“Maintaining the house and yard is a priority for homeowners. Property owners and managers know how building upkeep affects tenants and customers. It is easy to overlook stagnant water, which can cause various problems at home and at work.”
Stagnant Water
Usually, stagnant water has already entered your building or house by the time you notice the foul smell. In a matter of minutes, it begins breeding microorganisms that can cause serious illness. Our damage restoration company is aware of the threats to your health and the structural risks involved.
How to clean up stagnant water and why it’s dangerous can be found in this guide. The tips will also help prevent standing water inside and outside your home.
Standing Water Removal & Cleanup
Water is an essential element for survival, but some types are unhealthy. The types of water that can cause severe damage to people, homes, and businesses are sewage and standing water.
Homes and businesses are particularly vulnerable to standing water. Over time, if the water stays on your property, it can cause serious damage to the structure and all the furniture, floors, walls, and other belongings.
Aside from leaks, property owners also have to worry about mold growth when water seeps into their homes or businesses. That’s a whole different problem. Our Restoration Company provides standing water removal and cleanup services in Sacramento when you need standing water removed and cleaned out of your home.
Our water extraction, dehumidifier, and dryer equipment help restore your property, and we also have detection tools for locating the water source.
If you experience stagnant water because of bad weather or a burst pipe, our technicians can resolve your problem. Water can feel overwhelming and frightening when you’re knee-deep in it.
Our mission is not just to remove water and clean it up but also to provide comfort. Our technicians can restore your business or home to its original condition.
Why Is Standing Water Dangerous?
Standing water appears to affect only areas with substandard plumbing or sewage systems. There is a common misconception that stagnant water occurs only in certain areas.
When there is a lot of rainfall during a severe storm, stagnant water tends to occur most frequently. It will be easily absorbed when it rains or just a small amount of water in your home or business.
However, if your sewer system clogs or there is too much water, the water will not be able to get anywhere. Due to the enough of water, it takes time for it to be absorbed. Water removal and cleanup companies should be immediately called if your home or business has standing water. Stagnant water may not seem dangerous to humans, animals, or structures, but it can cause many problems.
What Is Stagnant Water?
The formation of stagnant water occurs when the flow of water ceases by natural or mechanical means. It can happen in many places, such as a park pond or a home’s flooded basement.
Plumbing systems in commercial buildings and manufacturing sites can develop this problem. Standing water can’t be definitively measured.
An inch of water in a yard is not enough for mosquitoes to breed. Hotel swimming pools can have stagnant water that can reach 20,000 gallons. The volume of water and the environment can cause a backyard puddle to stagnate overnight. The pool might begin to smell and turn green within two or three days.
Standing water sources are also crucial. Stagnant water accumulates from storm flooding, snowmelt, and sewage backups. This type of black water falls under Category 3, which can easily contaminate homes and commercial buildings’ plumbing and water distribution systems.
How Does Water Become Stagnant?
Many situations result in stagnation and interruption of water flow. Neither residential nor commercial buildings are immune to the problem. Stagnant water comes from these three sources.
CLEAN SOURCES
Most Category 1 clean water leaks out by slow plumbing leaks or sudden pipe bursts. In the absence of attention, it quickly stagnates. The rain drips through a roof or around a window is classified as clean, but as it becomes stagnant in the surrounding materials, it is classified as Category 2.
CONTAMINATED SOURCES
Water that is stagnant and classified as gray under Category 2 is usually contaminated. This type of water usually occurs by dishwasher leaks, washing machine leaks, or basement sump pump failures.
EMERGENCY SOURCES
There is a possibility that a property can flood with Category 3 black water during an emergency or that clean, external water supplies can be generally affected. In most cases, it affects more than one property. Contaminants, bacteria, and parasites persist in the residual stagnant water for a long time.
There are unique sources of stagnant water in commercial buildings. These are just a few examples.
- Natural or structural disasters that lead to long-term shutdowns
- Building-wide vacancies lead to low water usage.
- Seasonal slowdowns reduced usage.
- Supply lines and water towers fail.
THE DANGERS OF STAGNANT WATER
Insects and rodents flock to stagnant water. Upon soaking into a building’s structure, it damages to wood, plaster, and concrete. There is a strong odor that permeates the entire room. Microbial pathogens can also live in stagnant water.
- Bacteria and E. coli
- Viruses like the Norwalk virus, hepatitis E, and rotavirus
- Among the parasites are cryptosporidium, E. histolytica, and giardia
- Black mold releases harmful mycotoxins.
Residential and commercial plumbing systems can cause contamination by stagnant water. It can damage dishwashers, washers, and water faucets in homes.
Contaminated water negatively impacts equipment at the point of use in commercial settings.
Water faucets, drinking fountains, and ice machines grow bacterial biofilm when exposed to it. There is a rapid spread of this plumbing pathogen within a building. It can’t be easily fixed.
How to Get Rid Of Stagnant Water?
Taking care of stagnant water is important. Address the water source first. Call in plumbing leak repair technicians if needed. Here are six steps to remove stagnant water.
RENT THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT
Rent water removal and drying equipment to simplify the job. It is common for home improvement stores to rent submersible pumps, wet vacuums, heavy-duty fans, and dehumidifiers.
REMOVE STAGNANT WATER
Make sure standing water drains first—wet vacuum any remaining water to ensure it completely drains. Wipe old towels over wet walls and mop-soaked floors.
TEAR OUT DAMAGED MATERIALS
Save soggy carpets, baseboards, and drywall. Mold and mildew can thrive in the damaged materials. If there is standing water on anything, remove it. Ensure that tear-out zones extend well beyond wet areas.
