How to Detect if Your Water Damage is Old or New

When you have backed-up bathtubs, toilets or sinks that overflow, it's obvious that you're in need of water damage restoration. Though, your home can experience water damage in ways that aren't as noticeable. Since you have plumbing running through your home, you can have a pipe leaking or an accumulation of condensation between your walls or ceilings. It's a troublesome situation because this isn't visible- you won't notice it until you there's water damage, and then it's hard to pinpoint how long the issue has persisted.

For these spaces that aren't visible, it's difficult to establish how old the water damage is. Though, you could have a pipe that's been slightly leaking for awhile but because it's been hidden, you don't know how long. There's no sure way to determine exactly how long the problem has persisted, but there are methods to estimate the age of the water damage.

Discover How Old or New Your Water Damage is with This Guidance

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

  • History of the House: If your home has any spots caused from water damage, it's critical to take note of them when finding out whether damage provoked from water is old or new. In addition, you'll want to be cognizant of any storms that could bring hidden water damage to the surface such as a rain storm. Know your home, because pipes with a slow drip can take months to surface, and if you understand what's new and what's old, you'll be able to diagnose your issue faster.
  • History of the House: If your home has any spots caused from water damage, it's critical to take note of them when finding out whether damage provoked from water is old or new. In addition, you'll want to be cognizant of any storms that could bring hidden water damage to the surface such as a rain storm. Know your home, because pipes with a slow drip can take months to surface, and if you understand what's new and what's old, you'll be able to diagnose your issue faster.
  • Touch the Spot: Go ahead and touch the spot, because this will tell you a lot about the age of the water damage. A new spot will be wet but your drywall or ceiling will still be strong, while an old spot will be soft and spongy because your material would have absorbed a fair amount of moisture.
  • Look for Rings: Outlining rings around the damaged spot generated by water indicates its age. Remember it as if it was a tree- the more rings it has, the older the water damage is. Different shadings of the blemish is useful because it shows that the area leaks, dries, gets saturated, dries, etcetera. If it's a brand new spot created by water, the area will be a single stain with no rings.
  • Examine the Materials: It's critical to know about the materials that make up your walls or ceilings, because things such as tiles or thick paint can actually trap moisture. If this is the circumstance, even a water spot that's small can mean the accumulation of water has been lingering for a while.
  • Mold Inspection: If you see that bacteria is there, the damage generated by water has been present for approximately two to three days.
  • Rot: Decomposed material means that the damage generated by water is either happening on a regular basis or that it's extensive because there's standing water. A first instance of water damage typically won't lead to rot.

Get an Experienced Water Damage Repair Contractor

The amount of the damage generated by water doesn't matter, Paul Davis is here to assist. Our team of experienced water damage repair contractors can resolve the issue and have your home in a great state. Fix the issue now before it gets worse and reach out to us at (403)342-4666 for a local franchise near you.