Ways to Determine if Your Water Damage is New or Old

A common issue that a lot of homes run into is some form of damage caused by water. As water damage restoration professionals, Paul Davis knows the complications that water damage produces, especially when it isn't in sight. Your house has pipes running throughout it, including the inside of your ceilings and walls. When these pipes leak or have condensation on them, they can slowly deteriorate your ceiling or walls. One of the more difficult aspects to this is checking whether the damage caused by water is old or new.

However, when you recognize damage to your walls or water spots on your ceiling, these are flags indicating a pipe that's leaking or condensation causing a issue. Since the area is hidden, though, it's hard to ascertain how long the issue has been at hand. Even though there isn't an approach to find out exactly how long your water damage issue has persisted, there are some ways to indicate whether the water damage is old or new.

Determine the Lifetime of the Damage Produced by Water

Listed below are a few steps you can follow in order to figure out the age of your water damage:

  • History of the House: When your property has any water spots, it's fundamental to take note of them when figuring out whether your water damage is old or new. Additionally, you'll want to be apprehensive of any storms that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like a downpour. Know your home, because pipes with a slow drip can take awhile to appear, and if you understand what's old and what's new, you'll be able to identify your issue quicker.
  • History of the House: When your property has any water spots, it's fundamental to take note of them when figuring out whether your water damage is old or new. Additionally, you'll want to be apprehensive of any storms that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like a downpour. Know your home, because pipes with a slow drip can take awhile to appear, and if you understand what's old and what's new, you'll be able to identify your issue quicker.
  • Touch the Spot: You'll can establish whether your water damage is new or old just by feeling it. An older spot will be soft since the material has taken in a lot of moisture. A newer spot will be wet, however, the material will still feel solid.
  • Look for Rings: Remember how tree rings presents the age of the tree? The same approach can be used towards water spots. An older water spot is going to have rings around it. They can also be discolored because the spot gets soaked then dries and gets soaked again then dries again, etcetera. A newer spot will be darker with zero rings circling it.
  • Examine the Materials: It's vital to be cognizant of the materials that comprise your walls or ceilings, because things such as thick paint or tiles can trap moisture. When this is the case, even a small water spot can indicate the buildup of water has been around for a while.
  • Mold Inspection: Bacteria, or mold, development usually means your water damage has lingered for approximately two to three days.
  • Deterioration: Your material won't decay by the first occurrence of damage caused by water. So if there has been deterioration, this means your material has been exposed to repeated standing water or flooding.

Dispose of Damage Produced from Water & Call Paul Davis

No matter the intensity of your water damage, Paul Davis is here to assist. Our team of skillful water damage repair technicians can resolve the issue and have your property back in great condition. Fix the issue now before it gets worse and contact us at (403)342-4666 to find a local franchise near your area.