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

Repairs for water damage is a typical issue for any house, and every now and then the issue is distinct and other times it isn't. Things such as overflowing bathtubs, toilets and sinks are typical issues linked with water damage and you know there is an issue when this occurs. However, plumbing lines run all over your house, and this includes areas you can't see such as inside the walls and between the floors. Unfortunately a leaky pipe in a hidden space can happen. It's a frustrating problem because you can't see what's going on and you won't be aware before the water damage appears.

Since the pipes aren't visible, you can get an approximation of how long you've had water issues by examining the water damage itself. Unfortunately, it's hard to find out a precise timeline, but we have some tips on how to analyze the damage so you can come up with an approximate time on how long you've had water in the area.

Discover the Age of Your Water Damage

The following step-by-step process can help you understand whether your water damage is new or old:

• History of the House: An older residence might already have some previous damage caused from water, so it's critical to keep track of what's there and to note if the damage changes overtime. Tracking the weather is a good idea as well, since, if you have a a slow dripping pipe, it can take months for a spot to surface. Taking note of your water spots and damages can save you a lot of hassle when determining whether your water damage is new or old.
• History of the House: Take note of any spots on your walls or ceilings and take into account any strong weather you had in your area such as a heavy rain storm. Damages and spots derived from water can take awhile to develop if the leak is modest. If your residence is an older house, the water damage spots might have been there for awhile. So it's critical to keep track of the spots you notice while determining whether this is old water damage or old water damage.
• Touch the Spot: You'll be able to indicate whether your water damage is new or old just by feeling it. An old spot is going to be spongy since the material has absorbed a lot of water. A new spot is going to be moist, however, the material will have a solid feel to it.
• Look for Rings: You know how tree rings reveal the age of the tree? The same idea can be used towards water spots. An old water spot is going to have rings around it. They will also be discolored because the area gets wet then dries and gets wet again then dries again, etcetera. A new spot will be dark with zero rings around it.
• Examine the Materials: Learn about the material around your house, because water can become trapped by tiles and thick paint. So if spots created by water show up through these types of materials, this indicates the buildup of water has been there for a period of time.
• Mold Inspection: If mold has had time to colonize, this means that your water damage has lingered for nearly two to three days.
• Rot: Your material doesn't typically decompose from the first occurrence of damage created by water. So if there has been decomposition, this indicates your material has been vulnerable to constant standing water or flooding.

Eliminate Damage Generated from Water & Call Paul

The measure of your water damage doesn't matter, Paul Davis is here to assist. Our team of professional water damage restoration contractors can fix the issue and have your house in a good state. Remedy the problem today before it gets even worse and get in touch with us at +1-250-590-9605 for a local franchise near your area.