Unfortunately, there are no shortages in the ways that a house can flood. Some of the most common causes of floods include pipes bursting, improperly sealed homes, faulty appliances, heavy weather, and so much more. Some of the causes of water damage aren’t always seen, and signs of water damage will begin to appear before one may even know that there is a problem. Because of this, it’s important to understand the signs of this hidden water damage.
If you start to notice that your water bill is higher than usual when you haven’t changed your water usage habits, there is cause for suspicion that something isn’t right. Water damage is likely happening nearby, even if you can’t see it.
Fortunately, if you suspect water is leaking within the walls, it isn’t undetectable if you know the signs. Using all of your senses, you can typically find where it is coming from. Watch out for:
If you notice that any of these signs are happening in your home, it’s imperative to get it taken care of as soon as possible. Water damage that is left untreated can take over a home with a multitude of problems including mold growth and structure unsoundness. Moreover, the longer it is left to reside within a home, the worse the problem will get.
Once you have noticed any of these signs occurring in your home, it’s time to track down the source of the water leak. There are a couple of different ways to do this.
The easiest way to confirm that there is a leak somewhere in the building is to check your water meter. First, you’ll want to read the number on the meter and write it down; this number is the measurement of how much water is being used. Then turn off all sources of water and avoid using it for at least 3 hours to get accurate results. If the number on your water meter continues to go up, then there is certainly a water leak present.
After confirming that there is indeed a leak present in your walls, you can try to track the source of it. Using a moisture meter can be a great tool to find leaks without having to tear down any walls. This device detects how much moisture content is in each material. A normal reading for drywall, concrete, and other masonry components would be less than one percent. Moisture meters can be found at any home improvement store, but they take some time and effort to make work. Professionals also usually carry these to quickly find pockets of moisture in large areas while pinpointing the exact depth at which they occur.
After finding a water leak in your home, what do you do from there? Attempting a water damage restoration job on your own can be extremely difficult, as it is a task that requires a lot of time and effort. Missing even just the tiniest bit of water can leave damage that grows out of control over time. Professionals can ensure that water damage is properly cleaned up, leaving you with a clean home and peace of mind. By contacting professionals at TRAC Solutions, this water damage will be a one-time occurrence, and you won’t need to deal with the effects of the damage again in the future.
