Many homeowners encounter some issues and problems on their property from time to time, and one of these is water damage. The most common water damage issues at home include a leaky faucet or a clogged sink.
When left unfixed, they can be a massive safety hazard for your home and family members. It can result in structural damage, expensive water bills, mold growth, and infestation, among others.
Water damage is often caused by the following:
- Clogged sink or gutter
- Leaky pipes
- Severe weather (e.g., typhoon, heavy rain, and winds)
- Blocked drains
- Faulty sprinkler system
- Flood
- Fire incidents
But despite knowing the causes, some people still find it difficult to spot any ongoing water damage. After all, water damage isn’t always apparent, especially when it often happens in unnoticeable or hidden places like your basement or attic.
Thus, this article aims to help you detect water damage to your property to have it repaired immediately and avoid costly damage in the future.
Here are the steps to check water damage in the house.
Table of Contents
1) Inspect Your Pipes
One of the first areas to check is the water pipes behind your toilets or under the sinks. Water damage first occurs in these places due to leaky pipes or loose connections.
Remember that even the tiniest leak could drive up your water bill. When left unchecked, those small leaks may worsen, causing a flood under your sink or, worst, damage to your home’s foundational structure, especially if the leaking pipe is at the bottom area of your house.
Thus, make it a practice to inspect your pipes regularly. If you spot leaks or loose pipes which you can’t fix yourself, never hesitate to contact the Water Damage Restoration Tacoma WA company or other water damage repair services within your area. They will help repair the leaks and reconstruct your sink or any spot that needs fixing.
2) Check Your Appliances
The next area in line when checking for water damage is your appliances. Your dishwasher, washing machine, refrigerator, AC, and water heater are prone to leaks and faulty pipe connections, especially when used for a long time.
Thus, it’s essential to have these appliances checked and maintained regularly by your trusted repairman. They can spot any issue or faulty parts at the earliest time possible and have them fixed before it causes water damage to your home.
3) Look At The Walls More Closely
As mentioned, water damage isn’t always easy to spot. Most of the time, you can only tell it’s happening when it’s almost too late. So, try to look at your walls more closely and see if you can spot any stain or discoloration in your wallpaper or wall painting.
These may signify that there’s a leaky pipe behind those walls. Other signs to look out for in your walls are hairline cracks around your drywall, peeling wallpaper, and swollen drywall.
4) Inspect Your Roof
Another cause of water damage is the cracked or missing shingles on your roof. When a storm comes, your damaged roof with missing shingles won’t be able to protect your home from the rain, eventually becoming a prime entryway for the water. As a result, it may cause leaks in the attic and lead to ceiling water damage.
When left unrepaired, the leaked water on your ceiling or attic will become a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Moreover, the water may also deteriorate your ceiling and attic’s durability and lead to a ceiling collapse.
To avoid these train of problems and costly repairs, inspect your roof regularly and look for curled flashing and loose or missing shingles. If you find mold growth or the ceiling is damp, call your restoration contractor immediately.
5) Feel the floors with your feet
The dampness of your floors or carpeting may also signify underlying water damage. When checking them, you can walk around barefoot and see if you can detect any wet spots or dampness in your carpets.
Look for tiny warps on your hardwood floors, floor cracks, and buckles in your vinyl floor. These observations are signs of ongoing water damage due to leaky pipes beneath your flooring. You may also see these signs after you’ve experienced a flood.
6) Check The Foundation
Walk around your house outside and inspect the foundation. If you see any visible cracks or crumbling lines around the area, an interior plumbing leak may be lurking underneath.
The water leaking from this area can seep into the cracks of your foundation, leading to foundation damage. So, if you spot any cracks, notify your contractor and plumber right away and let them fix the situation before it escalates.
7) Trust Your Sense Of Smell
It’s impressive how your sense of smell can also be a helpful tool in detecting potential water damage in your house. Molds, stains, and damp walls often emit a distinctive odor.
If you try to locate this smell, it may lead you to the primary source of water leaks, such as dripping sink pipes, leaking appliance hoses, and other unnoticeable plumbing issues.
Wrapping Up
Water damage will always be a huge concern. Now that you know how to check your home for potential water damage, it’s time to start your inspection.
You can do this regularly, especially after a rain or storm. If you spot any damage, you can call your trusted water damage restoration company and let them help you reconstruct your home back in shape.
