The Age of Water Spots - Tips by Water Damage Repair Professionals

One of the more common problems a home can experience is water damage. As water damage repair experts, Paul Davis is aware of the problems that water damage produces, especially when it can't be seen. Your residence has pipes running throughout it, including the inside of your walls and ceilings. If these pipes have condensation on them or a leak, they can slowly wear out your ceiling or walls. One of the more difficult situations to this is verifying whether or not the damage caused by water is new or old.

It's difficult to check how old the water damage is for these areas that can't be seen. After all, you could have a leaky pipe that was slightly dripping for awhile but because it's been hidden, you don't know how long. There's no sure way to indicate exactly how long the problem has persisted, but there are approaches to approximate the age of the water damage.

Discover How Old or New the Damage Caused by Water is with These Tips

You can gain some insight on whether the damage caused by water is new or old by following this step-by-step process:

  • History of the House: When your property has any spots caused from water damage, it's essential to keep a record of them when finding out whether damage caused from water is new or old. In addition, you'll want to be observant of any weather that could bring hidden water damage to the surface such as a downpour. Know your home, because pipes with a slow drip can take months to surface, and if you understand what's new and what's old, you'll be able to pinpoint your problem quicker.
  • History of the House: Keep a record of any spots on your ceiling or walls and take into account any strong weather you had in your area such as heavy rain. Water spots can take months to materialize if the leak is small. If you occupy an older home, the water damage spots could have been there for some time. So it's essential to keep a record of the spots you observe while finding out whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
  • Touch the Spot: You can feel the spot- this can inform you a lot about the age of the damage caused by water. A newer spot will be wet but your drywall or ceiling will still be strong, while an older spot will be soft and squishy since your material would have absorbed a good amount of water.
  • Look for Rings: When you see one darker spot with zero rings around it, this shows that the damage caused by water is new. Older damage caused by water usually has rings around it, and just like a tree, the more rings indicates the age. Discolored rings exhibits that the spot has been soaked, dried, soaked, dried, etc.
  • Examine the Materials: Materials such as tiles and thick paint can actually trap water and moisture, so if you have a water spot leaking through one of these, this can mean there's been water lingering for awhile. Knowing the materials around your home can help you focus on your water damage problems more effectively.
  • Mold Inspection: If you find that bacteria is there, the damage caused by water has lingered for nearly two to three days.
  • Decay: Decaying material means that the damage caused by water is either occurring on a regular basis or that it's extensive because there's standing water. A first case of damage caused by water typically won't cause rot.

Get a Professional Water Damage Repair Specialist

For any water damage repair needs, get in touch with Paul Davis. If there's a pipe dripping that you can't identify, it's vital to reach out to a professional. The professional team at Paul Davis has the know-how and response time required to maintain your property. To find a local franchise in your area, call us at +1-403-696-8886 and we'll get an expert for your assistance.