Water damage in new and existing buildings require lengthy periods of reconstructions. How to prevent the need for renovation, what are quick fixes?

Water damage & Humidity measurement

Water damage

Water is the principle, or the element, of things. All things are water.

Thales of Milet

The follow scenario is far from unlikely, in fact it happens every day around the world: A spot in older building slowly becomes moist. This became clear after a rather large spot on the wallpaper appeared. Upon further inspection it turns out that water from the adjacent building has been dripping into the wall for years. These slowly creeping damages caused by water can actually harm the brickwork even more than an immediately visible flooding, since the latter can be rectified faster.

Not just outdated water pipes can lead to water damage. Classic cases are leaking washing machines which can cause an overflow. The affected room requires immediate action so that the water will not get into adjacent brickwork. Instant drying and measure of redevelopment can limit the extent of the damage. Furthermore, the damage report should be made to your insurance .

In this blog post we are taking closer look at existing buildings. Further risk factors are natural flooding caused by rivers, a storm with continuous rain and dike breaking. These natural disasters can paralyse whole streets of houses, basements and cellars are flooded, the bricking experiences long-lasting harm.

(Uncovered) new buildings are exposed to wind and weather as well. Furthermore, once any water penetrated the building materials the water cannot evaporate due to heat insulating material used in the construction process. That is why buildings under construction can be affected by mould. Read our guide about construction drying and humidity removal.

The householder’s insurance policy covers water damage on the furnishings (furniture, objects, electric devices, personal belongings) in most cases. However, it is important that the water is tap water. Damage due to rising groundwater or flooded lakes are mostly not covered by this insurace. The insurance does not reimburse the whole purchase price, but rather the estimated value for a similar product of the used object. If the items can be dried with special devices, the insurance might even cover the electricity costs. If the water damage is caused by thoughtless, careless, negligent actions, the insurance has the right to refuse any reimbursement.

The private liability insurance insures damage that is caused by foreign tap water. That means if your neighbour’s water is infiltrating your home, their insurance will be responsible. If your water causes harm to a third party, your insurance will take over.

The residential building insurance of the house owner replaces additional damage in the apartment or building, the masonry and parts such as the heating installation.
If damage caused by natural hazard is included in the insurance, flooding, avalanches, etc. are also covered.

What to do in the event of damage?

Bursting of pipes is a much more common occurrence than one might believe. In order to minimise costs as well as measures for drying and reconstruction, you should react immediately to water damage:

1) Turn off the water on the tap / main pipe
2) Turn off power at the fuse box
3) Remove water with a vacuum cleaner suitable for moisture, buckets, cloth, etc. If necessary, get in touch with the fire brigade
4) Get furniture and devices to safety, dry them off
5) Photographic documentation of the damage for the insurance
6) If applicable, keep around damaged objects for an expert witness
7) Use electric dehumidifiers, fan heaters, radiator
8) In some cases tenants can request an abatement of rent
9) professional measurement of humidity and renovation work

First and foremost the cause of water flow must be determined and stopped. In case of leaking mains water, closing the main tap will do the trick. Turn off defect devices or heating systems containing water. In case of heavy rain or rising groundwater it is recommended to put up watertight barricades. These can be mounted to windows and doors within a matter of minutes. If the flow has been stopped or redirected into containers, life-saving measures must be taken. Shutting off the electric power supply on the main fuse should be a priority. Afterwards, document the water level with a sufficient number of pictures for your insurance. Show the level of the water surface with a folding rule. Now try to get the water under control, e.g. by scooping the water with buckets. Gas engine pumps and dirty-water pumps as well as hoses are available in DIY and hardware stores, sometimes they can be rented instead of purchased as well. The last rest of the water covering the ground is removed with cloth and absorbent textile. If possible, hang out carpets to dry outside and damp objects out of the home. However do not throw away anything until the insurance has closed the documentation..

The insurance provider should be notified as soon as possible. Making a phone call and digitally sending photos is possible the very same day as the event. In the following written claim the previous contact should be mentioned.

The fire brigade will deal with heavy floodings, e.g. in basement and ground floors. Special pumps can deal with the water. If the affected area is part of a rented flat, it is important to consider whether the mission was an actual emergency rescue and which party must cover the costs. The same goes for plumbers, companies dealing with damage repair and humidity measurement as well as power costs for appliances used in the drying process. It is wise to protect yourself from water damage before it occurs, particularly if you are living in a known flood area.

