Ways to Determine if Water Damage is Old or New

One of the more persistent complications a home can sustain is water damage. As water damage restoration experts, Paul Davis knows the issues that water damage generates, especially when it can’t be seen. 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 erode your walls and ceilings. One of the more difficult aspects to this is detecting whether or not the damage caused by water is old or new.

But, when you catch water spots on your ceiling or damage to your walls, these are flags indicating a leaky pipe or condensation causing a issue. Since the space is hidden, though, it’s hard to verify how long the issue has been at hand. Although there isn’t an approach to know precisely how long your water damage issue has lingered, there are some ways to indicate whether the water damage is old or new.

A Guide On Damage Caused by Water – Establish its Age

You can figure out an approximate age of your water damage by following this step-by-step process:

  • History of the House: Take note of any spots on your ceiling or walls and take into account any outside influences like a heavy rain storm. Water spots can take months to come up if the leak is modest. An older home might already have some water spots that were sustained previously. So it’s fundamental to take note of the spots you notice while finding out whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
  • History of the House: An old home might already have some previous damage provoked from water, so it’s essential to keep track of what’s there and to note if the damage changes over a period of time. Tracking the weather is a good idea too, since, if you have a a slow dripping pipe, it can take some time for a water spot to surface. Keeping track of your water damages can save you lots of time when diagnosing whether the damage produced from water is old or new.
  • Touch the Spot: When the water spot is old, it will be squishy and mushy because during the period of the leaking water, your ceiling or drywall has taken in a good amount of water. A newer spot will feel wet but it won’t be soft like an older spot.
  • Look for Rings: Remember how tree rings determine the age of the tree? The same approach can be used towards spots produced by water. An old water spot will have rings around it. They will also be shaded differently because the spot gets soaked then dries and gets soaked again then dries again, etcetera. A new spot will be dark with no rings circling it.
  • Examine the Materials: Materials like thick paint and tiles can trap water and moisture, so when you have a spot caused by water leaking through one of these, this can mean there’s been water lingering for awhile. Being aware of the materials around your house can help you address your water damage problems more effectively.
  • Mold Inspection: If you find that bacteria is there, the damage produced by water has lingered for nearly two to three days.
  • Decay: Rotting material means that the damage produced by water is either occurring consistently or that it’s extensive because there’s standing water. A first instance of damage produced by water usually won’t lead to deterioration.

Dispose of Water Damage & Call Paul

For all your water damage restoration emergencies, reach out to Paul Davis. If there’s a leak that you can’t find, it’s essential to contact a professional. Paul Davis’ professional team has the industry knowledge and response time required to get your home back in order. To find a local franchise near your area, get in touch with us at (267) 202-6470 and we’ll get a professional to come help you out.