Signs of Water Damage and What to Do if You Find It
Brecksville homes are susceptible to water damage during extreme weather conditions or plumbing failures, and the restoration process can be stressful and costly. Detecting water damage early is crucial, so if you suspect water damage, schedule a water damage repair with a painter as soon as possible.
What Should You Look Out For?
- Discoloration – Water spots or stains can appear either dry or wet, and they can be brown, yellow, or copper in color. Cracking, bubbling, or peeling paint or wallpaper often occurs with discoloration.
- Texture – A change in your floor's texture can indicate water damage. This change may appear on hardwood floors as buckling, warping, expansion, or sagging.
- Odor – Strange smells are associated with water damage because of the presence of mold and mildew. Damp areas with improper ventilation are optimal environments for mold to grow.
- Water Accumulation – Pooling water is the most blatant sign of water damage, and it can result from a roof leak, broken pipe, or faulty appliance.
Where Can Water Damage Occur?
- Floors – Flooding caused by malfunctioning appliances and faulty pipes and the overflowing of bathtubs and sinks can cause severe damage to hardwood, carpet, tile, and linoleum floors.
- Roofs and Attics – Roofs and attics are notorious for experiencing water damage, especially after severe weather. Problems with moisture accumulation on roofs and in attics include water staining, damp installation, and mold and mildew growth. Water damage can be prevented by repairing damaged roof shingles or flashing and removing ice dams.
- Foundations – If gutters don't carry away runoff or if the drainage in your yard isn't sufficient, then the ponding of water near your home can harm the foundation of your home, a situation which is serious.
- Walls – Leaky pipes or drains within walls become noticed because of the water staining that appears on walls, particularly near window frames and doors.
- Ceilings – Two-story homes can experience water damage on the ceilings if a bathroom is present on the top story. If the plumbing in this bathroom fails and leaking occurs, the floor and ceiling below will be damaged. Additionally, the top story's ceiling could be damaged by moisture collecting in the attic or on the roof.
- Appliances – Water damage can be spotted often behind toilets, sinks, refrigerators, hot water heaters, washers, and dryers. Faulty appliance components, such as loose connections or cracked hoses, can cause leaking.
What Should You Do?
- Dry Out the Home – If your home has been damaged by leaking or flooding, work to ventilate the affected areas immediately. Eliminate moisture before mold has the opportunity to grow by using dehumidifiers and fans.
- Throw Out Wet Porous Materials – Before a painter performs water damage repairs, you should remove damaged porous materials, such as insulation, carpet, fabric, and unsealed drywall, wood, and cement.
- Perform a Mold Inspection – Mold can move into your home as soon as the moisture level is ideal for it to grow, so if your home experiences water damage, check your home thoroughly for mold and mildew.
Reaching out to a professional, such as a painter, with water damage restoration experience is a wise decision if your home is holding excess moisture. If your Brecksville home is damaged by water, you may be overwhelmed, but a reputable painter from Optimal Painting can assist you with the water damage repairs you require.
