A Guidance to Find Out the Age of Water Damage

When you have clogged bathtubs, toilets or sinks that overflow, it's obvious that water damage restorations will be required. Still, your house can sustain water damage in ways that aren't as evident. Because you have pipes running all over your property, you can have a leaky pipe or an accumulation of condensation between your ceilings and walls. It's an alarming circumstance because this isn't visible- you won't know until you there's water damage, and then it's hard to identify how long the problem has lingered.

Yet, when you recognize water spots on your ceiling or damage to your walls, these are clues indicating a pipe that's leaking or condensation generating the problem. Since the area is unseen, though, it's difficult to ascertain how long the problem has been at hand. While there isn't a way to know precisely how long your water damage problem has lingered, there are some ways to indicate whether the water damage is new or old.

Tips On Water Damage - Learn about its Time Frame

Listed below are step-by-steps you can take to find out the age of your water damage:

  • History of the House: Keep a record of any spots on your walls or ceilings and take into account any outside influences like heavy rain. Water spots and damages can take awhile to emerge if it's a slight leak. If you live in an older house, the water damage spots could have been there for some time. So it's fundamental to take note of the spots you perceive while indicating whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
  • History of the House: An older house could already have some previous water damage, so it's critical to keep a record of what's there and to note if the damage changes overtime. Tracking the weather is a good idea too, because if you have a modest leak, it can take months for a water spot to appear. Keeping track of your water damages can save you a lot of hassle when diagnosing whether the damage produced from water is new or old.
  • Touch the Spot: When the water spot is aged, it will be mushy and soft because during the time of the water leak, your drywall or ceiling has taken in a good amount of water. A newer spot will feel wet but the area won't be soft like an older spot.
  • Look for Rings: Having rings around your water damage spot presents its age. Consider it like a tree- the more rings it has, the longer the water damage has been lingering. Different shadings of the spot is also helpful because it reveals that the area gets soaked, dries, leaks, dries, etcetera. If it's a new spot caused by water, the area will be a single stain with zero rings around it.
  • Examine the Materials: It's important to know about the materials that comprise your walls or ceilings, because things like tiles or thick paint can trap moisture. When this is the circumstance, even a water spot that's small can indicate the accumulation of water has been around for a while.
  • Mold Inspection: If mold has had time to inhabit the space, this indicates that your water damage has lingered for nearly two to three days.
  • Decomposition: Deteriorated material means that your water damage is either happening on a regular basis or that it's extensive because there's standing water. A first instance of water damage usually doesn't lead to decay.

Eliminate Water Damage & Call Paul

If you're having problems with damages that are created by water, Paul Davis' expert team is here to help out. It's fundamental to fix any dripping pipes on your property prior to the damage becoming more extensive. Our water damage restoration professionals can detect a leak and repair your home back to normal no matter how big or small the job is. Get in touch with Paul today at (705)949-9631 and a local franchise is there to help out.