8 Water Damage in the House: Reasons, Impacts, and Preventions

Written By Adam Paul - Waterproofing Expert

What is water damage in a house? Water damage in a house is deterioration or destruction of building materials, finishes, and structural elements caused by unwanted water intrusion. Liquid water damage and moisture damage are two main types of water damage. Liquid water damage occurs due to visible water flowing, while moisture damage occurs due to water vapor migration.

The main 7 reasons for liquid water damage in the house are water leaking, seepage, standing water, condensation, clogs, overflowing in the home envelope, and malfunctions in the home HVAC systems.

The main reason for the moisture damage is the accumulation of liquid water due to the above reasons. More than that, moisture damage occurs due to these minor reasons, such as poor ventilation, high indoor humidity, inadequate vapor barrier, and HVAC issues.

Finally, all of the above reasons lead to these 8 severe water damages in the home.

Severe mold infestation in the house
Permanent water stain marks in the house
Musty and earthy smell in the house
Structural and furniture wood rotting
Metal Corrosion in the House
Material Degradation in the House
Home Material Erosion
Paint Peeling in the House

These water damages cause to structural weakening, mold and mildew growth, damage to personal belongings, and potential health risks due to mold exposure. To prevent these water damages water issues should be fixed and the building envelope should be waterproofed using a waterproofing membrane.

What are the Water Damages and Negative Impacts in the House?

These are the 8 most negatively impacted water damages in the house.

Severe mold infestation in the house
Permanent water stain marks in the house
Musty and earthy smell in the house
Structural and furniture wood rotting
Material degradation in the house
House material decaying
House component erosion
Damage the interior and exterior paint

1. Severe Mold Infestation in the House

Mold growth is the development of microscopic fungi that thrive in damp, humid, and poorly ventilated home environments, while mildew growth is a specific type of mold that thrives on flat, moist surfaces and typically appears as a powdery or downy layer.

Mold and mildew grow on organic materials like wood, drywall, and fabric. These can damage the surface by making stain marks and discoloring it in the short term. Long-term mold damage includes musty odors, peeling paint, and allergies. Mold and mildew can be seen on basement walls, bathroom ceilings, crawl spaces, kitchen cabinets, and attics.

Negative impacts of mold and mildew growth in the house

Increase health issues such as allergies, asthma, and other respiratory problems.
Structural damage to the home.
Decrease in property value.
Unpleasant odors.
Increased costs for mold remediation and repair.

2. Permanent Water Stain Marks in the House

Water stain marks are dried mineral deposits on the building materials like paint, plaster, or wood, due to water seepage. These stains often appear as yellowish, brownish, or rust-colored patches with irregular borders, and they typically signal a history of ongoing or unresolved moisture issue.

These stains usually develop on ceilings, drywall, window trims, wallpaper, and floorboards in areas like bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and under roof valleys. As well as you can see stains marks under HVAC units, around chimneys, and on interior corners where insulation is insufficient.

Negative impacts of water stain marks in the house

Devalues the home
Causes structural damage
Leads to mold and mildew growth
Ruins aesthetic appeal
Potentially hazardous to health

3. Musty and Earthy Smell in the House

A musty and earthy smell is an unpleasant odor in the house. It is a strong sign of hidden moisture intrusion, poor ventilation, or mold and mildew activity. These odors are typically caused by microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) released during the active growth of fungi and bacteria on damp organic materials.

A musty smell is unpleasant. It causes headaches, nausea, fatigue, and worsens respiratory conditions like asthma. This odor usually spreads from basements, crawl spaces, attics, under sinks, and behind drywall near leaking pipes.

Negative impacts of Musty and Earthy odor in the house

Potential health risks, including respiratory problems, allergies, or infections.
Decreased comfort and enjoyment of living space.
Potential damage to the structure of the house.
Decreased property value.
Increased difficulty in selling or renting the house.

4. Structural and Furniture Wood Rotting

Wood rotting is the decay of timber caused by prolonged exposure to moisture. When wood is exposed to prolonged moisture breaks down the cellulose and lignin in the wood. Rotted wood is soft and has a crumbling texture. This causes the wood structure to weaken and fail over time.

Wood rotting weakens the structure and decreases the aesthetic value. Structural wood rotting commonly affects floor joists, roof trusses, wall studs, and support beams in moisture-prone areas like basements, crawl spaces, and bathroom subfloors while furniture wood rotting can be seen near the leaky windows, condensation-prone walls, or in humid rooms.

