Methods to Detect if Your Water Damage is New or Old
When you have clogged toilets, sinks or bathtubs that overflow, you know that water damage repairs will be necessary. Unfortunately, your house can experience water damage in ways that aren't as distinct. Since you have pipes running throughout your home, you can have a pipe leaking or an accumulation of condensation between your walls or ceilings. It's an alarming circumstance since this isn't in view- you won't know until you have water damage, and then it's hard to diagnose how long the problem has lingered.
Nevertheless, when you catch 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 problem. Because the space is concealed, though, it's hard to figure out how long the issue has lasted. Even though there isn't a way to figure out exactly how long your water damage problem has lingered, there are some ways to diagnose whether the water damage is new or old.
Figure Out the Time Frame of Your Water Damage
Listed below are a few steps you can follow in order to evaluate the age of your water damage:
- History of the House: Take note 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 materialize if it's a slight leak. Older properties could have some water spots and damages that were sustained previously. So it's essential to keep a record of the spots you perceive while indicating whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
- History of the House: When your home has any spots from water damage, it's essential to keep a record of them when determining whether damage caused from water is new or old. In addition, you'll want to be conscious of any weather that could bring hidden water damage to the surface such as heavy rain. Know your home, since pipes with a slow drip can take awhile to appear, and if you know what's new and what's old, you'll be able to pinpoint your issue faster.
- Touch the Spot: When the water spot is old, it will be soft and spongy since during the period of the leaking water, your drywall or ceiling has absorbed a good amount of water. A new spot will feel wet but the surface won't be soft to the touch.
- Look for Rings: Remember how tree rings determine how old a tree is? The same idea can be used towards spots created by water. An older water spot is going to have rings around it. They can also be shaded differently since the spot gets saturated then dries and gets saturated again then dries again, etcetera. A newer spot will be darker with zero rings around it.
- Examine the Materials: It's critical to be cognizant of the materials that comprise your ceiling or walls, since things like tiles or thick paint can actually trap the water. When this is the circumstance, even a small water spot can indicate the accumulation of water has been lingering for a period of time.
- Mold Inspection: If you find that bacteria, or mold, is present, your water damage has lingered for approximately two to three days.
- Decay: When your materials rot from water damage, this is typically the consequence of repeat flooding or standing water. Rot typically won't occur from the first case of leakage.
Eradicate Water Damage & Call Paul Davis
For any water damage restoration emergencies, reach out to Paul Davis. When there's a pipe dripping that you can't identify, it's fundamental to get in touch with a professional. The expert team at Paul Davis has the know-how and response time you need to maintain your home. To find a local franchise near your location, call us at (403)342-4666 and we'll get a professional to come help you out.
