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

When you have backed-up toilets, sinks or bathtubs that flood, you know that water damage restorations will be required. Unfortunately, your property can come under water damage in ways that aren't as visible. Since you have plumbing running through your home, you can have a leaky pipe or an accumulation of condensation between your walls or ceilings. It's an alarming incident since this isn't visible- you won't know until you have water damage, and then it's hard to pinpoint how long the issue has lingered.

But, when you detect damage to your walls or water spots on your ceiling, these are the sure signs of a pipe that's leaking or condensation causing a issue. Because the area is unseen, though, it's challenging to determine how long the problem has lasted. While there isn't a way to know exactly how long your water damage issue has lingered, there are some ways to indicate whether the water damage is old or new.

Find Out the Time Frame of the Damage Caused by Water

By practicing the tips listed below, you can figure out how old or new your water damage:

• History of the House: If your home has any spots caused from water damage, it's critical to keep a record of them when determining whether damage generated from water is old or new. Furthermore, you'll want to be conscious of any weather that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like heavy rain. Know your house, because smaller leaks can take months to appear, and if you understand what's new and what's old, you'll be able to identify your problem faster.
• History of the House: An old property might already have some previous water damage, so it's fundamental to keep a record 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 as well, because if you have a small leak, it can take months for a water spot to appear. Keeping track of your water damages can save you a lot of hassle when figuring out whether the damage produced from water is old or new.
• Touch the Spot: If the water spot is aged, it will be soft and spongy because during the time 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 the area won't be soft like an older spot.
• Look for Rings: If you see just one darker spot with zero rings around it, this shows that the water damage is new. Older water damage usually has rings around it, and just like a tree, the more rings shows the age. Discolored rings exhibits that the area has been soaked, dried, soaked, dried, etc.
• Examine the Materials: Materials like tiles and thick paint can actually trap water, so if you have a water spot seeping through one of these, this can indicate there's been a buildup of water for awhile. Being aware of the materials around your property can help you focus on your water damage issues more effectively.
• Mold Inspection: If you see that bacteria is there, your water damage has been there for approximately two to three days.
• Rot: Your material won't rot by the first case of water damage. And if there has been deterioration, this indicates your material has been exposed to consistent standing water or flooding.

Eliminate Water Damage & Call Paul Davis

When you're having water damage issues, Paul Davis' professional team is here to help out. It's important to take care of any leaks on your property before the damage becomes extensive. Our water damage repair experts can locate a leak and restore your house back to normal conditions no matter the size of the job. Contact us today at 1-855-427-3133 and a local franchise will be there to help out.