First Call Restoration

How a Damp Home Can Make You Sick

If your home has recently experienced a flood, it is essential that you have a water damage restoration company conduct a thorough mold inspection. Failing to adequately eliminate moisture from hard-to-reach areas like walls, floorboards, and insulation can leave you and your family more vulnerable to several health hazards. Keep reading to learn how a damp home can make you sick:

Common Locations of Excess Moisture
Excess moisture can create the perfect environment for mold to grow and thrive. You can typically detect mold in a room by the smell and by zeroing in on items that harbor moisture, such as carpet, drywall, and ceiling tiles. Once mold spores have settled onto these items, they will continue to reproduce until the existing moisture problem is effectively controlled.

The Symptoms of Mold Exposure
Those living in a damp home will typically experience coughing, wheezing, and throat irritation, all of which are indicators of an upper respiratory disturbance. If someone in your home already has a pre-existing respiratory condition such as asthma or emphysema, these mold-related symptoms can make his or her breathing even more irregular. Mold exposure is also known to cause rashes, eye irritation, and a stuffy nose.

Potential Long-Term Health Effects
In certain cases, a damp home can have serious or irreversible effects on a family member's health. For example, young children who are exposed to mold at an early age are thought to be more likely to develop asthma. Researchers are also conducting studies to find out whether mold can lead to acute hemorrhaging in infants and memory loss in adults.

When it comes to protecting your family's health, one of the most effective steps you can take is to make sure your home is a clean and dry environment. The reliable professionals at First Call Restoration can help you eliminate mold and moisture from any room so you can regain a feeling of security in your home. To learn more about our mold remediation services, call (845) 635-0487.

The Dangers of Wet Drywall

The drywall that lines your home's walls and ceiling can become compromised if exposed to moisture from an overflowing bathtub, leaky roof, or flooded basement. Once drywall gets wet, it acts like a sponge, absorbing liquid and creating bubbled pockets of water around nails and screws. If this water becomes too heavy for the fasteners to support, drywall could collapse, causing the ceiling to fall in or walls to crumble. Water trapped in drywall also creates the ideal environment for mold spores to bloom and spread throughout the space.

Each of these plausible scenarios serves as a reminder of why it is so important to contact a water damage restoration and mold remediation company at the first sign of drywall damage. As Poughkeepsie's number one choice for cleanup and remediation after water or fire-related incidents, the professionals at First Call Restoration can always be counted on to do everything it takes to restore your wet drywall and ensure it won't pose a health risk to your family. Call us at (845) 635-0487 to learn more about our services. 

Health Hazards of Home Water Damage

There are many ways water can enter your home, including a broken pipe, heavy rain, or backed-up gutters. The first thing you should do when water pools around a certain area of your home is to call a professional water remediation team to help dry up the moisture. If you do not address the situation within 24 to 48 hours, you leave your home vulnerable to dangerous bacteria and mold spores.

The most common symptoms of mold exposure are headaches, body aches, pain, and severe breathing problems for those with pre-existing respiratory conditions. To learn more about the health hazards of home water damage, watch this video.

If your home has experienced a flood, call the experienced professionals of First Call Restoration at (845) 635-0487. We're Poughkeepsie's most trusted name in home restoration and are available around the clock to address any water-related emergency.

Explore These Resources To Find More Valuable Home Water Damage Information

Has your home recently suffered water damage?  Contact First Call Restoration at (845) 635-0487. Our experienced team is available to assist with water damage restoration, fire damage restoration, mold remediation, and more. Find out more about water restoration and how to mitigate the damage that it can cause by visiting the links below.

If your home’s water damage occurs as a result of a sewage backup, you will want to be aware of the dangers associated with this type of contamination.  Learn more about the exposure risks here.

What causes more damage in your home state, flooding or sewage backups?  Learn more about common water-related insurance claims in your area by visiting this interactive map.

If you are anticipating bad weather, learn how to weatherproof your home with this article from the Weather Channel.

Check out this article on how to prevent mold and mildew—a common result of home water damage—from Better Homes and Garden.

If you are preparing to file a water damage insurance claim, read this article for claim filing tips.

What are Mycotoxins?

Mycotoxins are a dangerous biological pollutant resulting from mold growth. Mold can grow anywhere there is heat and moisture, and it can easily spread throughout your walls and cause significant health issues before it shows visible signs of damage. While not all mold poses an immediate threat to the average healthy adult, it can spread within and produce spores within 48 hours if left in checked.

Mycotoxins can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled, and they typically cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, fever, rash, and headache. Those who are sensitive to allergens or who have asthma symptoms are more likely to be affected by mycotoxins.

Indoor air health begins with source control, and First Call Restoration is your first line of defense against mold, mildew, smoke, soot, and sewage. We provide professional house restoration, carpet cleaning, and mold remediation services throughout Poughkeepsie and the surrounding areas. Visit us online to learn more about our services, and contact us at (845) 635-0487 to schedule service.