Determining the Age of Water Damage - Water Damage Restoration
Water damage restoration is a typical issue for any home, and every now and then the issue is discernible and other times it isn't. Things like flooding toilets, sinks and bathtubs are typical problems associated with water damage and you know there is a problem when this occurs. However, plumbing lines run all over your home, and this includes areas you can't see like between the floors and inside the walls. It's safe to say that a pipe leaking in an unknown location can happen. It's an aggravating problem because you can't see the leak and you won't notice it before the water damage appears.
You can check how new or old your water problems are by analyzing the water damage itself since the pipes are hidden. Unfortunately, it's difficult to figure out a precise 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 area.
A Step-by-Step On Damage Induced by Water - Determine its Age
You can figure out whether the damage caused by water is old or new by following this step-by-step process:
- History of the House: An older house might already have some previous water damage, so it's effective to keep a record of what's there and to note if the damage alters over a period of time. Tracking the weather is a good idea too, since, if you have a a slow dripping pipe, it can take months for a water spot to surface. Keeping track of your water spots and damages can save you a lot of hassle when finding out whether the damage caused from water is new or old.
- History of the House: Keep a record of any spots on your ceiling or walls and take into account any strong weather you had in your area like heavy rain. Damages and spots derived from water can take months to emerge if the leak is small. If you reside in an older home, the water damage spots might have been there for some time. So it's critical to keep a record of the spots you observe while indicating whether this is old water damage or old water damage.
- Touch the Spot: When the water spot is old, it will be mushy and squishy because during the time of the water leak, your ceiling or drywall has taken in a good amount of water. A new spot will feel wet but the area won't be soft to the touch.
- Look for Rings: You know how rings on a tree presents the age of the tree? The same method can be used for water spots. An older water spot will have rings around it. They will also be discolored because the area gets wet then dries and gets wet again then dries again, etcetera. A newer spot will be darker with no rings around it.
- Examine the Materials: Materials like tiles and thick paint can trap water, so if you have a water spot leaking through one of these, this can mean there's been water lingering for awhile. Being aware of the materials in your home can help you focus on your water damage problems more effectively.
- Mold Inspection: Bacteria growth normally means the damage caused by water has been present for approximately two to three days.
- Deterioration: When your materials decompose from water damage, this is usually the outcome of consistent flooding or standing water. Decomposition usually doesn't occur from the first case of a leak.
Water Damage Restoration Contractors - Call Paul
No matter the intensity of the damage caused by water, Paul Davis is here to assist. Our team of professional water damage restoration technicians can resolve the issue and have your home back in good condition. Remedy the problem today before it gets even worse and contact us at (905)892-3456 to find a local franchise near you.