New-Old Water Damage – Tips by Water Damage Repair Experts

Water damage repair is a common problem for any home, and every now and then the problem is apparent and other times it’s ambiguous. Things like overflowing bathtubs, toilets and sinks are typical problems linked with water damage and you know there is an issue when this happens. But plumbing lines run all over your home, and this involves places you can’t see like between the floors and inside the walls. Unfortunately a pipe leaking in an unknown space can happen. It’s an aggravating problem because you can’t see what’s going on and you won’t know until the water damage appears.

It’s challenging to establish how old or new the water damage is for these areas that can’t be seen. Nevertheless, you could have a leaky pipe that was slightly dripping for awhile but because it’s been hidden, you don’t have a timeline. There’s no way to figure out exactly how long the problem has persisted, but there are some methods to estimate the age of the water damage.

Discover How Old or New Your Water Damage is with These Steps

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

  • History of the House: If your house has any water spots, it’s critical to keep track of them when finding out whether damage provoked 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 like a downpour. Know your home, because pipes with a slow drip can take some time to surface, and if you know what’s old and what’s new, you’ll be able to identify your problem quicker.
  • History of the House: Keep track of any spots on your walls or ceilings and take into account any outside influences like a downpour. Damages and spots caused by water can take some time to materialize if it’s a slight leak. An older home could already have some water spots that were sustained previously. So it’s critical to keep track of the spots you notice while finding out whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
  • Touch the Spot: If the water spot is old, it will be squishy and spongy because during the period of the leaking water, your ceiling or drywall has taken in a good amount of water. You’ll feel wetness with a newer spot but it won’t be soft to the touch.
  • Look for Rings: Remember how tree rings indicate how old a tree is? The same idea can be used for spots created by water. An older 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, etc. A newer spot will be darker with zero rings circling it.
  • Examine the Materials: Get to know the material in your home, because water can get trapped by tiles and thick paint. So if spots created by water show up through these types of materials, this indicates the accumulation of water has remained for awhile.
  • Mold Inspection: If you find that bacteria, or mold, is there, your water damage has been present for approximately two to three days.
  • Rot: If your materials decay from water damage, this is usually the outcome of repeat flooding or standing water. Decay usually doesn’t happen from the first case of a leak.

Call Paul – Your Expert Water Damage Repair Technicians

When you’re having problems with damages that are produced by water, look to Paul Davis. It’s important to take care of any dripping pipes in your residence before the damage becomes serious. Our water damage repair professionals can find a leak and repair your home back to normal conditions no matter how big or small the job is. Reach out to Paul today at (636) 324-4011 and a local franchise is there to help out.