Flooding is not the only cause of water damage. Water can enter your home in several different ways. It can come from external elements, such as a storm, or internal elements, such as a leaking water pipe. When water gets into unwanted cracks and crevices in your home, it’s important to be aware of the signs of hidden water damage.
How can water damage your home besides flooding?
Flooding is not the only cause of water damage. Water can enter your home in several different ways. It can come from external elements, such as a storm, or internal elements, such as a leaking water pipe. When water gets into unwanted cracks and crevices in your home, it’s important to be aware of the signs of hidden water damage.
Leaving water damage unresolved can lead to further, costly problems. If you suspect there may be some water damage in your home, it’s a good idea to contact a professional company that offers water damage restoration services. Here are some signs of water damage unrelated to flooding.
Odors
You may have an unpleasant odor in your home that you cannot locate the source of. Stagnant water produces an extremely noticeable and unpleasant odor. The longer this stagnant water remains unresolved, the more problems it will cause. In addition to giving off a terrible odor, it can also create and spread mold in these hidden areas. Don’t let the source of unpleasant odors remain unknown. If your home begins to emit a musty, earthy smell, the cause may be unresolved water damage.
Mold growth
Mold is not only unruly, but also dangerous to your and your family’s health. Its spores are microscopic and can find their way into every tiny crevice in the structure of your home, just like water. Although mold spores by themselves do not cause any serious problems, they are a threat. When water dampens these mold spores, they begin to grow and spread.
This not only causes damage to the walls and floors where mold develops, but can also cause various health problems. If you start to notice indistinct discoloration or small patches of mold, there may be further water damage to deal with.
In these situations, it is crucial to seek the help of specialists in damp who can assess the extent of the damage and provide effective solutions to eradicate the mold and prevent it from returning.
Structural problems
Structural elements of a house, such as walls, ceilings and floors, often give early warning signs of water damage. This is because the structure of the house is the most susceptible to damage. Pipes run along walls and floors, making them among the first things to be damaged in the event of a leak.
Water that gets into the walls and spaces between levels often manifests itself as stains or discoloration. If such stains go unnoticed, they can eventually cause walls and ceilings to collapse. Saturated drywall and ceiling materials become very heavy, causing them to begin to deform and eventually bend under the weight. Regularly checking walls and ceilings for water damage can prevent collapse.
Higher water bills
An elevated water bill is a common early sign of water damage. If you notice that your water bill has increased significantly with the same amount of water you were using before, it could mean that you have a water leak somewhere. While utilities vary slightly from season to season, your bills should not double or triple. Depending on where the leak is located, it can take a very long time before it shows up. If you notice a suspicious increase in your water bills, don’t leave the problem as unsolved. The problem behind the increased water bills could cost you even more water damage if not addressed.
Damage is not always immediately apparent. Many water losses take place over a long period of time before the homeowner realizes what is happening. By then the signs of water damage can already be quite large and the problems serious. There are ways to identify water damage. Some signs of water damage include unpleasant odors, mold growth, faulty construction, increased water bills and peeling or bubbling paint. Knowing the early signs of water damage can help prevent more serious problems.