Home ownership means having to make sure you're educated in a wide variety of areas that will allow you to maintain and protect your property. This means keeping an eye out for warning signs of serious damage. If you've recently dealt with heavy rainfalls, flooding, or even substantial snow melt, keeping your eyes open for water damage should jump to the top of your list of priorities.
Below, you'll find a guide to some signs you may need to seek out the services of a water damage restoration firm. Catching water damage early is absolutely essential if you hope to step the tide of its seriousness, and watching for these signs is the best way to make sure you're ahead of the curve.
Soft Walls
When water gets inside your walls, the damage to your structure can be very serious. Not only does the risk of mold and mildew threaten your air quality, but wet drywall is also susceptible to crumbling. Thankfully, it's also easily noticed.
If you feel softness when pressing on a wall, it's likely that you're looking at growing water damage. These soft spots may also bulge outward from the walls or ceiling, providing an additional warning sign that need to be quickly attended to.
Unusual Odors
Stagnant water can be a source of many unpleasant smells. In addition to the mold and mildew growth mentioned above, the water itself can allow for bacterial growth and other issues which create foul smells. If you notice an unusual odor that you can't seem to source, you may have water hiding.
It's also important to remember that some smells are caused by dying pests, hidden and rotten food, and a variety of other sources. A stagnant water smell, however, is usually fairly distinct, and provides you with a reliable clue that moisture has crept into your home in places where it should not be.
Discoloration
Many areas in your home may blend into the background by virtue of being seen day in and day out. Your walls, carpets, and other surfaces may largely escape your notice, but any changes should be thoroughly noted. If you see discoloration appearing in areas that aren't exposed to the sun or otherwise the location of an obvious cause, it may be due to water damage. This damage needs to be addressed rapidly before it spreads, and your water damage restoration contractor will have the necessary experience to isolate and then remove it.
