Determining the Age of a Water Spot - Water Damage Repair

Water damage restoration is a typical problem for any property, and sometimes the problem is discernible and other times it isn't. Things such as flooding bathtubs, toilets and sinks are common issues linked with water damage and you know there is a problem when this happens. But plumbing lines run all over your home, and this includes areas you can't see such as inside the walls and between the floors. Unfortunately a pipe leaking in an unseen area can happen. It's a frustrating problem since you can't see what's going on and you won't know until the water damage appears.

Since the pipes aren't visible, you can get an approximation of how long you've had water problems by evaluating the water damage itself. Unfortunately, it's hard to figure out an exact timeline, but we have some tips on how to evaluate the damage so you can come up with an approximate time on how long you've had water in the damaged space.

Discover How Old Your Water Damage is with This Guidance

You can make a judgement on whether the damage caused by water is old or new by following these steps:

• History of the House: Keep track of any spots on your walls or ceilings and take into account any strong weather you had in your location such as a heavy rain storm. Water spots and damages can take some time to occur if the leak is small. If you occupy an older house, the water damage spots might have been there for some time. So it's critical to take note of the spots you notice while determining whether this is old water damage or old water damage.
• History of the House: An older home might already have some previous water damage, so it's essential to keep track of what's there and to note if the damage alters over a period of time. Keeping track of the weather is a good idea as well, since, if you have a small leak, it can take awhile for a water spot to appear. Keeping track of your water damages can save you a lot of hassle when diagnosing whether the damage caused from water is new or old.
• Touch the Spot: You'll can verify whether the damage caused by water is old or new just by feeling it. An older spot will be squishy because the material has taken in a good amount of moisture. A newer spot will be moist, however, the material will feel solid.
• Look for Rings: You know how tree rings indicate how old a tree is? The same idea can be used towards water spots. An older water spot will have rings around it. They can also be discolored since the spot gets saturated then dries and gets saturated again then dries again, etc. A newer spot will be darker with zero rings circling it.
• Examine the Materials: Materials such as tiles and thick paint can actually trap water, so when you have a spot caused by water leaking through one of these, this can mean there's been water lingering for awhile. Being aware of the materials around your home can help you address your water damage issues more efficiently.
• Mold Inspection: If you see that bacteria, or mold, is present, the damage caused by water has been present for about two to three days.
• Rot: If your materials decay from water damage, this is usually the consequence of regular flooding or standing water. Decomposition usually doesn't happen from the first case of a leak.

Water Damage Restoration Specialists - Get in Touch with Paul Today

When you're having problems with damages that are caused by water, look no further than Paul Davis. It's important to remedy any dripping pipes on your property prior to the damage becoming more serious. Our water damage repair professionals can locate dripping pipes and fix your property back to normal no matter the size of the job. Contact us today at (403)342-4666 and franchise near your area is there to help out.