The risk of water damage at home is a reality for us all, especially in Florida. It’s one of the top hazards to your home and your health, and it can happen suddenly, with little or no warning. We recommend checking your floors and walls every month for possible water damage signs. While it’s less common in colder climates, the actual water damage may be on the inside, where it’s harder to see.
Signs of Water Damage and How to Avoid it
With the proper precautions, you can avoid water damage from roof leaks and other sources. Our first priority at Friendly Hills Restoration is to keep you and your home safe. If you do notice any water damage signs, be sure to call us immediately! We provide 24-hour emergency water damage restoration services throughout South Florida, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and more.
Here are some of the most common signs of water damage in your home:
DAMP OR WET FLOORS
Do you see puddles, standing water, or wet spots on the floor? Take a look at the walls above the floors – if they are stained with dark spots or discoloration this could be a sign that a leak has occurred behind the wall.
A musty/mustard/earthy smell or mold growth
If you notice a musty smell in your home, that may indicate that moisture is getting in through the foundation or walls. That same wet environment is perfect for mold growth. If mold is present in your home, it can cause serious health problems.
MOLD GROWTH
Water damage often goes unnoticed because it can happen from within your walls — not just from an obvious broken pipe or leaking roof. If you have a leak in the ceiling, it may not be immediately obvious, but there could be discoloration on mold on the wall behind the drywall where moisture is seeping in. Discoloration on a wall that smells damp could also be a sign of damage inside the wall.
DRIPS OR LEAKS IN YOUR HOME
Most homeowners don’t give their plumbing systems much thought until they cause issues such as dripping faucets or leaking pipes. A leak may not seem like such a big deal — until it grows into something more serious such as water pooling by appliances or cosmetic issues like watermarks on the ceiling.
FLOOR CRACKS
Have you ever noticed cracks in your ceiling or had tiles fall off? These could be signs that there is some sort of water damage happening behind them. As moisture seeps through drywall, ceilings can start to buckle and crack as well as develop holes where tiles have fallen out. Another place to look for floor cracks is along baseboards as these may not only indicate water damage but mold growth as well.
IS YOUR HOME SUFFERING FROM WATER DAMAGE?
Even if you don’t notice any visible signs of water damage at home, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t any water damage happening behind the scenes. It only takes a small amount of untreated moisture to spread throughout your home causing significant structural problems and expensive repairs down the road. Water hidden behind walls can lead to structural problems such as mold and structural issues such as wood rot and decay which will eventually lead to more severe issues with more expensive solutions.
Acting quickly after a water emergency is key to preventing further damage to your home, possessions and health. Call us immediately at (248) 951-9073 so we can assess the severity of your restoration needs and get started on repairing any damages caused by the flood or leak before they get worse.
How long does it take for water damage to show?
Water damage can occur in your home for several reasons. Water is one of the most common and dangerous hazards to homes. It’s also one of the hardest types of damage to identify.
How long does it take for water damage to show? It can happen fast, at any time, so be prepared.
Water is one of the most common and dangerous hazards to homes. It’s also one of the hardest types of damage to identify. Water damage to your home or business can occur through a variety of sources, including:
- Hazardous leaks
- Flooding events
- Roof leaks
- Freezing pipes
- Washing machine malfunctions
- Storms or flooding
- Power outages
- Firefighting efforts
- Cesspool problems
- Clogged drain pipes
- Burst/broken pipes
If you notice any signs or symptoms of water damage, even if they seem minor, you could have a serious problem on your hands. Left unchecked, water damage can disrupt the health of your home and possessions. It may also harm the overall structural integrity of your building. Best to act quickly and call us for emergency restoration services. We can help you get the water out, clean up the mess and start the clean-up process.
To make matters worse, once water is in your home, it can spread quickly — mold growth is a real danger as well. The sooner you address water damage with professional help, the better off you’ll be. Don’t wait until you can no longer contain the situation on your own. Call us for help as soon as you notice signs of water damage; we’ll start drying out your home and cleaning up the mess so you don’t have to worry about the next step in restoring your home or business.
Why should I repair my water damage right away?
A broken pipe might seem like an easy fix. But that excess water can cause even more problems if not addressed quickly. One typical example is black mold growth: You might not see it in large amounts at first, but as it multiplies, it can cause health issues and permanently damage your home, resulting in costly repairs and restoration.
Because of that possibility, it’s essential to act quickly to address any signs of water damage in your home or business premises. Then we actively manage the drying process before moving on to more intensive repairs and restoration efforts. That way, you can ensure that any damage is handled properly from start to finish — so that your belongings and health aren’t compromised further by hazardous materials.
In addition, we help you make a claim for damages made by the flood or leak with your insurance company. Finally, we help you set up a maintenance plan for all pipes that could potentially lead to future leaks or floods so that you save money in the future with little to no further issues like this.
What are some common symptoms of water damage in buildings?
Mold growth: As mentioned above, mold is just one sign that there is water in your home or business premises — and if left unchecked, it can grow into a much larger problem with significant health impacts on everyone in the building, especially those with allergies or asthma issues.
As mentioned above, mold is just one sign that there is water in your home or business premises — and if left unchecked, it can grow into a much larger problem with significant health impacts on everyone in the building, especially those with allergies or asthma issues. Structural integrity issues: If water gets into your walls or floors at all when they haven’t been waterproofed properly, then it may cause structural issues later down the line if it isn’t addressed immediately — this could lead to serious structural damage down the road that requires a major repair and restoration effort to deal with; in addition, this issue will be difficult and expensive to fix after it has already gotten out of hand.