Water Spots - How New Are They? - Discover by Following These Tips

When you have clogged toilets, sinks or bathtubs that overflow, it's obvious that water damage restorations will be required. Though, your home can sustain water damage in ways that aren't as distinct. Because you have pipes running throughout your property, you can have a leaky pipe or an accumulation of condensation between your ceilings and walls. It's a difficult circumstance because this isn't visible- you won't know until you have water damage, and then it's hard to diagnose how long the issue has lingered.

However, when you notice water spots on your ceiling or damage to your walls, these are the sure signs of a leaky pipe or condensation generating the issue. Since the space is unseen, though, it's difficult to verify how long the problem has lasted. Even though there isn't a way to find out precisely how long your water damage issue has lingered, there are some ways to indicate whether the water damage is old or new.

Find Out How Old Your Water Damage is with This Guidance

The following tips can help you judge whether the damage caused by water is old or new:

  • History of the House: If your property has any spots caused from water damage, it's fundamental to take note of them when determining whether damage generated from water is old or new. Furthermore, you'll want to be observant of any weather that could bring hidden water damage to the surface such as a rain storm. Know your property, because pipes with a slow drip can take some time to appear, and if you know what's old and what's new, you'll be able to pinpoint your problem quicker.
  • History of the House: Keep a record of any spots on your walls or ceilings and take into account any strong weather you had in your location like a downpour. Damages and spots caused by water can take some time to come up if it's a slight leak. If you occupy an older home, the spots caused by water damage might have been there for some time. So it's fundamental to take note of the spots you see while figuring out whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
  • Touch the Spot: You'll be able to find out whether the damage caused by water is old or new just by touching it. An older spot is going to be mushy because the material has taken in a lot of water. A newer spot is going to be moist, however, the material will have a solid feel to it.
  • Look for Rings: If you see a darker spot with no rings around it, this shows that the water damage is new. Older water damage usually has rings around it, and like trees, the more rings determines the age. Discolored rings exhibits that the spot has been soaked, dried, soaked, dried, etc.
  • Examine the Materials: Get to know the material around your property, because water can become trapped by tiles and thick paint. So if spots caused by water show up through these types of materials, this means the buildup of water has remained for awhile.
  • Mold Inspection: If you find that bacteria, or mold, is present, the damage caused by water has been present for about two to three days.
  • Deterioration: Decomposed material indicates that the damage caused by water is either a repeat offender or that it's extensive because there's standing water. A first instance of water damage typically doesn't lead to deterioration.

Get Help from a Knowledgeable Water Damage Restoration Specialist

The degree of the damage caused by water doesn't matter, Paul Davis is here to help. Our team of professional water damage restoration contractors can resolve the problem and have your property back in good condition. Remedy the issue today before it gets worse and contact us at (403)342-4666 to find a local franchise near you.