Water Damage – How Old is it? – Learn by Following These Tips

Water damage restoration are a common problem for any house, and sometimes the problem is discernible and other times it isn’t. Things like flooding bathtubs, toilets and sinks are typical problems associated with water damage and you know there is a problem when this happens. But pipes run all over your house, and this involves places you can’t see such as between the floors and inside the walls. Unfortunately, a pipe leaking in an unseen area can occur. It’s an aggravating problem since you can’t see what’s going on and you won’t know before the water damage appears.

But, when you notice damage to your walls or water spots on your ceiling, these are flags indicating a pipe that’s leaking or condensation causing a problem. Because the area is hidden, though, it’s challenging to determine how long the problem has lasted. Although there isn’t an approach to know precisely how long your water damage problem has lingered, there are some ways to diagnose whether the water damage is new or old.

Tips On Water Damage – Establish its Age

By practicing the tips listed below, you can learn how old or new the damage produced by water:

  • History of the House: If your residence has any water spots, it’s essential to take note of them when finding out whether your water damage is new or old. Additionally, you’ll want to be apprehensive of any weather that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like heavy rain. Know your house, since pipes with a slow drip can take months to surface, and if you know what’s old and what’s new, you’ll be able to diagnose your problem faster.
  • History of the House: An older property may already have some previous water damage, so it’s effective 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 great idea as well, because if you have a a slow dripping pipe, it can take some time for a spot to surface. Keeping track of your water spots and damages can save you a lot of hassle when determining whether the damage caused from water is new or old.
  • Touch the Spot: You can feel the spot- this will disclose a lot about the age of the water damage. A new spot will be wet but your ceiling or drywall will still be the same, while an old spot will be soft and squishy because your material would have taken in a good amount of moisture.
  • Look for Rings: You know how rings on a tree determine the age of the tree? The same approach can be used towards water spots. An old water spot is going to have rings around it. They will also be discolored 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 crucial to be cognizant of the materials that comprise your ceiling or walls, since things such as thick paint or tiles can actually trap moisture. If this is the case, even a water spot that’s small can indicate the buildup of water has been around for a period of time.
  • Mold Inspection: If you find that bacteria, or mold, is there, your water damage has been present for approximately two to three days.
  • Decomposition: If your materials decompose from water damage, this is normally the result of repeat flooding or standing water. Deterioration normally doesn’t happen from the first case of a leak.

Water Damage Restoration Contractors – Call Paul Davis

When you’re having water damage complications, look no further than Paul Davis. It’s critical to remedy any dripping pipes on your property prior to the damage becoming more extensive. Our water damage restoration experts can locate dripping pipes and fix your house back to normal no matter how big or small the job is. Get in touch with us now at 989-894-4450 and a local franchise will be there to help out.