Repairs for water damage is a common issue for any property, and sometimes the issue is obvious and other times it’s ambiguous. Things like flooding bathtubs, toilets and sinks are typical issues connected to water damage and you know there is a problem when this happens. However, pipes run all over your home, and this involves areas you can’t see such as between the floors and inside the walls. Unfortunately a leaky pipe in an unknown space can happen. It’s a frustrating obstacle since you can’t see the leak and you won’t notice it before the water damage appears.
Since the pipes can’t be seen, you can get an approximation of how long you’ve had water complications by examining the water damage itself. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to figure out an exact timeline, but we have some tips on how to evaluate the damage so you can come up with an approximate time on how long you’ve had water in the area.
Learn How Old Your Water Damage is with These Tips
By following the step-by-step process listed below, you’ll be able to indicate how old or new the damage caused by water:
- History of the House: An older residence could already have some previous water damage, so it’s essential to keep a record of what’s there and to note if the damage changes overtime. Keeping track of the weather is a good idea as well, because if you have a small leak, it can take some time for a water spot to surface. Keeping track of your water spots and damages can save you a lot of hassle when figuring out whether the damage generated from water is new or old.
- History of the House: Take note of any spots on your ceiling or walls and take into account any outside influences such as a downpour. Damages and spots derived from water can take awhile to appear if it’s a slight leak. Older properties could already have some water spots that were sustained previously. So it’s fundamental to take note of the spots you see while indicating whether this is old water damage or old water damage.
- Touch the Spot: You’ll can indicate whether the damage generated by water is old or new just by touching it. An old spot will be mushy because the material has taken in a good amount of water. A new spot will be wet, but the material will still have a solid feel to it.
- Look for Rings: Having rings around the damaged spot caused by water presents its age. Consider it as if it was a tree- the more rings it has, the older the damage generated by water is. Discoloration of the spot is useful since it reveals that the area gets soaked, dries, gets saturated, dries, etcetera. If it’s a brand new spot created by water, the area will be a single mark with zero rings.
- Examine the Materials: Learn about the material around your property, since water can become trapped by tiles and thick paint. And if spots caused by water show up through these types of materials, this means the accumulation of water has remained for awhile.
- Mold Inspection: If you see that bacteria, or mold, is present, the damage generated by water has lingered for approximately two to three days.
- Decomposition: Deteriorated material indicates that the damage generated by water is either a repeat offender or that it’s serious because there’s standing water. A first case of damage generated by water typically doesn’t cause decay.
Eliminate Damage Produced from Water & Call Paul
If you’re having complications with damages that are produced by water, look no further than Paul Davis. It’s important to remedy any leaks in your home before the damage becomes serious. Our water damage restoration professionals can find a leak and repair your property back to normal no matter how big or small the job is. Call us today at 628-730-6106 and a local franchise is there to help out.
