The actual time it takes for water damage to appear, depends on the size of the leak. The more substantial the leak, the faster the water damage will begin to appear. Two places where water damage can commonly occur are leaky pipes and water heaters. Weather can also be a source of water damage to your home and property.

Weather, like rain, ice, or wind, can wreak havoc on splintered shingles on the roof. It can cause the roof to leak resulting in damage to the roof and ceiling. Rain that results in flooding can cause damage to your foundation and flooring under your house. If your crawl space is not sealed from the moisture water damage can occur. Basement and foundation walls can leak if they are not waterproofed against possible flooding. This can result in mildew, mold, and cracks forming or growing on your basement and foundation walls. It is important to make sure that your basement, foundation, and crawl space are sealed and waterproofed to protect them in case of flooding or torrential rains.

Gutters that are left uncleared or tilted towards your house can also lead to water damage. Clogged gutters can overflow, causing damage to your roof. Overflowing gutters can also cause water to leak into your outside walls, possibly resulting in electrical issues, mold, and parts of your wall or ceiling needing to be replaced.

Water heaters that are not properly maintained and checked can lead to water damage. Water heaters that are in your basement or crawl space that has been flooded, need to be replaced. Floodwaters can cause the thermostat and valves in the heater to corrode. Corrosion in the water heater can lead to a fire if the water heater continues to be used.

Mark’s Story

Mark is a 31-year-old content creator in Washington D.C. Mark inherited a house from his grandmother about 10 years ago. He has been living in the house while he saves money to buy his forever home one day. The house is older but in pretty good shape and Mark has done repairs here and there as needed to maintain the home.

Mark had been noticing a few things with the house lately that seemed unusual. These past few months had been particularly soggy with rain and minor flooding around his house. He had started to notice little things like brown spots showing up on his outside walls in the living room. The smell of mildew and mold also came from around where the spots were forming on the walls. Mark also noticed that he had a hard time keeping hot water. The amount of hot water was less and less every time he went to shower or do the dishes. Mark decided to take a look at the water heater in the crawl space under the house.

Mark crawled under the house to the water heater. He noticed that the water heater was sparking at the switch. Mark went out and turned the water off at the source and called in an electrician.

The Inspection

The electrician, plumber, and contractor came out to take a look at Mark’s house. The electrician crawled under to look at the water heater. When the yard had flooded with the recent rains, it ran under the house and flooded the water heater. The result was the water heater shorting out and sparking whenever it tried to turn on. This was dangerous and could result in a fire if the water heater was not replaced immediately.

The contractor’s assessment was next. Mark had him look at the brown spots that had been forming on the outside walls. After looking at the wall, the contractor went outside to look at the gutters. The gutters were so full that when it rained, there was nowhere for the water to go but inside the framing of the house. The water was causing the drywall to rot and mold to grow. The contractor suggested cleaning and fixing the gutters. The section of the wall would need to be replaced the wiring inside it is checked. Moisture in the walls could cause electrical issues that could result in a fire.

The contractor also recommended that the crawl space be sealed and encapsulated. The foundation would need to be fixed in a few places that the flooding had damaged then sealed to protect its integrity and keep water out.

Mark’s Solution

Mark was overwhelmed with just what the inspectors had found. He decided to do some research online to see what could be done. The water heater would need to be replaced immediately. That would cost Mark $1200.

The foundation sealing was going to cost $11,200 and 7,900 to encapsulate the crawl space. The costs were adding up quickly for Mark. He was already thousands of dollars in for repairs before even estimating the wall and gutter repairs.

Mark decided to research some other options online and see what he could do. While researching, he came across Akin Developers and decided to give them a call to see if they could help. After speaking with Mark on the phone, we set up an appointment to meet with him and look at his home. After viewing and inspecting his home, we offered him a fair price that Mark accepted.

Mark’s home closed in about 12 days. He was excited to take the money from the sale of his home and start looking for his new forever home.

Conclusion

Water damage from flooding left unattended can become an expensive and dangerous repair. Moisture in your walls can lead to fires. Water heaters that are under your house can become hazards when they are exposed to flooding. Valves and thermostats that become corroded from flooding can lead to a fire. If you notice, your hot water going out quickly, softening of your floors, consistently blowing fuses, or strange smells coming from your walls or outlets, get it checked out immediately. Fixing the water damage as soon as possible can save you money on repairs and save you from a possible house fire.

Should you find yourself in Mark’s situation and need to sell your home quickly for cash-whether with water damage, electrical issues, structural damage, distress, or in perfect condition-contact us here at Akin Developers and see what we can do for you too.