Determining the Age of Water Damage - Water Damage Repair
Repairs for water damage is a common issue for any house, and sometimes the issue is apparent and other times it's ambiguous. Things like overflowing sinks, bathtubs or toilets are typical issues linked with water damage and you know there is a problem when this happens. However, pipes run all over your home, and this involves places you can't see such as inside the walls and between the floors. Unfortunately a leaky pipe in a concealed space can occur. It's an aggravating obstacle because you can't see what's going on and you won't be aware until the water damage appears.
Since the pipes can't be seen, you can get an estimate of how long you've had water problems by examining the water damage itself. Unfortunately, it's hard to figure out an exact timeline, but we have some advice on how to analyze the damage so you can come up with an approximate time on how long you've had water in the damaged space.
A Guide On Damage Produced by Water - Determine its Time Frame
By practicing the tips listed below, you'll be able to indicate the age of the damage caused by water:
- History of the House: If your home has any water spots, it's essential to keep track of them when finding out whether your water damage is old or new. Furthermore, you'll want to be aware of any storms that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like a rain storm. Know your house, because pipes with a slow drip can take some time to surface, and if you understand what's old and what's new, you'll be able to identify your issue quicker.
- 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 location such as heavy rain. Water spots and damages can take some time to emerge if it's a slight leak. If your residence is an older home, the spots caused by water damage may have been there for awhile. So it's essential to keep track of the spots you observe while determining whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
- Touch the Spot: You'll can determine whether your water damage is new or old just by feeling it. An old spot will be soft since the material has absorbed a good amount of water. A new spot will be moist, but the material will feel solid.
- Look for Rings: Remember how rings on a tree indicate how old a tree is? The same idea can be used for spots produced by water. An old water spot is going to have rings around it. They can also be discolored because the area gets wet then dries and gets wet again then dries again, etc. A new spot will be dark with no rings circling it.
- Examine the Materials: It's fundamental to know about the materials that make up your ceiling or walls, because things such as tiles or thick paint can actually trap moisture. If this is the case, even a water spot that's small can indicate the accumulation of water has been around for a while.
- Mold Inspection: Bacteria growth usually means your water damage has been there for nearly two to three days.
- Decay: Your material doesn't typically rot by the first situation of damage caused by water. And if there has been rot, this indicates your material has been exposed to consistent standing water or flooding.
Call Paul Davis - Your Professional Water Damage Repair Technicians
For all your water damage repair emergencies, contact Paul Davis. If there's a leak that you can't find, it's important to contact an expert. Paul Davis' skillful team has the experience and response time you need to get your home back in order. To find a local franchise in your location, reach out to us at (403)342-4666 and we'll get a professional to come help you.
