Expert Water Damage Repair Guide - How Old Are Your Water Spots?
When you have backed-up toilets, sinks or bathtubs that flood, it's obvious that you're in need of water damage repair. Though, your house can suffer from water damage in ways that aren't as evident. Since you have pipes running through your residence, you can have a leaky pipe or an accumulation of condensation between your walls or ceilings. It's an alarming problem since this isn't visible- you won't recognize it until you have water damage, and then it's difficult to define how long the problem has persisted.
However, when you catch damage to your walls or water spots on your ceiling, these are the sure signs of a pipe that's leaking or condensation causing a problem. Because the area is unseen, though, it's tough to determine how long the problem has lasted. Even though there isn't a way to know precisely how long your water damage problem has persisted, there are some ways to diagnose whether the water damage is new or old.
Tips On Damage Generated by Water - Establish its Age
By practicing the tips listed below, you can figure out the age of the damage caused by water:
- History of the House: If your residence has any spots caused from water damage, it's essential to take note of them when determining whether your water damage is new or old. In addition, you'll want to be observant of any weather that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like heavy rain. Know your property, since pipes with a slow drip can take some time 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 old house might already have some previous water damage, so it's important to keep a record of what's there and to note if the damage alters over a period of time. Tracking the weather is a great idea as well, because if you have a small leak, it can take months for a water spot to surface. Taking note of your water spots and damages can save you a lot of hassle when diagnosing whether your water damage is new or old.
- Touch the Spot: Go ahead and feel the spot, because this can disclose a lot about the age of the water damage. A new spot will be wet but your ceiling or drywall will still be durable, while an old spot will be spongy and squishy since your material would have taken in a good amount of moisture.
- Look for Rings: If you see just one dark spot with zero rings around it, this shows that the water damage is new. Old water damage usually has rings around it, and just like a tree, the more rings determines the age. Different colored and shades of rings shows you that the area has been drenched, dried, drenched, dried, etc.
- Examine the Materials: It's essential to be cognizant of the materials that comprise your walls or ceilings, since things like thick paint or tiles can trap the water. If this is the circumstance, even a water spot that's small can indicate the buildup of water has been remaining for a while.
- Mold Inspection: If you see that bacteria is there, the damage generated by water has been present for nearly two to three days.
- Decay: If your materials deteriorate from water damage, this is usually the result of repeat flooding or standing water. Decomposition usually won't happen from the first situation of a leak.
Dispose of Damage Generated from Water & Call Paul
For any water damage repair emergencies, contact Paul Davis. When there's a leak that you can't find, it's essential to contact an expert. Paul Davis' skillful team has the experience and response time required to maintain your residence. For a local franchise in your location, give us a call at (819)607-4040 and we'll get an expert to come help you out.