Water Damage Restoration – Indicate the Age of Water Damage

A typical problem that a lot of houses deal with is some form of damage caused by water. As water damage restoration professionals, Paul Davis recognize the complications that water damage produces, especially when it isn’t in sight. Your house has plumbing everywhere, this includes the inside of your ceilings and walls. When these pipes leak or have condensation on them, they can slowly corrode your walls and ceilings. One of the more difficult aspects to this is finding out whether the damage caused by water is old or new.

Because the pipes can’t be seen, you can get an approximation of how long you’ve had water complications by analyzing the water damage itself. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to find out an exact 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.

Determine How Old Your Water Damage is with This Guidance

The following tips can help you gain insight in figuring out whether your water damage is old or new:

  • History of the House: An older property might already have some previous water damage, so it’s fundamental to keep track of what’s there and to note if the damage alters over a period of time. Keeping track of the weather is a great idea too, since, if you have a a slow dripping pipe, it can take months for a water spot to appear. Taking note of your water damages can save you lots of time when figuring out whether the damage caused from water is old or new.
  • History of the House: If your home has any spots caused from water damage, it’s fundamental to take note of them when determining whether your water damage is old or new. Additionally, you’ll want to be aware of any weather that could bring hidden water damage to the surface such as heavy rain. Know your property, because pipes with a slow drip can take some time to appear, and if you understand what’s old and what’s new, you’ll be able to pinpoint your problem faster.
  • Touch the Spot: You’ll be able to find out whether your water damage is old or new just by feeling it. An old spot is going to be spongy since the material has absorbed a fair amount of water. A new spot is going to be wet, but the material will feel solid.
  • Look for Rings: If you see a dark spot with zero rings around it, this shows that the damage caused by water is new. Old damage caused by water usually has rings around it, and just like a tree, the more rings indicates the age. Discolored rings tell you that the spot has been saturated, dried, saturated, dried, etc.
  • Examine the Materials: It’s important to be cognizant of the materials that make up your walls or ceilings, because things such as thick paint or tiles can actually trap the water. If this is the circumstance, even a small water spot can mean the accumulation of water has been around for a while.
  • Mold Inspection: If you see that bacteria is present, your water damage has been there for about two to three days.
  • Deterioration: Your material won’t decay from the first situation of damage generated by water. And if there has been decay, this means your material has been exposed to constant flooding or standing water.

Eliminate Water Damage & Call Paul

For all your water damage restoration needs, get in touch with Paul Davis. When there’s a pipe dripping that you can’t find, it’s fundamental to get in touch with a professional. The professional team at Paul Davis has the know-how and response time you need to get your home back in order. For a local franchise in your area, contact us at (843) 757-3236 and we’ll get a professional to come help you out.