SERVPRO: How can animals cause water damage?

3/28/2022 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: The blog by SERVPRO explains rodent and pest infestation in the plumbing system and how it can lead to water leaks, fire hazards, and infections in a home. 

 How can animals cause water damage?

Statistics show that US residents spend 13 Billion annually to restore property water damages while around 14,000 Americans face water damage emergencies daily. The causes of these water damage events may vary from natural causes such as thunderstorms and hurricanes to sprinkler malfunction and plumbing leaks. SERVPRO, a water damage restoration company in Euless, TX reveals how pest infestation can lead to severe water damage. 

Water Leak Facts

The following facts highlight the importance of regular inspection and maintenance of equipment and plumbing to prevent enormous water damage.

• Household leaks can waste more than 10,000 gallons of water every year on average.
• 1 trillion gallons of water is wasted in households every year.
• 10 percent of unsuspected leaks in homes waste 90 gallons or more per day.
• The most common types of leaks in homes are worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. 
• A leak fixed in time can cut down 10 percent of water bills. 
• Regular inspection and maintenance of faucets, toilet flappers, and showerheads can save enormous water damage restoration costs.  

Water leaks attract animals leading to further damage 

Plumbing is one of the coziest and safest spaces for rodents and pests to build their homes. The ample supply of food and water and the security of the plumbing attracts the animals to begin residing in the pipes in attics, between walls, in cabinets, and in crawl spaces. A water leak left undetected for too long is like a homing beacon for these animals.

Naturally, a rodent or pests residing in a home is accompanied by a vast array of diseases and related contamination and destruction. 

All the plastic pipes made of PVC, CPVC, and PEX will encourage the rodents and pests to chew upon them and cause even the healthy pipes to leak. Even galvanized steel pipes are chewed upon by rodents to file down their dangerously pointed and growing teeth. When it gets dry, critters crawl into the pipes for some respite and water. Some of the common animals that nibble on household pipes and cause water damage are:

• Mice and rats
• Squirrels 
• Opossums
• Raccoons
• Chipmunks
• Skunks
• Dogs

The ongoing onslaught on the plumbing system eventually leads to a complete collapse of the pipes, leading to major water damage events. The resultant property damages can be overwhelming. To prevent such a catastrophic event from occurring, property owners must get in touch with a water damage restoration company like SERVPRO to inspect the possible source of the water leak and control the damage at the earliest. 

Homeowners may fail to understand the source of the leak or realize the presence of unwanted residents in their homes. An experienced eye, on the other hand, can immediately identify if the cause of the water leak is rodents and pests. Once the cause has been recognized, professional water damage restoration companies take immediate action to check the damage and reverse it. They may choose to replace parts of the chewed pipe or completely replace the damaged pipes besides cleaning any other contamination caused by the animals.

Notably, rodents and pests can also entail fire hazards. More often than not, these animals may end up gnawing electrical wires as well. After wearing down the soft, plastic coating on electrical wires the rodents find it easy to wear down their teeth with the metal wire inside the insulation. These damaged electrical wires left undetected can easily lead to structural fires.

If homeowners detect the presence of rodents and pests, leaking pipes, damaged electrical wires, and/or infections, they must immediately contact a professional water damage restoration service and plumbing services to address the issue.

Why SERVPRO?

• SERVPRO uses state-of-the-art equipment to bring the damaged property back to its original state. SERVPRO of Hurst-Euless-Bedford is always updating its fleet and equipment so clients in Hurst, Euless, Bedford, or anywhere else can quickly access the services. 

• With over 1,700 US and Canadian Franchise locations, SERVPRO is strategically positioned to respond faster to an emergency of any magnitude.

• The SERVPRO staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. They receive initial in-house training and constant skill-up-gradation at the corporate training facility and also acquire the regular IICRC-industry certification.

For water damage restoration services, contact Team Shaw of Hurst-Euless-Bedford today at (817) 595-0004 or e-mail at office@SERVPROheb.com