Although most people do not spend much time thinking about it, water damage is one of the most common ways that people encounter unexpected expenses. In the past few decades, 99% of counties around the United States were impacted by some kind of flooding event. On a daily basis, an average of 14,000 people in the country suffer from water damage!
The faster you can treat your damage, the less expensive it will tend to be. Everyone should learn to recognize the signs of water damage because there is a good chance they will suffer from it at some point.
Do you think your home might currently be dealing with water damage? Read on to learn all about the top signs you can look for to confirm or alleviate your suspicions!
1. High Bills
Looking out for water damage is an important part of your home maintenance routine. Although many people think about damaged floors or walls when they think about water damage, you can sometimes detect it by looking at your bills!
If you have noticed that your water bills have been going up in recent history, there are many possible causes. However, one of them might be that your home has a water leak in an area that you have not yet noticed.
A chronic water leak will increase your water consumption, which will also increase your water bills. This is one more way that detecting damage sooner rather than later can save you money.
2. Mold
Sometimes, the worst damage caused by water is indirect. Even if you have mild water damage that affects an area of your home that is not sensitive to it, water damage in the home can facilitate the growth of mold.
If you think your home might have water damage, then you should also take the time to schedule a professional mold inspection or look through your home for mold. You should start by looking in dark and damp places. These provide the best environment for mold to grow.
However, you should follow up by looking in any part of the home that you do not often see. Sometimes, mold grows in a vacant attic.
If you find mold, remember that this may also indicate that you have developing water damage that will require home repairs. Remember that water damage tends to grow over time. As a result, time is of the essence when you are repairing water damage.
If you can schedule professional repairs quickly, then there may be much less damage to repair and your costs may be much lower. On the other hand, if you let water damage develop in your home for many days, the repair job may become much more expensive.
3. Water Damage Restoration Cleans up Rust
Another top sign of potential water damage is rust in your home. Take a look at all of the metal pipes and fixtures scattered throughout your home. If you see a rest developing on any of them, carefully feel for signs of dampness.
Even if you see only a little rust, it is possible that there is more water damage further back along your metal structures that you cannot see.
Of course, your home may have rust even if you do not have water damage. However, if you notice that the amount of rust in a certain area is growing, that can be a strong sign that you have a water leak that is slowly causing more and more damage.
4. Warped Floors
When water leaks into floors, it can cause them to expand and warp. If that water later dries, it can leave that part of your floor creaking. If you think your home might have water damage, take the time to step across each part of your floor.
If some parts of them are starting to develop warping or creaking, that may be a sign of burgeoning water damage. Keep in mind that once one part of your floor begins to warp, it can push on adjacent areas of your floor, causing further damage.
5. Discoloration and Peeling
If you have discoloration developing on your floors, walls, or ceilings, there is a good chance that it comes from water damage. These stains often range in color from yellow to brown. They are the results of water carrying contaminants into these areas.
Even if you feel that these stains are dry, that may only indicate that the water has since dried. There is a good chance that whatever caused this discoloration will recur over and over again.
These are one of the most common and clearest signs of water damage because almost nothing else causes these kinds of stains. Remember that they often appear in a roughly circular pattern. If you see more and more of these discolorations showing up over time, that is a clear sign that you have water damage.
You can also look out for peeling paint or wallpaper. If you see peeling or bubbling appearing on your walls, then that is almost always the result of water damage. Make sure to call water damage remediation services as soon as possible to keep your repair needs as low as possible.
Recognize the Tops Signs of Home Water Damage
When you think about how common water damage is, it is essential that every homeowner learns about how to recognize the signs of it. This is even more important because of how fast water damage can progress if you do not catch it early. If you detect signs of water damage in your home, make sure to call water damage restoration services as soon as possible before the damage spreads.
To learn about how you can find the right mold inspection services for your situation, reach out and get in touch with us here at any time!