Figuring Out the Age of a Water Spot - Water Damage Repair

Water damage repair is a common problem for any home, and sometimes the problem is clear and other times it isn't. Things such as overflowing toilets, sinks and bathtubs are common issues related to water damage and you know there is a problem when this happens. But plumbing lines run all over your house, and this involves areas you can't see such as inside the walls and between the floors. Unfortunately a leaky pipe in a concealed area can occur. It's a frustrating problem because you can't see the leak and you won't notice it until the water damage appears.

It's complicated to check how old the water damage is for these areas that can't be seen. After all, you could have a pipe that's been slightly leaking for awhile but because it's been concealed, you don't have a timeline. There's no way to determine exactly how long the problem has persisted, but there are methods to estimate the age of the water damage.

Determine How Old Your Water Damage is with These Tips

By practicing the tips listed below, you'll be able to indicate the age of your water damage:

  • 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 area such as heavy rain. Damages and spots caused by water can take some time to pop up if it's a slight leak. An older house may already have some water spots that were sustained previously. So it's essential to take note of the spots you notice while indicating whether this is old water damage or old water damage.
  • History of the House: If your house has any water spots, it's essential to take note of them when finding out whether your water damage is new or old. In addition, you'll want to be cognizant of any weather that could bring hidden water damage to the surface such as heavy rain. Know your home, because modest leaks can take some time to appear, and if you know what's old and what's new, you'll be able to diagnose your problem quicker.
  • Touch the Spot: Go ahead and touch the spot- this will reveal a lot about the age of the water damage. A newer spot will feel wet but your drywall or ceiling will still feel durable, while an older spot will be mushy and squishy since your material would have taken in a fair amount of water.
  • Look for Rings: Having rings around your water damage spot presents its age. Remember it as if it was a tree- the more rings it has, the longer the water damage has been present. Different shadings of the spot is useful because it indicates that the area gets soaked, dries, leaks, dries, etc. If it's a new water spot, the area will be a single mark with no rings.
  • Examine the Materials: Materials such as thick paint and tiles can trap water, so when you have a water spot leaking through one of these, this can indicate there's been a buildup of water for a period of time. Being aware of the materials can help you focus on your water damage issues more effectively.
  • Mold Inspection: When mold has had time to inhabit the space, this indicates the damage produced by water has been there for nearly two to three days.
  • Deterioration: Your material doesn't typically deteriorate by the first case of water damage. And when there has been deterioration, this indicates your material has been vulnerable to repeated flooding or standing water.

Contact Paul Davis - Your Skillful Water Damage Repair Specialists

The measure of the damage produced by water doesn't matter, Paul Davis is here to assist. Our team of professional water damage repair technicians can fix the problem and have your house in a good state. Remedy the problem now before it gets in a worse condition and contact us at (403)342-4666 to find a local franchise in your area.