Has that water damage been there? Or did it just happen? It is prudent to work out whether water damage is old or new, so you are aware of how extensive the damage could possibly be, and what exactly you have to do in order to stop the water intrusion.
Step One: Determine Materials
Water impacts different substances in various ways. If brick, tile, or a different difficult material was influenced by water damage, odds are the damage is older. It requires time to put on these substances and make leaks. On the flip side, if your damage is in drywall, hardwood floors or carpeting, it might be old or new water damage. Even a little water may impact these materials straight away.
Step Two: Search for Rings
Drywall, hardwood floors, along with other porous materials can develop”rings” if they’ve suffered water damage during a lengthy time period. The water soaks in and discolors the substance. It dries out but leaves a blot. If it occurs a couple of times, the result is similar to a number of rings of water damage, some big and some small. In other words, the water damage is older.
Additionally, this routine of water damage ensures the water damage is irregular. It occurs often, however there are dry spells in which the substance can dry out. The origin of water might be a pipe which just runs occasionally, such as the supply pipe into the shower. Or, it might be the end result of a roof leak, which merely causes water damage if it rains.
Step Three: Get the Position
Regions that have fresh water damage are most likely to be moist but not tender. Should you get the water damage and the drywall is tender, the water has had the time to soak in and destroy the integrity of this substance. In other words, the water damage is very likely to be old. Although, it is important to be aware that tough materials such as vinyl might never soften in any way.
Step Four: Evaluate Mold
Mold growth can start within 24-48 hours of water damage. In case you’ve got visible mold on the water damaged region you understand it’s been soaked for at least 48 hours. More extensive mold growth will indicate that the water damage is actually over.
Although, not having mold does not necessarily indicate the damage is fresh. There might be additional environmental variables that describe the deficiency of mold development. Perhaps it’s too hot or cold for mold to grow. Or, maybe the surplus moisture dries too fast. In case you’ve got a HEPA filter operating it my be eliminating mold spores, restricting their expansion to the water damaged region.
Step Five: Ask the Professionals
If you are thinking about how to tell whether water damage is old or new, it is probably because you are unsure of the origin, or in the event that you’re able to blame the previous owner of your house for the problem. Consulting with restoration specialists can help. They could evaluate the age and seriousness of this damage. They can also help you discover the cause and restore the damage. If you need flood damage repairs tampa then contact the local restoration pros that know how to handle it.
