Bathroom Water Damage

Your bathroom, in addition to being one of the most visited rooms in any home, is more than likely also your escape haven. After the day’s stress and hard work, it is a place to relax and unwind. It’s a place for a warm soak in the bathtub or a refreshing shower before dinner.

People tend to splurge went it comes to bathroom amenities; fancy “guest towels” that are not allowed to be used by anyone else, a pretty shower curtain, exotic bars of hand soap in a special dish. But you have to be constantly on guard to defend your bathroom from water damage of any kind.

Why has my bathroom developed a Musty Smell?

There is no obvious sign of damage but something isn’t right. When you walk in there is a strange odor that is getting more and more noticeable. You have done a thorough cleaning but the smell is still there.

When an odor becomes noticeable in your bathroom, it is probably being cause by a water leak of some kind or a buildup of humidity. Because the moisture doesn’t ever completely dry up, an odor develops. This calls for a serious investigation.

Where is the Bathroom Water Damage coming from?

Bathrooms have more water connections than just about any other room in your home. There are hot and cold faucet connections under the vanity, maybe more than one set if you have a double vanity. Then there are the connections for the bathtub, and another set if you have a separate shower. Add to that the water supply line to your toilet. That’s a lot of water lines that can begin to leak.

Floor-mounted toilets have a seal around their base. The wax seal under the toilet base connects to a plumbing flange, sealing the toilet so that it doesn’t leak or allow sewer gases to escape. If it becomes defective the toilet can begin to leak around the base. The water cannot always be seen, it may be leaking under the bathroom flooring. Mold may be starting to grow and this problem often shows up as a stain on the flooring around the toilet base.

Ceramic tiling, whether it is around the walls, on the floor, or on the walls of the bathtub or shower has grout lines. All grout lines require maintenance every once in a while. You are always concerned with cleaning grout lines, but you should also inspect them occasionally to make sure the grout is intact. If the grout lines develop gaps there is a chance that moisture will penetrate the gaps and cause water damage to the structural materials behind the tiles.

Around the base of bathtubs and shower pans there should be a solid bead of caulking. Just like grout lines, any gaps or cracks in this caulking could be allowing water to penetrate the areas, resulting is mold growth and annoying odors.

Humidity is always a problem in a bathroom. You use a lot of hot water while bathing and washing and humidity builds up quickly. You undoubtedly have gotten out of the tub or shower and couldn’t see yourself in the mirror because of the humidity buildup. The mirror isn’t the only place that the humidity clings to.

How can I fix Bathroom Water Damage?

In all likelihood, you are going to need professional assistance. Small leaks happen and if allowed to exist for any length of time can result in serious damage. When you see small leaks or smell odors in your bathroom you need to take immediate action to prevent costly repairs. The leaks need to be addressed and any wet materials, flooring, walls, vanities, etc., need to be professionally dried to prevent mold.

Water Mold Fire Restoration helps homeowners like you with bathroom water damage on a regular basis. Our skilled technicians will seek out the sources of any leaks, help you get them stopped, and get wet materials dried out quickly, before the problem can get worse.

How can I prevent future Bathroom Water Damage?

There are several simple maintenance actions that you should undertake on a regular basis:

• Inspect your shower, tub, and around the edges of any sinks for gaps or cracks in caulking. If any are found, repair them immediately. If any faucets or the shower head have a slow drip, have them checked out.

• Keep a lookout for leaky waterline connections under the vanity.

• Around the toilet, look at the supply line connection, the condition of the seal between the toilet tank and its base, and also around the toilet base where it meets the floor.

• When bathing or washing at the sink, run the exhaust fan to cut down on humidity buildup. If the exhaust fan isn’t working fix it. If there is no fan, have one installed.

• Don’t allow damp or wet towels or clothing to accumulate on the bathroom floor. This will just add to moisture and humidity problems.

Bathroom water damage can become a large problem very quickly. At the first inkling of trouble, call Water Mold Fire Restoration at 800-905-0277. We will respond to your call within the hour and have one of our water damage experts at your home to inspect the damage and suggest a plan to eliminate the damage. We answer our phones 24/7, or if you prefer, you can contact us by email at help@watermoldfire.net.