How to Detect if Water Damage is New or Old

A natural problem that a lot of homes face is some form of water damage. As water damage restoration experts, Paul Davis recognize the issues that water damage causes, especially when it can't be seen. Your residence has pipes running throughout it, including the inside of your walls and ceilings. If these pipes have condensation on them or a leak, they can slowly corrode your walls and ceilings. One of the more difficult parts to this is detecting whether the water damage is new or old.

Yet, when you notice water spots on your ceiling or damage to your walls, these are flags indicating a leaky pipe or condensation generating the problem. Because the area is hidden, though, it's hard to figure out how long the issue has lasted. Although there isn't a way to find out exactly how long your water damage problem has persisted, there are some ways to indicate whether the water damage is new or old.

Figure Out the Time Frame of Your Water Damage

By practicing the tips listed below, you can determine how old or new the damage produced 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 such as a heavy rain storm. Water spots and damages can take months to develop if it's a slight leak. An older home may already have some water spots and damages that were sustained previously. So it's critical to take note of the spots you notice while indicating whether this is new water damage or old 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 such as a heavy rain storm. Water spots and damages can take months to develop if it's a slight leak. If you live in an older home, the water damage spots may have been there for some time. So it's critical to take note of the spots you notice while indicating whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
• Touch the Spot: You'll can establish whether the damage generated by water is old or new just by feeling it. An older spot is going to be spongy because the material has absorbed a fair amount of moisture. A newer spot is going to be moist, however, the material will have a solid feel to it.
• Look for Rings: Outlining rings around your water damage spot indicates its age. Remember it as if it was a tree- the more rings it has, the older the water damage is. Different shadings of the stain is useful because it indicates that the area leaks, dries, leaks, dries, etc. If it's a new water spot, the area will be a single stain with no rings.
• Examine the Materials: Materials such as tiles and thick paint can actually trap water, so when you have a water spot seeping through one of these, this can mean there's been water lingering for a period of time. Knowing the materials can help you focus on your water damage problems more efficiently.
• Mold Inspection: If you see that bacteria, or mold, is there, the damage generated by water has lingered for about two to three days.
• Decomposition: Rotting material indicates that the damage generated by water is either a repeat offender or that it's extensive because there's standing water. A first case of water damage usually doesn't lead to deterioration.

Get Help from a Skillful Water Damage Repair Contractor

The extent of the damage generated by water doesn't matter, Paul Davis is here to help. Our team of professional water damage repair contractors can resolve the issue and have your house back in good condition. Fix the problem now before it gets in a worse condition and reach out to us at (403)342-4666 to find a local franchise near your location.