A Guidance to Find Out the Age of Water Spots

When you have clogged sinks, bathtubs or toilets that overflow, it’s obvious that you’re in need of water damage restoration. Nonetheless, your residence can sustain water damage in ways that aren’t as visible. Because you have pipes running through your home, you can have a leaky pipe or a buildup of condensation between your walls or ceilings. It’s a difficult incident since this isn’t in view- you won’t notice it until you have water damage, and then it’s difficult to identify how long the problem has lingered.

Because the pipes aren’t visible, you can get an estimate of how long you’ve had water complications by evaluating the water damage itself. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to figure out a precise timeline, but we have some guidance on how to examine the damage so you can come up with an approximate time on how long you’ve had water in the area.

Figure Out the Age of Your Water Damage

Below are step-by-steps you can take in order to find out the age of your water damage:

  • History of the House: When your home has any spots caused from water damage, it’s essential to keep a record of them when finding out whether damage caused from water is old or new. Additionally, you’ll want to be apprehensive of any storms that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like a rain storm. Know your home, because smaller leaks can take some time to surface, and if you know what’s new and what’s old, you’ll be able to identify your issue faster.
  • 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 good idea as well, since, if you have a a slow leak, it can take some time for a water spot to surface. Taking note of your water spots and damages can save you a lot of hassle when finding out whether your water damage is old or new.
  • Touch the Spot: When the water spot is aged, it will be mushy and squishy because during the period of the water leak, your drywall or ceiling has taken in a good amount of water. A newer spot will feel wet but it won’t be soft to the touch.
  • Look for Rings: Having rings around your water damage spot shows its age. Think about it as if it was a tree- the more rings it has, the longer the water damage has been present. Color variations of the blemish is also helpful because it indicates that the area gets soaked, dries, leaks, dries, etc. If it’s a new water spot, the area will be a single blemish with no rings around it.
  • Examine the Materials: It’s essential to know about the materials that make up your ceiling or walls, because things such as thick paint or tiles can actually trap moisture. When this is the case, even a water spot that’s small can indicate the accumulation of water has been lingering for a while.
  • Mold Inspection: If mold has had time to colonize, this implies that your water damage has been present for about two to three days.
  • Decomposition: Deteriorated material indicates that your water damage is either a repeat offender or that it’s extensive because there’s standing water. A first case of water damage typically doesn’t cause decomposition.

Call Paul Davis – Your Experienced Water Damage Restoration Contractors

No matter the degree of your water damage, Paul Davis is here to help out. Our team of experienced water damage repair technicians can resolve the issue and have your home back in good condition. Remedy the problem today before it gets worse and get in touch with us at (484) 273-7867 for a local franchise near you.