Follow These Steps to Figure Out the Age of Water Damage

Water damage restoration is a typical issue for any house, and every now and then the issue is obvious and other times it isn’t. Things like flooding sinks, bathtubs or toilets are common issues connected to water damage and you know there is a problem when this occurs. But plumbing lines run all over your property, and this involves places you can’t see like between the floors and inside the walls. It’s safe to say that a leaky pipe in an unknown location can occur. It’s a frustrating obstacle because you can’t see the leak and you won’t be aware before the water damage appears.

Yet, when you recognize water spots on your ceiling or damage to your walls, these are the sure signs of a pipe that’s leaking or condensation generating the problem. Since 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 know exactly how long your water damage problem has persisted, there are some ways to indicate whether the water damage is old or new.

Discover How Old or New the Damage Produced by Water is with This Guidance

The following tips can help you judge whether the damage produced by water is old or new:

  • History of the House: Keep track of any spots on your ceiling or walls and take into account any outside influences like heavy rain. Damages and spots derived from water can take some time to come up if the leak is small. An older house could have some water spots and damages that were sustained previously. So it’s critical to keep track of the spots you perceive while finding out whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
  • History of the House: When your home has any spots from water damage, it’s critical to keep track of them when finding out whether your water damage is old or new. Additionally, you’ll want to be apprehensive of any storms that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like a rain storm. Know your house, because modest leaks can take some time to surface, and if you understand what’s old and what’s new, you’ll be able to identify your issue faster.
  • Touch the Spot: When the water spot is old, it will be squishy and mushy because during the time of the leaking water, your drywall or ceiling has absorbed a good amount of water. A new spot will feel wet but it won’t be soft to the touch.
  • Look for Rings: You know how rings on a tree indicate the age of the tree? The same idea can be used towards water spots. An older water spot is going to have rings around it. They will also be shaded differently because the spot gets saturated then dries and gets saturated again then dries again, etc. A newer spot will be darker with no rings around it.
  • Examine the Materials: Learn about the material around your house, because water can become trapped by tiles and thick paint. So if water spots show up through these, this means the accumulation of water has been there for awhile.
  • Mold Inspection: When bacteria has had time to colonize, this implies the damage produced by water has lingered for approximately two to three days.
  • Decomposition: Decaying material means that the damage produced by water is either a repeat offender or that it’s serious because there’s standing water. A first instance of damage produced by water typically doesn’t lead to deterioration.

Water Damage Restoration Specialists – Call Paul

For all your water damage restoration needs, get in touch with Paul Davis. When there’s a pipe dripping that you can’t detect, it’s vital to contact a professional. The professional team at Paul Davis has the experience and response time required to get your home back in order. To find a local franchise in your location, give us a call at (949) 455-1710 and we’ll get a professional for your assistance.