New-Old Water Spots - Help from Water Damage Restoration Experts

When you have backed-up sinks, bathtubs or toilets that overflow, it's obvious that water damage restorations will be necessary. Still, your residence can suffer from water damage in ways that aren't as distinct. Because you have plumbing running throughout your residence, you can have a pipe leaking or a buildup of condensation between your walls or ceilings. It's an inconvenient situation because this isn't in view- you won't notice it until you there's water damage, and then it's hard to define how long the issue has lingered.

Because the pipes are hidden, you can get an approximation of how long you've had water problems by analyzing the water damage itself. Unfortunately, it's hard to figure out an exact timeline, but we have some advice on how to analyze the damage so you can come up with an estimated time on how long you've had water in the area.

Tips On Water Damage - Learn about its Age

The following tips can help you understand whether your water damage is new or old:

• History of the House: An old residence may already have some previous damage provoked from water, so it's effective to keep a record of what's there and to note if the damage alters overtime. Tracking the weather is a good idea as well, because if you have a small leak, it can take some time 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 generated from water is new or old.
• History of the House: If your residence has any water spots, it's fundamental to take note of them when finding out whether damage generated from water is new or old. Also, you'll want to be cognizant of any storms that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like a downpour. Know your house, because smaller leaks can take months to appear, and if you know what's new and what's old, you'll be able to diagnose your problem faster.
• Touch the Spot: You can feel the spot- this will disclose a lot about the age of the water damage. A newer spot will feel wet but your drywall or ceiling will still feel strong, while an older spot will be mushy and squishy because your material would have absorbed a good amount of moisture.
• Look for Rings: You know how tree rings determine the age of the tree? The same idea can be used towards spots generated by water. An older water spot will have rings around it. They will also be shaded differently because the area gets soaked then dries and gets soaked again then dries again, etcetera. A newer spot will be darker with no rings around it.
• Examine the Materials: Materials like thick paint and tiles can trap water, so if you have a spot caused by water seeping through one of these, this can mean there's been a buildup of water for a period of time. Knowing the materials around your home can help you address your water damage issues more effectively.
• Mold Inspection: When bacteria has had time to colonize, this means your water damage has lingered for approximately two to three days.
• Deterioration: Deteriorated material means that your water damage is either a repeat offender or that it's serious because there's standing water. A first case of water damage typically doesn't cause decomposition.

Remove Water Damage & Call Paul Davis

For all your water damage restoration emergencies, reach out to Paul Davis. When there's a leak that you can't detect, it's crucial to reach out to an expert. Paul Davis' expert team has the industry knowledge and response time you need to maintain your residence. For a local franchise in your area, give us a call at (506)473-4555 and we'll get a professional to come help you out.