Figuring Out the Age of Water Damage – Water Damage Restoration

One of the more typical problems a property can go through is water damage. As water damage restoration experts, Paul Davis understands the complications that water damage causes, especially when it isn’t in sight. Your property has plumbing everywhere, including the inside of your walls and ceilings. When these pipes leak or have condensation on them, they can gradually corrode your walls and ceilings. One of the more difficult aspects to this is checking whether the damage caused by water is new or old.

For these areas that can’t be seen, it’s hard to establish how old or new the damage generated by water is. After all, you could have a leaky pipe that was slightly dripping for a period of time but because it’s not in plain sight, you don’t have a timeline. There’s no way to indicate exactly how long the problem has persisted, but there are some methods to estimate the age of the water damage.

Find Out the Time Frame of the Damage Caused by Water

You can figure out whether your water damage is old or new by following these steps:

  • History of the House: When your house has any water spots, it’s important to take note of them when determining whether damage generated from water is new or old. Additionally, you’ll want to be aware of any weather that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like a rain storm. Know your property, since modest leaks can take months to appear, and if you know what’s old and what’s new, you’ll be able to pinpoint your problem quicker.
  • History of the House: An old residence may already have some previous damage produced from water, so it’s critical to keep a record of what’s there and to note if the damage changes overtime. Keeping track of the weather is a great idea too, because if you have a a slow leak, it can take awhile for a spot to appear. Taking note of your water spots and damages can save you a lot of hassle when figuring out whether your water damage is new or old.
  • Touch the Spot: Go ahead and feel the spot, because this can reveal a lot about the age of the damage generated by water. A newer spot will feel wet but your drywall or ceiling will still feel durable, while an older spot will be mushy and squishy since your material would have taken in a good amount of moisture.
  • Look for Rings: When you see one darker spot with zero rings around it, this shows that the damage generated by water is new. Older damage generated by water will have rings around it, and just like a tree, the more rings indicates the age. Discolored rings reveals that the area has been drenched, dried, drenched, dried, etc.
  • Examine the Materials: It’s crucial to be cognizant of the materials that make up your walls or ceilings, since things such as thick paint or tiles can trap the water. When this is the situation, even a small water spot can indicate the accumulation of water has been lingering for a period of time.
  • Mold Inspection: When mold has had time to colonize, this indicates that your water damage has been present for approximately two to three days.
  • Deterioration: Your material doesn’t usually deteriorate from the first instance of water damage. So if there has been rot, this indicates your material has been vulnerable to consistent flooding or standing water.

Reach out to Paul Davis – Your Experienced Water Damage Restoration Technicians

For all your water damage restoration emergencies, contact Paul Davis. When there’s a leak that you can’t find, it’s vital to call a professional. The professional team at Paul Davis has the industry knowledge and response time required to get your house back in order. To find a local franchise near your area, give us a call at (616) 647-5514 and we’ll get an expert for your assistance.