Common Causes of Bathroom Water Damage

Your bathroom is one of the most commonly used rooms in your house. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the ones most prone to water damage.

Water damage is a big problem for homeowners. And it’s not always preventable. When water damage does occur, it can quickly lead to mold. In some cases, mold develops in as little as 24 hours. When it develops, it can quickly spread. If it does, it leads to severe allergies and skin irritation.

While you may not be able to totally avoid bathroom water damage, you can know what causes it. By knowing this ahead of time, you can recognize the signs and treat them quickly.

Here are the most common causes of bathroom water damage:

Causes of Water Damage in the Bathroom

There are four main causes of bathroom water damage. Here’s an overview of each one:

Leaky Sinks, Tubs, and Toilets

Leaky sinks and toilets are one of the most common causes of damage. These are caused by several factors. For sinks and tubs, there may be a clog that creates the issue. Toilets may also suffer from this or can overflow due to trying to flush with too much toilet paper.

If water rises when you flush or keep your faucet on instead of going down, you likely have a clog.

Burst Pipes

Burst pipes are usually caused by clogs. Bathroom pipes are usually filled with soap scum, hair, and other related products. These can all lead to a clog.

However, sometimes the weather can cause it. If your bathroom pipes aren’t insulated, they may burst when temps drop too low. This is a big problem during Portland winters when temps can get downright freezing.

Burst pipes aren’t always preventable, but if you notice any weird sounds, discolored water, or high water bills, a burst pipe is likely imminent. Recognizing these signs is a good sign to call a plumber in to make repairs so you can try and avoid it.

Poor Ventilation

Two rooms in your Portland home need proper ventilation: your kitchen and the bathroom.

Your bathroom exhaust fan is designed to grab moisture from the air before it can cause mold growth. If the fan is broken, then moisture and humidity will build up in your bathroom and lead to mold.

While this may not be water damage in a traditional sense, a broken HVAC system leaves water in the air. In addition to mold, this can lead to streaks on your walls and bubbling wallpaper. You should get your home’s HVAC system inspected once a year.

In between service checks, consider how your home feels. Is it hotter than normal, despite having the air conditioning on? If so, there’s probably an issue with your HVAC system.

A Wet Environment

In order for water to create damage, it has to exist in the first place. Because of what your bathroom is used for, it’s always going to have a wet environment. The problem with this is that water from your shower can make its way onto your walls and floors.

If left there and not dried up, it can lead to water damage. The most common types of issues that can arise include mold and warping.

Why You May Need to Hire a Water Damage Professional

In most cases, you will only need to hire a professional if the damage is severe. An example of this would be a sewage backup or burst pipe. Since these contain contaminated water or large amounts of water, you need a professional to help remove and clean everything up.

For smaller amounts of water damage, you may be able to treat it yourself. Dry up the area as soon as you can, then make sure to disinfect the area. If you notice severe water damage, like that caused by a leaky pipe behind the bathroom wall, call in a professional. They can remove the drywall, make repairs, and disinfect the area.

However, this isn’t to say this is the only time you should call a water damage professional. Even if water damage is small, that doesn’t mean you have to treat it yourself. Whether big or small, PNW Restoration can handle it all from start to finish.

Do You Need Professional Water Damage Restoration? Call PNW Restoration for Help!

Dealing with this problem yourself is a hassle. If you need help treating it, let the pros at PNW Restoration help. Give us a call at (971) 247-3661. We proudly service the greater Portland area. This includes Canby, Tigard, and West Linn.

Whether you’re dealing with water damage or a subsequent mold infestation, we can treat it all. Schedule an appointment today. Our team is available 24/7 for emergencies.