Expert Water Damage Repair Advice

When you have backed-up bathtubs, toilets or sinks that overflow, it’s obvious that you’re in need of water damage repair. Unfortunately, your home can sustain water damage in ways that aren’t as apparent. Since you have pipes running throughout your property, you can have a leaky pipe or a buildup of condensation between your walls or ceilings. It’s an inconvenient circumstance because this isn’t visible- you won’t notice it until you have water damage, and then it’s difficult to identify how long the issue has persisted.

Since the pipes aren’t visible, you can get an estimate of how long you’ve had water issues by evaluating the water damage itself. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to find out an exact timeline, but we have some guidance on how to examine the damage so you can come up with an approximate time on how long you’ve had water in the area.

Figure Out How Old Your Water Damage is with This Guidance

By practicing the tips listed below, you can learn how old or new the damage produced by water:

  • History of the House: When your property has any water spots, it’s essential to take note of them when finding out whether your water damage is old or new. Also, you’ll want to be conscious of any storms that could bring hidden water damage to the surface such as heavy rain. Know your house, because modest leaks can take some time to appear, and if you know what’s new and what’s old, you’ll be able to identify your problem quicker.
  • History of the House: An older home may already have some previous water damage, so it’s critical to keep a record of what’s there and to note if the damage changes overtime. Tracking the weather is a good idea too, because if you have a modest leak, it can take awhile for a water spot to appear. Keeping track of your water spots and damages can save you a lot of hassle when pinpointing whether the damage produced from water is old or new.
  • Touch the Spot: You’ll can determine whether the damage produced by water is old or new just by touching it. An older spot will be squishy because the material has taken in a good amount of water. A newer spot will be moist, but the material will feel solid.
  • Look for Rings: Having rings around the damaged spot caused by water presents its age. Consider it like a tree- the more rings it has, the longer the water damage has been lingering. Color variations of the spot is useful because it reveals that the area leaks, dries, gets saturated, dries, etcetera. If it’s a new water spot, the area will be a single stain with no rings.
  • Examine the Materials: Materials such as thick paint and tiles can trap water and moisture, so if you have a water spot seeping through one of these, this can mean there’s been a buildup of water for a period of time. Knowing the materials in your house can help you focus on your water damage issues more effectively.
  • Mold Inspection: When bacteria has had time to settle in, this indicates that the damage produced by water has been present for about two to three days.
  • Rot: Decaying material indicates that the damage produced by water is either a repeat offender or that it’s extensive because there’s standing water. A first instance of water damage usually doesn’t lead to rot.

Get Help from a Professional Water Damage Repair Contractor

For all your water damage repair needs, call Paul Davis. When there’s a pipe dripping that you can’t identify, it’s critical to get in touch with a professional. The expert team at Paul Davis has the experience and response time you need to maintain your property. For a local franchise near your area, call us at (845) 651-1850 and we’ll get a professional for your assistance.