Water can cause extensive damage to homes, especially if it's not taken care of ASAP. Here's how to identify the signs of water damage and what to do next.
As a responsible homeowner, your to-do list seems to never end. There's always another repair or maintenance project for you to consider.
Perhaps you're wondering if your home is experiencing water damage. Well, the good news is that you've come to the right place by reading this article. Detailed below are key signs of water damage for you to recognize.
After all, it's more affordable to fix water damage sooner rather than later. Consider the following statistic regarding homeowners throughout the United States. It indicates that, on average, homeowners spend one to four percent of the home's overall value on repair and maintenance every single year.
In other words, it's in your best interest to reduce that maintenance cost as much as you can. If you notice the beginning signs of water damage, you could save yourself some money. Keep reading to learn to identify those signs early enough.
1. To Start, Your Floors and Ceilings Might Start to Look Different
Water damage can be of particular severity for multiple reasons. For one thing, the signs of water damage might be subtle or unnoticeable at first. In addition, water damage can affect the internal structure of your home, which can be costly.
In fact, that's why the floors, walls, and ceilings of your home might be warped. If you've noticed more curvature in those surfaces, structural damage is being caused by a leaky roof or another source.
The floors, walls, and ceilings might start to develop significant cracks in them, too. This is yet another sign that the foundation of your home's structure is at risk.
Upon noticing either of these signs, be prepared to take action. You're going to need to hire some professionals to look into these tell-tale signs.
2. Your Water Bill Might Be Higher Than It's Been Before
As mentioned above, some signs of water damage might get by without your attention for a while. Soon enough, though, you might notice your water bill on the rise every month.
You've talked to your family about this. No one seems to be using such a significant amount of water more than usual. You simply cannot understand why your water bill has more than doubled - or even tripled - out of nowhere.
Well, it might be that there are major leaks in your pipes or plumbing. These leaks can go so unnoticed at first because water pipes are often deep under the house. As a result, you and your family will be wasting a ton of water that you never even see.
The water pressure in most or all of your faucets could experience loss of pressure, too. That could yet be another indication that something deep within your water pipes, access has been compromised. In these cases, it's time to seek a professional opinion if you have
commercial water damage.
3. The Sound of Running Water Is One of the Key Signs of Water Damage
Of course, there are signs of water damage that are more visible and obvious. To be specific, the sound of running water within the walls or floors of your home is a key indicator. That means that there is a leak somewhere behind the scenes needing direct attention.
You'll want to seek that professional attention sooner rather than later, too. Some water damage can really start to build up in a matter of hours.
Perhaps the leak is from a hole in the ceiling, and it rained a lot recently. Perhaps, though, one of your home's own pipes or water tanks have a leak themselves. Either way, it's best to get ahead of the issue before it develops into one that puts your home's structural security at risk.
4. Water Damage Can Lead to Visible Stains
There's yet an even more obvious sign of water damage you might notice. If water is flowing directly over certain materials (like drywall, for instance), those surfaces will get wet from the inside.
Perhaps the leak in your home is a very slow one that has built up over time. At some point, mold started to grow. Mold is definitely a major signifier that water has accessed the
5. Don't Be Afraid to Seek Professional Guidance on the Matter
It's no secret by now that water damage can cost you and your family both a sense of security and financial resources. In other words, you want to
get any potential water damage repaired as soon as you can. This is true, in particular, when your house has visible puddles or running water throughout it.
That's why you should reach out to the experts as soon as you notice any signs of water damage. For a specific example, check out more information about the
Cincinnati Water Damage Repair to see if they can help you. You'll be grateful that you connected with them when your home's safe and sound again.
Continue Investing in Your Home and Your Lifestyle
At this point in the article, you are comfortable with identifying the top signs of water damage. There's no need to cut corners when it comes to maintaining your home. You and your family deserve to live in comfort and security.
That's one reason why it's so crucial you continue to keep yourself educated. Your home, whether you bought or rented it, is an investment. Don't ignore caring for it in the long run.
Get informed on all of the top modern trends in home improvement projects. That way, you and your family can continue making the most of your living spaces.
In fact, that's where we can come into play. We prioritize bringing our readers the latest and greatest advice in technology, home living, and even entertainment. That's why we encourage you to browse through the rest of our website.
For one thing, you'll find plenty of relevant articles on maintaining a clean and secure home. In addition, you'll learn how you can continue investing in a comfortable lifestyle for you and your family. Keep reading to see what habits and practices make sense for you to adopt.