Determining the Age of Water Damage - Water Damage Repair

Water damage repair is a typical issue for any home, and every now and then the issue is clear and other times it's concealed. Things such as flooding toilets, sinks and bathtubs are typical issues associated with water damage and you know there is an issue when this occurs. However, plumbing lines run all over your home, and this involves places you can't see like inside the walls and between the floors. Unfortunately a leaky pipe in an unknown space can happen. It's an irritating obstacle because you can't see the leak and you won't be aware before the water damage appears.

For these areas that aren't visible, it's difficult to figure out how old or new the water damage is. After all, you could have a pipe that's been slightly leaking for a period of time but because it's been concealed, you don't have a timeline. There's no sure way to indicate exactly how long the problem has persisted, but there are some ways to approximate the age of the water damage.

Evaluate How Old or New Your Water Damage is with This Guidance

You can get an estimated age of your water damage by taking these steps:

• History of the House: Keep a record of any spots on your walls or ceilings and take into account any strong weather you had in your area like a heavy rain storm. Water spots and damages can take months to present themselves if the leak is small. Older properties may have some water spots and damages that were sustained previously. So it's fundamental to keep a record of the spots you observe while determining whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
• History of the House: When your property has any spots caused from water damage, it's fundamental to keep a record of them when figuring out whether damage provoked from water is old or new. Also, you'll want to be observant of any storms that could bring hidden water damage to the surface such as a rain storm. Know your home, because pipes with a slow drip can take months to surface, and if you understand what's new and what's old, you'll be able to pinpoint your issue quicker.
• Touch the Spot: You can feel the spot, because this will reveal a lot about the age of the water damage. A new spot will be wet but your ceiling or drywall will still be the same, while an old spot will be mushy and soft because your material would have absorbed a fair amount of moisture.
• Look for Rings: You know how tree rings show how old a tree is? The same approach can be used towards spots produced by water. An old water spot will have rings around it. They will also be shaded differently because the spot gets wet then dries and gets wet again then dries again, etc. A new spot will be dark with zero rings around it.
• Examine the Materials: Get to know the material around your home, because water can get trapped by tiles and thick paint. So if water spots show up through these, this means the accumulation of water has been there for a period of time.
• Mold Inspection: If you find that bacteria is present, the damage generated by water has lingered for about two to three days.
• Deterioration: Deteriorated material means that the damage generated by water is either a repeat offender or that it's serious because there's standing water. A first instance of water damage usually won't lead to decomposition.

Get Rid of Water Damage & Call Paul Davis

No matter the intensity of the damage generated by water, Paul Davis is here to help out. Our team of experienced water damage repair technicians can fix the issue and have your property in a great state. Fix the issue now before it gets even worse and get in touch with us at (403)342-4666 for a local franchise near you.