How to Spot Signs of Water Damage

If you’re like most homeowners, two words can instantly strike fear in your heart: water damage. Whether you live in an old house or a new one, water can seriously threaten the safety, security, and aesthetic of your home, and it doesn’t take much to do damage that is both costly and difficult to remove. For that reason it’s important that you know the signs of water damage—both the obvious signs and the subtle ones—and take action if you notice any of them in your own home.

The Obvious Signs

The good thing about obvious signs of water damage is that you will quickly notice it and can take immediate action to remedy the situation. Obvious signs of a problem with your plumbing include flooding, dripping water, leaky faucets, and puddles or water accumulation in places where it should not be. It’s important that homeowners also take the time to check out the basement and the water heater storage area, since these are places where water leaks or damage might be clearly visible, but you may not go in there often so it goes unrepaired for an extended period of time.

The Subtle Signs

The more difficult type of water damage is the subtle kind—the kind that doesn’t leave an obvious trail. If you’re planning to move into a home (especially an older home), it’s critically important that you know what to look for, but even for homeowners not planning to move anytime soon, understanding and checking for these subtle indicators can save you a bundle of money and a lot of hassle.

1. Water stains on the ceiling or walls – pipes that carry water are hidden behind walls and in the ceilings/floors, so when one of those pipes has a leak, the first place you will likely see the water is in a water spot on the ceilings or walls, often accompanied by paint discoloration and peeling or bubbling paint.
2. Drywall or flooring that has buckled – when water is leaking in the walls or floors, the materials that cover the pipes often absorb a significant amount of that water, and the end result is drywall or flooring that has buckled. You may notice it as a bulging area in the wall, or an area that you can clearly feel is different from the surrounding areas in the floor.
3. Mold or mildew smell – sometimes the subtle sign that will tip you off to a water problem is not visible at all, but instead the distinct smell of mold or mildew. If you notice that certain areas of the house always have that smell, hire a professional plumber in Salt Lake City to come and inspect for the source. Depending on the extent of the mold damage, you may also need the help of a professional mold remediation and water damage restoration service.
4. Dripping water – do you hear that little drip, drip, drip sound in your house? If you can’t find a leaky faucet or pipe, you might have a water leak that’s hidden behind the walls, ceilings, or perhaps even coming from the roof.

A little detective work can help you uncover the signs of a water leak, and if you ever do suspect that you have a problem, All Hours Plumbing, Drain Cleaning, Heating & Cooling in Salt Lake City is the team you can trust to repair your plumbing right away.