Approaches to Determine if Water Damage is New or Old

Repairs for water damage is a common problem for any house, and sometimes the problem is apparent and other times it isn't. Things like overflowing bathtubs, toilets and sinks are common problems linked with water damage and you know there is an issue when this happens. But plumbing lines run all over your home, and this includes areas you can't see such as between the floors and inside the walls. Unfortunately a leaky pipe in a concealed area can happen. It's an annoying obstacle because you can't see what's going on and you won't be aware before the water damage appears.

Yet, when you notice water spots on your ceiling or damage to your walls, these are the sure signs of a pipe that's leaking or condensation generating the problem. Since the space is unseen, though, it's difficult to determine how long the problem has lasted. While there isn't a way to find out exactly how long your water damage problem has lingered, there are some ways to indicate whether the water damage is new or old.

Learn How Old the Damage Produced by Water is with This Guidance

You can get an estimated age of the damage caused from water by following these steps:

• History of the House: An older property may already have some previous water damage, so it's fundamental to keep track of what's there and to note if the damage alters over a period of time. Tracking the weather is a great idea as well, because if you have a small leak, it can take months for a water spot to surface. Keeping track of your water damages can save you lots of time when pinpointing whether your water damage is new or old.
• History of the House: Keep track of any spots on your walls or ceilings and take into account any strong weather you had in your location such as a downpour. Damages and spots derived from water can take months to present themselves if the leak is small. If you reside in an older house, the water damage spots may have been there for some time. So it's fundamental to take note of the spots you see while finding out whether this is old water damage or old water damage.
• Touch the Spot: You can feel the spot, because this can tell you a lot about the age of the water damage. A new spot will feel wet but your drywall or ceiling will still feel durable, while an old spot will be spongy and soft because your material would have taken in a fair amount of moisture.
• Look for Rings: When you see a dark spot with no rings around it, this shows that the water damage is new. Old water damage will have rings around it, and just like a tree, the more rings indicates the age. Discolored rings shows you that the area has been soaked, dried, soaked, dried, etc.
• Examine the Materials: Get to know the material around your house, because water and moisture can become trapped by thick paint and tiles. And if water spots show up through these, this means the accumulation of water has remained for a period of time.
• Mold Inspection: Bacteria development usually indicates that the damage generated by water has been there for nearly two to three days.
• Decay: Your material doesn't typically rot by the first situation of damage produced by water. And when there has been deterioration, this means your material has been vulnerable to persistent standing water or flooding.

Water Damage Repair Technicians - Contact Paul

For any water damage repair emergencies, call Paul Davis. When there's a pipe dripping that you can't identify, it's vital to reach out to an expert. Paul Davis' professional team has the experience and response time required to maintain your property. For a local franchise near your location, contact us at (613)935-4040 and we'll get an expert to come help you out.