Is Standing Water Dangerous to Your Health? 4 Reasons Why

Contact Our North Carolina Plumbers

Standing water is ugly and annoying, but can it actually pose a danger to your health? The answer is yes. Here, we’ll look at some of the reasons standing water—inside or outside your home—can be hazardous to your and your pets’ health.

Standing water is dangerous to your health for four main reasons:

1. Bacteria
2. Mold
3. Insects
4. Vermin

If you have standing water somewhere on your property, call the reliable and experienced plumbing pros at JD Service Now at 919-383-7000. We serve Durham and the surrounding areas in North Carolina.

Health Hazards Posed by Standing Water

Leaks, clogged drains, and poor drainage can leave puddles in your home and on your property. Not only are these unpleasant to look at, but they can present very real health problems for you, your children, and your pets. Standing water can also cause damage to your property that becomes very expensive to repair, damaging your property’s foundation, walls, flooring, and more.

Let’s consider the top reasons these unsightly puddles can endanger your health:

• Bacteria: Moist environments provide the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Some varieties of bacteria are dangerous to humans and animals, and drinking stagnant water or even touching it and not washing your hands could make you, your pets, or your children very sick.
• Mold: Mold, like bacteria, loves a moist environment. Particularly with standing water inside your home, mold can begin to grow. This can cause a musty smell, and some types of mold are very dangerous to your health. Spores will spread and can contaminate an entire area of your home. Mold remediation is complex and expensive, so it’s best to avoid mold growth in the first place by draining the water and fixing its source.
• Insects: Insects like mosquitoes will be attracted to standing water, where they may breed. Mosquitoes are annoying, and they can carry diseases like the Zika virus, West Nile virus, and malaria. Protect your health—don’t give unwanted insects a place to live and breed.
• Vermin: Vermin like mice, rats, and possums may be attracted to standing water on your property. They’re always looking for water sources, and your home is the last place they should take up residence. Vermin are irritating, spread waste, and may carry diseases that could put your family’s health at risk.

What You Can Do About It

Prevention is, of course, the ideal way to avoid all of the problems posed by standing water.

You can prevent standing water outside your home by:

• Turning containers that may collect rainwater upside down
• Ensuring your lawn has proper drainage
• Keep your swimming pool maintained, if you have one

If you have standing water in your home:

• Try to find the source and shut off the water.
• Clean up any water that you can.
• Call in a professional to find and repair the leak.

To learn more, see our blog on standing water in bathtubs and showers.

At JD Service Now, we’re committed to helping homeowners and commercial property owners with all of their plumbing, drain and sewer, and HVAC needs. Our technicians are not only friendly and experienced, but they’ll get the job done right so you can rest easy that you and your guests or tenants will be safe and comfortable on your property.

For routine or emergency plumbing in Durham, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Apex, or the surrounding areas, call 919-383-7000 .