Reasons for House Wood rotting

Excessive moisture or humidity within the house.
Poor ventilation leading to trapped moisture.
Lack of maintenance or poor quality of wood.
Water leaks from plumbing or roof.
Inadequate or improper sealing of wood.

Negative impacts of House Wood rotting

Structural damage to the house.
Decrease in property value.
Potential health risks due to mold and mildew.
Increased repair and replacement costs.
Attraction of pests like termites and beetles.

5. Metal Corrosion in the House

Metal corrosion is a chemical reaction between water, metal, and oxygen. In the house interior metal is corroded by the higher indoor humidity while exterior metal is corroded by the rainwater. Prolonged metal corrosion cause degrades the metal parts and reduces its connection strength.

Metal corrosion decreases the structural strength, makes stain marks, warps the material surface, and reduces the aesthetic value of the home. In homes, corrosion commonly affects window frames, door hinges, plumbing pipes, electrical panels, HVAC units, and metal support brackets in damp basements or crawl spaces.

Reasons for Metal Corrosion in the House

Exposure to high humidity level
Exposure to high moisture levels
Exposure to rainwater
Exposure to water and the high-temperature
Exposure to vapour air

Negative Impacts of Metal Corrosion in the House

Structural damage to the house
Increased risk of electrical faults or fires
Potential for water leaks from corroded pipes
Decreased value of the property
Increased maintenance and repair costs

6. Material Degradation in the House

Material degradation is the breakdown or weakening of building materials caused by prolonged exposure to moisture and water. Continous water exposure change the physical and chemical properties of construction materials. It cause to loss of strength, brittleness, warping, and cracking the material over time. Material degradation mostly can be seen on drywalls, plaster, flooring adhesives, laminates, and insulations.

Reasons for house material decaying

Moisture and humidity due to water seepage and leakage
High water pressure
Higher water flow
Prolonged water leakage
Exposure to harsh weather conditions

Negative impacts of house material decaying

Decrease in property value
Increase in repair and maintenance costs
Potential health hazards
Structural instability and safety risks
Decrease in aesthetic appearance

7. Home Material Erosion

Material erosion in the home is a gradual wearing away process in construction materials due to consistent exposure to flowing water. Material erosion physically strips away the material surface and reduces the amount of material over time.

This causes to weaken the structure, damage the protection layers, and increase the seepage over time. Material erosion can be seen in concrete foundations, brick mortar joints, plaster coatings, and grount lines mostly.

Reasons for the home material erosion

Higher water pressure in the basement
Higher water flow close to the house structure
Selecting low-quality materials
Material decaying

Negative impacts of home material erosion

Decrease the property value
Increase in maintenance and repair costs
Structural instability and potential collapse
Health hazards due to exposure to damaged materials
The aesthetically unpleasant appearance of the home

8. Paint Peeling in the House

Paint peeling is the cracking, lifting, and flaking of the paint on the walls, ceiling and other painted surfaces due to water and its substances. Mostly paint peeling can happen due to water damage.

Reasons for paint peeling in the house

High humidity and moisture levels
Poor surface preparation before painting
Use of low-quality paint
Paint applied on a dirty or oily surface
Extreme weather conditions and temperature fluctuations

Negative impacts of paint peeling in the house

Damages the aesthetic appeal of the house
Can expose underlying material to damage
May lead to higher maintenance costs
Can lower the value of the house
Potential health risks from ingesting or inhaling peeling paint particles, especially if the paint is lead-based

How to Prevent Water Damage In the House?

You should follow these 5 way to prevent water damage in the home.

Install a waterproofing membrane: You should install a waterproofing membrane in the basement, bathroom, concrete, and specific areas that tend to be regularly wet and pool. Building waterproofing helps to prevent the spread of accumulated water over the floors, walls, and ceiling in the house that causes water damage.
Ensure proper roof maintenance: You should inspect the roof at least once a year for damaged or missing shingles. You should clear the gutters and downspouts regularly to prevent water buildup that could lead to leaks and water damage.
Install a sump pump: You should install a sump pump in the basement. A sump pump helps prevent basement flooding by automatically pumping out excess water that accumulates during heavy rains or due to groundwater.
Seal doors and windows: You should seal doors and windows using caulk or weatherstripping around doors and window gaps and spaces to prevent water seepage during storms.
Improve the drainage system in the home: You should improve the drainage system around the home to ensure that the ground slopes away from the foundation.