Water Damage – How Old is it? – Find Out by Taking These Steps

When you have clogged bathtubs, toilets or sinks that overflow, it’s obvious that water damage repairs will be needed. Unfortunately, your home can sustain water damage in ways that aren’t as apparent. Since you have plumbing running all over your home, you can have a leaky pipe or an accumulation of condensation between your ceilings and walls. It’s a troublesome circumstance since this isn’t visible- you won’t recognize it until you have water damage, and then it’s difficult to define how long the problem has persisted.

It’s hard to check how old the the damage produced by water is for these areas that aren’t visible. After all, you could have a leaky pipe that was slightly dripping for awhile but because it’s been hidden, you don’t have a timeline. There’s no way to determine the precise time of the problem, but there are approaches to estimate the age of the water damage.

Determine the Time Frame of the Damage Produced by Water

By practicing the tips listed below, you’ll be able to indicate the age of the damage caused by water:

  • History of the House: If your home has any water spots, it’s fundamental to keep a record of them when figuring out whether your water damage is new or old. Additionally, you’ll want to be observant of any storms that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like heavy rain. Know your property, because modest leaks can take some time to appear, and if you know what’s old and what’s new, you’ll be able to diagnose your problem faster.
  • History of the House: Take note of any spots on your ceiling or walls and take into account any outside influences such as a heavy rain storm. Water spots and damages can take some time to emerge if the leak is small. Older properties could have some water spots and damages that were sustained previously. So it’s fundamental to keep a record of the spots you notice while finding out whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
  • Touch the Spot: You’ll can verify whether the damage produced by water is old or new just by feeling it. An old spot is going to be mushy since the material has absorbed a lot of water. A new spot is going to be moist, but the material will have a solid feel to it.
  • Look for Rings: Remember how tree rings reveal how old a tree is? The same approach can be used towards spots produced by water. An old water spot will have rings around it. They will also be discolored because the spot gets soaked then dries and gets soaked again then dries again, etc. A new spot will be dark with no rings circling it.
  • Examine the Materials: Materials such as thick paint and tiles can actually trap water, so when you have a spot created by water seeping through one of these, this can mean there’s been water lingering for awhile. Knowing the materials can help you address your water damage problems more effectively.
  • Mold Inspection: If you see that bacteria, or mold, is there, the damage produced by water has lingered for approximately two to three days.
  • Decay: If your materials decompose from water damage, this is usually the issue of consistent flooding or standing water. Deterioration usually won’t occur from the first case of a leak.

Water Damage Repair Specialists – Get in Touch with Paul

For any water damage repair needs, reach out to Paul Davis. When there’s a leak that you can’t detect, it’s essential to contact an expert. Paul Davis’ expert team has the know-how and response time you need to maintain your home. For a local franchise near your area, give us a call at (505) 471-1357 and we’ll get a professional to come help you.