New-Old Water Damage – Help from Water Damage Restoration Professionals

Restorations for water damage is a typical issue for any house, and every now and then the issue is clear and other times it’s ambiguous. Things like flooding toilets, sinks and bathtubs are typical problems connected to water damage and you know there is a problem when this occurs. But plumbing lines run all over your home, and this involves areas you can’t see like between the floors and inside the walls. It’s safe to say that a leaky pipe in an unknown area can happen. It’s a frustrating problem since you can’t see the leak and you won’t know until the water damage appears.

However, when you notice damage to your walls or water spots on your ceiling, these are flags indicating a leaky pipe or condensation generating the issue. Because the area is unseen, though, it’s difficult to determine how long the issue has been at hand. Although there isn’t an approach to know precisely how long your water damage issue has persisted, there are some ways to diagnose whether the water damage is old or new.

Figure Out the Lifetime of Your Water Damage

By practicing the tips listed below, you can determine how old or new your water damage:

  • 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 over a period of time. Keeping track of the weather is a great idea as well, since, if you have a modest leak, it can take awhile for a spot to surface. Taking note of your water damages can save you a lot of hassle when pinpointing whether your water damage is old or new.
  • 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 pop up if it’s a slight leak. Older properties may have some water spots that were sustained previously. So it’s important to take note of the spots you observe while indicating whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
  • Touch the Spot: You’ll be able to establish whether the damage produced by water is old or new just by touching it. An old spot is going to be soft since the material has taken in a fair amount of moisture. A new spot is going to be wet, but the material will still have a solid feel to it.
  • Look for Rings: Having rings around the damaged spot created by water presents age. Think about it as if it was a tree- the more rings it has, the longer the water damage has been around. Different shadings of the spot is also helpful since it shows that the area gets soaked, dries, gets saturated, dries, etcetera. If it’s a brand new spot created by water, the area will be a single mark with zero rings.
  • Examine the Materials: It’s critical to know about the materials that make up your walls or ceilings, since things like thick paint or tiles can actually trap moisture. When this is the case, even a water spot that’s small can indicate the buildup of water has been around for a while.
  • Mold Inspection: If you see that bacteria is there, the damage produced by water has lingered for approximately two to three days.
  • Deterioration: Your material won’t decay from the first instance of water damage. And if there has been decomposition, this means your material has been susceptible to constant standing water or flooding.

Eradicate Damage Generated by Water & Call Paul

If you’re having issues with damages that are caused by water, look no further than Paul Davis. It’s essential to fix any leaks on your property before the damage becomes extensive. Our water damage restoration professionals can find a leak and restore your house back to normal conditions no matter how big or small the job is. Contact us today at (800) 408-3290 and in your location will be there to help out.