Determining the Age of Water Damage - Water Damage Restoration

When you have clogged bathtubs, toilets or sinks that flood, it's obvious that you're in need of water damage restoration. Though, your home can suffer from water damage in ways that aren't as visible. Because you have pipes running all over your property, you can have a leaky pipe or an accumulation of condensation between your walls or ceilings. It's a difficult circumstance because this isn't visible- you won't know until you there's water damage, and then it's hard to define how long the problem has persisted.

However, when you detect water spots on your ceiling or damage to your walls, these are clues indicating a leaky pipe or condensation causing a problem. Since the area is concealed, though, it's tough to determine how long the issue has been at hand. Even though there isn't an approach to find out precisely how long your water damage problem has persisted, there are some ways to indicate whether the water damage is old or new.

Figure Out the Time Frame of the Damage Produced by Water

Below are some tips you can follow in order to check the time frame of your water damage:

  • History of the House: If your property has any water spots, it's important to keep a record of them when figuring out whether damage generated from water is old or new. Furthermore, you'll want to be conscious of any storms that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like a downpour. Know your property, because modest leaks can take some time to appear, and if you understand what's old and what's new, you'll be able to pinpoint your issue quicker.
  • History of the House: If your property has any water spots, it's important to keep a record of them when figuring out whether damage generated from water is old or new. Furthermore, you'll want to be conscious of any storms that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like a downpour. Know your property, because modest leaks can take some time to appear, and if you understand what's old and what's new, you'll be able to pinpoint your issue quicker.
  • Touch the Spot: You'll be able to find out whether your water damage is new or old just by touching it. An older spot is going to be spongy because the material has absorbed a lot of water. A newer spot is going to be wet, however, the material will have a solid feel to it.
  • Look for Rings: Having rings around your water damage spot shows age. Think about it as if it was a tree- the more rings it has, the longer the damage produced by water has been lingering. Color variations of the stain is also helpful because it indicates that the area gets soaked, dries, gets saturated, dries, etcetera. If it's a brand new spot damaged by water, the area will be a single mark with zero rings around it.
  • Examine the Materials: Materials like tiles and thick paint can actually trap water, so when you have a spot produced by water seeping through one of these, this can mean there's been water lingering for awhile. Being aware of the materials around your property can help you focus on your water damage issues more effectively.
  • Mold Inspection: Bacteria, or mold, development typically means your water damage has lingered for nearly two to three days.
  • Rot: Your material doesn't typically decay by the first instance of damage produced by water. So when there has been rot, this indicates your material has been vulnerable to persistent standing water or flooding.

Water Damage Restoration Specialists - Contact Paul Davis Today

No matter the amount of your water damage, Paul Davis is here to assist. Our team of experienced water damage restoration technicians can fix the issue and have your property in a good state. Fix the problem now before it gets in a worse condition and contact us at (403)342-4666 to find a local franchise in your area.