Figuring Out the Age of Water Damage – Water Damage Restoration

When you have backed-up toilets, sinks or bathtubs that overflow, it’s obvious that water damage repairs will be necessary. Nonetheless, your home can sustain water damage in ways that aren’t as evident. Because you have plumbing running throughout your house, you can have a leaky pipe or an accumulation of condensation between your ceilings and walls. It’s a difficult problem since this isn’t visible- you won’t notice it until you there’s water damage, and then it’s difficult to diagnose how long the issue has lingered.

Yet, when you notice damage to your walls or water spots on your ceiling, these are the sure signs of a leaky pipe or condensation generating the issue. Because the area is concealed, though, it’s difficult to verify how long the problem has lasted. While there isn’t a way to figure out precisely how long your water damage issue has lingered, there are some ways to indicate whether the water damage is old or new.

A Step-by-Step On Damage Produced by Water – Determine its Age

You can learn whether the damage produced by water is new or old by following this step-by-step process:

  • History of the House: Keep a record of any spots on your ceiling or walls and take into account any strong weather you had in your location such as heavy rain. Water spots can take awhile to develop if the leak is small. Older properties might already have some water spots that were sustained previously. So it’s critical to take note of the spots you observe while determining whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
  • History of the House: If your house has any water spots, it’s critical to take note of them when figuring out whether damage caused from water is old or new. Furthermore, you’ll want to be apprehensive of any weather that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like a rain storm. Know your property, since pipes with a slow drip can take awhile to appear, and if you understand what’s old and what’s new, you’ll be able to diagnose your problem quicker.
  • Touch the Spot: You’ll be able to establish whether the damage produced by water is new or old just by feeling it. An older spot will be spongy since the material has taken in a good amount of water. A newer spot will be moist, however, the material will still have a solid feel to it.
  • Look for Rings: Having rings around your water damage spot shows age. Consider it like a tree- the more rings it has, the older the damage produced by water is. Different shadings of the spot is also helpful since it reveals that the area leaks, dries, gets saturated, dries, etcetera. If it’s a new spot created by water, the area will be a single blemish with no rings.
  • Examine the Materials: It’s vital to know about the materials that make up your ceiling or walls, since things such as tiles or thick paint can trap moisture. If this is the situation, even a small water spot can mean the buildup of water has been remaining for a while.
  • Mold Inspection: If you see that bacteria is present, the damage produced by water has been there for nearly two to three days.
  • Decay: If your materials decay from water damage, this is usually the consequence of repeat flooding or standing water. Decay usually doesn’t occur from the first case of a leak.

Dispose of Water Damage & Call Paul

The degree of the damage produced by water doesn’t matter, Paul Davis is here to help. Our team of experienced water damage repair contractors can resolve the problem and have your house back in great condition. Remedy the issue today before it gets in a worse condition and contact us at (828) 687-7766 to find a local franchise near you.