loose-fill insulation lose insulating capacity when wet. Fiberglass batts may be removed from the house, dried, and then reinstalled. Cellulose insulation that has become wet is considered ruined and must be replaced.

HVAC systems. Water entering the HVAC system triggers mold growth, deteriorates duct material, and causes air leaks. If water contacts critical furnace components such as burners and the heat exchanger, these costly parts are no longer safe and will require replacement. If the AC compressor in the outdoor unit is submerged by flooding, the compressor and other associated electrical components will also need to be replaced.

Flooring. Solid hardwood flooring will absorb water, causing dimensional changes such as swelling and buckling. Engineered flooring made of layers of wood glued together may permanently deteriorate when saturated, requiring replacement.  Standing water seeping beneath the flooring such as tile and other materials may soak the wooden subfloor beneath, requiring removal of flooring material to dry the subfloor. 

There’s nothing mysterious about basement humidity issues. Chronic humidity accumulates in the basement due to chronic moisture sources down there. Another non-mysterious fact is that basement humidity problems frequently don’t stay in the basement. Consequences of a persistently damp, humid basement directly below your floor—such as toxic mold growth—can impact the upstairs environment, too.   

Here are 8 things to know about basement humidity and ways to deal with it:

• A basement dehumidifier can lower humidity but doesn’t address  ongoing causes of it.
• Sources of basement moisture/humidity fall into three categories: Rain and resultant infiltrating groundwater, influx of humid outdoor air that triggers basement condensation and moisture sources originating inside the basement.
• One inch of rainfall deposits over 1,200 gallons of water on the roof of an average-size residence. Unless it’s collected in functional gutters and discharged at least four feet from the house through downspouts, roof runoff soaks into the ground adjacent to the house and may then seep into the basement, contributing to high humidity.
• Soil surrounding the foundation should be slightly graded to divert pooling water away from the basement during rain.
• In certain locales, naturally occurring groundwater may also seep through pores and tiny cracks in the concrete basement floor and walls, elevating basement humidity. A sump pump with an air-tight cover installed in the basement floor relieves under-slab pressure that drives seepage. A perforated drain pipe installed around the perimeter of the basement footing also collects and removes groundwater.
• Plumbing pipes routed through the basement should be checked for seepage and leaks. Cold water pipes “sweat”condensation in a humid basement, adding more moisture to the air. Insulate cold pipes with foam insulation sleeves.
• An unvented clothes dryer placed in the basement is a common humidity source. Dryer exhaust should be vented directly to the exterior through an approved fireproof dryer vent.
• Avoid frequently ventilating a basement with outdoor air in a humid climate. Humidity becomes trapped and accumulates in the enclosed basement space. If a basement requires ventilation, consider adding an operating ductwork vent to admit cool or warm air from the house HVAC system.