How To Detect Long-Term Water Damage: 3 Main Signs
Water damage can be a serious issue. Not only does it cause structural damage to your home, but it can also trigger mold growth and serious health problems. If you don't address water damage quickly, it can turn into a long-term problem that costs you a lot of money in repairs.
But detecting the damage is not always easy. Hidden water damage is often messy and can take weeks or even months to show any signs. This article highlights the three main signs of long-term water damage and the steps to take to prevent further decline.
Stains on Ceilings and Walls
Long-term water damage often manifests itself on your ceilings and walls. If you see discolored patches or stains, that's a good indication of water damage somewhere in the room. The water stains can be brown, yellow, or white and often accompany mold growth.
If you see water stains on your ceilings or walls, it's crucial to investigate the source of the water leaks. If you can't find the source, call in a water damage restoration expert to take a look and offer solutions to mitigate the damage.
Peeling Paint or Wallpaper
If the paint on your walls starts to peel, there might be an undetected leak behind the walls. Peeling paint is often a result of water seeping through the walls and causing the paint to blister. Afterward, the water will evaporate, and the blistered paint will start to peel.
If you see peeling paint or wallpaper, it's important to find the leak source and have it fixed as soon as possible. Otherwise, you'll just be painting over the damaged sections, not really solving the problem. If you can't find the source, a water damage restoration expert can use special techniques to find the source and offer lasting solutions to prevent a recurrence.
Warped Flooring
Warped floors are often caused by water seeping through the floor and causing the wood to swell. The swollen sections only increase in size as the water continues to seep through. Eventually, the outer floor sections will begin to warp and buckle.
Oftentimes, the leaking water is usually due to a broken pipe underneath the floors. Such leaks are often difficult to spot and can take a while to show any signs. Unfortunately, by the time the floors start to warp, a lot of damage might have already happened.
Long-term water damage is a severe problem that can cause extensive structural damage to your home. It's important to act on these signs, no matter how subtle they seem at first. A company like Great Lakes Abatement Co., Inc has more information for you.
