Approaches to Indicate if Your Water Damage is New or Old

Restorations for water damage are a typical issue for any house, and every now and then the issue is discernible and other times it‘s indistinct. Things such as flooding sinks, bathtubs or toilets are typical problems linked with water damage and you know there is an issue when this occurs. However, plumbing lines run all over your home, and this includes areas you can’t see such as inside the walls and between the floors. It’s safe to say that a leaky pipe in a concealed location can occur. It’s a frustrating problem since you can’t see the leak and you won’t know before the water damage appears.

However, when you recognize water spots on your ceiling or damage to your walls, these are the sure signs of a leaky pipe or condensation generating the issue. Since the space is hidden, though, it’s tough to determine how long the issue has been at hand. Even though there isn’t an approach to know exactly how long your water damage issue has persisted, there are some ways to indicate whether the water damage is new or old.

A Guide On Water Damage – Determine its Age

Below are some tips you can take to evaluate the time frame of your water damage:

  • History of the House: Keep track of any spots on your ceiling or walls and take into account any strong weather you had in your location such as a heavy rain storm. Water spots can take some time to surface if the leak is modest. Older properties might already have some water spots that were sustained previously. So it’s fundamental to take note of the spots you notice while indicating whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
  • History of the House: Keep track of any spots on your ceiling or walls and take into account any strong weather you had in your location such as a heavy rain storm. Water spots can take some time to surface if the leak is modest. If you live in an older house, the spots caused by water damage might have been there for some time. So it’s fundamental to take note of the spots you notice while indicating whether this is old water damage or old water damage.
  • Touch the Spot: You can feel the spot- this can disclose a lot about the age of the damage caused by water. A newer spot will be wet but your ceiling or drywall will still be strong, while an older spot will be spongy and soft because your material would have absorbed a fair amount of water.
  • Look for Rings: Remember how tree rings determine 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 since the spot gets wet then dries and gets wet again then dries again, etc. A newer spot will be darker with no rings circling it.
  • Examine the Materials: Materials such as thick paint and tiles can trap water, so when you have a spot created by water leaking through one of these, this can mean there’s been water lingering for a period of time. Being aware of the materials in your home can help you focus on your water damage problems more efficiently.
  • Mold Inspection: Bacteria, or mold, growth typically implies that your water damage has lingered for approximately two to three days.
  • Deterioration: Your material doesn’t typically deteriorate from the first occurrence of damage caused by water. So when there has been decay, this indicates your material has been susceptible to constant flooding or standing water.

Dispose of Damage Produced by Water & Call Paul Davis

For all your water damage repair emergencies, reach out to Paul Davis. When there’s a leak that you can’t detect, it’s important to contact an expert. The professional team at Paul Davis has the know-how and response time you need to maintain your property. For a local franchise in your location, give us a call at 989-894-4450 and we’ll get a professional for your assistance.