Water Spots - How Old Are They? - Discover by Following These Steps

Water damage repair is a common issue for any home, and every now and then the issue is evident and other times it's concealed. Things such as flooding toilets, sinks and bathtubs are common problems related to water damage and you know there is a problem when this occurs. However, pipes run all over your house, and this involves areas you can't see such as between the floors and inside the walls. It's safe to say that a leaky pipe in a hidden space can happen. It's a frustrating problem since you can't see the leak and you won't be aware before the water damage appears.

For these areas that aren't visible, it's complicated to find out how old or new the water damage is. Though, you could have a leaky pipe that was slightly dripping for awhile but because it's not in plain sight, you don't have a timeline. There's no sure way to indicate exactly how long the problem has persisted, but there are methods to estimate the age of the water damage.

Figure Out the Time Frame of Your Water Damage

By taking the steps listed below, you can determine the age of the damage produced by water:

  • History of the House: Take note of any spots on your walls or ceilings and take into account any outside influences such as a downpour. Water spots and damages can take months to pop up if the leak is modest. If you live in an older house, the spots caused by water damage might have been there for awhile. So it's critical to keep a record of the spots you notice while determining whether this is old water damage or old water damage.
  • History of the House: When your home has any water spots, it's critical to keep a record of them when determining whether your water damage is old or new. Additionally, you'll want to be observant of any storms that could bring hidden water damage to the surface such as a rain storm. Know your home, since smaller leaks can take months to appear, and if you know what's old and what's new, you'll be able to identify your issue faster.
  • Touch the Spot: You'll can establish whether your water damage is new or old just by feeling it. An old spot is going to be squishy since the material has absorbed a lot of water. A new spot is going to be wet, but the material will still feel solid.
  • Look for Rings: When you see just one dark spot with zero rings around it, this indicates that the water damage is new. Old water damage will have rings around it, and like trees, the more rings shows the age. Discolored rings shows you that the spot has been saturated, dried, saturated, dried, etc.
  • Examine the Materials: Materials such as tiles and thick paint can actually 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. Being aware of the materials in your house can help you address your water damage problems more effectively.
  • Mold Inspection: If you find that bacteria is present, your water damage has lingered for about two to three days.
  • Decomposition: Your material doesn't usually rot by the first case of damage generated by water. So when there has been decomposition, this means your material has been vulnerable to consistent flooding or standing water.

Eradicate Water Damage & Call Paul Davis

When you're having problems with damages that are created by water, look no further than Paul Davis. It's critical to remedy any dripping pipes on your property before the damage becomes extensive. Our water damage repair professionals can locate dripping pipes and fix your home back to normal conditions no matter the size of the job. Get in touch with Paul today at (519)685-9595 and in your location is there to help out.