Water damage restoration is a common issue for any property, and every now and then the issue is clear and other times it’s ambiguous. Things like flooding sinks, bathtubs or toilets are common problems associated with water damage and you know there is an issue when this occurs. But plumbing lines run all over your home, and this includes areas you can’t see such as between the floors and inside the walls. It’s safe to say that a pipe leaking in an unknown area can occur. It’s a frustrating problem because you can’t see what’s going on and you won’t notice it before the water damage appears.
Nevertheless, when you recognize water spots on your ceiling or damage to your walls, these are flags indicating a pipe that’s leaking or condensation generating the issue. Because the space is concealed, though, it’s challenging to determine how long the issue has lasted. Even though there isn’t a way to know exactly how long your water damage issue has lingered, there are some ways to diagnose whether the water damage is old or new.
Evaluate How Old or New Your Water Damage is with These Tips
You can gain some insight on whether your water damage is old or new by following this step-by-step process:
- History of the House: An old property may already have some previous damage produced from water, so it’s important 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 great idea too, because if you have a a slow leak, it can take awhile for a water spot to surface. Keeping track of your water spots and damages can save you a lot of hassle when pinpointing whether your water damage is old or new.
- Touch the Spot: When the water spot is old, it will be squishy and mushy because during the time of the water leak, your ceiling or drywall has taken in a good amount of water. You’ll feel wetness with a newer spot but the surface won’t be soft like an older spot.
- Look for Rings: You know how rings on a tree determine the age of the tree? The same approach can be used for water spots. An older water spot will have rings around it. They will also be discolored because the area gets soaked then dries and gets soaked again then dries again, etc. A newer spot will be darker with no rings circling it.
- Examine the Materials: Get to know the material in your property, because water can become trapped by thick paint and tiles. So if spots produced by water show up through these types of materials, this means the buildup of water has remained for awhile.
- Mold Inspection: When bacteria has had time to settle, this indicates your water damage has lingered for about two to three days.
- Decay: Deteriorated material indicates that your water damage is either a repeat offender or that it’s serious because there’s standing water. A first case of damage produced by water usually won’t cause deterioration.
Get an Expert Water Damage Restoration Specialist
For all your water damage restoration needs, reach out to Paul Davis. When there’s a pipe dripping that you can’t find, it’s vital to reach out to a professional. Paul Davis’ expert team has the know-how and response time required to get your property back in order. To find a local franchise in your location, give us a call at 951-444-8794 and we’ll get a professional for your assistance.
