Many home and business owners make the mistake of thinking that water damage only needs to be worried about when a flood occurs and water is coming through the doors and windows. However, the truth is that a flood is only one dramatic way water can damage a property. Many others can damage property and be more difficult to track down because they act slower and begin in more out-of-the-way places on a property.
Drywizard Restoration & Drywall Inc. in Tampa, FL shares some of the typical signs that property owners should be on the lookout for with any inspection of a residential or commercial property for evidence of water damage.
Signs of Property Water Damage
A Musty Smell
Signs of water damage aren’t always visible to the eye. Sometimes, you need to use your other senses; your nose is one of the sensory tools that can tell you something is wrong. A damp, musty smell with no clear source is often a giveaway that there is water damage somewhere on a property that is not easily visible, such as a leak in a water pipe in the walls or even under the floor or ceiling.
As with smelling gas, never ignore a musty scent with no obvious source because this could mean your property is already experiencing water damage somewhere.
Running Water Or Dripping Sounds
Similar to smelling something unusual, if you hear the sound of water running or dripping, but no water is actually running anywhere, and no taps have just been turned off, you should try to pinpoint the location. Another important factor is timing.
For example, if you hear the sounds of water only after a rain storm, this could indicate damage to your roof or walls that are admitting water from the outside. If you hear the sounds of water after someone flushes the toilet or uses the sink, there may be a break in a drainage pipe, allowing used water to leak out. If you hear the water sounds when nothing is happening, the possibility may be a leak in your water pipes.
Water Rings Or Stains
Depending on how the water is distributing itself, water stains or rings may appear on ceilings, floors, or even walls. The most common cause of water stains or rings is a leaking pipe, but it’s also possible for roof or some other property damage to regularly admit water into a building.
While this isn’t as dramatic as a flood, it does mean water has reliable access to parts of a property, and this damage will worsen until the issue has been addressed.
Softened Or Sagging Floor
This type of water damage usually occurs around appliances that use water, such as a dishwasher, faucet, or laundry machine. It indicates a leak somewhere in or near the appliance that has been going on long enough to compromise the structural integrity of the floor in the area.
A sagging or soft floor means that a portion of the property has been absorbing water for quite some time, and this will continue to spread to other parts of the floor until the problem is located and fixed.
Warped Wood, Cracked Laminate, Or Tile
If water regularly seeps into the floor, it will show itself as damage to that floor that differs based on the materials used for flooring. While floors are made to be durable, water can still cause considerable damage if it gets into spaces that were never intended, such as a leak in a pipe under the floor boards, which do not have the same protection as the actual surfacing.
If you need help with your water damage restoration, we can help. Contact Drywizard Restoration & Drywall Inc. at (813) 684-4800 or our 24-hour line at (888) 694-9273.
