Ways to Tell if Your Water Damage is Old or New

Water damage restoration is a typical problem for any house, and every now and then the problem is evident and other times it‘s ambiguous. Things like flooding bathtubs, toilets and sinks are common problems associated with water damage and you know there is a problem when this happens. But pipes run all over your house, and this involves places you can’t see like between the floors and inside the walls. It’s safe to say that a leaky pipe in an unknown location can happen. It’s a frustrating problem because you can’t see the leak and you won’t know before the water damage appears.

You can discover how old or new your water issues are by analyzing the water damage itself since the pipes are hidden. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to figure out a precise timeline, but we have some tips on how to evaluate the damage so you can come up with an approximate time on how long you’ve had water in the damaged space.

Figure Out the Time Frame of the Damage Produced by Water

Listed below are step-by-steps you can take in order to check the age of your water damage:

  • History of the House: An older property could 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 alters 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 spot to appear. Taking note of your water damages can save you a lot of hassle when pinpointing whether your water damage is old or new.
  • History of the House: An older property could 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 alters 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 spot to appear. Taking note of your water damages can save you a lot of hassle when pinpointing whether your water damage is old or new.
  • Touch the Spot: Go on and feel the spot- this can reveal a lot about the age of the water damage. A new spot will feel wet but your ceiling or drywall will still feel durable, while an old spot will be mushy and soft because your material would have taken in a fair amount of moisture.
  • Look for Rings: You know how rings on a tree presents how old a tree is? The same method can be used for water spots. An old water spot will have rings around it. They can also be discolored because the area gets wet then dries and gets wet again then dries again, etc. A new spot will be dark with zero rings around it.
  • Examine the Materials: Materials like tiles and thick paint can trap water and moisture, so if you have a spot caused by water leaking through one of these, this can indicate there’s been water lingering for a period of time. Knowing the materials in your house can help you address your water damage problems more efficiently.
  • Mold Inspection: If you find that bacteria is present, your water damage has been there for nearly two to three days.
  • Decay: Your material doesn’t usually rot from the first case of water damage. So if there has been decay, this means your material has been susceptible to persistent standing water or flooding.

Water Damage Restoration Specialists – Call Paul Today

If you’re having water damage complications, Paul Davis is here to assist you. It’s crucial to remedy any dripping pipes on your property prior to the damage becoming more serious. Our water damage repair experts can locate dripping pipes and restore your house back to normal conditions no matter how big or small the job is. Contact Paul now at (712) 525-4248 and near your location is there to assist you.