Tips and Tricks for Spotting Water Damage in Your Home

If you have a water leak on your hands, Cleanup & Total Restoration is the name you can trust to restore the damage. We offer 24-hour emergency services and guarantee a 60-minute response time to give you peace of mind when all you see is chaos. Let’s take a look at how to spot water damage in your home.

What Does Water Damage Look Like?

If your home has sustained any amount of water damage, it will make itself known. Here are some of the most common signs of residential water damage:

• Discoloration
• Staining
• Soft spots
• Cracks
• Warping
• Bubbling

The moment you notice any of these signs, give Cleanup & Total Restoration a call. Our team will be out to your property in no time to make things right again.

Signs of Water Damage in Your Home

1. Water Stains

   Discoloration is a telltale sign of water damage. Water leaks stain everything from drywall and carpet to hardwood panels. If you notice a brownish ring on your walls, ceiling, or floors, a water leak is likely to blame.

2. Mold Growth

   A dark, damp environment is where mold thrives. When your home experiences a water leak, mold can grow within as little as 24 to 48 hours. Mold not only ruins your belongings but also threatens the health of you and your family. If you have allergies or asthma, mold will only make symptoms worse. Don’t DIY a mold problem. Let our mold removal specialists handle it for you.

3. Musty Odors

   Mold and mildew have a notable musty smell. If your home starts smelling like grandma’s closet, you might have a water leak on your hands.

4. Soft Spots

   When water sits in your walls for long enough, it begins to soften and eat away at the drywall. You may notice soft, squishy spots on your walls that cave in at the slightest touch. Before long, those soft spots will cause structural damage.

5. Cracks

   When drywall gets wet, cracks begin to form. Before you know it, what started as a small crack will turn into a big one that threatens your home’s structural integrity.

6. Humidity

   Has your home felt a little warmer than usual lately? Unless you’ve bumped up the temperature on the thermostat, a water leak could be increasing the humidity level. You may notice suspicious moisture on countertops or mirrors as a result

How to Spot Water Damage in Your Home

You suspect your home may have a water leak but don’t know how to confirm it. What can you do? Here are four ways on how to spot water damage in your home.

1. Check your water meter

   Your home’s water meter will be located either out front or inside. First, write down the numbers that appear, which show how many gallons of water your household uses. Next, shut off every toilet, shower, faucet, and appliance that uses water, like the dishwasher, washing machine, and water heater. Don’t use water for roughly three hours. If a leak is present, the water meter will let you know. If the number displayed on the water meter increases from when you first checked it, you have a leak.

2. Invest in a moisture meter

   A moisture meter measures the moisture content in your walls, ceilings, floors, and more. The normal moisture level in drywall, concrete, and similar materials is less than 1%. Anything greater than that could indicate a water leak in your home.

   The two types of moisture meters available are pin-type and pinless. A pin-type moisture meter measures the moisture content in smaller, more precise locations, whereas a pinless moisture meter measures the moisture content in larger areas. You can find both models at your local home improvement store at a range of prices.

3. Utilize an infrared camera

   An infrared camera detects heat in your walls, floors, and ceiling to let you know where a leak has occurred. Homeowners prefer this non-invasive method over alternative methods that are invasive.

4. Inspect the drywall

   If none of the methods described above work, your only other option is to inspect the drywall. That way you can see any water damage firsthand and stop the leak at its source. This invasive method should only be used as a last resort.

Read more: Why is there a Random Water Stain on my Ceiling?

How Do You Know if a Wall Has Water Damage?

If your walls have sustained any amount of water damage, you may notice that they:

• Are damp or discolored
• Have peeling paint or wallpaper
• Are warped or stained
• Have buckled or cracked
• Have a musty odor

The Water Damage Experts Since 1995

Residential water damage is a pain to deal with. Avoid the headache, and let Cleanup & Total Restoration take care of the problem for you. As the trusted disaster cleanup and water damage restoration company among Southern Idaho and Eastern Oregon residents, we have what it takes to restore your property to its pre-loss condition. Get started today with a free estimate.