Helping to Discover the Age of Water Damage
Restorations for water damage is a common issue for any house, and every now and then the issue is clear and other times it's ambiguous. Things such as overflowing sinks, bathtubs or toilets are common issues related to 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 pipe leaking in a hidden area can happen. It's a frustrating obstacle because you can't see what's going on and you won't notice it before the water damage appears.
Yet, when you detect damage to your walls or water spots on your ceiling, these are the sure signs of a pipe that's leaking or condensation causing a issue. Because the space is concealed, though, it's hard to determine how long the issue has lasted. Even though there isn't a way to know precisely how long your water damage issue has lingered, there are some ways to indicate whether the water damage is new or old.
A Guide On Water Damage - Determine its Age
Below are step-by-steps you can take to evaluate the age of your water damage:
- History of the House: An old home could already have some previous water damage, so it's fundamental to keep a record of what's there and to note if the damage changes overtime. Tracking the weather is a great idea as well, since, if you have a modest leak, it can take months for a water spot to appear. Keeping track of your water spots and damages can save you lots of time when pinpointing whether your water damage is new or old.
- History of the House: When your property has any water spots, it's essential to keep a record of them when finding out whether damage generated from water is new or old. Additionally, you'll want to be aware of any storms that could bring hidden water damage to the surface such as heavy rain. Know your house, because smaller leaks can take awhile to appear, and if you know 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 inform you a lot about the age of the damage caused by water. A newer spot will feel wet but your ceiling or drywall will still feel durable, while an older spot will be mushy and squishy because your material would have absorbed a fair amount of moisture.
- Look for Rings: Remember how rings on a tree reveal the age of the tree? The same method can be used for water spots. An older water spot is going to have rings around it. They will also be discolored because the area gets wet then dries and gets wet again then dries again, etc. A newer spot will be darker with no rings around it.
- Examine the Materials: Learn about the material in your house, because water can get trapped by tiles and thick paint. So if spots generated by water show up through these types of materials, this means the buildup of moisture has been there for a period of time.
- Mold Inspection: Bacteria growth normally means that the damage caused by water has lingered for approximately two to three days.
- Deterioration: Your material won't decay from the first case of water damage. So if there has been deterioration, this means your material has been susceptible to persistent standing water or flooding.
Remove Water Damage & Call Paul Davis
For all your water damage restoration emergencies, contact Paul Davis. When there's a pipe dripping that you can't detect, it's fundamental to contact an expert. Paul Davis' professional team has the experience and response time required to maintain your property. For a local franchise in your location, give us a call at (403)342-4666 and we'll get an expert to come help you out.
