For the most part, property water damage is pretty evident. If the excess water comes from something like a burst pipe or basement flood, you’ll be able to see the water and all the damage it is causing. But, sometimes this isn’t always the case. And water damage can sneak up on you when you least expect it.
Perhaps you have a slow leaking appliance pipe that’s tucked away or a roof leak that’s out of sight. As unwanted water creeps into your home or office building, you may be unaware of the damage it is causing. In addition, the damage water may cause might not always be evident to the eye, but hidden behind walls, or under baseboards.
However, if this does happen, there are a few signs you can look out for that can help you detect if you do in fact have water damage. Below, we take a look at these signs and how to identify if your property is suffering from water damage.
7 Signs You Need Water Damage Restoration Services
A Mold Infestation
One of the first signs of water damage is a mold infestation. If you can see the tell-tale sign of a patch of mold, consider yourself lucky.
But, sometimes mold sits in concealed places, between drywall or under the floorboards, making it difficult to uncover.
Bubbling or Cracking Paint
If there is a leak lurking behind a wall, you may notice some changes on the wall’s surface. Paint or wallpaper will start to blister and bubble, and even begin to peel and crack if the water damage progresses.
If this happens, it usually means the wall has been exposed to excess water, which causes the building materials to shrink and expand. This shrinking and expanding causes the paint to weaken, resulting in peeling and eventual cracking.
Problems with Your Floor
Another telling sign of water damage is evident on your property’s floor. If water builds up in or under your flooring, you may begin to notice the laminate or wood floor starting to warp or buckle, or your grouted tiles becoming loose and start to slightly shift in position. Don’t just shrug this off to old age, rather have your subflooring examined for leaks before the water starts to seep through your floorboards or tiles.
You Notice Pooling Water or Puddles
If you come across a puddle of water somewhere in your home or office, clean it up, keep an eye on it for a few days, and see if the puddle returns.
Normally, if something is leaking or dripping, than a pool of water will form on the floor. If the dreaded pool or puddle returns, you may have a leak or seepage on your hands.
There is a Nip in the Air
If your space is very difficult to heat up in the colder months, this might be a signal that you have dampness within your property walls.
This excess moisture will sometimes draw heat out of walls and as a result, leave them much colder than if there was no moisture present.
So, if you can’t seem to heat your home or commercial facility, no matter how high you crank up the heating, it might be time to check your walls for any leaks or moisture build-ups.
You Hear Strange Sounds
While you can see and smell water damage, don’t forget you can hear it too. Unsurprisingly, if you can hear dripping or running water, chances are you may have a leak.
Sure, water flows, gushes, and drips through your plumbing daily, but pay attention to any new or changed noises that don’t fall under the regular sounds.
Discoloration
Dirty water will often leave streaks behind as it runs down your property’s walls. If you see brown streaks have formed down the sides of your exterior, this can sometimes be a sign of an overflowing gutter or your roof not draining properly.
Your gutters could be blocked with leaves and debris, so best you have them checked out before you have a big problem on your hands.
It’s Time to Call The Experts
If you suspect water damage in your home or commercial property, your best bet is to call in professionals to provide water damage restoration services.
The longer you put off water extraction and water remediation, the cost of restoration, and the risk of permanent damage and mold growth increases.
At Blackmon Mooring & BMS CAT, we have decades of experience mitigating and restoring residential water damage and commercial water damage. Our crews understand how to assess and identify the cause of a leak, and will immediately concentrate on minimizing further damage through cleanup and restoration.
Don’t waste any more time and contact Blackmon Mooring & BMS CAT for all your water damage restoration needs today.
For helpful water damage restoration tips read our blog.