Water Damage - How New is it? - Find Out by Taking These Steps

When you have backed-up bathtubs, toilets or sinks that overflow, it's obvious that you're in need of water damage repair. Nonetheless, your house can come under water damage in ways that aren't as obvious. Since you have pipes running all over your home, you can have a leaky pipe or an accumulation of condensation between your ceilings and walls. It's an inconvenient problem since this isn't visible- you won't know until you have water damage, and then it's hard to pinpoint how long the issue has persisted.

However, when you catch damage to your walls or water spots on your ceiling, these are the sure signs of a pipe that's leaking or condensation generating the issue. Because the area is hidden, though, it's tough to verify how long the issue has been at hand. Even though there isn't a way to know precisely how long your water damage issue has persisted, there are some ways to diagnose whether the water damage is new or old.

Discover How Old Your Water Damage is with These Steps

You can learn whether the damage generated by water is old or new by following these steps:

  • History of the House: Take note of any spots on your walls or ceilings and take into account any strong weather you had in your location such as a downpour. Water spots and damages can take months to present themselves if it's a slight leak. Older properties may already have some water spots and damages that were sustained previously. So it's essential to take note of the spots you perceive while indicating whether this is old water damage or old water damage.
  • History of the House: If your home has any water spots, it's essential to take note of them when determining whether your water damage is new or old. Furthermore, you'll want to be conscious of any weather that could bring hidden water damage to the surface such as heavy rain. Know your home, since smaller leaks can take months to surface, and if you understand what's new and what's old, you'll be able to identify your issue faster.
  • Touch the Spot: You'll be able to verify whether the damage generated by water is old or new just by touching it. An old spot is going to be squishy since the material has absorbed a good amount of moisture. A new spot is going to be wet, however, the material will still have a solid feel to it.
  • Look for Rings: If you see one dark spot with no rings around it, this shows that the water damage is new. Old water damage will have rings around it, and just like a tree, the more rings shows the age. Discolored rings tell you that the spot has been saturated, dried, saturated, dried, etc.
  • Examine the Materials: Materials such as thick paint and tiles can actually trap water and moisture, so if you have a water spot leaking through one of these, this can mean there's been water lingering for a period of time. Knowing the materials can help you focus on your water damage issues more effectively.
  • Mold Inspection: If mold has had time to settle, this indicates the damage generated by water has lingered for approximately two to three days.
  • Deterioration: If your materials decompose from damage caused by water, this is typically the issue of repeat flooding or standing water. Deterioration typically doesn't occur from the first instance of leakage.

Water Damage Restoration Technicians - Contact Paul Davis

For any water damage repair emergencies, call Paul Davis. If there's a leak that you can't identify, it's vital to reach out to an expert. Paul Davis' skillful team has the industry knowledge and response time required to get your home back in order. For a local franchise near your location, give us a call at (403)342-4666 and we'll get an expert to come help you out.