Approaches to Tell if Water Damage is Old or New

A common problem that a lot of residences deal with is some form of damage caused by water. As water damage restoration professionals, Paul Davis is aware of the complications that water damage leads to, especially when it can't be seen. Your home has pipes running throughout it, including the inside of your walls and ceilings. If these pipes have condensation on them or a leak, they can begin to deteriorate your walls and ceilings. One of the more difficult parts to this is verifying whether or not the damage caused by water is new or old.

You can determine how new or old your water complications are by analyzing the water damage itself since the pipes aren't in sight. Unfortunately, it's hard to find 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.

Determine How Old or New the Damage Produced by Water is with These Steps

By following the step-by-step process listed below, you can learn the age of the damage caused by water:

• History of the House: If your home has any spots from water damage, it's critical to keep track of them when determining whether damage generated from water is new or old. Also, you'll want to be cognizant of any storms that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like heavy rain. Know your property, since pipes with a slow drip can take some time to appear, and if you understand what's old and what's new, you'll be able to identify your issue quicker.
• History of the House: If your home has any spots from water damage, it's critical to keep track of them when determining whether damage generated from water is new or old. Also, you'll want to be cognizant of any storms that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like heavy rain. Know your property, since pipes with a slow drip can take some time to appear, and if you understand what's old and what's new, you'll be able to identify your issue quicker.
• Touch the Spot: If the water spot is aged, it will be squishy and spongy since during the time of the water leak, your drywall or ceiling has taken in a good amount of water. You'll feel moisture with a newer spot but it won't be soft to the touch.
• Look for Rings: If you see a darker spot with zero rings around it, this shows that the water damage is new. Older water damage will have rings around it, and just like a tree, the more rings shows the age. Discolored rings exhibits that the area has been drenched, dried, drenched, dried, etc.
• Examine the Materials: It's fundamental to be cognizant of the materials that comprise your walls or ceilings, since things such as thick paint or tiles can trap moisture. If this is the case, even a water spot that's small can mean the accumulation of water has been lingering for a while.
• Mold Inspection: If you see that bacteria, or mold, is present, your water damage has been there for approximately two to three days.
• Decay: Rotting material indicates that your water damage is either occurring consistently or that it's extensive because there's standing water. A first case of water damage typically won't lead to rot.

Water Damage Repair Technicians - Contact Paul Davis

If you're having water damage issues, look no further than Paul Davis. It's fundamental to take care of any leaks in your house prior to the damage becoming more extensive. Our water damage restoration experts can locate dripping pipes and restore your property back to normal no matter the size of the job. Reach out to Paul now at (204)953-2185 and a local franchise is there to help out.