How to Tell if Your Water Damage is New or Old

A typical issue that a lot of homes confront is some form of damage caused by water. As water damage repair professionals, Paul Davis knows the problems that water damage leads to, especially when it isn’t in sight. Your property has plumbing running throughout it, this includes the inside of your ceilings and walls. If these pipes have condensation on them or a leak, they can begin to deteriorate your walls and ceilings. One of the more difficult aspects to this is detecting whether the damage caused by water is new or old.

Because the pipes are hidden, you can get an approximation of how long you’ve had water complications by analyzing the water damage itself. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to find out a precise timeline, but we have some guidance on how to examine the damage so you can come up with an estimated time on how long you’ve had water in the area.

Evaluate How Old the Damage Produced by Water is with These Steps

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

  • History of the House: If your house has any water spots, it’s critical to keep a record of them when determining whether damage caused from water is new or old. Also, you’ll want to be conscious of any storms that could bring hidden water damage to the surface such as a downpour. Know your property, since pipes with a slow drip can take some time to appear, and if you understand what’s new and what’s old, you’ll be able to diagnose your issue quicker.
  • History of the House: If your house has any water spots, it’s critical to keep a record of them when determining whether damage caused from water is new or old. Also, you’ll want to be conscious of any storms that could bring hidden water damage to the surface such as a downpour. Know your property, since pipes with a slow drip can take some time to appear, and if you understand what’s new and what’s old, you’ll be able to diagnose your issue quicker.
  • Touch the Spot: If the water spot is old, it will be squishy and spongy since during the period of the water leak, your ceiling or drywall has absorbed a good amount of water. A new spot will feel wet but the area won’t be soft to the touch.
  • Look for Rings: If you see just one dark spot with zero rings around it, this shows that the water damage is new. Old water damage will have rings around it, and just like a tree, the more rings determines the age. Different shades and colors of rings shows you that the spot has been drenched, dried, drenched, dried, etc.
  • Examine the Materials: Materials such as thick paint and tiles can trap water and moisture, so when you have a water spot seeping through one of these, this can indicate there’s been water lingering for awhile. Knowing the materials around your home can help you focus on your water damage problems more effectively.
  • Mold Inspection: If mold has had time to settle in, this indicates your water damage has lingered for about two to three days.
  • Decomposition: Decaying material means that your water damage is either a repeat offender or that it’s serious because there’s standing water. A first case of water damage usually won’t cause deterioration.

Get in Touch with Paul – Your Professional Water Damage Repair Technicians

No matter the amount of your water damage, Paul Davis is here to help out. Our team of expert water damage repair technicians can fix the issue and have your house in a great state. Remedy the problem now before it gets even worse and contact us at (267) 202-6470 to find a local franchise near you.