Properties Of Water And Water Damage

By Author: Leo Nov
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Water is considered the most essential liquid on earth. Water is a chemical compound that has properties that make it unique from all other liquids. However, these properties of water are also responsible for causing water damage in homes and other buildings. It is therefore important to know these different properties of water and how it causes water damage to homes.

Polar Molecule and Freezing

Water is composed of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. The oxygen end of the water molecule has a slightly negative charge while the hydrogen ends have a positive charge. These negative and positive charges make water a polar molecule.

Because of this unique arrangement of the water molecule, water when frozen to form ice, expands rather than contract. Molecules of water become closer and compress when the temperature is lowered. However, as the temperature reaches 4oC, the molecules of water expand and arrange themselves to form a crystallized lattice forming air spaces between them. The expansion is due to the formation of a crystallized arrangement of water molecules when it is frozen.

Water ...
... is the only liquid that expands when frozen, all other liquids contract. Because of this unique property, water inside pipes in the house may expand when temperature reach below 4oC. This expansion of water exerts pressure in the pipes which can cause it to burst and eventually cause water damage to household items.

It is therefore important to maintain a temperature of higher than 4oC inside the house to prevent water damage due to burst pipes.

Adhesion Property of Water

Adhesion is the property of water that makes it attracted to other molecules. This attraction is due to the negative and the positive ends of the water molecule. The negative oxygen end of water can be attracted to positive ends of another molecule. Because of this, water tends to stick to different surfaces making them wet and therefore causing water damage.

Universal Solvent

Water is also known as a universal solvent because it dissolves a lot of substances. Because of this, flood waters may carry dissolved substances and contaminants that can cause a lot of water damage to different materials.

If your home has been exposed to flood waters, make sure that you are wearing protective clothing and gear when performing water damage restoration because flood waters have many different contaminants dissolved in them.

Capillary Action

Water also has the property of being able to perform capillary action. Capillary action is defined as the rise of water through fine tubes. Roots of plants use this in getting water from the soil. This is also the reason why water can seep through the different pores or cracks in the homes foundation which can cause water damage to a basement. This capillary action of water is also responsible for making water creep up to wall papers. It is therefore important to make sure that the basement is water tight by caulking up all the cracks and by covering the basement walls with paint that has water sealing properties.
Leo Nov is an editorial staff member of RestorationSOS.com, a leading service provider for water damage cleanups. To learn more about Water Damage Cleanup New York and Water Damage Restoration New York, visit RestorationSOS.com.