Determining the Age of Water Damage - Water Damage Repair

Repairs for water damage is a typical issue for any property, and sometimes the issue is obvious and other times it's concealed. Things like flooding toilets, sinks and bathtubs are typical problems connected to water damage and you know there is a problem when this happens. But plumbing lines run all over your property, and this involves places you can't see like between the floors and inside the walls. It's safe to say that a pipe leaking in a concealed location can occur. It's a frustrating problem because you can't see the leak and you won't be aware until the water damage appears.

Because the pipes can't be seen, you can get an estimate of how long you've had water problems by evaluating the water damage itself. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find out an exact timeline, but we have some tips on how to analyze the damage so you can come up with an estimated time on how long you've had water in the damaged space.

Evaluate How Old or New the Damage Generated by Water is with This Guidance

By practicing the tips listed below, you'll be able to indicate how old or new the damage induced by water:

• History of the House: Keep track of any spots on your ceiling or walls and take into account any strong weather you had in your area like heavy rain. Water spots and damages can take awhile to develop if the leak is small. If you occupy an older house, the spots caused by water damage could have been there for some time. So it's critical to keep track of the spots you notice while determining whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
• History of the House: Keep track of any spots on your ceiling or walls and take into account any strong weather you had in your area like heavy rain. Water spots and damages can take awhile to develop if the leak is small. If you occupy an older house, the spots caused by water damage could have been there for some time. So it's critical to keep track of the spots you notice while determining whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
• Touch the Spot: Go ahead and feel the spot, because this will reveal a lot about the age of the water damage. A new spot will be wet but your ceiling or drywall will still be strong, while an old spot will be soft and squishy since your material would have taken in a good amount of moisture.
• Look for Rings: When you see a dark spot with zero rings around it, this demonstrates that the water damage is new. Old water damage will have rings around it, and just like a tree, the more rings determines the age. Different colored and shades of rings shows you that the spot has been drenched, dried, drenched, dried, etc.
• Examine the Materials: Materials like tiles and thick paint can actually trap water and moisture, so if you have a spot caused by water seeping through one of these, this can indicate there's been water lingering for a period of time. Being aware of the materials around your property can help you focus on your water damage problems more effectively.
• Mold Inspection: If you find that bacteria, or mold, is there, the damage caused by water has been present for about two to three days.
• Rot: Your material doesn't typically rot from the first instance of damage caused by water. So if there has been decomposition, this means your material has been vulnerable to consistent standing water or flooding.

Contact Paul - Your Expert Water Damage Repair Technicians

When you're having water damage problems, look to Paul Davis. It's critical to remedy any dripping pipes in your residence prior to the damage becoming more serious. Our water damage repair experts can find dripping pipes and repair your property back to normal conditions no matter how big or small the job is. Call us now at (403)342-4666 and a local franchise is there to assist you.