Water Spots - How Old Are They? - Learn by Following These Steps

When you have backed-up sinks, bathtubs or toilets that overflow, it's obvious that water damage repairs will be required. Nonetheless, your property can come under water damage in ways that aren't as straightforward. Because you have pipes running through your house, you can have a leaky pipe or an accumulation of condensation between your walls or ceilings. It's a troublesome incident since this isn't visible- you won't know until you have water damage, and then it's difficult to identify how long the issue has persisted.

Because the pipes can't be seen, you can get an approximation of how long you've had water problems by evaluating the water damage itself. Unfortunately, it's difficult to figure out an exact timeline, but we have some advice on how to analyze the damage so you can come up with an estimated time on how long you've had water in the damaged space.

Learn How Old or New the Damage Generated by Water is with These Steps

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

• History of the House: Keep a record of any spots on your walls or ceilings and take into account any outside influences like a heavy rain storm. Water spots can take awhile to present themselves if the leak is modest. If you occupy an older home, the water damage spots may have been there for awhile. So it's important to keep a record of the spots you observe while finding out whether this is old water damage or old water damage.
• History of the House: When your house has any spots from water damage, it's important to keep a record of them when determining whether your water damage is new or old. Furthermore, you'll want to be observant of any weather that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like heavy rain. Know your house, because pipes with a slow drip can take awhile to appear, and if you understand what's new and what's old, you'll be able to pinpoint your issue quicker.
• Touch the Spot: Go ahead and feel the spot, because this can inform you a lot about the age of the damage produced by water. A new spot will feel wet but your drywall or ceiling will still feel the same, while an old spot will be mushy and spongy since your material would have absorbed a good amount of moisture.
• Look for Rings: When you see just a dark spot with no rings around it, this shows that the damage produced by water is new. Old damage produced by water usually has rings around it, and like trees, the more rings determines the age. Different shades and colors of rings reveals that the area has been soaked, dried, soaked, dried, etc.
• Examine the Materials: It's vital to know about the materials that make up your walls or ceilings, because things like tiles or thick paint can trap the water. When this is the circumstance, even a small water spot can mean the accumulation of water has been around for a while.
• Mold Inspection: If mold has had time to settle, this means the damage produced by water has lingered for approximately two to three days.
• Deterioration: Decomposed material indicates that the damage produced by water is either happening consistently or that it's extensive because there's standing water. A first instance of damage produced by water usually won't cause deterioration.

Water Damage Repair Contractors - Contact Paul Davis

For any water damage repair emergencies, reach out to Paul Davis. If there's a leak that you can't identify, it's important to call a professional. Paul Davis' skillful team has the know-how and response time you need to get your house back in order. To find a local franchise near your area, give us a call at (418)343-1999 and we'll get an expert for your assistance.