Water Damage – How New is it? – Discover by Taking These Steps

A natural problem that a lot of houses deal with is some form of water damage. As water damage restoration professionals, Paul Davis knows the problems that water damage generates, especially when it can’t be seen. Your property has plumbing running throughout it, this includes the inside of your ceilings and walls. When these pipes have condensation on them or a leak, they can slowly corrode your walls and ceilings. One of the more difficult aspects to this is checking whether the water damage is new or old.

It’s challenging to establish how old or new the the damage produced by water is for these areas that can’t be seen. Nevertheless, you could have a leaky pipe that was slightly dripping for a period of time but because it’s not in plain sight, you don’t have a timeline. There’s no way to determine exactly how long the problem has persisted, but there are some approaches to approximate the age of the water damage.

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

You can gain some insight on whether the damage produced by water is new or old by following this step-by-step process:

  • 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 heavy rain. Damages and spots derived from water can take some time to occur if it’s a slight leak. Older properties might already have some water spots and damages that were sustained previously. So it’s important to take note of the spots you notice while finding 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 heavy rain. Damages and spots derived from water can take some time to occur if it’s a slight leak. Older properties might already have some water spots and damages that were sustained previously. So it’s important to take note of the spots you notice while finding out whether this is old water damage or old water damage.
  • Touch the Spot: You can feel the spot, because this can inform you a lot about the age of the damage produced by water. A new spot will feel wet but your ceiling or drywall will still feel the same, while an old spot will be mushy and squishy because your material would have absorbed a fair amount of water.
  • Look for Rings: When you see a dark spot with no rings around it, this indicates that the damage produced by water is new. Old damage produced by water usually has rings around it, and just like a tree, the more rings determines the age. Different colored and shades of rings reveals that the spot has been soaked, dried, soaked, dried, etc.
  • Examine the Materials: It’s fundamental to be aware of the materials that make up your ceiling or walls, because things like thick paint or tiles can actually trap moisture. When this is the situation, even a small water spot can mean the accumulation of water has been around for a while.
  • Mold Inspection: Bacteria development typically indicates the damage produced by water has been there for approximately two to three days.
  • Rot: Deteriorated material indicates that the damage produced by water is either a repeat offender or that it’s extensive because there’s standing water. A first instance of damage produced by water usually won’t cause decay.

Water Damage Restoration Specialists – Reach Out to Paul Davis

For any water damage restoration needs, reach out to Paul Davis. When there’s a pipe dripping that you can’t detect, it’s vital to get in touch with an expert. The expert team at Paul Davis has the know-how and response time required to get your property back in order. To find a local franchise in your area, contact us at (603) 727-4440 and we’ll get a professional for your assistance.