While most of the damage we see comes from harsh winter weather, damaged pipes or flooding, we do see damage from heat and humidity. The combination of high temperatures and moisture acts as a slow but highly destructive silent threat. Here’s what to look for.
Where damage will be evident:
- Foundation Shifts: Extreme heat evaporates soil moisture, causing the ground to shrink and separate from the building’s footing, leading to foundational cracking.
- Roof and shingle damage. Prolonged heat can seriously damage roofing materials, causing them to crack, which then could lead to leaks in the roof and hasten the deterioration of roof shingles.
- Flooring. Can high heat cause damage to your floors? The answer is yes, look for expanding floorboards – especially if you have hardwood floors.
- Exterior painting. Extreme heat can cause paint to blister and flake. Too much blistering and moisture can seep into the structure.
- Wood decay and warping. Most often caused by high humidity, we sometimes see wood decay as a result of termites or other wood destroying pests.
- Mold and mildew. Certainly you may see mildew around the house during the most humid months. This is normal and not a reason for you to call a restoration company. Excessive mold is an issue. If you’ve been away for a while and the mold has had a chance to spread throughout your drywall and fixtures, you should probably call a restoration company to mitigate the problem.
- Drywall. It’s not unusual for drywall to expand and contract during high heat periods. Look for buckling and cracking.
- Window frames. Extreme heat can cause window and door frames to expand, causing a drop in energy efficiency.
What can you do? There ARE ways to help mitigate high or extreme heat problems.
- Try to improve the ventilation in your home or office by using fans or making sure your house is cooled properly.
- If you are away, be sure to have a neighbor check on the interior of your house.
- You can waterproof your house by replacing older windows and doors. And make sure to seal cracks with weatherstripping.
- Probably the best thing you can do is to improve insulation in your attic. This will help avoid problems in both the winter and summer.
- Other maintenance issues, like replacing filters and keeping your HVAC service maintenance consistent can also help with heat and humidity.
- And one last tip – don’t let those small plumbing leaks go unattended. They can develop into major issues quickly.
If you need help this summer, or anytime, please give us a call. We here 24/7 and will make sure your property is restored quickly.