Water damage is every homeowner\'s nightmare, it could be caused by leakage or bursting of pipes, leaky roofs, storms or even natural floods. The intensity of this problem depends on the cause behind it. A natural flood or bursting of pipe can cause severe water damage to the extent that it may not be possible for you alone to remove all the water from your house and you may need to hire pumps to pump water out of your house.

Water damage can get progressively worse with time, mildew and mold can begin to grow in a water damaged house within no time. Within three to four days time, your house can begin suffering from secondary water damage. Within one to six hours of water flooding the cardboards, cushions and other absorbent material can become unsalvageable depending on they type of water flooding your house, clean, gray or black.

Water from your pipes is considered clean water and it will not make you sick either, in case of flooding with clean water, you can clean it up on your own provided you have the equipment. Water flooding caused due to breaking of an aquarium is called gray water flooding, this water can cause more damage than clean water. Black water is water from toilet backup, sewage or from the river. You must be very careful in case of water damage through gray or black water i.e. contaminated water.

Mildew, mold and other microorganisms can begin to grow within 24 hours. Mold and other microorganisms can be very harmful to you as well as your family\'s health since they can cause respiratory diseases. Within two days water can begin to damage the house\'s furniture as well as its structural integrity. If you have standing water in your house even after two days, the water, which was initially clean, will become contaminated with microorganisms as well. After a while everything that came in contact with this water will have to be discarded as well.

High moisture content in the air can lead to further water damage, mold and mildew can really flourish in such situations. It is very important to control the moisture level with the help of a dehumidifier. Reaction time is very important in this case. Therefore, if you face a pipe burst in middle of the night you should call for a 24/7 water damage service right away. It may cost more but you will be able to salvage more articles that way.

Furniture especially wooden furniture and carpets are very sensitive to moisture and therefore they must be stored in a warehouse till the removal of water and restoration of normal moisture level. High humidity can harm furniture as well as other belongings. Try to hire a water damage restoration company that is listed by your insurance company since restoration can cost a lot of money. It would be best to list all the damages properly so that you can claim insurance without much fuss.