Between coastal flooding, heavy rainfall, and the summer humidity, Long Island sees more water than most homes can handle. Water damage might start as some moisture trapped in a wall or a minor plumbing issue, but the results can be severe.
Give water enough time to seep into your property and soon you’ll see structural deterioration, damage to personal belongings, and rampant mold growth. The problem with water is exactly this – it’s a silent killer. Tackling water infiltration early on is key to preventing damage to your property.
The problem is that, on Long Island, the list of possible water damage causes is endless – as are the resulting types of damage. It takes special knowledge of Long Island’s unique climate and relation with the ocean. We’re surrounded by the Atlantic on three sides, after all.
With more than twenty years of Long Island expertise, the licensed professionals at Lux Restoration know exactly what to look for when assessing and fixing waterlogged properties. Do you know how to spot when water is silently destroying your property?
Below are 5 signs you need to call water damage specialists for your Long Island home:
1. Mysterious water stains
How can you tell water is damaging your property and you need specialists? Yellowish or brown stains on a wall or ceiling are a telltale sign of structural water damage. Water stains often appear far from the actual leak source, making DIY diagnosis difficult.
As a homeowner, you might think that painting over these warning signs is enough – but that is only inviting catastrophic damage down the line. Whether the cause is a roof leak during a nor’easter or something as small as condensation from an improperly insulated pipe, professional water damage specialists can trace these stains to their source before they become major headaches.
2. Persistent musty odors
That smell rising from your basement isn’t normal and you shouldn’t ignore it. Musty odors typically indicate moisture trapped in hard-to-reach spaces, creating the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew.
You might just think to leave that humidity, hoping it will dry out enough with some ventilation. But without complete mold remediation on Long Island, black mold soon spreads behind drywalls and takes over entire crawlspaces. Trust your nose –it’s often the first detector of hidden water damage.
3. Warped building materials
When your kitchen cabinets suddenly don’t close properly or the edges of your floor curl up, water is most likely the culprit. Building materials absorb moisture like sponges, expanding and distorting in ways that are often irreversible.
Just changing the flooring or other building materials is only a temporary and purely cosmetic fix. Soon, those materials will start to warp again. Instead, have the water damage specialists identify and treat the water damage source. It’ll save you thousands in potential structural repairs.
4. Increased water bills
Noticed an unexpected spike in your water bill? This could be a sign of a hidden water leak. Even small leaks can waste hundreds of gallons, costing you not only in water bills but also ruining your property.Not being able to spot a leak doesn’t mean there is none. Professional water damage assessment can locate water leaks and infiltrations before it’s too late.
5. Visible mold growth
Water always finds a way. If you have as much as a hairline crack in your foundation, your property becomes a sponge for groundwater, making it the perfect habitat for mold to grow. And once you spot mold, there’s likely ten times more hiding where you can’t see it.
Mold starts growing within 24-48 hours of water exposure, making rapid mold remediation crucial following any type of water damage. When mold threatens your property and health, it’s time to call the specialists. Lux Restoration’s IICRC-accredited specialists use industrial equipment to eliminate the tiniest mold spores. Their rapid response team is available 24/7, whether you need mold remediation in Westchester or on Long Island.
In some cases, like persistent basement dampness, solutions such as Basement Waterproofing Scranton offer valuable insights and services that help prevent future water issues from occurring in the first place—especially if your home sits in a vulnerable zone.
For the situations that require professional help, keep a phone number for professional water damage in Southampton on quick dial. Lux Restoration’s rapid response team is at your doorstep in 60 minutes to immediately start water extraction.
