How to Indicate if Your Water Damage is Old or New

A natural issue that a lot of residences confront is some form of damage caused by water. As water damage restoration professionals, Paul Davis is aware of the problems that water damage generates, especially when it can’t be seen. Your residence has plumbing everywhere, including the inside of your walls and ceilings. If these pipes leak or have condensation on them, they can begin to wear out your ceiling or walls. One of the more difficult aspects to this is discovering whether the damage caused by water is old or new.

Yet, when you recognize damage to your walls or water spots on your ceiling, these are the sure signs of a pipe that’s leaking or condensation causing an issue. Since the space is hidden, though, it’s hard to figure out how long the problem has lasted. Although there isn’t an approach to find out precisely how long your water damage issue has lingered, there are some ways to diagnose whether the water damage is old or new.

Discover the Time Frame of Your Water Damage

The following steps can help you gain insight in figuring out whether your water damage is old or new:

  • History of the House: If your home has any water spots, it’s critical to take note of them when figuring out whether your water damage is old or new. Also, you’ll want to be observant of any weather that could bring hidden water damage to the surface such as a downpour. Know your house, since pipes with a slow drip can take a while to surface, and if you understand what’s old and what’s new, you’ll be able to diagnose your problem quicker.
  • History of the House: Keep a record of any spots on your walls or ceilings and take into account any strong weather you had in your location like heavy rain. Water spots can take a while to emerge if the leak is small. Older properties might already have some water spots that were sustained previously. So it’s critical to take note of the spots you perceive while determining whether this is old water damage or old water damage.
  • Touch the Spot: Go ahead and touch the spot- this can tell you a lot about the age of the damage caused by water. A new spot will feel wet but your drywall or ceiling will still feel durable, while an old spot will be spongy and squishy since your material would have absorbed a good amount of moisture.
  • Look for Rings: You know how rings on a tree reveal how old a tree is? The same idea can be used for spots created by water. An old water spot is going to have rings around it. They can also be shaded differently since the spot gets soaked then dries and gets soaked again then dries again, etcetera. A new spot will be dark with zero rings circling it.
  • Examine the Materials: It’s essential to be aware of the materials that make up your walls or ceilings, since things like tiles or thick paint can actually trap moisture. If this is the case, even a small water spot can mean the accumulation of water has been lingering for a while.
  • Mold Inspection: If you see that bacteria, or mold, is present, your water damage has lingered for approximately two to three days.
  • Deterioration: Decomposed material indicates that your water damage is either occurring consistently or that it’s serious because there’s standing water. A first instance of damage caused by water typically doesn’t lead to deterioration.

Get Rid of Damage Produced by Water & Call Paul Davis

The amount of your water damage doesn’t matter, Paul Davis is here to assist. Our team of skillful water damage restoration technicians can resolve the problem and have your home in a great state. Fix the issue now before it gets worse and get in touch with us at 989-894-4450 to find a local franchise in your location.