Whether or not you’re dutifully attending open homes on the lookout for your subsequent house, or have lived in the identical one for many years, it is best to all the time be looking out for water harm. That’s as a result of it’s greater than an eyesore: Water harm is an indication of a bigger drawback.
And if you happen to come throughout water harm whereas searching for a brand new house—or spot an space affected by it that you simply had by no means seen earlier than in your longtime house—you’ll wish to determine whether or not it occurred just lately, or is a remnant of a previous drawback. Right here’s learn how to inform whether or not water harm is new or outdated.
Learn how to inform whether or not water harm is new or outdated
Figuring out whether or not water harm is latest or has been there for some time isn’t as a simple as you would possibly assume (except you’re knowledgeable), however these methods may help:
Contact it
Placed on a pair of gloves, protecting eyewear, and a face masks (there could also be mildew current) and gently press on an space with water harm. If it feels moist, however the drywall or ceiling behind it’s nonetheless agency, the harm might be new. But when the wall or ceiling is damp and squishy or spongy, the water has had an opportunity to soak in, and it’s doubtless older harm.
Search for rings
Like a tree, the extra rings an space with water harm has round it, the older it’s. Additionally take note of the colour of the rings: If there are a selection of colours, it’s an indication that through the years, there have been a number of incidents that prompted water harm in the identical place. Single darkish spots with out rings are sometimes new.
Examine for mildew and decay
Mould sometimes begins to develop on an space with water harm inside 48 hours, typically showing as small grey or black specs on partitions, flooring, or ceilings. If the mildew has had an opportunity to unfold past the realm instantly affected by water harm, it’s most likely not new.
Equally, if you happen to discover that elements of your private home with water harm have began to decay or deteriorate, it’s an indication that at the very least a few of it’s outdated, and that the realm has doubtless flooded, or been the location of standing water a number of instances up to now.
Learn how to restore you house after water harm
Relying on what you discover out concerning the water harm in your house (or potential house), you could have to do some restore work—or rent somebody to do it for you.
It is a subject Lifehacker has lined from just a few totally different angles, together with posts on all the things you must do if your private home has water harm, learn how to restore water harm in your house (and when to panic about it), and, as soon as the basis trigger is taken care of, learn how to do away with water stains in your ceiling.
