New-Old Water Damage - Tips by Water Damage Restoration Professionals
Restorations for water damage is a typical issue for any home, and sometimes the issue is clear and other times it isn't. Things such as flooding toilets, sinks and bathtubs are common issues linked with water damage and you know there is a problem when this occurs. But pipes run all over your home, and this includes areas you can't see like between the floors and inside the walls. Unfortunately a pipe leaking in a concealed area can happen. It's a frustrating problem because you can't see what's going on and you won't know before the water damage appears.
It's complicated to establish how old or new the water damage is for these spaces that can't be seen. After all, you could have a leaky pipe that was slightly dripping for awhile but because it's been concealed, you don't have a timeline. There's no sure way to figure out the precise time of the problem, but there are some methods to approximate the age of the water damage.
Evaluate How Old Your Water Damage is with These Tips
By practicing the tips listed below, you can discover how old or new the damage caused by water:
- History of the House: When your house has any water spots, it's important to keep track of them when finding out whether damage caused from water is new or old. Additionally, you'll want to be conscious of any weather that could bring hidden water damage to the surface such as a rain storm. Know your home, because smaller leaks can take months to surface, and if you know what's new and what's old, you'll be able to identify your issue quicker.
- 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 location like heavy rain. Water spots can take months to present themselves if the leak is modest. Older properties may already have some water spots that were sustained previously. So it's important to keep track of the spots you see while indicating whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
- Touch the Spot: When the water spot is old, it will be mushy and soft because during the time of the leaking water, your drywall or ceiling has absorbed a good amount of water. You'll feel moisture with a newer spot but the area won't be soft to the touch.
- Look for Rings: Outlining rings around your water damage spot reveals age. Think about it like a tree- the more rings, the longer the water damage has been lingering. Color variations of the blemish is also helpful because it indicates that the area gets soaked, dries, gets saturated, dries, etcetera. If it's a new spot created by water, the area will be a single blemish with zero rings.
- Examine the Materials: Get to know the material in your home, because water and moisture can become trapped by thick paint and tiles. So if spots produced by water show up through these, this means the accumulation of water has remained for a period of time.
- Mold Inspection: If you find that bacteria, or mold, is there, your water damage has been there for nearly two to three days.
- Rot: Your material won't deteriorate by the first occurrence of damage generated by water. And if there has been decay, this means your material has been vulnerable to constant flooding or standing water.
Reach out to Paul Davis - Your Skillful Water Damage Restoration Specialists
For any water damage restoration emergencies, reach out to Paul Davis. When there's a pipe dripping that you can't identify, it's vital to contact an expert. The expert team at Paul Davis has the experience and response time required to maintain your house. To find a local franchise near your location, reach out to us at +1-780-750-8488 and we'll get an expert for your assistance.