You may think that a water leak or a burst pipe is easy to detect, but sometimes the signs of water damage can be hidden. If you suspect the possibility of a water leak, make sure to check your home to ensure that the problem isn’t worse than you initially thought.
While water damage can occur in any part of your home, there are some areas that are more susceptible to damage.
Ceilings
Ceiling water damage can come from a few sources. If the room is on the top story of your home, it could be from a leaky roof caused by rain or melting ice and snow. If there is a bathroom above the room with water damage, it might be from a burst pipe or cracks in the floorboards.
Walls
An easy way to spot water damage is through water stains on walls. Make sure to check around the door and window frames as well. An unusual stain might be the sign of a leaky pipe or drain inside the wall.
Floors
Many things can be the cause of water damage to floors, such as overflowing sinks and bathtubs or flooding from faulty appliances and pipes. Hiring a water damage restoration company is the best way to pinpoint the exact cause of flooring water damage.
Exteriors and Foundations
The exterior of your home can also experience water damage if there is a lack of proper drainage. Some causes might be poor yard drainage, leaky gutters, or gutters that don’t carry runoff water far enough from the house. These can all cause water to pool next to your house, resulting in damage to your home’s structure.
Attics and Roofs
Stains, mold, and wet or swollen installation in the attic may be signs of leaking. If your roof has cracked, curled, or missing shingles, damaged flashing or signs of wind and rain damage, it could be vulnerable to leads, which can then result in water damage. Weather in cold climates can cause ice dams to develop on the roof, which can then leak into the attic when the snow and ice melt. Pay attention to potential problem areas, such as roof vents and chimneys, flashing (where the roof connects with the walls), and valleys (where two roof planes connect), to help prevent water damage.
Appliances
Check behind refrigerators, washers and dryers, hot water heaters, and toilets or sinks for signs of pooling or leaking water. Appliances, sinks, toilets, and showers can cause water damage because faulty pieces of equipment aren’t easily detected. For example, a loose connection or cracked hose hidden from sight might cause leaking and eventual water damage.
Now that you know where to look for water damage, you can make sure to look out for these signals of water damage.
Areas of Standing or Pooling Water
These can result from old or malfunctioning appliances, such as washers, water heaters, and toilets. Other causes might be a leaking roof or drainage pipes.
Water Lines
Look for water lines if you have flat wall paint. If you have flat paint, water lines will be visible to the naked eye. However, if you have any other finish, such as satin, eggshell, semi-gloss, or hi-gloss, you cannot use this method.
Bubbling, Cracking, or Peeling Paint or Wallpaper
If any of these appear, the walls may be wet.
Discoloration
Look for discoloration in the form of water spots or stains on your walls and ceiling. The area may appear wet or dry and can be a yellow, brown, or copper color.
Warping, Buckling, Sagging/Sinking, or Expansion
Look for changes in texture in your walls, ceilings, and flooring. Wet wood expands and can cause trim to bow and caulk lines to break. You may also notice soft spots in hardwood flooring due to rotten wood.
Odor
Odors caused by mold and mildew can point to a water damage problem. The smell may come from anywhere that water has been accumulating for a while. When materials such as drywall become full of moisture and are unable to dry, mold can develop, which will eventually result in discoloration and odor.
Measure the Moisture
Measure the moisture in the walls yourself or hire a licensed professional water damage restorer. Water damage restoration companies can measure moisture in walls, and will have experienced, trained technicians that know how water behaves and know exactly where to look for it.
If you do find water damage or even if you suspect that you have a problem, follow these steps to contain the problem.
- Try to locate the problem area and take necessary steps to prevent further damage. You may need to soak up standing water with towels or shut off your home’s water supply.
- Call your insurance company to report the damage.
- Contact a licensed professional such as Paul Davis Restoration & Remodeling to begin the cleanup and restoration process. We’ve been serving the Inland Empire for over a decade to help our clients return to their normal lives as quickly as possible by determining the next steps in restoring their homes and ensuring that the damage does not persist. Call us anytime at (951) 270-5304 or schedule a service online now.