Expert Water Damage Restoration Guide – How Old is Your Water Damage?

When you have clogged bathtubs, toilets or sinks that overflow, it’s obvious that water damage repairs will be necessary. Still, your house can come under water damage in ways that aren’t as clear. Because you have plumbing running all over your residence, you can have a pipe leaking or an accumulation of condensation between your ceilings and walls. It’s an inconvenient circumstance because this isn’t visible- you won’t know until you there’s water damage, and then it’s difficult to define how long the problem has persisted.

However, when you notice water spots on your ceiling or damage to your walls, these are the sure signs of a leaky pipe or condensation causing a problem. Because the area is hidden, though, it’s hard to determine how long the issue has been at hand. While there isn’t an approach 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.

Determine How Old the Damage Caused by Water is with These Tips

By following the steps listed below, you’ll be able to indicate the age of the damage caused by water:

  • History of the House: An older house could already have some previous damage caused from water, so it’s critical to keep track of what’s there and to note if the damage changes overtime. Tracking the weather is a good idea as well, since, if you have a a slow dripping pipe, it can take months for a spot to appear. Keeping track of your water spots and damages can save you a lot of hassle when finding out whether your water damage is new or old.
  • History of the House: When your residence has any spots from water damage, it’s fundamental to keep track of them when finding out whether your water damage is new or old. Furthermore, you’ll want to be apprehensive of any weather that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like heavy rain. Know your house, since pipes with a slow drip can take some time to appear, and if you know what’s new and what’s old, you’ll be able to pinpoint your issue quicker.
  • Touch the Spot: You’ll can establish whether your water damage is new or old just by feeling it. An old spot will be soft because the material has absorbed a fair amount of moisture. A new spot will be wet, however, the material will still have a solid feel to it.
  • Look for Rings: Remember how tree rings reveal the age of the tree? The same idea can be used towards water spots. An old water spot is going to have rings around it. They will also be shaded differently since the spot gets saturated then dries and gets saturated again then dries again, etc. A new spot will be dark with no rings circling it.
  • Examine the Materials: Get to know the material around your house, since water can become trapped by tiles and thick paint. So if spots caused by water show up through these, this means the buildup of water has been there for awhile.
  • Mold Inspection: Bacteria, or mold, development normally indicates that your water damage has lingered for approximately two to three days.
  • Decay: Your material doesn’t usually deteriorate from the first case of water damage. So if there has been deterioration, this means your material has been susceptible to persistent flooding or standing water.

Get Rid of Water Damage & Call Paul

For any water damage restoration needs, get in touch with Paul Davis. When there’s a leak that you can’t identify, it’s critical to contact a professional. Paul Davis’ expert team has the know-how and response time required to get your residence back in order. To find a local franchise near your location, give us a call at (845) 651-1850 and we’ll get an expert for your assistance.