How to Figure Out the Age of Water Damage - Water Damage Repair

A common issue that a lot of homes run into is some form of damage caused by water. As water damage repair experts, Paul Davis knows the issues that water damage causes, especially when it can't be seen. Your residence has pipes everywhere, this includes the inside of your ceilings and walls. When these pipes leak or have condensation on them, they can slowly erode your ceiling or walls. One of the more difficult aspects to this is finding out whether or not the damage caused by water is old or new.

Nevertheless, when you notice water spots on your ceiling or damage to your walls, these are clues indicating a leaky pipe or condensation causing a issue. Since the space is unseen, though, it's tough to verify how long the problem has been at hand. While there isn't a way to find out precisely how long your water damage issue has lingered, there are some ways to diagnose whether the water damage is old or new.

Evaluate How Old or New the Damage Produced by Water is with These Steps

You can find out whether the damage caused by water is old or new by following these steps:

• History of the House: Take note of any spots on your ceiling or walls and take into account any outside influences like heavy rain. Water spots can take some time to appear if the leak is modest. An older house might have some water spots that were sustained previously. So it's important to take note of the spots you perceive while indicating whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
• History of the House: When your house has any spots from water damage, it's important to take note of them when finding out whether damage generated from water is old or new. Also, you'll want to be aware of any storms that could bring hidden water damage to the surface such as a rain storm. Know your house, since smaller leaks 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.
• Touch the Spot: When the water spot is old, it will be mushy and soft since during the time of the water leak, your drywall or ceiling has taken in a good amount of water. You'll feel wetness with a newer spot but the surface won't be soft like an older spot.
• Look for Rings: Remember how tree rings show the age of the tree? The same method can be used towards spots produced by water. An older water spot will have rings around it. They will also be shaded differently since the spot gets saturated then dries and gets saturated again then dries again, etc. A newer spot will be darker with zero rings around it.
• Examine the Materials: Materials like thick paint and tiles can actually trap water and moisture, so if you have a water spot leaking through one of these, this can indicate there's been water lingering for a period of time. Being aware of the materials around your house can help you focus on your water damage problems more efficiently.
• Mold Inspection: If you find that bacteria is present, the damage caused by water has lingered for about two to three days.
• Decay: When your materials decompose from water damage, this is usually the outcome of repeat flooding or standing water. Decay usually doesn't occur from the first situation of a leak.

Water Damage Repair Specialists - Get in Touch with Paul Davis

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