CLG Mold Xperts - Effects of water damage on insulation

What is Insulation?

CLG Mold Xperts explain why it is important to understand the types of insulation and their functionality while dealing with water damage.

Insulation can be defined as any material that is used to add comfort and energy efficiency to a building. It is primarily used for thermal (hot and cold) insulating properties for protection against extremes of external temperature, thereby increasing the energy efficiency of HVAC systems.

In addition, insulation is also used for:

Acoustics: to protect a building from external noises
Electrical: to protect short circuits and shocks
Fire: to prevent the spread of fire in case of any such calamity
Impact: It safeguards against shocks from vibrations caused by heavy equipment

Types of insulation

There are three different types of insulation materials depending on their composition and application:

Fiberglass
Cellulose
Plasterboard

Sources of water damage on insulation

Water can creep into the building components from several places and stay on as moisture for a long time. Therefore, water damage to insulation can be from several sources:

Heavy rainfall
Excessive humidity
Condensation from HVAC systems
Spray from fire sprinkler
A leak from a burst pipe
Heavy flooding
Storm damage
Fire fighting
Groundwater overflow
Severe waterlogging

Effects of water damage on insulation

Insulation is embedded beneath the surface of walls, ceilings, and roofing systems; it can be difficult to detect water damage as soon as it happens. However, when moisture gets inside insulating materials, it can cause irreparable damage and lead to many problems. This occurs because moisture gets trapped within the layers and cannot escape. Instead, the insulation within its thickness will retain it, leading to dampness.

Mold & decay: Moisture trapped in insulation layers can encourage the growth of harmful micro-bacterial elements like mold and mildew. Damp and musty odors arise from mildew growth. Foul smells are a good indicator of mold growth in the house and must be addressed immediately. If left unattended for a long time, mold can cause severe breathing disorders and other health issues in the house's residents. Insulation affected by decay must be replaced quickly to contain its ill effects.
Loss of energy efficiency: Water damage leads to the destruction of the structural integrity of the insulating material, which leads to a loss of effectiveness of insulation material, further resulting in higher energy bills.
Structural damage: When the insulation layers get wet, they become heavy and begin to weigh down the structure of the building. It can lead to dips in ceilings and roofs of a property and cause severe damage, leading to costly repairs. Moreover, the trapped moisture can affect the building's metal components, leading to corrosion and rusting. This degradation of walls and their surrounding elements can compromise the strength of the building. The structure could weaken enough to collapse and cause grave harm to its residents.

Whenever a property is affected by severe water damage, it is time to call in specialized professionals like CLG Mold Xperts, who can help detect the destruction and address it responsibly to prevent further harm.

Why CLG Mold Xperts?

CLG Mold Xperts is a well-experienced company that provides water damage restoration services in Saint Cloud, FL, with a highly knowledgeable team of IICRC-trained technicians.

CLG Mold Xperts have modern equipment and technology to remedy and restore water, fire, and storm damage. They are also highly skilled in testing for and removal of mold, reconstruction, and rebuilding the property to its pre-loss condition.

CLG Mold Xperts record the damage and cost of restoration correctly and deliver much-needed peace of mind to their customer by handling all insurance claim settlement procedures.

Services include: