New-Old Water Spots - Help from Water Damage Restoration Experts

Water damage repair is a typical issue for any property, and sometimes the issue is noticeable and other times it isn't. Things such as overflowing bathtubs, toilets and sinks are typical issues associated with water damage and you know there is a problem when this occurs. But pipes run all over your property, and this involves places you can't see such as between the floors and inside the walls. Unfortunately a pipe leaking in a hidden location can happen. It's an irritating obstacle because you can't see what's going on and you won't know before the water damage appears.

Since the pipes can't be seen, you can get an estimate of how long you've had water complications by evaluating the water damage itself. Unfortunately, it's hard to find out an exact timeline, but we have some guidance on how to evaluate the damage so you can come up with an approximate time on how long you've had water in the damaged space.

Figure Out the Lifetime of the Damage Caused by Water

You can learn whether the damage caused by water is old or new by following this step-by-step process:

  • History of the House: Take note of any spots on your walls or ceilings and take into account any strong weather you had in your area such as heavy rain. Water spots can take months to develop if the leak is small. An older home might have some water spots that were sustained previously. So it's fundamental to take note of the spots you see while figuring out whether this is old water damage or old water damage.
  • History of the House: An old residence might already have some previous damage caused from water, so it's effective to keep track of what's there and to note if the damage alters over a period of time. Keeping track of the weather is a good idea too, since, if you have a a slow dripping pipe, it can take some time for a spot to appear. Keeping track of your water damages can save you a lot of hassle when diagnosing whether your water damage is new or old.
  • Touch the Spot: Go on and feel the spot- this will disclose a lot about the age of the damage caused by water. A newer spot will feel wet but your ceiling or drywall will still feel the same, 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 rings on a tree indicate how old a tree is? The same method can be used for spots created by water. An older water spot will have rings around it. They will also be discolored because the spot gets wet then dries and gets wet again then dries again, etc. A newer spot will be darker with no rings around it.
  • Examine the Materials: Learn about the material in your property, because water and moisture can get trapped by tiles and thick paint. So if spots generated by water show up through these, this means the buildup of moisture has been there for awhile.
  • Mold Inspection: If you see that bacteria is present, the damage caused by water has lingered for nearly two to three days.
  • Rot: Decaying material means that the damage caused by water is either a repeat offender or that it's serious because there's standing water. A first instance of damage caused by water usually won't lead to decay.

Contact Paul Davis - Your Experienced Water Damage Restoration Specialists

When you're having water damage complications, look to Paul Davis. It's essential to take care of any leaks on your property before the damage becomes serious. Our water damage restoration professionals can locate a leak and fix your property back to normal no matter the size of the job. Reach out to Paul now at +1-403-696-8886 and franchise near your area is there to help out.