Do You Have Hidden Water Damage in Your Home?
Your monthly utility bills come in the mail and your jaw hits the floor. You owe how much for water? That can’t be right!
After calling the water company it turns out that the balance is indeed correct. Either someone in your home has been overusing the shower or you’ve got a water leak. The second option is more likely.
Water leaks can hide in your home for a while without you noticing it. Lucky for you, we know the signs of water damage. Keep reading to find out all the places where you should be looking for this incriminating leak.
1. Musty Smells
If there is water leaking behind one of your walls it will be absorbed by the wood, insulation, and drywall. Over time, this will give off a horrible musty odor that will seep through your entire home. Sad to say this smell isn’t only coming from wet wood.
When the areas behind your wall get wet, they become vulnerable to the dreaded mold. Once mold starts to grow, the musty smell will only get worse. As the mold expands, the scent will get more intense.
2. Stains and Discoloration
The good news is that when a water leak does spring behind your drywall, you’ll be given a little warning. As the material absorbs the water, stains will start to appear.
If you notice nasty brown spots on your ceiling, walls, and floors then you probably have a leak somewhere. Keep an eye on these stains. If they start to grow or get darker then you’ll need to call a professional to come to look at it.
3. Peeling Paint and Wallpaper
When your walls get drenched in water from a leaking or busted pipe, the moisture will pass through the material and gather up behind wallpaper and paint. Eventually, it gets to be too much. When this happens, the paint or wallpaper will begin to peel.
Peeling paint and wallpaper points to hidden water damage 9 times out of ten. The one good thing is that it’s one of the early warning signs. As long as your walls aren’t warping, your problem isn’t that bad yet.
4. Warping Floors, Ceilings, and Walls
Large amounts of water can get heavy. As it piles up behind your wall and gains weight, it’ll begin to put a strain on your wall material. No matter how sturdy it is.
The material will bend under the intense weight. Warping is a serious issue. It can threaten the structure of your entire home.
Your walls won’t be the only thing affected when too much water is gathered. Your ceiling and floors will start to warp as well.
If you notice any bending or warping you need to get someone out to check your home as soon as you can. If you don’t than lasting damage may be done.
5. Mold
We talked a little bit about mold but we’re going to take the time to go into a little more detail about it. Mold thrives in places that are both dark and damp. If a leak springs behind your wall, it will create the perfect environment.
The thing about mold is that it doesn’t only stay in one place. It expands. As it does you may start to notice it growing in small patches outside your wall as well.
If this happens, don’t try and take care of it on your own. Mold is dangerous. If you don’t deal with it the right way you could end up getting sick.
Get in touch with a professional. They are equipped with the tools necessary to deal with the mold and fix the leak that caused it to grow in the first place.
6. Water Damage Under Your Sink
It’s common to see a little bit of water gathered under your sink. You don’t think about it being a problem but it can be. If you notice it be sure to keep an eye on it.
First, you want to remove everything from under the sink. Then, run the water. You should be able to tell from there where the leak is coming from.
7. Sudden Jumps in Utility Costs
You get your water bill in the mail and it seems a lot higher than normal. If you’re not sure if it is higher or only your imagination, take out your past bills to compare them.
If it’s only higher by a few dollars then you probably don’t have water damage. A huge jump though, that’s a different story. Check your appliances to see if they’re leaking.
If they’re not, move on to your sinks. Make sure that the faucet is all the way off and look for leaks. If that’s not the problem either then there is a good chance the problem is a busted pipe in your walls.
8. Checking the Pipes
It’s a little hard to check the pipes that are located behind your walls because they’re hidden. That’s why you have to rely on sound rather than sight if the water isn’t leaking through the wall yet.
Place your ear against the wall at night when everything is quiet and listen for the sounds of dripping water. You also may be able to press your hand against the wall and feel around for soft spots.
Signs of Water Damage That’s Hiding Right Under Your Nose
Has your utility bill skyrocketed or do you smell a gross musty scent wafting through your home? These are two of the biggest indicators that you have a water leak somewhere in your home.
Use the methods that you’ve read here today to spot the telling signs of water damage. Get that leak fixed before it becomes a larger problem.
Has a busted pipe caused irreversible damage in your home? Contact us to get a quote on our water restoration services.