A Guidance to Discover the Age of Water Damage

Water damage restoration is a typical issue for any property, and every now and then the issue is apparent and other times it isn't. Things like overflowing bathtubs, toilets and sinks are common problems associated with water damage and you know there is a problem when this happens. However, plumbing lines run all over your house, and this involves places you can't see like inside the walls and between the floors. It's safe to say that a leaky pipe in an unseen area can happen. It's an annoying problem since you can't see the leak and you won't be aware before the water damage appears.

For these spaces that aren't visible, it's complicated to establish how old the water damage is. Though, you could have a leaky pipe that was slightly dripping for a period of time but because it's not in plain sight, you don't know how long. There's no way to find out exactly how long the problem has persisted, but there are methods to estimate the age of the water damage.

Learn How Old or New the Damage Caused by Water is with These Tips

The following step-by-step process can help you understand whether the damage generated by water is new or old:

• History of the House: An old house might already have some previous damage caused from water, so it's essential to keep track of what's there and to note if the damage changes over a period of time. Keeping track of the weather is a good idea as well, because if you have a modest leak, it can take awhile for a water spot to surface. Keeping track of your water spots and damages can save you lots of time when figuring out whether your water damage is new or old.
• History of the House: When your house has any spots caused from water damage, it's fundamental to take note of them when determining whether damage caused from water is new or old. Additionally, you'll want to be apprehensive of any weather that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like a downpour. Know your property, since modest leaks can take months to surface, and if you know what's new and what's old, you'll be able to pinpoint your issue faster.
• Touch the Spot: You can touch the spot, because this will inform you a lot about the age of the water damage. A new spot will be wet but your ceiling or drywall will still be strong, while an old spot will be soft and squishy since your material would have absorbed a fair amount of moisture.
• Look for Rings: Remember how tree rings show how old a tree is? The same approach can be used for spots produced by water. An old water spot will have rings around it. They will also be shaded differently since the area gets saturated then dries and gets saturated again then dries again, etc. A new spot will be dark with zero rings circling it.
• Examine the Materials: Materials like tiles and thick paint can actually trap water, so when you have a spot produced by water leaking through one of these, this can mean there's been water lingering for a period of time. Knowing the materials in your house can help you focus on your water damage problems more efficiently.
• Mold Inspection: If you see that bacteria is present, the damage generated by water has been present for approximately two to three days.
• Rot: When your materials decay from damage created by water, this is typically the issue of consistent flooding or standing water. Decay typically doesn't occur from the first situation of a leak.

Remove Damage Produced by Water & Call Paul Davis

When you're having water damage problems, Paul Davis' professional team is here to help out. It's vital to fix any leaks on your property before the damage becomes extensive. Our water damage repair professionals can locate a leak and restore your property back to normal no matter the size of the job. Get in touch with Paul now at (403)342-4666 and near your area is there to help out.