Methods to Detect if Water Damage is Old or New

When you have clogged toilets, sinks or bathtubs that overflow, you know that you're in need of water damage restoration. Though, your residence can suffer from water damage in ways that aren't as visible. Since you have plumbing running through your house, you can have a pipe leaking or an accumulation of condensation between your walls or ceilings. It's an alarming incident because this isn't visible- you won't know until you there's water damage, and then it's hard to define how long the issue has persisted.

Because the pipes aren't visible, you can get an estimate of how long you've had water problems by analyzing the water damage itself. Unfortunately, it's hard to figure out a precise timeline, but we have some tips on how to analyze the damage so you can come up with an estimated time on how long you've had water in the damaged space.

Learn How Old Your Water Damage is with These Tips

You can learn whether the damage generated by water is new or old by following these steps:

  • History of the House: Keep track of any spots on your ceiling or walls and take into account any strong weather you had in your area like a heavy rain storm. Water spots and damages can take awhile to materialize if it's a slight leak. An older house might already have some water spots and damages that were sustained previously. So it's critical to take note of the spots you perceive while figuring out whether this is old water damage or old water damage.
  • History of the House: Take note of any spots on your ceiling or walls and take into account any strong weather you had in your area like a heavy rain storm. Water spots and damages can take awhile to materialize if it's a slight leak. An older house might already have some water spots and damages that were sustained previously. So it's critical to take note of the spots you perceive while figuring out whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
  • Touch the Spot: If the water spot is old, it will be spongy and soft since during the time of the leaking water, your ceiling or drywall has taken in a good amount of water. A new spot will feel wet but it won't be soft like an older spot.
  • Look for Rings: You know how tree rings show how old a tree is? The same idea can be used towards spots produced by water. An old water spot will have rings around it. They will also be discolored since the area gets wet then dries and gets wet again then dries again, etcetera. A new spot will be dark with zero rings around it.
  • Examine the Materials: It's fundamental to know about the materials that make up your ceiling or walls, since things like thick paint or tiles can trap the water. If this is the case, even a water spot that's small can indicate the buildup of water has been remaining for a period of time.
  • Mold Inspection: When bacteria has had time to settle, this implies that the damage generated by water has lingered for nearly two to three days.
  • Decay: Your material won't rot from the first occurrence of damage created by water. And if there has been rot, this means your material has been susceptible to constant flooding or standing water.

Eliminate Damage Caused from Water & Call Paul

No matter the size of the damage generated by water, Paul Davis is here to assist. Our team of skillful water damage restoration technicians can resolve the issue and have your house in a great state. Fix the issue now before it gets in a worse condition and call us at (705)799-7777 for a local franchise near you.