How to Determine the Age of a Water Spot – Water Damage Restoration
Water damage repair are a typical problem for any property, and every now and then the problem is clear and other times it isn’t. Things like overflowing sinks, bathtubs or toilets are common problems related to water damage and you know there is an issue when this occurs. But plumbing lines run all over your house, and this involves 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 area can occur. It’s an annoying problem since you can’t see what’s going on and you won’t be aware before the water damage appears.
Nevertheless, when you detect water spots on your ceiling or damage to your walls, these are clues indicating a pipe that’s leaking or condensation generating the issue. Because the area is unseen, though, it’s hard to ascertain how long the problem has lasted. While there isn’t an approach to know exactly how long your water damage issue has persisted, there are some ways to diagnose whether the water damage is new or old.
Find Out the Time Frame of Your Water Damage
The following steps can help you judge whether your water damage is new or old:
- History of the House: An older home might already have some previous water damage, so it’s important to keep a record of what’s there and to note if the damage changes over a period of time. Tracking the weather is a good idea too, because if you have a small leak, it can take some time for a spot to appear. Keeping track of your water damages can save you lots of time when determining whether the damage caused from water is new or old.
- History of the House: An older home might already have some previous water damage, so it’s important to keep a record of what’s there and to note if the damage changes over a period of time. Tracking the weather is a good idea too, because if you have a small leak, it can take some time for a spot to appear. Keeping track of your water damages can save you lots of time when determining whether the damage caused from water is new or old.
- Touch the Spot: Go ahead and feel the spot- this can inform you a lot about the age of the water damage. A newer spot will be wet but your ceiling or drywall will still be the same, while an older spot will be spongy and soft since your material would have taken in 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 towards water spots. An older water spot is going to have rings around it. They can also be shaded differently since the area gets wet then dries and gets wet again then dries again, etc. A newer spot will be darker with zero rings around it.
- Examine the Materials: It’s important to know about the materials that comprise your ceiling or walls, since things such as tiles or thick paint can actually trap moisture. When this is the situation, even a small water spot can mean the accumulation of water has been lingering for a while.
- Mold Inspection: Bacteria, or mold, development normally indicates that your water damage has been present for nearly two to three days.
- Rot: Deteriorated material indicates that your water damage is either occurring on a regular basis or that it’s serious because there’s standing water. A first instance of water damage typically won’t lead to rot.
Water Damage Repair Technicians – Reach Out to Paul
When you’re having water damage complications, look no further than Paul Davis. It’s vital to remedy any leaks in your house before the damage becomes serious. Our water damage restoration experts can find dripping pipes and restore your property back to normal conditions no matter the size of the job. Call Paul today at 989-894-4450 and franchise near you is there to help out.