24/7 Emergency Service
Signs of Water Damage
8/6/2018 (Permalink)
Call SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett at the first sign of water damage!
There are many signs of water damage that you should look out for. Water damage can cause serious problems in any home and if you don’t spot the signs of water damage and deal with it quickly, it is likely to worsen over time. Water damage not only tends to spread, but it can also cause the development of mold, which will grow on any surface it comes into contact with. Mold can even travel through the air in the form of spores, and upon coming into contact with damp walls or flooring, it will begin to grow into a colony within 24 hours.
However, the problem with spotting the signs of water damage is that water damage isn’t always immediately apparent. Sometimes, it will be clear (such as when you have a burst water pipe spraying water into your hallway) but in other cases, it can be more gradual and subtle. SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett can identify such problems with a probe or a moisture meter, but how do you know to call them in the first place?
Here are just a few of the signs that you might have water damage…
Sound
Sometimes you can’t see water damage, but you can hear it. Water damage might sound like dripping water, it might sound like creaking floor boards or it might sound like rushing water. Of course, these sounds might also be the result of a perfectly functional plumbing system, so what you’re looking for is signs that have changed.
Smell
Another sense you can use to look for signs of water damage or moisture in your home is smell. Dampness has a very distinct odor and this might also be accompanied by the musky smell of mold. Look out for smells in conjunction with other indicators of water damage.
Pooling Water or Puddles
If you have something dripping or leaking, then this can leave pools of water. If you notice an unusual puddle, then keep an eye on it to see if it comes back after you clean it up. If it does, then you may have a leak or seepage.
Coldness
If your home is very difficult to heat, this might be a sign that you have dampness affecting your walls. Water and moisture will often draw heat out of walls in order to evaporate and this, in turn, leaves those walls and the property overall much colder.
Mold
Just as there is no smoke without fire, there is no mold without water damage. You may not need water damage restorationif the mold is a result of condensation in your bathroom, but in any situation, this is a sign that there is too much moisture in some part of your home and you need to deal with it swiftly by drying the area. Mold has its own smell and can also cause health symptoms such as cold-like or allergy symptoms as well as headaches and nausea.
Discoloration
Discoloration is another sign of water damage. In particular look for ‘streaks’ of water that are running down the side of your home. This can sometimes be a sign of an overflowing gutter, which will result in watermarks that are quite distinctive and show where the water has traveled down the wall.