Determining the Age of Water Damage - Water Damage Repair

Water damage restoration is a common problem for any property, and every now and then the problem is obvious and other times it isn't. Things like flooding toilets, sinks and bathtubs are typical issues linked with water damage and you know there is an issue when this occurs. But plumbing lines run all over your home, and this involves places you can't see like inside the walls and between the floors. Unfortunately a leaky pipe in a concealed space can occur. It's an annoying problem because you can't see what's going on and you won't notice it until the water damage appears.

You can find out how new or old your water problems are by evaluating the water damage itself since the pipes are concealed. Unfortunately, it's hard to find out a precise timeline, but we have some guidance on how to examine the damage so you can come up with an approximate time on how long you've had water in the damaged space.

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

By practicing the tips listed below, you'll be able to indicate the age of your water damage:

  • History of the House: An older home could already have some previous damage produced from water, so it's important to keep track of what's there and to note if the damage alters overtime. Keeping track of the weather is a great idea as well, because if you have a a slow leak, it can take awhile for a water spot to appear. Taking note of your water damages can save you a lot of hassle when diagnosing whether your water damage is new or old.
  • History of the House: An older home could already have some previous damage produced from water, so it's important to keep track of what's there and to note if the damage alters overtime. Keeping track of the weather is a great idea as well, because if you have a a slow leak, it can take awhile for a water spot to appear. Taking note of your water damages can save you a lot of hassle when diagnosing whether your water damage is new or old.
  • Touch the Spot: When the water spot is aged, it will be squishy and mushy because during the period of the water leak, your ceiling or drywall has taken in a good amount of water. You'll feel wetness with a new spot but it won't be soft to the touch.
  • Look for Rings: Remember how rings on a tree indicate how old a tree is? The same idea can be used towards spots generated by water. An old water spot is going to have rings around it. They can also be shaded differently because the area gets soaked then dries and gets soaked again then dries again, etc. A new spot will be dark with zero rings around it.
  • Examine the Materials: Learn about the material in your property, because water and moisture can become trapped by tiles and thick paint. And if spots created by water show up through these, this indicates the buildup of water has been there for a period of time.
  • Mold Inspection: Bacteria, or mold, development usually indicates your water damage has lingered for approximately two to three days.
  • Deterioration: Your material doesn't typically rot from the first occurrence of water damage. So if there has been deterioration, this indicates your material has been susceptible to constant standing water or flooding.

Water Damage Restoration Technicians - Reach Out to Paul

The size of your water damage doesn't matter, Paul Davis is here to assist. Our team of expert water damage restoration contractors can fix the problem and have your property in a great state. Fix the issue now before it gets worse and call us at (403)342-4666 for a local franchise near you.