A variety of issues can cause water damage throughout your home, which can quickly cause damage if the underlying problem isn’t treated. In any case, the first step in limiting and repairing water damage is identifying the signs of a leak. But often, these can go unnoticed if you don’t know how to identify them. The following guide can help you keep your eyes peeled for water leaks anywhere within your home.
Signs of Water Damage in Your Home
A water leak isn’t always apparent. A roof leak, plumbing issue, or similar issues can allow water to leak behind your walls or into other unseen places. That said, there are visible water damage signs that, should you spot them, can help you pinpoint a problem. These include the following:
1. Water Stains
Roofing leaks are common causes of home water damage, so it’s essential to look up at your ceilings and upper walls occasionally. Brown stains in these areas are a telltale sign of an ongoing leak. Stains on the top floor, in particular, indicate a roof leak. If you see stains on the first floor, a second-story bathroom might have a plumbing issue, causing an internal leak.
You’ll need a water damage remediation company to repair water-damaged surfaces. Before calling for help, address the source of the leak. This might involve scheduling roof or plumbing repairs.
2. Damp Basement Walls
The interior of your basement should remain cool and dry. If the air feels humid, you might have a foundation leak. Look for dampness or white powdery stains on the concrete. These symptoms suggest that a crack or gap in your foundation is letting moisture inside.
Once you identify the leak’s location, you can attempt to dry your basement walls, though you may need to turn to a water repair service provider. Professionals will assess the water damage, remove the materials, and restore the affected areas. You can help speed up the drying process by using fans, an air conditioner, and open windows to ventilate the area.
3. Bubbling or Peeling Paint
If you have water damage within your walls, you might notice paint bubbling or peeling in confined areas. That indicates water damage caused by a burst pipe or plumbing leak behind the wall. If you don’t catch the problem right away, the damage and the area of peeling and bubbling paint will spread.
If you notice these problems, turn off the main water supply in your home. A plumber or water remediation service can find the source of the leak and repair the plumbing issue, but they can’t do their work while your home is still flooding.
4. Soft or Warping Drywall
If a water leak behind your walls goes unnoticed, it erodes your drywall and leaves it soft to the touch or visibly warped. Not only is that a clear sign of significant water damage, but it also indicates that your home’s structural components may have also suffered damage.
These types of water damage can result from plumbing issues or exterior water leaks. Alternatively, if your community has recently experienced heavy rainfall, the storm might have caused the damage. No matter the cause, once you identify it, you should call a plumber or a water damage restoration company.
5. Invisible Signs of Water Damage
You might not know you need water damage restoration if you haven’t seen any of the signs mentioned above. That said, if there’s a leak within your home’s walls, you must understand that the damage may not be visible. Listen for sounds of running water behind your walls and watch your water bills for unexplained usage increases.
Stay Alert to Prevent Future Water Damage
While many of these signs of water damage are only helpful in fixing an existing problem, some may help you prevent future issues. A roof leak might prompt you to schedule more frequent roof inspections, and foundation damage could tell you that rainwater drainage is an issue. Fixing these problems will reduce the likelihood of future water damage throughout your home.
