How to Indicate the Age of a Water Spot - Water Damage Repair
Water damage repair is a common issue for any home, and every now and then the issue is apparent and other times it's indistinct. Things like flooding toilets, sinks and bathtubs are typical issues connected to water damage and you know there is a problem when this occurs. But pipes run all over your house, and this involves places you can't see like inside the walls and between the floors. Unfortunately a leaky pipe in a hidden area can happen. It's an irritating problem because you can't see what's going on and you won't know until the water damage appears.
It's complicated to verify how old or new the water damage is for these spaces that aren't visible. After all, you could have a pipe that's been slightly leaking for awhile but because it's not in plain sight, you don't know how long. There's no way to indicate exactly how long the problem has persisted, but there are approaches to approximate the age of the water damage.
A Guide On Water Damage - Establish its Age
By practicing the tips listed below, you'll be able to indicate the age of the damage induced by water:
- 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 like a heavy rain storm. Water spots and damages can take awhile to emerge if it's a slight leak. Older properties might have some water spots and damages that were sustained previously. So it's fundamental to take note of the spots you perceive while determining whether this is old water damage or old water damage.
- History of the House: If your house has any spots caused from water damage, it's fundamental to take note of them when figuring out whether damage generated from water is new or old. Also, you'll want to be cognizant of any weather that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like a rain storm. Know your home, because smaller leaks can take awhile to appear, and if you understand what's new and what's old, you'll be able to diagnose your issue quicker.
- Touch the Spot: If the water spot is old, it will be soft and spongy because during the period of the leaking water, your ceiling or drywall has absorbed a good amount of water. You'll feel wetness with a new spot but it won't be soft to the touch.
- Look for Rings: If you see just one dark spot with zero rings around it, this indicates that the damage generated by water is new. Old damage generated by water usually has rings around it, and like trees, the more rings determines the age. Different colored and shades of rings exhibits that the area has been soaked, dried, soaked, dried, etc.
- Examine the Materials: Materials like tiles and thick paint can actually trap water and moisture, so when you have a water spot leaking through one of these, this can indicate there's been a buildup of water for awhile. Being aware of the materials around your house can help you focus on your water damage issues more efficiently.
- Mold Inspection: If you see that bacteria, or mold, is there, your water damage has been there for approximately two to three days.
- Rot: Your material won't decay from the first occurrence of damage caused by water. And when there has been rot, this means your material has been susceptible to persistent standing water or flooding.
Remove Water Damage & Call Paul
No matter the degree of your water damage, Paul Davis is here to help out. Our team of expert water damage repair contractors can fix the issue and have your house in a good state. Remedy the problem now before it gets worse and reach out to us at (403)342-4666 for a local franchise in your location.
