Methods to Tell if Water Damage is New or Old

Restorations for water damage is a common problem for any property, and every now and then the problem is clear and other times it isn’t. Things like overflowing sinks, bathtubs or toilets are typical issues connected to water damage and you know there is an issue when this occurs. However, plumbing lines run all over your house, and this includes areas you can’t see such as inside the walls and between the floors. Unfortunately a pipe leaking in a concealed location can occur. It’s an annoying problem since you can’t see what’s going on and you won’t know until the water damage appears.

Nevertheless, when you catch water spots on your ceiling or damage to your walls, these are the sure signs of a pipe that’s leaking or condensation generating the problem. Because the space is concealed, though, it’s tough to verify how long the problem has been at hand. While there isn’t a way to know precisely how long your water damage problem has lingered, there are some ways to diagnose whether the water damage is new or old.

Tips On Water Damage – Evaluate its Time Frame

Below are some tips you can follow to determine the time frame of your water damage:

  • History of the House: Keep track of any spots on your walls or ceilings and take into account any strong weather you had in your location such as heavy rain. Water spots and damages can take months to emerge if it’s a slight leak. An older house could already have some water spots and damages that were sustained previously. So it’s important to take note of the spots you perceive while finding out whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
  • History of the House: An older property could already have some previous damage caused from water, so it’s effective to keep track of what’s there and to note if the damage alters over a period of time. Tracking the weather is a great idea as well, since, if you have a a slow leak, it can take awhile for a spot to surface. Keeping track of your water damages can save you lots of time when figuring out whether the damage generated from water is new or old.
  • Touch the Spot: If the water spot is aged, it will be spongy and soft since during the period of the water leak, your drywall or ceiling has taken in a good amount of water. You’ll feel wetness with a new spot but the area won’t be soft like an older spot.
  • Look for Rings: If you see just one dark spot with no rings around it, this indicates that the damage generated by water is new. Old damage generated by water usually has rings around it, and like trees, the more rings indicates the age. Different colored and shades of rings shows you that the spot has been soaked, dried, soaked, dried, etc.
  • Examine the Materials: Materials such as tiles and thick paint can trap water, so if you have a spot produced by water leaking through one of these, this can mean there’s been water lingering for awhile. Knowing the materials can help you address your water damage issues more effectively.
  • Mold Inspection: If you see that bacteria is there, your water damage has lingered for about two to three days.
  • Decomposition: Your material doesn’t usually deteriorate from the first occurrence of damage caused by water. And if there has been rot, this indicates your material has been vulnerable to constant standing water or flooding.

Get Rid of Damage Produced by Water & Call Paul Davis

For all your water damage restoration needs, contact Paul Davis. When there’s a leak that you can’t find, it’s vital to get in touch with an expert. Paul Davis’ expert team has the experience and response time required to maintain your property. For a local franchise near your location, give us a call at (970) 328-2705 and we’ll get an expert to come help you.