5 Signs of Water Damage Every Homeowner Should Know

In many emergency situations, it’s clear that a house will need restoration work. A house that has survived a fire or flooding have signs of extensive damage that can’t be missed. However, water damage to a building can come in forms that are harder to detect. Even small leaks in the roof or pipes can lead to significant damage to a structure over time. Here are five signs of water damage that every homeowner should know and that Dry Pros can help you fix.

Visual Signs Near Vulnerable Areas

When a house is flooded, the damage is widespread, so the homeowner sees it anywhere they look. Small leaks cause visible damage in a localized area. Homeowners should check problem areas for visible signs of water damage. For example, water damage will lead to spots on the walls or ceiling that are dark or wet. These are signs of leaks in the roof or the plumbing behind the walls. It's also wise to check for wet spots, drips, and puddles around your pipes, sinks, toilets, faucets, etc. Finding and fixing these leaks will prevent further damage to your home.

Musty Odors

Not all of the signs of water damage are things you have to see. If things begin to smell strange in an otherwise clean room, it may be a sign of water damage. When excess water or moisture gets absorbed into building materials like sheetrock, drywall, or wood, it can create a distinct musty smell. Similarly, areas with excess moisture promote mold growth, which also has a pungent musty odor. Even if you can't see the damage, the fact that you can smell it means repairs and restoration need to be done. It's the only way to get rid of the smell and prevent damage to the structure of a house.

Mold on Walls and Baseboards

Excess water and moisture promote mold growth, which negatively affects the health of people in the building. Mold is one of the resilient forms of life around, and it will usually find a way to grow in areas with excess moisture such as bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. However, If mold appears on your walls, ceilings, or baseboards in areas without plumbing fixtures, it is a sign that there is probably a source of moisture behind the walls, such as a leak. Dry Pros has the tools and techniques to identify the source of the moisture and to completely remove mold from your home.

Paint or Wallpaper Peeling

Water damage to walls can show in different ways depending on the material and covering n the wall. Peeling and bubbling are symptoms of water damage for walls that are painted or covered by wallpaper. These issues with the paint and wallpaper often occur when the sheetrock behind a wall has absorbed too much water. Areas where there is a separation in the wallpaper along the seams or flaking paint can be used to help locate a hidden water leak that is damaging your structure.

Warping in Walls, Ceilings, and Floors

Building materials, such as sheetrock and wood, will warp when it absorbs too much water. The additional water makes the material heavier than it would be otherwise, which causes warping and bending. If this happens to the sheetrock behind a wall, the bending and curving cause the wall to warp. Similarly, this warping can affect connected ceilings and floors. Signs of stains and buckling in the floor or ceiling are signs of water damage. Excessive warping can lead to structural damage to your house, which is very expensive to repair.

Whatever the cause of the water damage, Dry Pros can help fix the problem. We provide damage assessment that let you know what needs to be repaired and how much restoration work will need to be done. Send us a message online to schedule a visit from a water damage restoration professional from Dry Pros.