Water Damage Repair - Determine the Age of Water Damage

Repairs for water damage is a common problem for any property, and every now and then the problem is noticeable and other times it isn't. Things like overflowing toilets, sinks and bathtubs are typical problems connected to water damage and you know there is a problem when this happens. However, plumbing lines run all over your property, and this involves areas you can't see such as inside the walls and between the floors. Unfortunately a leaky pipe in an unseen area can happen. It's a frustrating problem since you can't see the leak and you won't know before the water damage appears.

Nevertheless, when you catch water spots on your ceiling or damage to your walls, these are the sure signs of a leaky pipe or condensation causing a problem. Because the space is unseen, though, it's tough to verify how long the problem has lasted. While there isn't an approach to know precisely how long your water damage problem has persisted, there are some ways to diagnose whether the water damage is old or new.

Find Out the Lifetime of the Damage Produced by Water

The following tips can help you judge whether your water damage is old or new:

• History of the House: When your house has any spots from water damage, it's important to take note of them when determining whether your water damage is old or new. Additionally, you'll want to be conscious of any weather that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like heavy rain. Know your property, since smaller leaks can take months to appear, and if you understand what's new and what's old, you'll be able to diagnose your problem quicker.
• History of the House: Take note of any spots on your ceiling or walls and take into account any strong weather you had in your area such as a heavy rain storm. Water spots can take months to appear if the leak is small. An older house might already have some water spots that were sustained previously. So it's important to take note of the spots you see while figuring out whether this is old water damage or old water damage.
• Touch the Spot: When the water spot is aged, it will be spongy and soft since during the period of the water leak, your drywall or ceiling has taken in a good amount of water. A newer spot will feel wet but it won't be soft to the touch.
• Look for Rings: You know how rings on a tree reveal how old a tree is? The same approach can be used for water spots. An older water spot will have rings around it. They can also be shaded differently since the spot gets saturated then dries and gets saturated again then dries again, etcetera. A newer spot will be darker with no rings circling it.
• Examine the Materials: It's fundamental to know about the materials that comprise your ceiling or walls, since things such as tiles or thick paint can actually trap moisture. When this is the situation, even a small water spot can indicate the buildup of water has been remaining for a period of time.
• Mold Inspection: If you find that bacteria is there, your water damage has lingered for nearly two to three days.
• Decay: When your materials decompose from water damage, this is usually the result of consistent flooding or standing water. Rot usually won't happen from the first case of a leak.

Eradicate Damage Produced by Water & Call Paul Davis

The intensity of your water damage doesn't matter, Paul Davis is here to assist. Our team of professional water damage repair technicians can resolve the problem and have your house in a great state. Remedy the problem today before it gets worse and contact us at (403)342-4666 for a local franchise near you.