Besides unpreventable water damage causes like flooding and hurricanes, preventable causes such as faulty plumbing, leaking roof, and broken washers can also lead to property water damage. While these causes can be corrected with early detection, they still cause extensive damage to many homes. This is because many homeowners fail to notice early signs of water damage at home, allowing the issue to escalate.
That said, every homeowner needs to understand signs of water damage at their properties and how to control their spread. Luckily, this article discusses the top signs of a water-damaged property and its remedies.
Mold And Mildew Presence
Mold and mildew thrive in wet and dumb environments. If you notice their growth, definitely the surface is wet. However, mold and mildew growth might not necessarily indicate water damage, especially if discovered in wet areas such as laundry areas. Nevertheless, if you have doubts about mold and mildew growth in particular areas, examine your property to determine the cause.
For example, it might not be normal to notice mold or mildew growth in areas that are always dry. Therefore, if this is the case, your property might be experiencing water damage without you noticing, and quick action should be taken.
- Mold And Mildew Remedy
Mold and mildew growth is a pain in the neck. Once they’ve started growing in your home, getting rid of them might be challenging. Nevertheless, despite the challenges, mold remediation steps should be taken immediately to prevent health complications.
Fortunately, there are different ways to get rid of mold and mildew. For example, you can get rid of mold using hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, essential oils, baking soda, or lemons. All these ways are affordable and natural; hence they don’t pose a health threat.
However, it’s important to note that before dealing with mold growth, you should first tackle the cause. Failure to which you’re likely to repeat the procedure now and then. Also, if getting rid of mold the ‘Do-It-Yourself way’ doesn’t work, it might be time to call in professional cleaners to do the job. As mentioned, getting rid of mold is challenging, and extra help might come in handy.
Don’t Ignore Your Ears And Nose
Everyone is aware of their home’s smell. Therefore, it’s easy to tell when the smell is different. That said, it’s vital to trust your sense of smell if you discover any change. For example, if your home always smells fresh, suddenly the smell becomes weird, this could mean that something isn’t right. On the other hand, a dripping sound might indicate a leaking pipe or open faucet.
While the damp smell and dripping noise might not be the best indicator of water damage, it won’t cost you a dime to check what might be the issue. Chances are, your home might be experiencing early stages of water damage that can be corrected without much effort.
If you’re lucky, the smell and dripping sound might be nothing to worry about. The dripping sound could be from a loose tap, or the bad smell could easily be resolved with proper ventilation.
- Remedy For Dripping Water And Dump Smell
There isn’t a shortcut when dealing with dripping water. The solution is to switch off the water from the main source and address the issue. Failure to which the dripping might become severe and cause flooding in your home.
As far as dealing with a musty smell is concerned, there are different ways to ensure your home smells better. First, you’ll need to remove wet items from the house, thoroughly clean your home using household cleaning detergents, and dry or dehumidify the space.
Once you’ve cleaned wet items such as carpets, sprinkle baking soda to absorb the foul odor and vacuum it once you’re sure the bad smell is gone. Preferably, it would be best to allow the baking soda to sit on the carpet throughout the night for better effectiveness.
Peeling Paint
Peeling paint can signify different things. For example, poor-quality paint is more likely to peel after some time. There will be times when paint peeling is a good indicator of a water-damaged property. Once the water accumulates under the paint, it loses its grip and peels. It’s, therefore, common to notice paint peeling in some areas like the bathroom, kitchen, laundry area, or near the sinks.
However, if you notice paint peeling on areas that don’t experience too much moisture, you might be dealing with severe water damage that requires immediate attention.
- Remedy For Peeling Paint
Fixing peeling paint depends on the severity of the matter. If you’re dealing with significant paint peeling affecting an entire wall, the solution might be to repaint the entire wall. However, if the peeling is insignificant, remove the loose paint using a scraper or sandpaper, apply a thin layer of repair material, and allow it to dry. Then, use sandpaper to smoothen the area until it becomes even with the entire surface, then paint it with a color similar to the rest of the wall.
Water Stains
When dealing with a water-damaged home, you will likely encounter visible water stains. When such stains form discolored patches on your walls, furniture, ceiling, or floor, the damage might be extensive and require professional examination.
As far as water stains are concerned, they can sometimes be hard to see, especially on walls with too many decorations. That said, sometimes water damage can go unnoticed until it escalates. It’s, therefore, vital to be keen on any change on your property to discover the issue as it arises.
But what causes water stains? In most cases, water stains on your property might result from leakage from your rooftop or a leaking pipe beneath your home. However, to be sure about the source of water stains in your home, consider seeking help from professionals before it’s too late.
- Remedy For Water Stains Resulting From Water Damage
Once you’ve discovered water stains in your home that result from water damage, the first step should be to fix the leak. If it’s impossible to fix, switch off the main water source to prevent further leakage. Assess the problem right away. If you think the situation is something you can no longer remedy on your own, don’t hesitate to call a professional.
Humidity And Dampness
Is there unexplained humidity and dampness in areas that don’t experience frequent water spills? Is there any water accumulation that’s challenging to explain? If the answer to these questions is yes, you might need to assess your property further. Alternatively, you can consult a water damage expert or a reputable plumber who can successfully diagnose the issue and offer a practical and lasting solution.
It’s important to note that noticing water issues such as high humidity or dampness is one thing and identifying the water source is another. Therefore, you should consider consulting a specialist since they’re trained in such things, and determining the root cause of such signs can be easy for them.
- Remedy For High Humidity And Dampness
To successfully tackle humidity issues in your home following water damage, you should first address the water source and ensure no more water is accessing it. Once that’s done, remove wallpapers and baseboards if your walls are affected by moisture. During this period, keep the windows open to speed up the drying process. Consider using fans to eliminate air from damp walls and a humidifier to remove moisture from air and surfaces. Remember, it’s vital to ensure your home is completely dry to discourage mold and mildew growth.
Wet Carpets
Unless someone accidentally poured water on your floors, there isn’t another reason behind wet carpets besides water damage. Therefore, if you notice any dampness or wetness on your carpets, assess the issue to get to its root cause.
It’s vital to mention that, like walls and floors, a wet carpet can manifest signs of water damage due to flooding or faulty pipes underneath them. Unfortunately, noticing these signs might be challenging since they’re initially insignificant. Once they become more visible, your property will likely be under a massive water damage threat that might be challenging to correct. Therefore, it’s vital to be keen on any change that indicates the presence of water and addresses it immediately.
- Remedy For Wet Carpets
Cleaning wet carpets are challenging but straightforward, depending on how you do it. For a quick and effective process, open the windows and use fans to get rid of moisture. If you own a wet vacuum cleaner, you might need to use it for an effortless cleaning procedure.
To kill bacteria, germs, and fungi present on the carpets, use household detergents that won’t interfere with the carpets’ integrity. Once you’re done cleaning the carpets, sprinkle baking soda to eliminate any foul odor.
Conclusion
Signs of a water-damaged property don’t go unnoticed. Suppose you don’t notice a difference in how your home smell; you’re likely to discover peeling paint or water stains. Once you do, ensure to switch off your water supply, assess the damage, and act accordingly. If you think you can’t handle the issue, call professionals as soon as possible to perform a water damage restoration.