Pre-emptive measures:
Only use the washing machine if someone is at home
Close and open the main tap once a month to prevent calcification
Remove deposit and grease on the drain, tap, armatures and pipes
Frequently descale washing machine and dish washer
Immediately react to drops of water underneath the radiator or in the boiler room
Remove clogging from the pipes as soon as you notice the water takes longer to drain
Insert metal wires on top of the drain on the bathtub, shower and washbowl
Prevent clogging of the toilet: do not use an excessive amount of toilet paper, do not flush sanitary products
Keep the rain pipe and gutter clean
Apply antifreeze and antirust agents to exterior pipes
Control indoor humidity with a hygrostat
In case of draught and mould: measure leakage with blower-door testing and infrared camera
Renew sealing on windows and doors
Have fan heaters and dehumidifiers ready
Install backflow flap / backflow valve
Reduce flow volume in pipes diagnosed with leakage
Regularly check and renew water barrier, for example with self-expanding gasket
Have barriers for windows and doors ready, as well as sandbag damming
Check the attic for rain drops after a storm
Additionally: take out suitable insurance policies
Do not store valuables and electric appliances in the basement or attic

Professional humidity measurement

After the water damage has occurred, a technical measurement, analysis and review of the damage must be done for each room. The testing can also be done upon the speculation of water damage. For example, if the broken pipe is covered by tiles, it is impossible to locate any water leakage with the naked eye. Capacitive moisture measuring devices determine the source through the walling and operate without any invasion of the material. That means tiles only need to be removed after the measurement has proven affected spots behind the wall.

The capacitive measurement of humidity is done with small, handy moisture measuring device with a digital thermo hygrometer. The appliance works after the dielectric metering principle. The sensor of the device is placed next to the material or lead slowly along the wall. Electromagnetic waves from the detector head penetrate the material as deep as 14cm. The depth of the measuring field depends on the moisture. It is quite simple: Water and moisture reacts more to the incoming frequency than a dry substance would. This difference is measured, damp spots are located. The moisture measuring device determines by the degree of humidity penetration and how far the moisture has spread inside the wall, ceiling, wood, building and raw material, components, etc. A digital screen renders the moisture index of the surface in real time. A value beneath 80 is acceptable, however everything above this number indicates water. The higher the value (and moisture), the higher is the risk of mould growth.

If water infiltrates partition walls, ledges, doors and flooring made of wood, mould and unpleasant odours are not the only dangers. The building material will swell, become rotten and brittle, it will lose stability and deforms. As a natural material, wood generally absorbs more humidity, an index of 6-15% indoors. It is crucial to prevent any hidden moisture after water damage. The measuring of wood moisture determines exactly how much residual moisture content is still inside the wood. Wood is a homogenous material that has a different electric resistance in a damp and dry state. This characteristic is utilised for another non-damaging testing method. Two electrodes on the measuring device are inserted into the wood against the direction of growth. The electrodes are current-carrying. The measured resistance is shown on a digital display and lets users know about the dampness of the material. Though, factors such as temperatures and the kind of wood must be taken into consideration, too. The properties of the wood influence conductivity and must be entered in the measuring device to eliminate any possibility of errors.

There are other means of determining moisture content as well. Depending on the assumed moisture a part of about 10g to 50g of the materials in question is taken. The test sample is then taken to a lab and examined thoroughly.

Drying and dehumidification procedures
Heaters, professional air conditioning systems and fans are used for an accelerated drying process. Filters remove harmful particulate matter that arise from water damage. Fine pored filters with activated carbon also help remove odours, germs and bacteria. During the drying, humidity is constantly measured and documented.

Fans and driers also support the drying. However, due to the heat-sensitive nature of the material these methods require a longer drying time, though the process is more gentle. Wood should not be dried out too much, otherwise it will crack and tear. A residual moisture content of 20% is an acceptable value. Sensitive furniture can get damaged by harsh, excessive drying, move them to a different room if possible.

An expert witness is able to determine if the use of domestic electrical heaters are sufficient or if heavy duty dehumidifiers are required. Even though the walls may look dry, the drywall or other building material can still hold moisture. Portable air conditioning and ventilation devices such as heavy duty fans and suitable infrared heaters are available in our creoven online shop.
 

CasaFan powerful wind machine DF800

Summary

Not just water damage and accidents cause moisture inside the brickwork. During everyday activities a huge amount of water is being used which eventually evaporates. In heat-insulated and airtight buildings this process takes quite a long time. Several litres of water are released each day by drying laundry, indoor plants, breathing and cooking. These daily loads settle in the shape of condensation water. If no or only insufficient ventilation is provided, mould is sure to grow. In the long run, this will lead to damage of the building material and damp walls.

A timely professional measurement of humidity and repair of the water damage is essential to prevent long-term damage of the walling and mould growth. Water beneath the floor or inside the heat insulation is not easily noticed by non-professionals and will do disastrous harm. That is why an authorized expert should judge about the appropriate limitation of damage after the event. The costs are covered by the insurance in most cases if the damage has not been caused by the residents themselves.