6 Indicators That You Have Water Damage In Your Home

According to research conducted by the insurance industry, 14,000 people in the US experience water damage emergencies daily at home or work. Additionally, 37% of homeowners in the country claim to have suffered some losses due to the harms brought about by water.

The sad part is that many of those problems caused by water could have been avoided had the homeowners contacted water damage contractors right away for repairs. 90% of such damages can be prevented with proper care and maintenance, according to the American Insurance Associate.

If you want to prevent water from inflicting too much damage to your property, you should know the indicators that you have water damage in your home. Some of these signs are:

Strange Noises or Changes in the Sounds of Dripping Water

It is normal for you to hear the sound of dripping or running water when you turn on your faucets. But if you notice any change in such noises, or if you hear unusual sounds, then your property may have water damage. Popping sounds coming from your walls, for example, can be an indicator that a pipe behind the surface has burst.

Puddles or Pooling Water

If you notice any puddles or pools of collected water on your property, try cleaning them up and leave the area. After a while, go back to the place where you found the pools of water. If you see that the puddles have returned, then you may have seepage or a leak.

Water Stains on Your Walls, Floors, or Ceilings

Take a close look at your walls, ceilings, or floors. Do you see any stains (usually yellowish-brown) on any of those surfaces? If your answer is yes, then you may have an overflowing gutter or an undetected water leak in your roof or water supply lines. Such discolorations may also be an indicator that there’s hidden moisture inside your wall.

Mildew or Mold Growth

Aside from water stains, mildew and mold can also cause discoloration on surfaces like ceilings, floors, or walls. Mildew normally appears gray, yellow, or white, and its texture is fluffy or powdery. Molds, on the other hand, can be seen in any color. They can be black, gray, green, purple, white, blue, pink, yellow, or red, and their texture can be fuzzy or slimy.

Persistent Weird or Strange Odors

If you have mold or mildew growing on your property, then there’s a high possibility that you’re going to smell damp, stale, earthy, or musty odors. Such scents are somewhat similar to the smell of rotting wood or a wet sock.

If you notice other unpleasant odors like pungent, oily, woody, urine, or ammonia, then your house may also be infested by pests and insects. These include mice, rats, termites, ants, spiders, flies, mosquitoes, bed bugs, wasps, and cockroaches.

Sudden Increase in Your Utility Bills

If you’ve noticed a sudden increase in your water bills without you changing your usage habits, then it could mean that you have water damage. There might be a hidden leaking pipe somewhere on your property.

Aside from your water bills, you may also notice that your electricity bills have also increased. This is because when you have water leaks in your home, chances are, you’ll have high humidity levels too. The presence of such atmospheric moisture in your property makes it harder for your HVAC system to do its job. As a result, your energy bill will go up.

Get in Touch With Your Water Damage Contractors Today!

Water brought about by fire, flood, or simple leaks from your pipes can cause significant damage to your property. It can also harm your health, especially since it can cause mold growth. You may experience allergic reactions, such as headaches, cough, sneezing, wheezing, runny nose, skin rashes, and difficulty in breathing.

So if you ever notice any of the signs listed above, don’t hesitate to reach out to your trusted water damage contractor immediately. Consider those who are working for a full-service disaster restoration company. Such business will not only help you ensure that water will never cause harm to your property. They can also restore any important documents or treasured photos that were damaged by water. Contact them now!

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