How to Determine if Your Water Damage is New or Old

4/12/2022 (Permalink)

Example of a Water Spot

Water damage is a huge pain for any homeowner or business owner. It could be said that water damage is the most common form of property damage because of the many ways it can take place. Whether it's a major problem or minor, it can happen anywhere and anytime no matter how strong your property was built. Water damage can make everything and anything look bad and unpleasant. 

SERVPRO experts understand the issues you'll have to face in the future if your water damage is kept untouched, especially when you aren't able to see and identify the problem yourself. Water spots anywhere on your property are clues that can indicate a leaking pipe or moisture getting through the exterior of your property from severe weather. Even though it's almost impossible to know exactly how long your water damage issues have been there, here are a few steps to help tell if your water damage is new or old.

Properties History

    1. The first step in determining how old your water spots are is to figure out if your property had recently undergone any damages. You also need to know when the last time your home went through any storms or floods. It's very key to understand what is old and what is new because smaller leaks can take up to a couple of months to appear.

Touch the Water Spot 

    2. If it's a newly formed water spot it will be wet but when you touch it, you will be able to feel that your drywall or ceiling, wherever it is, will still be strong. If the spot you touched is squishy and mushy it is most likely it soaked up a good amount of water over time meaning it's been there for a while.

Inspecting Your Properties Building Materials

3. It's also very important to know what building materials your house or business is composed of because ticker textures of paints and tiles will trap water that is leaking a lot easier than the thinner ones meaning small water spots can indicate substantial internal damage.

It's crucial to get in contact with experts as soon as possible to lessen the damages and cost. Here at SERVPRO of Northridge and SERVPRO of Granada Hills, we have the training, expertise, and resources to handle any size water damage problem you may have. 

Have questions? Call SERVPRO of Northridge (818) 993-9339