Water Spots – How New Are They? – Find Out by Following These Tips

One of the more persistent issues a property can experience is water damage. As water damage restoration experts, Paul Davis recognize the problems that water damage causes, especially when it can’t be seen. Your home has plumbing everywhere, including the inside of your ceilings and walls. If these pipes have condensation on them or a leak, they can begin to wear out your walls and ceilings. One of the more difficult parts to this is finding out whether the damage caused by water is old or new.

Because the pipes aren’t visible, you can get an estimate of how long you’ve had water issues by evaluating the water damage itself. Unfortunately, it’s hard to figure out an exact timeline, but we have some guidance on how to analyze the damage so you can come up with an approximate time on how long you’ve had water in the damaged space.

Tips On Water Damage – Evaluate its Time Frame

By following the step-by-step process listed below, you’ll be able to indicate the age of the damage produced by water:

  • History of the House: If your property has any water spots, it’s important to keep track of them when figuring out whether damage generated from water is old or new. Also, you’ll want to be observant of any storms that could bring hidden water damage to the surface such as a rain storm. Know your property, since pipes with a slow drip can take awhile to surface, and if you understand what’s old and what’s new, you’ll be able to pinpoint your problem faster.
  • History of the House: If your property has any water spots, it’s important to keep track of them when figuring out whether damage generated from water is old or new. Also, you’ll want to be observant of any storms that could bring hidden water damage to the surface such as a rain storm. Know your property, since pipes with a slow drip can take awhile to surface, and if you understand what’s old and what’s new, you’ll be able to pinpoint your problem faster.
  • Touch the Spot: Go ahead and feel the spot, because this can reveal a lot about the age of the water damage. A newer spot will be wet but your ceiling or drywall will still be the same, while an older spot will be mushy and spongy since your material would have absorbed a good amount of moisture.
  • Look for Rings: You know how tree rings presents the age of the tree? The same method can be used towards water spots. An older water spot will have rings around it. They can also be shaded differently since the spot gets saturated then dries and gets saturated again then dries again, etc. A newer spot will be darker with zero rings circling it.
  • Examine the Materials: It’s vital to know about the materials that comprise your ceiling or walls, since things like thick paint or tiles can trap moisture. If this is the circumstance, even a small water spot can mean the accumulation of water has been lingering for a while.
  • Mold Inspection: If you see that bacteria, or mold, is there, the damage generated by water has been there for approximately two to three days.
  • Decay: Your material won’t decompose from the first instance of water damage. So when there has been deterioration, this indicates your material has been exposed to repeated flooding or standing water.

Reach out to Paul – Your Experienced Water Damage Restoration Specialists

For any water damage restoration needs, get in touch with Paul Davis. If there’s a leak that you can’t identify, it’s critical to contact a professional. The professional team at Paul Davis has the industry knowledge and response time you need to maintain your property. To find a local franchise near your area, give us a call at (505) 471-1357 and we’ll get a professional to come help you.