No one wants to deal with water damage, and it can be especially disheartening to find water damage in your walls. This is because there are a number of things behind your walls that can be causing the damage—and finding the source of the problem can be costly. Unfortunately, in many cases signs of water damage can go unnoticed or ignored for a long time. This is usually because homeowners often don’t know what to look for until the problem is extremely obvious. Here are some tips for spotting this potentially serious problem early.
Water Stains: We know—this one seems pretty obvious. But oftentimes water stains start small and are easily missed. It isn’t until they become really big that most homeowners will notice them. So check carefully for water stains on your walls as well as around nearby door or window frames. If the water doesn’t seem to be leaking in from poor caulking or a similar issue, it could be due to a leaky pipe inside the walls.
Musty Odor: Mold and mildew can often result from water damage. And if you don’t see a problem but something smells off to you, it could be mold or mildew that’s due to water damage behind the walls. Be sure to check both sides of the wall in question for any water stains that may have formed. If one side of your wall is outside the home, check to make sure there isn’t an exterior source for the leak or smell in question.
Discoloration: When there’s a water leak of any kind, discoloration will occur. At first it may appear in the form of a water stain. But when the water dries up, your wall is often left with lingering signs of damage. Yellow, brown, and copper are the most common colors associated with such damage, but it could form as rust on appliances or pipes.
A Change in Texture: Changes in the seams of your flooring could help you locate a leak in your walls. So if you suspect a leak in your home, check your flooring for signs of sagging, warping, expanding or buckling.
Water damage occurs in many different ways. Because it can strike even the most prepared and careful business or homeowner, it’s important to know what you’re looking for when searching for damage. No matter what caused your water damage or how much work needs to be done to fix it, Paul Davis Restoration is up to the job. Because when it comes to water damage, This is no time for second best™.