A Guidance to Determine the Age of Water Damage
Repairs for water damage is a common issue for any house, and every now and then the issue is discernible and other times it's concealed. Things like flooding toilets, sinks and bathtubs are common issues linked with water damage and you know there is a problem when this happens. But plumbing lines run all over your home, and this includes places you can't see like inside the walls and between the floors. Unfortunately a pipe leaking in an unknown location can occur. It's an annoying problem because you can't see what's going on and you won't know until the water damage appears.
But, when you catch water spots on your ceiling or damage to your walls, these are clues indicating a leaky pipe or condensation causing a issue. Because the space is hidden, though, it's hard to determine how long the issue has been at hand. Even though there isn't an approach to find out exactly how long your water damage issue has lingered, there are some ways to diagnose whether the water damage is new or old.
Figure Out How Old the Damage Generated by Water is with This Guidance
You can figure out an estimated age of your water damage by following these steps:
- History of the House: Take note of any spots on your ceiling or walls and take into account any outside influences like a heavy rain storm. Damages and spots derived from water can take months to materialize if it's a slight leak. If you occupy an older house, the water damage spots may have been there for some time. So it's important to keep track of the spots you see while figuring out whether this is old water damage or old water damage.
- History of the House: If your home has any water spots, it's important to keep track of them when determining whether your water damage is new or old. Also, you'll want to be conscious of any weather that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like a rain storm. Know your house, 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 issue faster.
- Touch the Spot: You can touch the spot, because this will tell you a lot about the age of the damage caused by water. A newer spot will be wet but your ceiling or drywall will still be the same, while an older spot will be mushy and squishy since your material would have taken in a fair amount of moisture.
- Look for Rings: Outlining rings around your water damage spot presents age. Remember it as if it was a tree- the more rings it has, the longer the damage caused by water has been present. Color variations of the blemish is useful because it indicates that the area leaks, dries, leaks, dries, etcetera. If it's a brand new water spot, the area will be a single mark with zero rings.
- Examine the Materials: Materials like thick paint and tiles can actually trap water and moisture, so when you have a water spot leaking through one of these, this can mean there's been water lingering for awhile. Knowing the materials can help you focus on your water damage issues more efficiently.
- Mold Inspection: If you see that bacteria is present, your water damage has been present for approximately two to three days.
- Rot: If your materials decompose from damage caused by water, this is typically the result of repeat flooding or standing water. Deterioration typically won't happen from the first instance of leakage.
Get a Knowledgeable Water Damage Restoration Specialist
No matter the measure of your water damage, Paul Davis is here to assist. Our team of professional water damage restoration technicians can fix the issue and have your home in a good state. Fix the issue today before it gets in a worse condition and call us at +1-403-696-8886 to find a local franchise near your area.