START THE DRYING PROCESS
Place heavy-duty fans over damp surfaces so that fresh air circulates crosscurrents. Keep dehumidifiers and air-moving equipment running 24/7. Depending on the temperature, drying can take a week or more.
CLEAN AND DISINFECT
Make sure all materials are clean after being affected. You can use it to kill mold and bacteria on non-porous surfaces. Use antibacterial spray products to sanitize porous materials.
REPLACE AND RESTORE
Make sure the area dries completely for a few days more. Be aware of residual moisture and mold as you replace damaged materials. Air scrubbers with HEPA filters will eliminate foul odors and improve interior air quality.
Power Tip: Don’t try to remove stagnant water left over from storm flooding or sewage contamination by you. Category 3 black water refers to both of these. This type of hazardous cleanup requires the expertise of an experienced water damage contractor.
Importance of Water Damage Restoration
Water damage in areas that have suffered floods can result in serious health problems if not treated promptly. Getting your home dry as soon as possible is important after a flood or another incident where water generally affects your home.
A major problem is a contaminated water. It usually occurs when a sewer pipe bursts or when a natural body of water overflows. Water containing bacteria and microorganisms puts you at risk. Giardia and amoebas are examples of parasites and diseases.
Drying out the water does not eliminate the risk. Surfaces can keep bacteria and viruses for quite some time. Standing water, even when it is clean, can pose a threat. Many things grow in stagnant water besides mosquitoes, which most people know.
Mold thrives in damp conditions and leaves it behind when the water recedes. Cockroaches and dust mites can also breed there, along with microorganisms that require a clean environment. Molds can irritate asthmatics and allergy sufferers but can cause much more severe reactions depending on the type. Certain cases may result in hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
It spreads rapidly from surface to surface due to its high contagiousness. It may seem harmless, but damp spots in the basement can grow. Sometimes mold is found inside walls and on books not even close to the flooded area. Many items in your home have to go due to water damage to prevent mold growth.
First, it is necessary to eliminate the actual water after water damage. After disinfecting and drying everything, you can proceed to the next step. The process can be lengthy and stressful for those living at home.
Most people prefer to hire professionals when it comes to water damage restoration. Having the right equipment and experience is important when removing water damage hazards. As well as preventing health problems, it makes it easier to move back in.
Stagnant Water in Commercial Buildings
Whenever water in a commercial building has contamination, it must be remedied by a professional. After floods or sewage backups caused by storms, extra precautions are especially important.
Stagnant Water in Commercial Buildings.
The entire distribution system, including equipment at the point of use and the end of the pipe, might need to be properly flushed. Filters at hand washing stations and drinking fountains may also need to change, especially if the systems are old.
Hiring a licensed HVAC contractor ensures the heating and cooling systems are working properly.
Ensure that a certified water damage specialist treats stagnant water in commercial buildings. Your property’s reopening plan can be easily tailored to your needs so that your business can resume operations as soon as possible.
A comparison of stagnant and running water in commercial buildings
In commercial buildings, stagnant water poses additional challenges. Through an intricate plumbing network, these large systems constantly circulate water. In the event of a failure anywhere within the system, fresh water can leak throughout the entire facility.
It is important to watch the performance, temperature, and humidity of chillers, cooling towers, and heat exchangers. Ensure that all supply lines for point-of-use stations have checks regularly.
Maintaining commercial buildings’ water systems is crucial for preventing stagnant water contamination. Identify inspection schedules that will enable you to monitor the water supply at your property in collaboration with the facility manager.
How to Prevent Stagnant Water?
It is common for homes and businesses to have hidden leaks and plumbing problems. It’s impossible to prevent puddles from forming in the yard when it rains. You can even prevent water from standing and stagnating indoors and outdoors.
- Keep an eye out for signs of trouble in the plumbing regularly.
- Keep your gutters and shingles in good condition.
- A weather seal around a door or window should be regularly inspected.
- In the front and back yards, eliminate low spots.
- Ensure your property’s foundation is well drained.
Professional Standing Water Removal & Cleanup Service
We provide specialized standing water removal and cleanup services to restore your property to its original condition. So that your property can be generally restored as soon as possible, we take specific measures to ensure that stagnant water is fully removed and cleaned from your home or business. It is a reliable, effective, and straightforward process.
Local Water Cleanup Services
Our company understands how crucial an immediate response is to residential water damage. You can rely on our technicians for emergency help in an urgent situation! The water damage we clean up in your home is comprehensive and prompt so that we can restore walls, floors, and other structures.
In addition to cleaning up the water, we will ensure your home is not at risk of mold infestation or structural damage. Drying, restoring, and removing water from your home is possible with extractors, dehumidifiers, and dryers.
Every area we clean and disinfect so that harmful contaminants cannot harm you or your family. To ensure that your home smells fresh and clean, we will also provide you with a deodorizer. Contact us immediately if you are experiencing a leak in your ceiling or pipes burst in your living room. We will come to your rescue immediately.
Dealing With Stagnant Water at Your Sacramento Home or Business? We Can Help!
Taking care of puddles in the backyard doesn’t always involve sweeping them up or venturing to the basement to dry them. Stagnant water can affect your health and the structure of your property.
We remove all types of water, including sewage and biohazards. Water damage restoration services in Sacramento are the best option when dealing with stagnant water.
FAQs
Water becomes stagnant after how long?
A lot depends on the location and temperature of the water, as well as the environment. As little as 24 hours can allow insects, bacteria, and mold to grow in standing water.
Is it possible to sterilize stagnant water?
Yes, but only in an emergency. Water can be disinfected without bottled water by following the EPA’s instructions.
What is the cost of cleaning up stagnant water?
In general, the cost of removing stagnant water and remediating the area is similar to that of Category 3 water, which averages $7 per square foot. If there is extensive damage, the final cost will vary.